PaulBrislen: let's not forget that you breach your terms and conditions of use with this kind of carry on

brcjackson: Vodafone don't like it because they loose money, going from Vodafone getting around 80cents per min for every call I make, to zero cents per min and I can chat to most of the world for ages (not that I do) . If Vodafone dropped there calling charges to world standards then these kind solutions would'nt be required, but while both telecom & vodafone charge us like a wounded bull - this is only natural that people dont want to get ripped off.

brcjackson: Sure, but if mobile to landline rates where around 20c, less people would bother. But when mobile to landline rates are around 80c more people would bother.  You also need to take into account the cost of the device.  Tony Hughes mentioned that Telecom are releasing a "$400 to call mobiles and landlines on an unlimited" well I'll do this on Vodafone and 2talk for just $95 per month and share the cost to three friends so we each pay $31. This incl the cost of the device on finance, the Voda plan and the 2talk plan with unlimitted calling to 40 destinations inc NZ, and get 100 mobile mins - its a no brainer.

PaulBrislen: Hold on a second... I think you're operating with some faulty assumptions.

First off, Vodafone's prices are in the top half of the OECD. So you're paying less with Vodafone NZ than with MOST other OECD countries.

Secondly, we're talking here about a user group that costs $20 a month and allows you to call, TXT and video call between four people.

Are you saying that's too expensive?

Thirdly, Vodafone is doing all the work introducing these products and offering this level of value. Don't see any such innovation from the other players. Try reminding them once in a while.

Fourthly, this thread is about taking one product (Family) and using it for a purpose for which it is not intended. And somehow Vodafone is trying to have it both ways? I think not.

Cheers

Paul

willnz:

PaulBrislen: Hold on a second... I think you're operating with some faulty assumptions.

First off, Vodafone's prices are in the top half of the OECD. So you're paying less with Vodafone NZ than with MOST other OECD countries.

Secondly, we're talking here about a user group that costs $20 a month and allows you to call, TXT and video call between four people.

Are you saying that's too expensive?

Thirdly, Vodafone is doing all the work introducing these products and offering this level of value. Don't see any such innovation from the other players. Try reminding them once in a while.

Fourthly, this thread is about taking one product (Family) and using it for a purpose for which it is not intended. And somehow Vodafone is trying to have it both ways? I think not.

Cheers

Paul

Well said Paul. But, I think as with any product, people are always going to find some way to use it for purposes which it might not have been intended for. But so long as those purposes don't cause harm to the network or other users, and don't create excessive losses to the company (ie, someone doesn't start running an entire contact centre on GSM gateways and BestMates/Family) - then a bit of tolerance should be given.

I think Vodafone is providing that tolerance now - and good on them for doing so. But the day when Vodafone starts telling Joe Bloggs that makes a few minutes worth of calls a day through a GSM gateway that they're going to send in the blackhawks, is the day that I and probably quite a few others will be leaving Vodafone.

PaulBrislen:

willnz:

PaulBrislen: Hold on a second... I think you're operating with some faulty assumptions.

First off, Vodafone's prices are in the top half of the OECD. So you're paying less with Vodafone NZ than with MOST other OECD countries.

Secondly, we're talking here about a user group that costs $20 a month and allows you to call, TXT and video call between four people.

Are you saying that's too expensive?

Thirdly, Vodafone is doing all the work introducing these products and offering this level of value. Don't see any such innovation from the other players. Try reminding them once in a while.

Fourthly, this thread is about taking one product (Family) and using it for a purpose for which it is not intended. And somehow Vodafone is trying to have it both ways? I think not.

Cheers

Paul

Well said Paul. But, I think as with any product, people are always going to find some way to use it for purposes which it might not have been intended for. But so long as those purposes don't cause harm to the network or other users, and don't create excessive losses to the company (ie, someone doesn't start running an entire contact centre on GSM gateways and BestMates/Family) - then a bit of tolerance should be given.

I think Vodafone is providing that tolerance now - and good on them for doing so. But the day when Vodafone starts telling Joe Bloggs that makes a few minutes worth of calls a day through a GSM gateway that they're going to send in the blackhawks, is the day that I and probably quite a few others will be leaving Vodafone.

I hear what you're saying and I agree with you 100%. That's what I'm saying here - if you abuse the service to the point where it impacts noticably we will cut it off and that's not good for anyone. Keep it within the parameters and there's no problem. Hammer the service (Best Mate, for example, being used as an intercom 24/7) and we'll step in and cut you off.

Cheers

Paul