vodafone mobile connect 1gb plan

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bae234

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Topic # 8257 15-Jun-2006 14:20

hi i am looking at getting the VMC 1gb plan, so 24 months with free datacard. is anyone on it and would like to share their thoughts on VMC?

im wanting it for minor overseas usage, mostly would be for usage in NZ, emails, surfing that sort of thing. i heard that u cannot access xtra pop email servers with other isps, so i would not be able to get my email into outlook from this datacard. but still could acess xtramail, im guessing?

wat do u guys find the speed like? any surprising issues? wats reception like? appreciate any thoughts before i grab one.

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Reply # 38636 15-Jun-2006 14:41

Remember that any data roaming (overseas usage) is not included in your allowance. It will cost you $10/MB (if roaming on a Vodafone operator) or $30/MB (if using any other operator).

You will be able to access Xtramail, of course, but if you want to have pop access to your account then you have to sign up for the Xtra "Secure" pop access. Xtra currently blocks pop access from external networks.

Also, webmail always seems to use more traffic than pop, because of all the pages to load, etc.

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Reply # 38637 15-Jun-2006 14:54

i'm on there for nearly 2 months now. and speed is good.

the coverage depends on whether you're in 3G area or GPRS area. Mostly where i am are 3G, except from my room which i think due to the electronic and inteference from other RF dampened the 3G signal.

Do be warned though, GPRS is like on 56Kbps modem, and 3G is at 384Kbps which is good. I have not used over my 1GB per month yet, though I mainly use it at work to keep up to date with emails coming to my own laptop.

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sgarton

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Reply # 40347 3-Jul-2006 10:02

The question is : is the vodafone mobile or telecom t3g now a worthwhile alternative to Woosh ?

I have been a loyal woosh customer for a couple of years as I need "broadband" both at home and wherever I am at work - I consult to various companies around Auckland.

Woosh used to be the only realistic mobile option - the others offered too little traffic - but now the others have decent plans (1Gb) for the same $50 a month as Woosh : and then I could go and pick up someone like iHUG or Orcon for home for $30 - much faster speed and much more convenient. Coverage would be better : I roam around the country a bit and Woosh lets me down ...

So I can stay on Woosh for $50 and deal with poor coverage and fiddling around a large modem and disconnecting / reconnecting it each night and not terribly fast speed ... or I can get e.g. Vodafone + iHUG for $80 ...

What do you reckon ? Presumably vodafone is a better option than t3g with the new speed promised in September ?

Cheers,

Simon

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Reply # 40349 3-Jul-2006 10:08

sgarton: What do you reckon ? Presumably vodafone is a better option than t3g with the new speed promised in September ?

Remember this is a contract, and you get a VMC with it. If you can't upgrade the card you can't take advantages of the new speed, without buying a new card. So check the options before being locked.

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Reply # 40350 3-Jul-2006 10:12

good point. GOOD point. Wonder if that's why the new plans are cheap at the moment ...

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Reply # 40351 3-Jul-2006 10:18

I am just looking through the VMC pages and all cards there are GSM/GPRS or GSM/GPRS/UMTS. There's no HSDPA card available, so if you sign a contract now you get a free card, but you are locked for 24 months and still would need to buy a new card sometime later this year to be able to use HSDPA - another $400 expense?

On T3G you get the faster speed now, and it will probably be still comparable to Vodafone HSDPA first release when it comes out. Again you will need an upgrade to get to CDMA EVDO Rev A when they release it at the end of the year.

So either way going to the faster network will set you back a few dollars, in which case I'd go for the faster one now, unless you have already a Vodafone number, or other requirements, such as roaming to Europe (Australia and USA, Brazil and Asia is pretty much covered by Telecom roaming, except for EVDO data which is currently available to Australia only).

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Reply # 40361 3-Jul-2006 11:35

And of course don't forget coverage. EVDO is available in more places than UMTS.

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Reply # 40370 3-Jul-2006 12:39

UMTS is in alot more places than EV-DO around the globe and HSDPA is growing very fast

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Reply # 40372 3-Jul-2006 12:48

You two, no patronizing, this won't help.

Without knowing sgarton needs in terms of location, international roaming, etc. there's no way for us to tell him what's the best option. So please don't start a "WCDMA x CDMA" war on this thread. You know the rules.

The fact remains that regardless of which option he chooses, there's no access to the fastest speeds the future technologies will provide without new hardware. And this is something to consider. And that's all this discussion is about, for now.

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Reply # 40373 3-Jul-2006 12:50

johnr:
UMTS is in alot more places than EV-DO around the globe and HSDPA is growing very fast

My apologies I should have been clearer - more places in NZ, if that is important to you.....

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Reply # 40375 3-Jul-2006 13:06

freitasm: You two, no patronizing, this won't help.

Stating facts is not patronising...

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Reply # 40376 3-Jul-2006 13:08

Going OT and talking between you is.

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Reply # 40377 3-Jul-2006 13:15

freitasm:
Going OT and talking between you is.

What 'OT'? Coverage is one of the most important features of a mobile network and it should be considered. Are you saying that Johnr and myself are not allowed to discuss the individual merits of our competing networks?

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Reply # 40378 3-Jul-2006 13:18

I am saying we should first see what the requirements are. Saying "coverage is bigger", "not, ours is worldwide", "I am talking NZ", and then escalating from there is just not productive to everyone. See my point?

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Reply # 40379 3-Jul-2006 13:23

bae234: im wanting it for minor overseas usage, mostly would be for usage in NZ, emails, surfing that sort of thing. i heard that u cannot access xtra pop email servers with other isps, so i would not be able to get my email into outlook from this datacard. but still could acess xtramail, im guessing?

wat do u guys find the speed like? any surprising issues? wats reception like? appreciate any thoughts before i grab one.

Well read the question then. bae24 has asked about speed, coverage, reception and 'surprising issues'. The question was also directly related to the VMC card and service.

The thread then when off on a tangent to include T3G. As bae234 initiated the thread why don't you focus on answering the original questions....

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