Vodafone NZ locking handsets

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#128147 3-May-2008 12:20

This is not the first time Vodafone NZ have locked the handsets. Back in the early days, all prepay phones were locked. This changed when they no longer subsidised these handsets. You could then get them unlock at no charge. Actually, I think you may have been able to get them unlocked after 3months or something like that too.

Maybe the $50 covers Brightpoint first locking the handset, then unlocking the handset. So maybe Brightpoint is the real winner here.

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#128149 3-May-2008 12:29

coffeebaron: Back in the early days, all prepay phones were locked. This changed when they no longer subsidised these handsets.

Subsidy is the keyword. So far Vodafone went to some lengths to explain why their phones are now locked (without much success I must say). But they didn't have a single word if the phone were subsidised.

Actually, this is a great spin there... Their explanation that the phones are locked to "protect the customer experience" means that they can get away with locking full priced phones - since they are not locking the phones to protect their own costs due to subsidy.

I have no problems accepting SIM locks, if Vodafone NZ were to act like other players do in more competitive markets: providing free or heavily subsidised handsets to entice customers... No, Vodafone wants to "protect your experience" and charge full retail price at the same time.

What a joke.

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#128155 3-May-2008 12:49

Even with free of heavily subsidised contract phones, there is no need to lock the device. The terms of the contract include the full price of the phone. Otherwise, people will be buying them on contract, breaking the contract, unlocking the phone and selling the phone.

Therefore, there is nothing about the phone itself (price, service, security) that requires a lock. The only reason I can see is to force the customer to use their Vodafone NZ SIM when roaming overseas - securing the international roaming revenue.

From what I understand, more and more business travellers are picking up cheap prepaid SIMs in European airports when they arrive to avoid the roaming charges.

There is one other reason, and that is to prevent teens and other people with multiple accounts from combining their devices to one phone with multiple SIMs. Vodafone is counting on traffic over and above the amounts built into the contracts. This would be more obvious if we knew if the devices were SIM or carrier locked. If they are SIM locked, that means they want to prevent people with data contracts from buying a second data contract when they get close to their limit (for the cheap initial bundle of data), instead incurring insane overage charges.

However, there is no reason inherent in the price of the phone that would benefit from a locked device (even a free phone!).

[Edit: spelling]

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#128272 3-May-2008 20:36

jpollock: Why is locking reasonable when the phone is under contract?

If there is a termination clause on the contract, why lock it down?

I guess, in a attempt to stop you getting a nice phone from provider A, which may have bad call costs, and a sim from provider B (who may not have the phone, or may charge loads for it, but their pricing is better for calls)

Vodafone UK vrs Three would be an example of this. VFUK's prices are usually quite high - esp for data - but three is cheap. However, three's handsets are naff.....

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robbypreb

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#128276 3-May-2008 20:54

If anyone believes this is anti competitive, you should contact the commerce commission at http://www.comcom.govt.nz/Inquiries/contactus.aspx . Making them aware of this issue, will mean that they will at least look into it. Just because their company does this in other countries, doesn't mean that they can do it here. NZ does have a very different mobile market to those other countries, and we do already have the highest mobile calling rates in the world (eg $1.39 per minute to call a non VF phone on prepaid) . Therefore any action that is viewed as possibily anticompetitve could be reversed by them.

Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

nzbnw

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#128281 3-May-2008 21:05

robbypreb: If anyone believes this is anti competitive, you should contact the commerce commission at http://www.comcom.govt.nz/Inquiries/contactus.aspx .

I don't condone locking handsets, but at this point in time, it is not anti competitive, as there are no other GSM / WCDMA operators in New Zealand to switch to. Sure you can switch to Telecom, but you need a new handset, which is true in reverse as well. This will become more of an anti competitive issue when Telecom and NZC launch their mobile networks.

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johnr

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#128282 3-May-2008 21:12

robbypreb

Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

Amazing how you came to this!!

Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00.

www.vodafone.com.au/unlock

Its $80 + TAX

robbypreb

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#128283 3-May-2008 21:14

nzbnw:
robbypreb: If anyone believes this is anti competitive, you should contact the commerce commission at http://www.comcom.govt.nz/Inquiries/contactus.aspx .

I don't condone locking handsets, but at this point in time, it is not anti competitive, as there are no other GSM / WCDMA operators in New Zealand to switch to. Sure you can switch to Telecom, but you need a new handset, which is true in reverse as well. This will become more of an anti competitive issue when Telecom and NZC launch their mobile networks.

nzbnw

It is however a premptive move by VF, as both of those providers will be providing GSM services this year. That would be the main reason why they did it, apart from the iphone speculation.
If VF do this, both the other providers will also probably do it too. At least if the CC look at it now, the public can feel more comfortable about it. ONe of the reasons the CC didn't regulate the mobile market, was because they believed that there was going to be more competition in the market, but this type of move by VF could change the CC's view on this. The CC may not allow it, which will be very good for the consumer.

robbypreb

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#128284 3-May-2008 21:19

johnr: robbypreb
Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

Amazing how you came to this!!

Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00.

www.vodafone.com.au/unlock

Where does it say $80+GST??? Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. I assume the others are free based on it not quoting any price, and doing it online, means that the normal offline unlocking price is $25.
The link was in the NZ Herald too. Surely if it can be unlocked for free in Oz, there is no reason it can't be done here, especially as both VFNZ and VZ Oz seem to be very closely associated to each other. It is amzing what VFNZ doesn't tell you in their press releases. They claim locking is standard practice all over the world, but they don't saythat our neighbours over the ditch can unlock their phone through a website for free.

johnr

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#128285 3-May-2008 21:22

robbypreb:
johnr: robbypreb
Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

Amazing how you came to this!!

Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00.

www.vodafone.com.au/unlock

The link was in the NZ Herald too. Surely if it can be unlocked for free in Oz, there is no reason it can't be done here, especially as both VFNZ and VZ Oz seem to be very closely associated to each other. It is amzing what VFNZ doesn't tell you in their press releases. They claim locking is standard practice all over the world, but they don't saythat our neighbours over the ditch can unlock their phone through a website for free.

Its not free to unlock handsets in AU

I suggest you do more research. CSI

manhinli

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#128286 3-May-2008 21:22

Wow... here are the details for the Vodafone AU unlocking:

The unlock fee is structured as follows:

A basic fee of $50 to unlock the handset at any time, reduced to $25 if you obtain your unlock code using Vodafone's website at vodafone.com.au/unlock.

Plus additional $50 to unlock you handset within six months of purchase.

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robbypreb

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#128289 3-May-2008 21:27

johnr:
robbypreb:
johnr: robbypreb
Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

Amazing how you came to this!!

Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00.

www.vodafone.com.au/unlock

The link was in the NZ Herald too. Surely if it can be unlocked for free in Oz, there is no reason it can't be done here, especially as both VFNZ and VZ Oz seem to be very closely associated to each other. It is amzing what VFNZ doesn't tell you in their press releases. They claim locking is standard practice all over the world, but they don't saythat our neighbours over the ditch can unlock their phone through a website for free.

Its not free to unlock handsets in AU

I suggest you do more research before coming online!!! CSI

Where does it say $80+GST??? It says QUote" Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00."
There is NOTHING about an $80 fee, and from this page, I can only assume that it is free, based on it not quoting any price, apart from the $25 saving. It also impies that doing it offline, the unlocking price is $25. It also says 'charges may apply for some handsets' which implies others can be unlocked for no fee. Or is this just badly written by VF Oz.

nzbnw

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#128290 3-May-2008 21:27

Vodafone AU do sort of contradict themselves through

Vodafone AU: There may be a charge associated with unlocking your handset.

Then go on to say:

Vodafone AU: There are two ways of obtaining your unlock instructions both require you to have a credit card to make the payment.

Caveat emptor!

http://www.vodafone.com.au/Personal/HelpSupport/YourMobile/Unlockingyourhandset/index.htm

nzbnw

johnr

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#128291 3-May-2008 21:28

nzbnw: Vodafone AU do sort of contradict themselves through
Vodafone AU: There may be a charge associated with unlocking your handset.

Then go on to say:

Vodafone AU: There are two ways of obtaining your unlock instructions both require you to have a credit card to make the payment.

Caveat emptor!

http://www.vodafone.com.au/Personal/HelpSupport/YourMobile/Unlockingyourhandset/index.htm

nzbnw

Older handsets are free!!

sbiddle

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#128292 3-May-2008 21:30

johnr: robbypreb
Also maybe VF can explain why it is FREE for VF to unlock your phone in Australia, and you can do it online, although they do say that some phones will cost $25 to unlock. However VF here are going to charge double that.

Amazing how you came to this!!

Charges apply for unlocking some handsets. Unlocking your handset online saves you $25.00.

www.vodafone.com.au/unlock

Its $80 + TAX

Only $50 incl according to the website

http://www.vodafone.com.au/Personal/HelpSupport/YourMobile/Unlockingyourhandset/index.htm

And only $25 if you unlock online.

Some stores will still unlock for free on the spot if you pay full price for a phone which is a lot less than the "full price" here in NZ for many handsets!

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