Vodafone New Zealand and parallel imported Handsets

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone New Zealand and parallel imported Handsets - part 2

compiler

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#16124 25-Sep-2007 21:30

I realise the original thread has been closed by a mod... perhaps because of Philip79...

AFTER reading the thread in full i then clicked through to the Voda statement about parallel imports supplied by Mauricio.

Amazing...

<voda quote>

Dropped calls
Missed calls
Calls that fail to connect
Delayed TXT messages
Weird voice call quality
Problems with SIM2 services
Problems with PXT
Problems with vlive!

<voda quote>

I have a New Zealand (Voda) purchased BlackberryPerl 8100...

I have experienced all of the above... three times... yes, i am on my third replacement 8100 due to complaining to my account manager about these exact issues.
Our company has about 40 Voda cell accounts. As the IT Manager i am in charge of these accounts internally and Voda are trying to do their best to keep me happy. We have 4 Blackberry 8100 handsets and the other 3 users have "politely" mentioned that they are not entirely happy with their new phone since our shift from Mr Telecom.

Appart from the fact that i don't give a rats about 'vlive' the other issues on the list are really getting up my nose.

Is anyone else experiencing similar issues with their non-parallel handset?
Can Voda assure us that their network is stable enough to deliver the service we require?
Last but not least...
Why is it that my handset exhibits the very same symptoms that Voda identify as potential issues with parallel imports?

Cheers and look forward to your comments...

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Hawkes Bay
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#88096 25-Sep-2007 21:33

Threads also get locked automatically through inactivity (30 days since last post I think).

Which thread are you talking about, might be good to unlock it, and continue it? (Your call, I have no opinion on it)

johnr

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#88097 25-Sep-2007 21:44

Hi Compiler

I take it you are running a BES have you checked the IT policy around PXT issues? also connecting to Vlive provisioning should be checked on Vodafone side for internet provisioning!
Also the 8100 is not a Vodafone live approved handset. Yes it can connect to Vodafone live but you can't do much on there.
There are some known issues around SIM2 services and lack of information included when SMS returned. This is been worked on!

Coverage you can't please everyone this affects different users different ways depending on where mobile is been used
Vodafone and Telecom do not mirror image coverage
Dropped calls have to be investigated on a case by case basis, Sometimes to resolve issues like this new sites have to be built, There is no mobile carrier in the world that does not have dropped calls.

Now for import phones are they are prone to more issues again

John

compiler

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#88098 25-Sep-2007 21:45

Hmmm... you are right... well over 30 days... more like 365+

Never mind... It was a sticky and due to the problems i have had with my 8100 I thought i had to comment...

johnr

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#88100 25-Sep-2007 21:53

I have a 8100 and happy with the way handset performs working off BES

No issues with PXT or connecting to Vodafone live or web pages!

I have read about issues and the white screen of death but have not seen it yet myself

compiler

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#88103 25-Sep-2007 22:05

Thanks for your comments Johnr...

your comment:
Dropped calls have to be investigated on a case by case basis, Sometimes to resolve issues like this new sites have to be built,

i agree to a certain extent...
i am all over the country all the time. all regions have better or worse coverage... However, I have continuous dropped calls with the 8100.

???...

freitasm

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#88124 26-Sep-2007 08:32

compiler: I realise the original thread has been closed by a mod... perhaps because of Philip79...

AS explained by Tony, no conspiracies going on. All topics are automatically locked after a month without posting, just to prevent people going off topic in old discussions and annoying the "residents".

bender

220 posts

Master Geek

#88246 27-Sep-2007 09:04

compiler: Thanks for your comments Johnr...

your comment:
Dropped calls have to be investigated on a case by case basis, Sometimes to resolve issues like this new sites have to be built,

i agree to a certain extent...
i am all over the country all the time. all regions have better or worse coverage... However, I have continuous dropped calls with the 8100.

???...

Same for us - our company shifted to Vodafone last year and the dropped calls drive everyone crazy to the point the heavier users have just gone back to using their old Telecom phones because at least the coverage is a damn sight better.

Approaching our account manager about the dropped calls just got a "oh Telecom have the same problem" response. Sure, I absolutely expect some calls to drop on a cellular network, but compared with Telecom calls drop a LOT more. Then he wanted our directors to write down every dropped call for two weeks which from a troubleshooting perspective would be good but unfortunately the directors don't have time to pull over to write in a book each time they lose a call whilst driving. I've noted a few myself but these won't be that useful since I don't make as many calls.

Not to mention we can't:
* View account minutes/balances online
* Get sane account minutes/balance responses via TXT (only tells us minutes left)
* Calling the 777 menu comes up with all sorts of bizarre minute balances, for example my phone apparently has 413 anytime minutes, 89 anytime minutes (HUH?!), and 60 something one off anytime minutes. No mention of my available TXT's.

Ironically with my Treo 750v which is not a parallel import I do get:

Dropped calls
Missed calls
Calls that fail to connect
Poor call quality

We've even had to return almost 1/4 of our phones as they mysteriously break. Of course none were covered by warranty as they apparently had water damage... pulling them apart myself didn't show signs of any, but at this point I've given up on Vodafone. We only had to replace 3 Telecom phones whilst with them for over 7 years, Vodafone we've had for a little over 9 months.

We eventually sent a letter to Vodafone's complaints address asking to be let out of our contract since the service clearly doesn't meet expectation, of course they didn't agree and wanted over $11k for us to return to Telecom. So much for the whole "commit to us and we commit to you".

Equinox IT

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mikal

172 posts

Master Geek

#88405 27-Sep-2007 21:06

Sounds like you got a really average account manager, my mates old company use to get really well looked after by Vodafone e.g. any blackberry faulty would get replaced.

Dropped calls occuring on the go? Like when your driving round town?
If so are the phones 3G?

My Vodafone works sweet

Type:	Your entitlement:	Remaining:	Expires on:

Free Anytime MBs	400	355.44	11/10/07
Offpeak	100	75	11/10/07
SMS	600	286	11/10/07
Anytime	60	0	11/10/07

One thing I gotta say is there software they load on is useless and looks like it adds more problems than the original manufacturer software.

bender

220 posts

Master Geek

#88419 27-Sep-2007 22:04

Hrm, My Vodafone has just started working again for my phone (this is after it stopped in February). Good I suppose but a bloody long time to have no idea whether we were close to our plan minutes or not.

The dropped calls are when we're on the move yes, the handsets are 3G but I forced them all to GSM because the battery life is short otherwise, so it's not 3G handover failing. Examples of where the phones don't work well are in our factory in Mangere - you get full reception but the call quality is broken and you struggle to have a conversation. Telecom CDMA phones work fine. Ignoring that one as buildings can sometimes be a pain... there's the Harbour Bridge, Auckland Domain, New North Road (around the Symonds Street end) where coverage is really bad. Again in these areas though the signal is usually reported as strong by the phone, it just seems to be poor quality as if something is interfering.

And yeah, we've had a bad run with account managers. Since joining we had 3 in the space of 3 months because they kept quitting (what does this tell you) and the current one we have is grumpy as hell when you speak with him.

I don't want to support Telecom, but when we left for Vodafone originally Telecom came after us offering better calling rates (we were still in contract and haven't cut our Telecom phones off, we're just not using them). When I wrote to Vodafone complaining that the service was sub-standard the response was that our termination charges would be over $11k.

The only reason I'm with Vodafone is for decent push mail devices (Telecom's Treo's are just way too chunky) and I roam a lot, which is why they won't lose me, at least for now. Once Telecom has GSM up and running I can't wait to switch.

vindaloo

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#88926 1-Oct-2007 16:08

Hey bender, just out of interest, is your Account Manager from Vodafone direct or from one of their resellers? (Digital Mobile, First Mobile etc)

ninjabear

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#88996 1-Oct-2007 22:18

I always use paralle handsets .I buy mine directly from Nokia Hk

I think if you buy from a genuine source then all of the problems you stated above apart from vodafone live won't affect it.

I know for sure if you just buy a random parallel handset without knowing where it came from.That would be a problem as you never know what they kinda stock they are selling.They could've fix the reception and refurbish it and then resell it

bender

220 posts

Master Geek

#88998 1-Oct-2007 22:33

vindaloo: Hey bender, just out of interest, is your Account Manager from Vodafone direct or from one of their resellers? (Digital Mobile, First Mobile etc)

Directly from Vodafone

paradoxsm

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#89009 2-Oct-2007 00:32

Vodafone simply state this as they want you to buy a customised, awful "Vodafone LIVE!" branded handset with crippled features at some overinflated price.

Dropped calls                                 Simply the unstable network and handoff problems they continue to have.
Missed calls                                 Just a quirk of their unstable overloaded network.
Calls that fail to connect                  I have not really experienced an issue with this I must admit
Delayed TXT messages                   This seems to have been better of late but it still goes out once a week.
Weird voice call quality                  I heard some really bad packet loss the other day.... VoIP! WTF!
Problems with SIM2 services          Like anyone cares!
Problems with PXT                        Only their own branded phones are non-compliant locked up paperweights.
Problems with vlive!                      Groan, funny the only problems I had with VLIVE was while using Vodafone branded handsets.

I have had no issues at all with My Parallel N95, it worked on everything, shame the service provider could not get their billing system up to any reliable state!

I have used many non-compliant phones with great success on their network, as for their own "Vodafone" branded phones, They have a huge and long history of being rubbish,

Ninkul

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#89580 5-Oct-2007 00:30

Welll, i plan on getting a K850i shortly after it comes out. I imported a K800i and it works fine, nothing i cant use..?

ninjabear

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#89581 5-Oct-2007 00:42

I am happy to say K850i is schedule to be release this month thru sony ericsson hong kong and also w910i is on the list

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