iPhone 3G S - Vodafone or Telecom?

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UrbanGrafix

182 posts

Master Geek

#35423 9-Jun-2009 22:36

Ok, I am 100% getting a 3G S and I know that Telecom now has basically NZ wide 3G well as do Vodafone now but the iPhone can only utilize Telecoms.

Anyway, as the GPS can still be used when you are out of 3G (I believe), other than seeing maps and maybe some programs that require data what are soem additional benefits of being in 3G.

I am in Dunedin and well Telecom seems much better for the fact that when I go skiing I will be able to use my ski app that tracks GPS and a few other things but I am an iPhone newbie but I have had a touch for some time and other than access to Websites etc and email what are the other advantages (I am swinging towards Telecom so I can get email anywhere, browse the net etc and use maps anywhere also)

But any help you iPhone users could provide would be great.

Benefits of Vodafone

- Subsidy
- Rollover of data for $10 (Same amount again, I believe)

Disadvantages

- 24month contract
- Crappy 3G and crappy coverage

Benefits of Telecom

- Prepay or Cheaper plans
- NZ Wide coverage

Disadvantages

- Full cost
- Need carrier settings (will everything work on the 3G S with Telecom)

Thats about all I can come up with (I am not wanting you to make the decision just show me some facts I havn't posted or seen

Thanks,

UrbanGrafix

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525 posts

Ultimate Geek

#223407 9-Jun-2009 23:06

Vodafones coverage isn't that much worse than XT's (if any worse).

The iPhone will generally interact better with the network it bought on.
Vodafone WILL sell it. Telecom MIGHT. Expect some sort of announcement this week or next (I guess).

Me personally, Will buy one and put on XT

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UrbanGrafix

182 posts

Master Geek

#223410 9-Jun-2009 23:12

Telecom have stated that they wont sell it in an interview with the NBR today (Trying to find the link or I imagined it lol)

mysticnz

148 posts

Master Geek

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#223425 10-Jun-2009 00:21

i talked to telecom guy and they still wernt sure but the vodafone guy i talked to say it was coming but no date or news on if plans are changing

freitasm

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#223445 10-Jun-2009 07:00

UrbanGrafix: Ok, I am 100% getting a 3G S and I know that Telecom now has basically NZ wide 3G well as do Vodafone now but the iPhone can only utilize Telecoms.

The iPhone is 850/1900/2100 MHz WCDMA. It means it will work on 100% of Telecom's XT Network, and in parts of Vodafone 3G network (mainly in the cities, where Vodafone has deployed 2100 MHz for a few years now).

Where Vodafone does not offer 3G, or 3G is provided with their new 900 MHz WCDMA network instead, the iPhone will work on GPRS.

My technology disclosure

freitasm

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#223446 10-Jun-2009 07:02

arnies: Vodafones coverage isn't that much worse than XT's (if any worse).

The problem is that Vodafone's 3G coverage is a mix of 2100 MHz WCDMA and 900 MHz WCDMA, while Telecom's XT is 100% 850 MHz. On Vodafone the iPhone will only work on 2100 MHz until a 900 MHz version exists.

See my reply above.

arnies: The iPhone will generally interact better with the network it bought on.

The only thing you need to have an unlocked iPhone on Telecom's network is to swap the SIM card and change the APN.

My technology disclosure

corksta

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#223451 10-Jun-2009 07:31

If you sign up to one of the iPhone plans then the 'double your data for $10' doesn't apply - once you use the allowance that's it and you pay per MB.

I get tired of my iPhone always dropping to GPRS. I can't even sit on the couch at home and make a call without it dropping, and I get 1 bar of 3G in my office at work but as soon as I go on the Internet or make a call it drops straight back to GPRS, so I'm pretty limited with what I can do with it while at work and at home. So personally I'm looking forward to going on to XT and enjoying 3G ALL the time, not just some of the time as is my case now.

You'll find that the greatest advantage of being in 3G is that everything just works better: faster downloads, smoother Internet access (particularly if downloading images), YouTube streaming, maps update faster. Not quite as dramatic, but in a sense it's similar to going from dial-up to broadband.

sbiddle

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#223457 10-Jun-2009 07:53

corksta:
I get tired of my iPhone always dropping to GPRS. I can't even sit on the couch at home and make a call without it dropping, and I get 1 bar of 3G in my office at work but as soon as I go on the Internet or make a call it drops straight back to GPRS, so I'm pretty limited with what I can do with it while at work and at home. So personally I'm looking forward to going on to XT and enjoying 3G ALL the time, not just some of the time as is my case now.

I believe Vodafone have (or are in the process of) made some changes increasing the signal level threshold by several -dBm so that 3G devices running in dual mode should hand back less often to GSM.

It will be interesting to see if this makes a noticeable difference to end users.

UrbanGrafix

182 posts

Master Geek

#223463 10-Jun-2009 08:24

Thanks guys, Yea I knew about the networks (the mhz difference and what effect it has) but the data rollover I didn't know about so it is definitly looking like Telecom now

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek

#223513 10-Jun-2009 10:34

Just be aware that GPS fixes take a while (sometimes not at all) due to telecoms lack of a-gps. At least this has been my experience. Other than the gps telecom has been better in every way than vodafone for me.

RedJungle

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#223522 10-Jun-2009 10:56

corksta:
I get tired of my iPhone always dropping to GPRS. I can't even sit on the couch at home and make a call without it dropping, and I get 1 bar of 3G in my office at work but as soon as I go on the Internet or make a call it drops straight back to GPRS, so I'm pretty limited with what I can do with it while at work and at home. So personally I'm looking forward to going on to XT and enjoying 3G ALL the time, not just some of the time as is my case now.

I switched over to XT for the exact same reasons. And I'm now VERY pleased with performance.

Even if VF do tweak it so that fall-backs to GSM are less frequent - it's still completely useless whenever it does. Calls on GSM would typically last about 30 seconds before I'm reaching for a land line to finish the conversation.

mattlaing

46 posts

Geek

#223553 10-Jun-2009 12:01

Hi Plasmaglows,

The GPS system is completely independent to which carrier it is with. Any changes to your GPS performance can only be coincidental to shifting to the XT network.

I was with Telecom and switched to Vodafone this time last year - to get the iPhone. I was surprised how bad the network coverage seemed.
I just switched back to the XT network and it seems a lot clearer and is a lot more consistent than 3g on Vodafone.

If Vodafone were clever (or dumber in terms of alienating customers), they would work out a way to "lock" the new phones to their network. (Exclusivity)

That would be my nightmare...

UrbanGrafix

182 posts

Master Geek

#223557 10-Jun-2009 12:11

They will NEVER be able to lock them because our commerce comission is AWESOME lol

Plasmaglows

54 posts

Master Geek

#223558 10-Jun-2009 12:16

mattlaing: Hi Plasmaglows,

The GPS system is completely independent to which carrier it is with. Any changes to your GPS performance can only be coincidental to shifting to the XT network.

I was with Telecom and switched to Vodafone this time last year - to get the iPhone. I was surprised how bad the network coverage seemed.

I just switched back to the XT network and it seems a lot clearer and is a lot more consistent than 3g on Vodafone.

If Vodafone were clever (or dumber in terms of alienating customers), they would work out a way to "lock" the new phones to their network. (Exclusivity)

That would be my nightmare...

Yeh mate the ComCom has stopped Vodafone and Telecom from locking their phones. I completely agree about the quality difference between Vodafone and Telecom, as far as the GPS goes I could get an absolute GPS lock in <30sec on vodafone now it takes 2-3min or gets nothing at all. Roll on A-GPS

daman88

81 posts

Master Geek

#223572 10-Jun-2009 13:21

Most of the countries are now adopting W850 network or 850 MHZ frequency because it has better coverage and better voice quality.

GSM - Vodafone - is an old technology - predominantly similar to CDMA.... and plus GSM doesn't have good coverage and voice quality is consistently blur.

If you go to NBR and search for Telecom and Vodafone price comparison, in data they both are similar but in voice, Telecom has the edge......

BigFella

105 posts

Master Geek

#223655 10-Jun-2009 16:14

freitasm:

The problem is that Vodafone's 3G coverage is a mix of 2100 MHz WCDMA and 900 MHz WCDMA, while Telecom's XT is 100% 850 MHz.

Tell that to the Telecom 2100 site I see popping up on my Storm :)

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