Help..Canadian Samsung m510 cellphone, can I use it in NZ?

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Help..Canadian Samsung m510 cellphone, can I use it in NZ?

KiwiSailor

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#18328 7-Jan-2008 08:28

Hi guy's,

I live in Canada and have just bought a Samsung m510 cellphone from Virgin mobile.

In 2 weeks I am coming to stay in Wellington for a month and I need to know if I can use my phone in NZ.

In Canada we get ripped off by not being able to to swap phones and providers.

I have heard that in NZ they reprogram the sim card..is that correct, if so is my phone capable of this?

I am not very savy with this technology so please be gentle with me.

If I cannot use my phone what would be the cheapest way to have a phone for a month?
I don't talk much, just 1 or 2 calls per day.

Sorry if this is not the correct forum but I didn't see one for cellphones.

Cheers
John

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#103238 7-Jan-2008 08:35

It is likely that your phone is locked to Virgin Mobile in which case it won't work with a local SIM card.

The phone will continue to work with your own SIM card, but you will be paying roaming fees which can get expensive.

If you are not interested in keeping your phone number while here then just buy a prepaid phone, the cheapest one, on your arrival...

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KiwiSailor

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Wannabe Geek
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#103239 7-Jan-2008 08:47

Thanks for the quick reply.

You are probably right. Are the prepaid phones $40-50-60-70 up?
Is Virgin in NZ? if not what would be the simplest and best company!

Thanks

bmw15

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#103241 7-Jan-2008 08:50

As an aside, your phone is CDMA not GSM and as such doesnt use SIM cards. I would concur and suggest you buy a prepaid phone $80-100usd is a good starting price

rscole86

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#103244 7-Jan-2008 08:55

Correct me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to bring it in as it is a CDMA phone. Only phone sold by Telecom will work on their CDMA network.

To get the M510 over here it will set you back NZ$400 or NZ$200 for the more basic M300.

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#103252 7-Jan-2008 09:18

rscole86: Correct me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to bring it in as it is a CDMA phone. Only phone sold by Telecom will work on their CDMA network.

You most likely be able to roam, however you will not be able to 'connect it locally' (ie. on Telecom Prepaid).

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#103264 7-Jan-2008 09:45

http://store.vodafone.co.nz/mobile_details_summary.aspx?ptrecno=1987
http://store.vodafone.co.nz/mobile_details_summary.aspx?ptrecno=3230

These are for phones only (GSM network)

YOur best bet to buy a sim card is online http://store.vodafone.co.nz/Plan_Details.aspx?PlanID=2 From vodafone stores (actual locations) they are $25 and no real benefit (as in free minutes) to buying them..

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KiwiSailor

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#103341 7-Jan-2008 14:53

Thanks for all the feedback, after reading your replies and the subject on Vodaphone parallel phones and their troubles with incompatability I have a much better understanding of what the differences are.

I'll look into the lowest cost prepaid when I get down there.
Probably will be .89 min anytime so I will have to keep it short.

These are the rates here in Toronto. I am currently on the .30 / min but might go to the 10.00/mth + .10 /min

I paid $149 for my m510

http://www.virginmobile.ca/site/en/pricesAndFeatures/html/pricesAndFeatures.html?WT.ac=prices_features_header_en

Thanks gentlemen

John