Vodafone reps giving incorrent information re. Telecoms new network

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Vodafone reps giving incorrent information re. Telecoms new network

undecided

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#23157 20-Jun-2008 12:00

Went into a Vodafone store the other day, mentioned that I had a Telecom phone and that I'd read they had a new network coming and I wasn;t sure what I'd have to do with my phone. I was told that all Telecom customers are going to have to buy a new phone in November and that our current phones will become defunct. What a joke....I wonder how many sales they've got our of conning people into thinking Telecom was going to 'do an 025' on them again. Not good!

VFNZPaulBrislen

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#139373 20-Jun-2008 12:56

undecided: Went into a Vodafone store the other day, mentioned that I had a Telecom phone and that I'd read they had a new network coming and I wasn;t sure what I'd have to do with my phone. I was told that all Telecom customers are going to have to buy a new phone in November and that our current phones will become defunct. What a joke....I wonder how many sales they've got our of conning people into thinking Telecom was going to 'do an 025' on them again. Not good!

I think what they mean is if you're a Telecom customer and want to use Telecom's new network you will need a new phone. This is true as the two networks use completely different technology. Even Telecom's existing GSM phones (the Worldmode phones) won't work on Telecom's new network as far as I'm aware. Perhaps someone from Telecom can answer that one.

And of course eventually (not in November but eventually) Telecom will cut off its existing CDMA network, so eventually all Telecom customers will need GSM-based phones.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

johnr

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#139374 20-Jun-2008 12:58

The rep was correct CDMA phones can not be used on the there new GSM network so Telecom NZ customers will require new handsets!

The Telecom CDMA network will be around for a few more years!
Also the telecom 2G network is going to be 850mhz and not all handsets support this freq (alot do though)

s.joseph

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#139376 20-Jun-2008 13:05

no the vodafone rep worded that wrong, they will not become defunct! Vodafone reps tend to think you're stupid, well thats my experience anyway

undecided

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#139379 20-Jun-2008 13:16

Thanks for your replys,

Whether the CSR simply worded it wrong or not, it certainly gave the impression that all Telecom phones were going to be defunct and only new phones would be supported, hey it may have been a simple mistake, we all make them

nzbnw

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#139393 20-Jun-2008 14:31

PaulBrislen:

I think what they mean is if you're a Telecom customer and want to use Telecom's new network you will need a new phone. This is true as the two networks use completely different technology. Even Telecom's existing GSM phones (the Worldmode phones) won't work on Telecom's new network as far as I'm aware. Perhaps someone from Telecom can answer that one.

And of course eventually (not in November but eventually) Telecom will cut off its existing CDMA network, so eventually all Telecom customers will need GSM-based phones.

Cheers

Paul

That’s correct. Telecom's new network will be a blend of 850 MHz GSM/EDGE and 2100 MHz HSPA. Worldmode phones use 900 MHz GSM and the Okta Mondo, Blackberry and Samsung Global uses 1800 MHz also, and as such they will use CDMA when in NZ, but GSM in non CDMA detonations.

Telecom has publicly stated that CDMA will be around until at least 2012.

nzbnw

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#139395 20-Jun-2008 14:41

Hmm I wouldn't go to a McD to ask for a BK product/service? I'd do my own research?

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bazzer

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#139402 20-Jun-2008 15:17

undecided: I wonder how many sales they've got our of conning people into thinking Telecom was going to 'do an 025' on them again. Not good!

What does that mean? Isn't that exactly what they're doing? I don't recall TDMA being switched off as soon as CDMA went live, I'd assume it's the same with CDMA switch off. They'll turn it off eventually, right?

tonyhughes

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#139403 20-Jun-2008 15:35

bazzer:
undecided: I wonder how many sales they've got our of conning people into thinking Telecom was going to 'do an 025' on them again. Not good!

What does that mean? Isn't that exactly what they're doing? I don't recall TDMA being switched off as soon as CDMA went live, I'd assume it's the same with CDMA switch off. They'll turn it off eventually, right?

It comes down to peoples perception - many people believe they were given no/insufficient/ambiguous notice about 025 closure, when in fact Telecom made it very public for years, with adverts in major papers, many news articles in mainstream media, multiple press releases, phone calls and text messages to customers, letters to customers, in-store collateral, sales training for corporate, retail and dealer staff and more.

I guess they didn't budget enough for training VFNZ staff (tongue in cheek).

They ARE "doing an 025", and it is a good thing. I believe CDMA handsets will continue to function for another 5 years or so, which in my ~~enlightened and important~~ humble and considered opinion is an extremely reasonable lifespan for any handset bought this year or earlier. Come the new network, I would hope they stop selling CDMA handsets soon afterwards, as less than 5 years lifespan for a handset is probably not acceptable to most people.

robbypreb

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#139405 20-Jun-2008 15:37

PaulBrislen:

And of course eventually (not in November but eventually) Telecom will cut off its existing CDMA network, so eventually all Telecom customers will need GSM-based phones.

Cheers

Paul

Yes, but it won't be for at least 4 years, and almost no one keeps a phone for over 4 years, so that isn't going to be a problem.

jree

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#139407 20-Jun-2008 15:49

Why would you go to a vfnz store to ask a question about your telecom phone and the future usability of it on the telecom network?
That seems a bit strange...

undecided

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#139423 20-Jun-2008 16:47

Ah, no its not, I was simply inquiring as I was looking at porting to Voda, and had heard various stories about CDMAs closure and new networks etc etc. I have since found out that CDMA will be supported for at least another 4 years and found it odd that the rep had told me my phone was going to be effectivly useless in November

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robbypreb

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#139430 20-Jun-2008 17:13

undecided: Ah, no its not, I was simply inquiring as I was looking at porting to Voda, and had heard various stories about CDMAs closure and new networks etc etc. I have since found out that CDMA will be supported for at least another 4 years and found it odd that the rep had told me my phone was going to be effectivly useless in November

Because they are trying to get your business. You can complain to the commerce commission, if you feel that you have been misled by Vodafone over their statements to you.

tonyhughes

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#139441 20-Jun-2008 17:46

robbypreb: almost no one keeps a phone for over 4 years

Cough*censored*Cough

Carphones exist in large numbers and most would generally give well over 4 years service, and I still see LOTS of people with T206's, 310e's, 610e's (all three I have seen more than one of in the last two weeks), and plenty of other models well over four years old - Falcons, the last two Hyundai's TNZ sold (cant remember models), I even saw a GTRAN4020 the other week.

In context - people who are savvy enough to read Geekzone probably average 12 - 24 months for a handset (I think I average 6 months myself), but heaps of people I know keep phones a lot longer.

My grandmother has a Nokia 2280 that lives on its charger and gets used once a month. That has got to be quite common. That phone is already 3 years old, and will still be in use in another 4 years until the plug gets pulled on the network.

tonyhughes

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#139442 20-Jun-2008 17:49

robbypreb: Because they are trying to get your business.

I agree wholeheartedly with that. Its not really a Vodafone issue, its a "salespeople" issue. People get misinformed, and then pass on that misinformation on as if it gospel.

If someone wants clear, official, informative information about a business, then that businesses competitors do not exactly have a vested interest in giving a full, clear accurate picture.

mushion22

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#139762 22-Jun-2008 17:05

tonyhughes:
In context - people who are savvy enough to read Geekzone probably average 12 - 24 months for a handset (I think I average 6 months myself), but heaps of people I know keep phones a lot longer.

:( My almost 3 year old Sanyo 5600 is still going strong. Guess I'm not Savvy enough for this place! *Deletes account, gets life*

What exactly did the VF rep say. "Telecom is going to turn off CDMA in November, making your phone useless and you will have to buy a new one in November to stay on telecom," or, "Telecom's going to turn on its new network in November and your current phones will become defunct" or something else?

The second isnt exactly untrue, although they are neglecting to mention that they wont become defunct for another 5 years. Either way, the point would be that buying a CDMA phone right now wouldnt be an overly wise decision, which is true unless you are getting a data card. This is assuming that Telecom are going to put all their effort into GSM/WCDMA/HSPA instead of CDMA/1xRTT/EV-DO.