Telecom's 'Flexi' Plans

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spazz

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Topic # 9187 28-Aug-2006 02:44

How is there not a topic on this yet?! Gosh. Anyway, Telecom have just released their answer to Voda's YouChoose plans, only for once in the marketing wars - Telecom wins. YouChoose confuses me, and I'm not one to be confused easily. Flexi, on the other hand, is rather straightforward.

Rather than "buying" your minutes in bulk packs of 100 or other such 'add-ons' with Voda, Flexi is more of a pay-for-what-you-use system. You pay a set monthly fee of either $30 or $45, depending on which Flexi plan you pick (there are only two - Flexi Mytime and Flexi Anytime) - and let's face it - who spends less than $30/month on your mobile these days?! Think of that initial $30 as prepay credit - use it for whatever you want; $10TXT, calling, Picture Messaging, etc. Once you use more than $30 credit, you pay for whatever else you do as you go - not in bulk pre-paid packs. And the best part is that once you hit your threshold ($30/$45), it starts getting cheaper and cheaper! Like this:

Flexi Mytime vs Mytime 100

500 Txts = $10 500 Txts = $10

125 Offpeak Mins = $22.50 125 Offpeak Mins = $32.25

20 Peak Mins = $19.80 20 Peak Mins = $27.80

Totals: $52.30 Total: $70.05

See on Flexi, Offpeak minutes are charged at 20c/min for the first 100, and then only 10c/min after. And Peak calls are charged at a flat 99c/min rate.

Flexi Anytime is different still, check out telecom.co.nz/flexi to check it out.

I switched as soon as I heard the news - it's gonna save me heaps :D btw this isn't a sales pitch, I don't work for Mobile, I just think it's good news for consumers!

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Reply # 44827 28-Aug-2006 07:58

Flexi is great. Under low volume circumstances, its better value than my corporate plan.
Especially as the MUF includes voicemail and texting.

I did the sums, and this is pretty good.

Its reminiscint of the old "Adjustor Plan" which many mobile dealers will remember as a good way to get those tier 3 connections... :-)

I agree, its simple, and easy to understand.

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sbiddle

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Reply # 44835 28-Aug-2006 09:01

It will be interesting to see if there is any response from Vodafone. Doing the sums it undercuts You Choose considerably for some customers.

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chiefie

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Reply # 44841 28-Aug-2006 09:50

It is essentially You Choose with a bit of twist and simpler... you just use what you paid, in any combo.

Though, this will not be for me as...
1) It is Telecom (which means CDMA) which mean, I can't continue using my Vodafone phone.
2) No offering of international calling option/package like You Choose (although I don't use it but at least if/when I need it I know i have the option).
3) My immediate contacts are all on Vodafone, make sense for me to stay with my current mobile network provider.

However, the plus for this though...
1) Anyone can effectively afford a plan.
2) As mentioned in many other topics, the number can be switched between prepaid and plan.
3) $10 TXT for 500.

In all positive note, it's about time Telecom matches Vodafone's You Choose plan and I think this is great! However would be headache for new mobile user to decide what plan/provider to go for... More importantly, will Telecom's prepaid people be switching over to this plan? And as for Vodafone, they need to reharsh their phone number allocation strategy, making a number switchable between prepaid and postpaid will greatly retain their customer base (if not already)

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tonyhughes

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Reply # 44844 28-Aug-2006 10:09

FYI: Flexi Mytime is Tier 2 and Flexi Anytime is Tier 3.

sbiddle

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Reply # 44847 28-Aug-2006 11:02

chiefie: And as for Vodafone, they need to reharsh their phone number allocation strategy, making a number switchable between prepaid and postpaid will greatly retain their customer base (if not already)

I was told a while back this will be complete around November (aim is apparently before Xmas) so their network is ready for portability. Maybe johnr can give us an update on this?

The biggest advantage You Choose has is that terms start at 12 months vs 24 or 36 for Telecom. Calling prices *will* drop substancially in NZ in that time so you have to weight up the pros and cons of being stuck in a contract that will cost you a lot to exit. The move to bucket style plans is good though, Australia is proof they work very very well.

tonyhughes

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Reply # 44849 28-Aug-2006 12:07

sbiddle: The biggest advantage You Choose has is that terms start at 12 months vs 24 or 36 for Telecom. Calling prices *will* drop substancially in NZ in that time so you have to weight up the pros and cons of being stuck in a contract that will cost you a lot to exit. The move to bucket style plans is good though, Australia is proof they work very very well.

On TNZ at least, all plans are designated a "Tier"

Mytime Go 100 is Tier 1
Flexi Mytime / Mytime Go 200 & 300 are Tier 2
Flexi Anytime and most corporate and business plans are Tier 3

There are some rules about moving (especially soon after changing/connecting/upgrading), but essentially, you can move across or up a tier at no extra cost, even whilst in contract.

To move down a tier used to be $100+gst, but im sure the rules changed just as i left.

I checked today, and I am allowed to change to Flexi once I have completed a month of my new 24 month business plan. No penalty. I will do this once I have created a spreadsheet to run all the scenarios and figured out what the best deal is.

I will post the spreadsheet online for others to view too...

nzbnw

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Reply # 44850 28-Aug-2006 12:38

tonyhughes:

To move down a tier used to be $100+gst, but im sure the rules changed just as i left.

Its $100+GST to move from down from a tier 3 plan, plus $100+GST for every tier moved within the first 12months of the contract. So for example if you signed up to a 24month Anytime Go 200 plan, and after 12months of your contact your calling habits changed, and you wanted to go to Mytime GO 100, then you could with not fee for doing so (with the exception of Go One Bill / Prepaid Plans where full disconnection fees apply).

As far as Flexi is concerned, the word is open term customers, or customers who are unconnected (own hardware) can sign up for Flexi as long as they sign up for a 24month plan. As far as I know customer within existing contracts can not take up Flexi, but I will confirm this when I get a chance.

nzbnw

tonyhughes

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Reply # 44851 28-Aug-2006 13:16

nzbnw:
tonyhughes:

To move down a tier used to be $100+gst, but im sure the rules changed just as i left.

Its $100+GST to move from down from a tier 3 plan, plus $100+GST for every tier moved within the first 12months of the contract. So for example if you signed up to a 24month Anytime Go 200 plan, and after 12months of your contact your calling habits changed, and you wanted to go to Mytime GO 100, then you could with not fee for doing so (with the exception of Go One Bill / Prepaid Plans where full disconnection fees apply).

As far as Flexi is concerned, the word is open term customers, or customers who are unconnected (own hardware) can sign up for Flexi as long as they sign up for a 24month plan. As far as I know customer within existing contracts can not take up Flexi, but I will confirm this when I get a chance.

nzbnw

It has been confirmed to me today by a dealer talking to Mobile Dealer Support that an existing contract customer can move, as per normal plan change rules.

I have created a very basic plan calculator...

http://ealhughes.googlepages.com/FLEXI-CALC.xls

This will show you costs on Flexi vs. prepaid mates rates and anytime (Go Onebill is same rates as Prepaid), and also Mytime Go 200, and the 28/28 business plan I am on.

Again, it proves prepaid / go onebill to be a good all rounder, but for my circumstances, Flexi will win out (though not by much).

If there is a demand and/or if i have time, I will produce a spreadsheet to calculate both Flexi Anytime AND Flexi Mytime, and all current popular TNZ plans (Mytimes,Anytimes,Transport,Construction, etc etc etc.)

tonyhughes

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Reply # 44853 28-Aug-2006 14:53

and maybe the Vodafone plans too....

bradstewart

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Reply # 44855 28-Aug-2006 15:21

Yes a comparision with you choose would be great

nzbnw

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Reply # 44858 28-Aug-2006 15:42

tonyhughes: confirmed to me today by a dealer talking to Mobile Dealer Support that an existing contract customer can move, as per normal plan change rules.

Thats great, saves me having to ring them up as well =)

So that would imply that if a customer was to sign up on an open term Mytime Go 100 plan, then they could transfer to Flexi Mytime outside of the 1st month of connection? And hence have an open term connection, or is it only aviable to customers within contract?

I will of course find it all out, but I'm not back at work for a few days =)

nzbnw

lokinz

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Reply # 44859 28-Aug-2006 15:58

Ok, I’m not sure if I’m working this out right, but this is what it looks like to me.

Using the Telecom Flexi Calculator

For 60 Day(D) + 100 Nights/weekends(N) + 500 TXTs is $89

You can get that + 100 more TXTs for $68 on Vodafone

Ok, so we drop some Anytime minutes.

20 D + 100 N + 500 TXT = $49

Again you get 100 more TXTs and the calls for $48 on Vodafone.

Alright, Lets say you want more D minutes.

250 D + 100 N + 500 TXT = $164

Vodafone get 100 more TXTs and it’s $138

Ok, what if you want heaps of D minutes and no Ns?

600 D + 500 TXT = $237

Vodafone get 100 more TXTs and it’s $236

What if you send more than 50 TXT’s a month but less than 500? Shall we say 200?

60 D + 100 N + 200 TXT = $89

Vodafone is $63

Please, Please correct me if I am wrong, and tell me why.

At first glance this is what I see.

SilentOne

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Reply # 44864 28-Aug-2006 16:56

chiefie: It is essentially You Choose with a bit of twist and simpler... you just use what you paid, in any combo.

2) No offering of international calling option/package like You Choose (although I don't use it but at least if/when I need it I know i have the option).

But the "mobile credit" does count towards international calling... so theres no set minutes... but if you don't use the whole $30 / $45 in a month, you can still use it up with international calls.

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Reply # 44865 28-Aug-2006 17:30

lokinz: At first glance this is what I see.

While I haven’t sat down and done the sums, the Telecom plan does have an advantage in the fact as Silent One says it's a mobile credit to be used on any non subscription service. So for example if one month you where to use 100 day time minutes, and 400txts, and then the next month 150 day time minutes and 200txts you will always be on correct plan (with a minimum charge of either $30 or 45 per month) as Flexi, like the old adjustor plan adjust to suit your usage.

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Reply # 44866 28-Aug-2006 17:33

lokinz:
Ok, I’m not sure if I’m working this out right, but this is what it looks like to me.

Using the Telecom Flexi Calculator

For 60 Day(D) + 100 Nights/weekends(N) + 500 TXTs is $89
You can get that + 100 more TXTs for $68 on Vodafone

60 D + 100 N + 200 TXT = $89
Vodafone is $63

Please, Please correct me if I am wrong, and tell me why.

At first glance this is what I see.

The key to it is that it's ... flexi

The examples you used are based upon the base You Choose plans, using them Vodafone does work out cheaper.

Telecom are aiming for those people who don't want to be stuck with minutes they may not use, so for example if you have a base You Choose 60 plan but use 120 minutes one month it'll cost you $87.35 vs $69 with Flexi. On You Choose 120 minutes is only $59.95 on but on You Choose you're not automatically upgraded to the next tier in realtime during the month, you would have to upgrade at the end of the billing cycle if you want to use more minutes in the next month.

Flexi doesn't respresent the best deal for a large % of customers - for some however it does.

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