vodafone's 3G network

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › vodafone's 3G network

lance4k

74 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#4178 7-Jun-2005 14:25

Ok if u have a 3G phone on vodafone's new WCDMA network and u call a normal landline phone will the voice quality on the 3G phone be better than a 2G phone? like sometime on a 2G phone its a bit choppy and u hear an echo sometimes.

Also Vodafone should be released 3G mobile phones now because their gona launch their network in 1 month. Wonder what the PRICE of the 3G phone/s will be.

hope they will LIVE television and radio services on it. can't wait for VIDEO calling too.

1 | 2

543 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#15344 7-Jun-2005 19:03

I believe video calling will be overrated.
Handsets will be at the $1000nz range, with some variance.
I agree it would be good to have the phones launched now and not on day 1.

I doubt 3g will be used for plain voice calling, video calling yes because of the associated data. But like on the Harrier which drops back to 1x from EV-DO for voice calls.

Echo is somewhat more about the handset, connection and reception related

Good to see a thread on the topic, it'll be interesting what comes up

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#15346 7-Jun-2005 21:10

I would think that the handsets will launch with the network, otherwise the impact of the launch of either would be diminished somewhat

"Buy a 3G phone, but it cant do 3G services yet"
or
"Hey, look at us, we have a flash whiz-bang network, you can start using your phone now"

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#15361 8-Jun-2005 09:48

SNicolle when in 3G coverage your basic voice call will be across the 3G W-CDMA network it will only drop back to 2G when you leave 3G coverage.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#15362 8-Jun-2005 10:20

"I doubt 3g will be used for plain voice calling, video calling yes because of the associated data. But like on the Harrier which drops back to 1x from EV-DO for voice calls."

Unlike EV-DO WCDMA is an entirely new network. Telecom's 3G network isn't really like Vodafone's 3G network - EVDO is basically just a data ugrade of the CDMA network to offer faster data. WCDMA is an entirely new network built from scratch that runs in parallel to the GSM network. When you are on the WCDMA network your calls are '3G', if you are not in a WCDMA coverage area your phone will function as a standard GSM phone, if you move between the GSM network and WCDMA network your phone will handover between the 2 networks.

In regards to phone pricing you can get WCDMA handsets for under $400 now if you but one from any of the parallel importers. Vodafone however will launch with a range of handsets which are all Live! capable. Based on pricing from overseas and the excessive markups in NZ expect to probably pay a bit more than this. Having said that I would highly suspect Vodafone will offer some very good deals for existing high end and preferrential customers like they have done in the past regularly.

SNicolle

543 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#15372 8-Jun-2005 11:51

my ignorance forgot it is a standalone network with fallback to gsm.
oh well thanks for correcting me.

I am on prepay for convenience but will pretty much undoubtedly upgrading to a 3g handset and to a contract around launch, prior to this though prepay has suited me just fine.
I got a promo text or two from vodafone offering me handset upgrades which was nice but that was a while ago now.

Ambrose_1

252 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#15759 17-Jun-2005 17:18

I got a 3G mobile, not all cell towers have been upgraded though like at my home if i search for networks i get vodafone nz gsm as normal but if im in town or at tec i can pick up the 3g signal, although i can connect to it for a second before it tells me its a forbidden

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

taniwha

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#15786 18-Jun-2005 12:58

sounds alot like the days when telecom went cdma. except there weren't any handsets that knew how to fall back to d-amps, and they made everyone change phone numbers..
hmmm...

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#15789 18-Jun-2005 15:40

Yes but 021 customers will keep the same number same SIM card

taniwha

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#15792 18-Jun-2005 18:27

i'm also thinking, if the 3G coverage is only in cities - well, i can get public wifi there already, so what's the point?

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#15794 18-Jun-2005 19:05

vodafone would be either...

a: foolish to not match telecoms 3g coverage
or
b: foolish to even bother rolling out a slower network, later than telecoms

im not sure which yet

taniwha

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#15795 18-Jun-2005 19:18

Vodafone has been kicking tcom's butt for ages in one area: cool handsets. GSM has an impressive array of long time handset manufactuers that cdma just doesn't have. i'd expect the same to continue in the gsm3G.

as a result: vodafone have a loyal customer base, of folks who embrace the latest technology - sometimes only because it's the latest. - but they're willing to spend it up on gimicks like video calls, mobile data and other stuff that more conservative old-time telecom customers have never really been in to.

Voda's not foolish - they gotta do 3G

afterall, most of telecom's recent new customers are folks who left vodafone - they can be woo-ed back with the right shiny new toy, and some aggressive pricing. (but not happening any time soon)

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#15798 19-Jun-2005 00:25

disenchanted your post is just out right silly. Have you not read about HSPDA, 3G opens new doors for both networks and its going to be good for the consumer and I hope they benefit from this in pricing and range of handsets.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41029

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#15799 19-Jun-2005 00:32

johnr: disenchanted you are so wrong and your post is just out right silly. Have you not read about HSPDA, 3G opens new doors for both networks.

As far as everyone is concerned this technology is still being tested and Vodafone will start with UMTS.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#15800 19-Jun-2005 00:35

I know they will start with UMTS but disenchanted makes it sound like as if thats the end of it, Both networks will have lots to offer and its going to be good to see.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#15801 19-Jun-2005 10:49

"I know they will start with UMTS but disenchanted makes it sound like as if thats the end of it, Both networks will have lots to offer and its going to be good to see. "

I was merely giving an opinion that for some users, coverage and speed really do matter. Just because 021 has great handsets, doesnt mean that a: telecom has bad ones or that b: i will change back to being an 021 user.

Those users for whom handset choice top of the priority list may have a great experience with vodas initial 3G offering (no matter what it is or where it is).

For those who require a data card, the handset choice means nothing, and coverage speed price mean a whole lot more. (I would expect to see both networks data pricing change completely by Xmas '05).

Want video calling in Auckland? Best go 021
Want 500kbps over mobile in Gore? Best go 027

Horses for courses. Wasnt trying to be silly, just pointing out that I personally think its not in Vodafones best interests to choose to lose the 3G coverage race before it even starts. If they take my advice, its royalty free, just for them :-)

We will all be looking back at 384 / 500 kbps in a few years and laughing, as we surf Internet2 at 10MBps over mobile (or more).

1 | 2