Best PAYG (pay up front?) plan for 2 months touring NZ?

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LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#136436 27-Nov-2013 06:12

We will be in NZ December and January.

In 2010/2011 we used a Vodafone NZ 3G mobile broadband dongle with a NetBook, and used the same SIM in our 2G Sony phone.

This worked well, and we could get phone and data more or less all over both N. and S. Island.

This time we are bringing a Samsung Galaxy S3 (3G) for voice/texts and to use as a data source tethered to our Sony Xperia Z tablet (which doesn't have data capability/SIM card slot).

Our options seem to be a 3G mobile voice/data plan plus use of WiFi hot spots where they are available.

So any recommendations over the best plan for 2 month roaming?

I read that Telecom NZ include WiFi in their plan, but I have no idea how widespread the WiFi hot spots are.

TIA

LGC

P.S. I also see some mentions of using 3G dongles with Android tablets, but this also mentions rooting the tablet which I don't want to do. So anyone managed to use a 3G Vodafone dongle with a Sony Xperia X tablet?

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#941417 27-Nov-2013 07:08

Telecom has about 750 hotspots at the moment, and the $19 pack gets you 500MB of data and access to those, and you can use up to $1GB per day, so if you want to a decent amount of data this is by far the best choice.

If you aren't convinced by the wifi, then skinny is doing monthly packs of $16 for 90 mins, unlimited SMS, and 1GB of data during the time you are here, so that is best value for money on a pure 3G data point of view.

Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#941429 27-Nov-2013 07:53

another option is 2 degrees that has 180 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data for 19 bucks. skinny's coverage may not be as good as 2degrees (someone to confirm this for me?). Skinny uses telecom's network whereas 2degrees uses Vodafone's.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#941430 27-Nov-2013 07:57

Telecom's WiFi makes the decision a pretty simple one IMHO. Despite the Telecom plans being more expensive than what you may be able to get from Skinny or 2degrees, the included WiFi is an exceptionally good benefit particularly for somebody travelling around.

There are maps online with the location of all the WiFi hotspots.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#941484 27-Nov-2013 09:17

If you going to be doing a lot of traveling while in NZ then I would advise that you stay away from 2degrees.

The roaming charges on Vodafones network when out of 2degrees coverage will set you back a bit

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#941487 27-Nov-2013 09:20

Is you fone unlocked??

Regards,

Old3eyes

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#941490 27-Nov-2013 09:27

Thanks - all very useful :-)

One thing:
Free WiFi hot spots?

A limited Google suggests that the Telecom WiFi hot spots may be free.

Ah!
Free for a one week trial.

So the new plan is to chat up strangers in bars each week and get them to tell me their phone numbers so I can get the code for a free one week pass. :-)

Looks as though Telecom NZ may get my business.

Thanks

LGC

timmmay

20575 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#941516 27-Nov-2013 09:48

I used the Telecom wifi hot spots travelling around the SI last year. They were more available than expected, and worked pretty well. With 1GB per day free it's a pretty good bonus.

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LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#941936 28-Nov-2013 00:10

old3eyes: Is you fone unlocked??

Aaaaarrrggghhhh!

Thanks a bunch for mentioning this - for some reason I thought that the phone was already unlocked, but looks like it isn't by default.

Probably mixing it up with our long term O2 phones.

If you hadn't mentioned this I would probably only have found out in NZ when the SIM wouldn't work, but you made me double check.

I've just spent a fraught hour with the automated systems trying to get them to accept an unlock request and I have finally managed to get one accepted via the web site.

3 don't take unlock requests over the phone - reasonable I suppose to minimise social engineering for unlocking stolen phones but it makes it difficult to speak to a real person to report that the unlocking system isn't working.

Web site says the unlock code is normally supplied immediately but can take up to 7 days.

It should arrive via email with further instructions.

So Duh!

for me and a +1 for you.

Cheers

LGC

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#942215 28-Nov-2013 12:48

Klipspringer: If you going to be doing a lot of traveling while in NZ then I would advise that you stay away from 2degrees.

The roaming charges on Vodafones network when out of 2degrees coverage will set you back a bit

What roaming charges?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

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Inactive user

#942223 28-Nov-2013 13:09

openmedia:
Klipspringer: If you going to be doing a lot of traveling while in NZ then I would advise that you stay away from 2degrees.

The roaming charges on Vodafones network when out of 2degrees coverage will set you back a bit

What roaming charges?

Could be wrong, but I was under the impression that when out of 2drgrees coverage, and roaming on Vodafone, calls/texts/data is priced differently to when inside a 2degrees coverage area.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#942226 28-Nov-2013 13:17

Klipspringer:
openmedia:
Klipspringer: If you going to be doing a lot of traveling while in NZ then I would advise that you stay away from 2degrees.

The roaming charges on Vodafones network when out of 2degrees coverage will set you back a bit

What roaming charges?

Could be wrong, but I was under the impression that when out of 2drgrees coverage, and roaming on Vodafone, calls/texts/data is priced differently to when inside a 2degrees coverage area.

Data definitely is, not sure calls or texts are

When you have no 2D coverage your 2d handset uses VF towers and 2d charge you more, I think they call it national data

Otherwise their 12GB for $99 must be one of the best deals anywhere

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#942230 28-Nov-2013 13:24

nathan:
Klipspringer:
openmedia:
Klipspringer: If you going to be doing a lot of traveling while in NZ then I would advise that you stay away from 2degrees.

The roaming charges on Vodafones network when out of 2degrees coverage will set you back a bit

What roaming charges?

Could be wrong, but I was under the impression that when out of 2drgrees coverage, and roaming on Vodafone, calls/texts/data is priced differently to when inside a 2degrees coverage area.

Data definitely is, not sure calls or texts are

When you have no 2D coverage your 2d handset uses VF towers and 2d charge you more, I think they call it national data

Otherwise their 12GB for $99 must be one of the best deals anywhere

Strange thing is that I can not find anything anywhere on the 2degrees website which details how these charges work.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#942240 28-Nov-2013 13:33

I think they now call it Zone Data vs NZ data

http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/mobile-data/zones