Forums › Vodafone New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone NZ locking handsets

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15 posts

Geek

#127834 2-May-2008 10:36

PaulBrislen said:

Vodafone’s mobiles are sold exclusively for use on Vodafone New Zealand’s network.

I guess that's buried in the T&C somewhere... Although, I somehow think that buying a new mobile, minus contract, wouldn't come with T&C... so I call bovine fecal matter.

From 1 May we are locking new handsets to our network. All new handsets sold will include information about handset locking and how to unlock handsets.

Locked handsets can be unlocked for a fee of $50.

So if I buy a phone, without a contract, or my contract expires, and I move to, say, Aussie, I have pay for the privilege of using Vodafone & buying a Vodafone handset. I feel much better now.

This is being done to protect the customers’ experience of the Vodafone brand. Vodafone brands its mobiles with both the Vodafone and Vodafone Live! look and feel. If a customers takes a Vodafone mobile to another network, the customer won’t be able to access the Vodafone experience and services.

I wonder how many consumers are going to buy a Vodafone handset, then move to another network & then complain about not being able to access Vodafone Live. Not many, and I imagine that most of the complaints would go to the network they're on. So again, I call bovine fecal matter.

This sounds as hollow as region zoning on DVDs, and possibly equally as illegal. If I buy a handset from Vodafone, and then move to another network, and I'm unable to use my phone, wouldn't that make the phone unsuitable for the purpose it was purchased for? It's an externally applied restriction to protect market share, not to protect the consumer from moving to another network.

One bonus with parallel importing is that the phone won't be locked, it'll be cheaper, and, on top of that, probably faster. I imagine that Vodafone will start losing a lot of handset purchases once people start realising that they can't change networks without the hassle of getting the phone unlocked. As has been mentioned, I imagine Telecom & NZCom will just pay the unlocking charge, same as most ISP pay the churn charge for ADSL.

manhinli

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#127836 2-May-2008 10:43

Anyone remember this?

Vodafone would not need to lock its handsets as 95 per cent would not work on Telecom's planned network.

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Macros

15 posts

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#127838 2-May-2008 10:49

Oh, if this is to protect customers from the bad bad networks, where's the PR announcing this preemptive protection for customers?

Paul Brislen: Want to explain why it hasn't been announced by Vodafone?

Oh, & how's this for interesting?

... Tuanz head Ernie Newman warned Telecom could lock their handsets when they sold them to stop their use on other networks.

Kursten Shalfoon, Vodafone New Zealand's general manager products and services, said Vodafone would not need to lock its handsets as 95 per cent would not work on Telecom's planned mobile network.

From last year: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10446490

Macros

15 posts

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#127839 2-May-2008 10:50

manhinli: Anyone remember this?

Vodafone would not need to lock its handsets as 95 per cent would not work on Telecom's planned network.

Bugger, you beat me to it!

sbiddle

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#127840 2-May-2008 10:53

manhinli: Anyone remember this?

Vodafone would not need to lock its handsets as 95 per cent would not work on Telecom's planned network.

And this from the same article..

Shalfoon said the frequency - how the mobile device connects to the network - is different to that used by Vodafone's 3G network.

Telecom are using the same frequency band for it's 3G network as what Vodafone are!

Madmax77

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#127843 2-May-2008 11:01

From the Vodafone website

Unlocking your Vodafone mobile

From April 2008, in line with global industry standard practice, Vodafone NZ will begin locking mobiles sold through official Vodafone channels.

Vodafone NZ mobiles are specially designed to work with the Vodafone NZ network, so you can get the best possible Vodafone experience. For example, Vodafone customises mobiles with Vodafone Live! and other services. If you take a Vodafone mobile to another network, some of the functions would no longer work, such as Vodafone Live!

This means that if you wish to put another provider’s SIM card into your Vodafone NZ mobile, you’ll need to request your mobile's unlock code.

This doesn’t affect Vodafone NZ global roaming at all. You can still roam with your mobile as usual. However, if you wish to put another network provider’s SIM card into your Vodafone NZ mobile whilst travelling overseas, you may need to unlock the mobile first. This includes Vodafone SIM cards from other countries.

Requesting an unlock code

Vodafone New Zealand’s official unlocking supplier Brightpoint can be contacted on the following numbers to request an unlock code.

From within New Zealand, call 0800 VF UNLOCK (0800 838 656)
From overseas, call +64 9 368 7069

Brightpoint operates Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. If you call out of these hours, please leave a message and Brightpoint will return your call.

A $50 fee applies to unlock your mobile.

How to enter the code

Instructions to do this vary, depending on the mobile model you are using. When you put the new SIM card into your mobile, you should be asked for the code to unlock this mobile. Enter the unlock code you were given by Brightpoint.

Should you experience any problems unlocking your phone, please contact Vodafone’s official unlocking supplier Brightpoint on the above numbers.

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/help/unlocking-your-mobile.jsp

mushion22

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#127847 2-May-2008 11:11

freitasm:
destined: The big difference I see here though (and I assume you are referring to say WorldXchange) is that they VoIP providers limit the devices that you can bring onto their network - they don't care where you source them from, just what they are. They then lock the settings down while you are a customer, and then will release those settings if you wish to leave. SIM unlocking is all about keeping the device on our network - we want you to buy it from us and stay with us. What WxC is doing with VoIP is "protecting the customer experience". What SIM locking is doing is trying to tie me to a provider long term, by increasing the barriers to change (again).

Exactly. WorldxChange guarantees the service works with those settings but the device is yours. You just need to do a reset and it is all free.

Vodafone guarantees the device works only with their network. And you have to pay to be free. They are trying to make it harder for people to switch services.

Yep WxC is one example. iTalk do the same thing with the equipment they sell but they don't lock their network to only support those devices.
It is indeed quite different. WxC etc do it to a) stop rogue devices busting their network, and b) to make sure the device is set up correctly and c) so that the device is compatible with their online management etc.
Seeing as the phones VF sell generally have their own software installed, I think the 'Protecting the Vodafone Experience' line is BS. The only vaguely related way I can see this argument make sense would be if they were going to only allow simlocked phones onto their network, thus cutting out the rifraff of parallel imported and foreign phones. It's feasible I suppose. They could have a database of current IMEIs and any new IMEI must match that of a new phone distro'd thru Brightpoint that hasn't been unlocked. Would make a few headlines though, and I think (hope!) the ComCom would come knocking.

mushion22

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#127849 2-May-2008 11:17

This doesn’t affect Vodafone NZ global roaming at all. You can still roam with your mobile as usual. However, if you wish to put another network provider’s SIM card into your Vodafone NZ mobile whilst travelling overseas, you may need to unlock the mobile first. This includes Vodafone SIM cards from other countries.

I see some hands rubbing and mouths drooling at roaming revenue and unlocking revenue. 'Tis true that many people zip overseas and whack in a local SIM. Conveniently Telecom gave me an unlocked GSM loan phone to use here (more specifically because I am going thru the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore for a while on my way back to NZ where CDMA is a no-go). Hrmmm maybe I shouldn't let that slip ;)

coffeebaron

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#127853 2-May-2008 11:21

Madmax77: Vodafone NZ mobiles are specially designed to work with the Vodafone NZ network, so you can get the best possible Vodafone experience. For example, Vodafone customises mobiles with Vodafone Live! and other services. If you take a Vodafone mobile to another network, some of the functions would no longer work, such as Vodafone Live!
This means that if you wish to put another provider’s SIM card into your Vodafone NZ mobile, you’ll need to request your mobile's unlock code.

This bit makes no sense. If you move to another provider, ofcourse your Vodafone services won't work. Also, their unlock procedure is still going to leave it as a Vodafone branded handset. So this statement has nothing to do with locking their handsets.
Makes perfect cents to Vodafone I guess

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cranz

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#127855 2-May-2008 11:22

It was inevitable.. Vodafone, NZComms and Telecom were all going to lock their handsets - it makes sense.

Vodafone has announced it first and copt the flack.

I don't use the Vodafone Live services so the branded phone is no advantage to me, however a lot of customers do use Vodafone Live. I read somewhere that the Vodafone Music store was the #1 music store in New Zealand. SkyTV's uptake was large also, not to mention the "For the Guys" content which generates a lot of visits.. Wait till people bring Telecom branded phones across to Vodafone and expect all these services to work flawlessly - after all it's just a phone to the general public, right?

If they don't heavily subsidize phones and expect me to pay full price + "privilege for using their network" charge then I simply wont buy any phones from them, any of the network providers. There are plenty of other places to get phones and the general public knows this as well, most people now know you can get cheaper phones at importers than at the providers themselves.

We have options - you don't have to buy a locked phone and I know I wont be

[disclaimer] tries not to sound pro Vodafone as this affects all MNO's, also lack of coffee whilst writing [/disclaimer]

sbiddle

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#127858 2-May-2008 11:29

I think this whole VF bashing is going bit far. It was inevitable VF would SIM lock their handsets, we've discussed this on here numerous times recently. I'm not sure why so many people seem surprised that this has happened.

The reality is that phones are heavily customised with operator firmware and this makes moving them between networks an unrealistic option anyway. My main gripe however is the cost, there should be no charge for this unlock code is the phone is sold at a full price. As others have mentioned Vodafone have just created a market that will be worth millions to 3rd parties to unlock phones!

jpollock

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#127864 2-May-2008 11:50

sbiddle:
The reality is that phones are heavily customised with operator firmware and this makes moving them between networks an unrealistic option anyway. My main gripe however is the cost, there should be no charge for this unlock code is the phone is sold at a full price. As others have mentioned Vodafone have just created a market that will be worth millions to 3rd parties to unlock phones!

Really? Other than branding and settings, what does Vodafone modify in the actual phone firmware? I was under the impression that Vodafone Live was a sim toolkit application - and therefore stored on the SIM, not the phone.

Also, from what I've read, manufacturers are starting to include carrier settings in the base firmware - removing that barrier.

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NZtechfreak

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#127865 2-May-2008 11:52

sbiddle: I think this whole VF bashing is going bit far. It was inevitable VF would SIM lock their handsets, we've discussed this on here numerous times recently. I'm not sure why so many people seem surprised that this has happened.

Has anyone expressed surprise? This didn't come as a surprise to many of us.

But why is it going a bit far? Just because it makes a kind of business-sense to Vodafone, and was predictable, doesn't mean they shouldn't be criticised for taking a step that is bad for consumers.

Its like non- fairtrade coffee. It makes sense for companies to rip off workers in third world countries, but that hardly means they're above criticism right?

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amanzi

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#127868 2-May-2008 11:59

sbiddle: I think this whole VF bashing is going bit far. It was inevitable VF would SIM lock their handsets, we've discussed this on here numerous times recently. I'm not sure why so many people seem surprised that this has happened.

The reality is that phones are heavily customised with operator firmware and this makes moving them between networks an unrealistic option anyway. My main gripe however is the cost, there should be no charge for this unlock code is the phone is sold at a full price. As others have mentioned Vodafone have just created a market that will be worth millions to 3rd parties to unlock phones!

I think Vodafone deserves to be bashed if they don't start subsidising the cost of their phones now that the locking is in place. So far we've heard nothing from Vodafone about whether there will be price drops or not. Personally, I'd rather have subsidised prices with locked phones. But locked phones at full price - no way.

eXDee

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#127872 2-May-2008 12:13

I dont mind if its locked for the contract, or for a minimum amount of time, but $50 to freely use something that you own is pathetic.

Blah, no way im going to be switching to vodafone.

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