Using Japanese Vodafone handsets in NZ

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Using Japanese Vodafone handsets in NZ

maoriboy

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#6764 22-Feb-2006 06:20

Just wondering if I can use a 3G Japanese Vodafone in NZ. I sent an email to VF NZ and they said no. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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#29043 22-Feb-2006 08:31

I dont know the technology behind it, but I have seen many a flash Japanese handset lying unused in New Zealand because they cant connect here. Might be a frequency issue, or different chipsets that wont connect to the network here.

here is an article about NTT DoCoMo's technology and brief 3G history (the deployed the first 3G network int he world in 2001 in Tokyo with a coverage footprint of 30km radius.

Jama

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#29047 22-Feb-2006 08:36

The Japanese are a bit odd in this regard. From the CDMA side of things their transmit/receive frequencies are the reverse of the rest of the world.

Not sure on GSM/GPRS/UMTS side of things.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#29051 22-Feb-2006 08:41

It will not work in New Zealand.

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kiwiboi

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#29054 22-Feb-2006 08:55

What particular brand/model? Some can be converted to Euro firmware. And they work well. SE 3G phones are easy to convert as well as some Sharp 3G phones.

indapie2000

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#29089 22-Feb-2006 14:36

Depends what netowork the phone is with.

If it's on Vodafone KK (in Japan) and is relativily new, then it should have, what they call, "Vodafone Global Standard". Which is basically like 3G phones sold here, they work on both 3G and gsm 900/1800/1900. But check with the website or with someone over at Vodafone KK (they'll know more about their phones than VFNZ)

If it's DoComo, I don't know if their phones have any global roaming thing.
And if it's KDDI, then it won't work cause their network is similar to Telecom's (but like a million times more 3G than Telecom)

maoriboy

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#29092 22-Feb-2006 15:20

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was looking at the Sharp 903sh and the Sony Ericsson V800 models. I know they have them in NZ too and was just curious as to whether it would be worth getting one here while Im still living in Japan or save my dollars and get one in NZ when I eventually return.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#29093 22-Feb-2006 15:27

Since you are talking about Sony Ericsson, I suggest you contact Muppet in our forums. Look for his name in the user list and send him a PM.

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