iPhone questions for Paul Brislen

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alsta

276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#24098 15-Jul-2008 11:21

Hi Paul, welcome back from holiday.

Hopefully you can (are allowed) to answer some of the many questions that have come up over the last week.

For example,

1. Now that it has been shown to be easy to use data on prepay with the iPhone, will vodafone relent and officially sanction it?

2. In that situation, 300MB for $30 doesn't quite gel with 29.95 for 200MB on account, or does it?

3. Considering adding a data pack for current on account customers requires a 24 month contract, and for many will result in less service for more monthly outlay than the iPhone plans, why is the subsidy level so much less than the dedicated iPhone plans?

4. Does vodafone consider minutes and data a commodity or not? i.e. 200MB to 1GB = $20 difference. You Choose 60 to You Choose 120 = $20 difference,

so, why can't customers have "iPhone1GB" with 60mins (instead of 120) and 1GB (instead of 250MB) for $80 as well?

They are my top 4 questions. Others may have more.

Cheers.

Twitter : @twocolddogs

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970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#148039 15-Jul-2008 11:50

Hi there,

just a quick word - you really need to email me to let me know you've posted something like this or I'll potentially not see it. I don't live in Geekzone and just noticed this now between meetings.

My email address is on the website, you can PM me (which sends me an email as well I think) or you can call me/TXT. I'm happy to answer questions when I can, but I do have this full time job which sometimes means I can't get to the forums as often as I would like.

1: No.
2: see 1.
3: That's already in place.
4:We don't necessarily set the price for these plans at a local level.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

NadNailer

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#148111 15-Jul-2008 15:03

Question for Paul,

When will the 16GB iPhone be back in stock?

Cheers,
Martin

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#148113 15-Jul-2008 15:05

NadNailer: Question for Paul,

When will the 16GB iPhone be back in stock?

Cheers,
Martin

I'm hoping to announce we're completely out of stock today... no word on when we get new stock I'm afraid.

cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

danzel

12 posts

Geek

#148147 15-Jul-2008 15:50

A chin scratching question for you Paul.

Who do I need to talk to at Vodafone about getting our Corporate APN working with the new iPhone?

I'm getting tired of playing telephone tag with the iPhone support, Technical Support, Corporate Support and Apple Support people, all of who claim they can't help me but one of the other sections can!

(I've set the APN using the Apple iPhone Configuration Tool For Enterprise but can't get connected)

Won't someone think of the Enterprise customers!

Thanks so much!

Dave.

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#148150 15-Jul-2008 15:56

danzel: A chin scratching question for you Paul.

Who do I need to talk to at Vodafone about getting our Corporate APN working with the new iPhone?
I'm getting tired of playing telephone tag with the iPhone support, Technical Support, Corporate Support and Apple Support people, all of who claim they can't help me but one of the other sections can!

(I've set the APN using the Apple iPhone Configuration Tool For Enterprise but can't get connected)
Won't someone think of the Enterprise customers!

Thanks so much!
Dave.

as far as I know you have to use the Apple APN but I could well be wrong.

Let me find an answer and get back to you.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

PostmanPatsCat

58 posts

Master Geek

#148153 15-Jul-2008 16:05

Hi,

Will action be taken against those who change their APN?

What's vodafones reason for not allowing prepay data?

and will people who buy the phones outright be forced into a contract?

thanks

danzel

12 posts

Geek

#148154 15-Jul-2008 16:05

Thanks Paul.

I was thinking the same, but apparently it works for martin308:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=76&TopicId=24033&page_no=5#147814

It makes the iPhone rather useless for those with corporate APNs if we can't get on them :-(

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Geektastic

17944 posts

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#148214 15-Jul-2008 18:11

PaulBrislen:
NadNailer: Question for Paul,

When will the 16GB iPhone be back in stock?

Cheers,
Martin

I'm hoping to announce we're completely out of stock today... no word on when we get new stock I'm afraid.

cheers

Paul

Why are you hoping to be able to disappoint potential customers?

That seems a very strange view for a retail operation to take - and hardly demonstrates that customers come first.

"I am hoping to have more stock on Friday and will make sure that we maintain enough to keep up with demand for our excellent product" may be more likely to make people view you as a positive choice for their telecoms rather than an exploitative monopoly....!

rscole86

4979 posts

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#148226 15-Jul-2008 18:34

Geektastic:
PaulBrislen:

I'm hoping to announce we're completely out of stock today... no word on when we get new stock I'm afraid.

cheers

Paul

Why are you hoping to be able to disappoint potential customers?

That seems a very strange view for a retail operation to take - and hardly demonstrates that customers come first.

"I am hoping to have more stock on Friday and will make sure that we maintain enough to keep up with demand for our excellent product" may be more likely to make people view you as a positive choice for their telecoms rather than an exploitative monopoly....!

I am not sure if you have experienced the joys of being an Apple stockist? They supply you with stock based on sales/turnover. The more you can sell, the more preferential your stock allowances are against other competing retailers.

Apple would have said VFNZ can have x of each iPhone to start off with. Now the sooner VF sell out, the sooner they will probably get more stock, and they will probably get more than what they did originally. However, this will also depend on world wide stock levels, NZ being the backwater it is, we are always last to get stock.

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#148228 15-Jul-2008 18:37

rscole86:
Geektastic:
PaulBrislen:

I'm hoping to announce we're completely out of stock today... no word on when we get new stock I'm afraid.

cheers

Paul

Why are you hoping to be able to disappoint potential customers?

That seems a very strange view for a retail operation to take - and hardly demonstrates that customers come first.

"I am hoping to have more stock on Friday and will make sure that we maintain enough to keep up with demand for our excellent product" may be more likely to make people view you as a positive choice for their telecoms rather than an exploitative monopoly....!

I am not sure if you have experienced the joys of being an Apple stockist? They supply you with stock based on sales/turnover. The more you can sell, the more preferential your stock allowances are against other competing retailers.

Apple would have said VFNZ can have x of each iPhone to start off with. Now the sooner VF sell out, the sooner they will probably get more stock, and they will probably get more than what they did originally. However, this will also depend on world wide stock levels, NZ being the backwater it is, we are always last to get stock.

what he said.

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Geektastic

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#148327 15-Jul-2008 22:09

PaulBrislen:
rscole86:
Geektastic:
PaulBrislen:

I'm hoping to announce we're completely out of stock today... no word on when we get new stock I'm afraid.

cheers

Paul

Why are you hoping to be able to disappoint potential customers?

That seems a very strange view for a retail operation to take - and hardly demonstrates that customers come first.

"I am hoping to have more stock on Friday and will make sure that we maintain enough to keep up with demand for our excellent product" may be more likely to make people view you as a positive choice for their telecoms rather than an exploitative monopoly....!

I am not sure if you have experienced the joys of being an Apple stockist? They supply you with stock based on sales/turnover. The more you can sell, the more preferential your stock allowances are against other competing retailers.

Apple would have said VFNZ can have x of each iPhone to start off with. Now the sooner VF sell out, the sooner they will probably get more stock, and they will probably get more than what they did originally. However, this will also depend on world wide stock levels, NZ being the backwater it is, we are always last to get stock.

what he said.

OK - I'll (kinda) buy that - maybe. It seems like a dumb way to do things but hey - what do I know, right?

However, assuming it is true, it should be trumpeted from the roof tops:

"We are trying to sell out because then we'll get more stock from Apple!"

is surely better than deafening silence and customers wondering why they have sold out/when more are coming.

If Apple are being marnuses, then say so - loudly. Embarrass them. There is only one network they can use, after all!

I'm so tempted to get an N95!

rscole86

4979 posts

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#148331 15-Jul-2008 22:18

Geektastic:
OK - I'll (kinda) buy that - maybe. It seems like a dumb way to do things but hey - what do I know, right?

Buy it or not, it is how Apple deal with all companies.

However, assuming it is true, it should be trumpeted from the roof tops:

"We are trying to sell out because then we'll get more stock from Apple!"

Sorry, but Apple do not play like that

Yes that would be nice, but if VF, or any Apple retailer, were to play that game they would be opening themselves to 'attack' from their customers and competitors. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

is surely better than deafening silence and customers wondering why they have sold out/when more are coming.

As above, however like other retailers, I am sure VF will tell us when they expect more stock.

If Apple are being marnuses, then say so - loudly. Embarrass them. There is only one network they can use, after all!

I'm so tempted to get an N95!

As above, I am sure it would not bother Apple in the slightest to lose NZ as a market. There is greater demand out there, than there is supply.

Go buy one then!

Torque

379 posts

Ultimate Geek

#148338 15-Jul-2008 22:28

I really can't see Vodafone publicly (or privately) bagging Apple at all. Sounds like a surefire way to receive even less stock. If any.

And PostmanPat: The iPhone is available without a contract outright, and has been since launch. See Vodafone's website - it has the pricing on it there. You can simply purchase it and put a prepay simcard in and off you go.

scottatron

22 posts

Geek

#148504 16-Jul-2008 14:02

Whoops, sorry to repost this, as I just posted this in another thread, whereas it was best probably post it here:

So I just spoke to a Vodafone customer service rep about my thoughts on buying an iPhone and this is what transpired:

Me: I currently have a Sony Ericsson phone with a Motormouth voice plan and a 1Gb data plan (about $90 a month). I'm thinking about buying an iPhone outright, but would still like to use my SE on weekends, as it fit's in my pocket nicely, so I thought I'd just swap my SIM between the two. Any reason I can't do this?

VF: No, you can put your current SIM in an iPhone, but you wont be able to use and data on the iPhone.

Me: Huh? So using iPhone data is reliant on the SIM? Can I then simply get a new SIM with my current number & plans which will allow me to use iPhone data?

VF: Yes, but then you couldn't use data on your SE, only voice & text.

Me: Huh? Ok, what about this crazy idea: Can I get two SIMs for my same number, one with iPhone data capability and one with general data capability for my SE, with the ability to only use of the two phones at a time.

VF: No, not possible.

Me: Hmm, ok, worth a shot.

Me: So, you're telling me that as a customer who currently uses 500Mb to 1Gb of data a month, and I'm not even looking for an iPhone subsidy, I'll just buy one outright, you cannot offer me any way to use both handsets to their full capability on the same account?

VF: No.

Can anyone from Vodafone clarify this for me? I just wanna buy an iPhone and use it's full capability on my current plans, but still also use my SE from time to time, also to it's full capability.

I just can't understand why the iPhone is being treated like this weird mysterious creature and not a regular handset. I understand it is different in a lot of ways, but at the end of the day, it's still just a handset, with voice, text and data capabilities. Surely, my scenario should be simple enough?

Scott

pressF1

77 posts

Master Geek

#148927 17-Jul-2008 17:59

scottatron: Whoops, sorry to repost this, as I just posted this in another thread, whereas it was best probably post it here:

So I just spoke to a Vodafone customer service rep about my thoughts on buying an iPhone and this is what transpired:

Me: I currently have a Sony Ericsson phone with a Motormouth voice plan and a 1Gb data plan (about $90 a month). I'm thinking about buying an iPhone outright, but would still like to use my SE on weekends, as it fit's in my pocket nicely, so I thought I'd just swap my SIM between the two. Any reason I can't do this?

VF: No, you can put your current SIM in an iPhone, but you wont be able to use and data on the iPhone.

Me: Huh? So using iPhone data is reliant on the SIM? Can I then simply get a new SIM with my current number & plans which will allow me to use iPhone data?

VF: Yes, but then you couldn't use data on your SE, only voice & text.

Me: Huh? Ok, what about this crazy idea: Can I get two SIMs for my same number, one with iPhone data capability and one with general data capability for my SE, with the ability to only use of the two phones at a time.

VF: No, not possible.

Me: Hmm, ok, worth a shot.

Me: So, you're telling me that as a customer who currently uses 500Mb to 1Gb of data a month, and I'm not even looking for an iPhone subsidy, I'll just buy one outright, you cannot offer me any way to use both handsets to their full capability on the same account?

VF: No.

Can anyone from Vodafone clarify this for me? I just wanna buy an iPhone and use it's full capability on my current plans, but still also use my SE from time to time, also to it's full capability.

I just can't understand why the iPhone is being treated like this weird mysterious creature and not a regular handset. I understand it is different in a lot of ways, but at the end of the day, it's still just a handset, with voice, text and data capabilities. Surely, my scenario should be simple enough?

Scott

Scott,

if you take a 1Gb plan on the 24mth term which works for iPhones but remain on your standard voice plan you can swap SIM's at the weekend and it will work fine. The 24mth plan simply loads the iPhone APN onto your connection as well as the standard live amd unverified APN's. What you can't do is take a standard 1gb plan and use it on an iPhone or an iPhone bundle and use it on a phone other than the iPhone

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