NZ COMMS is live?? I am roaming on their GSM network!

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › NZ COMMS is live?? I am roaming on their GSM network!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#124039 16-Apr-2008 13:33

Consider it semi-official only. :-) I am the Value Added Services senior engineer, so I do know what's really going on. However I will only be at liberty to discuss public information.

But of course anyone with a cell phone can see the network and try to attach with whatever SIM they have, so there's no secret in telling you the above.

Hopefully you guys are as keen as we are to get the service on the air for locals too!

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Aloha

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#124081 16-Apr-2008 15:15

SaltyNZ: Consider it semi-official only. :-) I am the Value Added Services senior engineer, so I do know what's really going on. However I will only be at liberty to discuss public information.

Fair enough. Noone needs to breach their NDA.
However it would be great to hear something "officially" from you guys. You've been hiding in the dark lately, no news, no infos.
What is going on?

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

pwner

423 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

2degrees

#124098 16-Apr-2008 16:10

I think you will find that, any information we at NZCL give out will be only what is already in the public domain. As we are a start up and have to go into battle with some huge players like Vodafone and Telecom any information that could possibly get back to them could hurt our launch and therefore our reduce our ability to give you a far better mobile phone service.

all we can say is watch this space......

p.s i would put a cool logo like the vodafone guys to 'represent', but i can't show you that either

Any posts are personal comments and not that of my employer

Aloha

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#124103 16-Apr-2008 16:28

Good luck guys!
We are really looking forward to see the launch of NZ's newest GSM operator soon.

This country and its people deserve competition!

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

Aloha

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#124152 16-Apr-2008 19:31

Their network is up and running again and I am roaming on it one more time.

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#124155 16-Apr-2008 19:40

pwner: I think you will find that, any information we at NZCL give out will be only what is already in the public domain. As we are a start up and have to go into battle with some huge players like Vodafone and Telecom any information that could possibly get back to them could hurt our launch and therefore our reduce our ability to give you a far better mobile phone service.

all we can say is watch this space......

p.s i would put a cool logo like the vodafone guys to 'represent', but i can't show you that either

Welcome to Geekzone.

You guys have taken an absolute caning in the media, especially here on Geekzone, in terms of the percieved 'vaporware' aspect of your business.

Its great to see that your efforts finally seem to be coming to fruition.

I can't wait!! Especially now that I run a GSM phone.

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#124162 16-Apr-2008 20:01

Smart move opening the new network up to roamers; a bit of high value revenue, and a chance to iron out some bugs before officially goes live.

Hey, I wonder who's going to be the first NZ international roamer on Telecom's new network?

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

exportgoldman

1202 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#124166 16-Apr-2008 20:24

I can see a new network 53024 which I assume is the GSM number for the NZ Comm's network. Can switch to it with my iPhone/Vodafone SIM it then says 'network no longer available' which I assume is because I'm with Vodafone and arn't allowed to roam :)

I notice they still don't have a display name for their network, 53024 isn't that catchy a name :-)

Where I am the coverage isn't very good (Parnell) but I assume they are still building out.

Roll on NZ Communications, I desperately want to give Vodafone the finger for all their crap service, bad coverage and price gorging.

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#124169 16-Apr-2008 20:26

exportgoldman: I notice they still don't have a display name for their network, 53024 isn't that catchy a name :-)

This requires a firmware upgrade to your phone with the updated list of operators. My N95 displays "NZComms"

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

exportgoldman

1202 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#124172 16-Apr-2008 20:42

coffeebaron: This requires a firmware upgrade to your phone with the updated list of operators. My N95 displays "NZComms"

Seriously? So the GSM protocol simply pumps out a network number, with no field for display name? So every mobile in the world has to store a list of GSM network codes and display names?

I didn't realise this, so old cell phones with no updated firmware will not list any new networks by their display names?

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

coffeebaron

6231 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#124178 16-Apr-2008 20:56

exportgoldman:
coffeebaron: This requires a firmware upgrade to your phone with the updated list of operators. My N95 displays "NZComms"

Seriously? So the GSM protocol simply pumps out a network number, with no field for display name? So every mobile in the world has to store a list of GSM network codes and display names?

I didn't realise this, so old cell phones with no updated firmware will not list any new networks by their display names?

Yep, I'm pretty much 99% sure. Though if someone would like to second that, or say otherwise, go for it!
I remember the days of Bellsouth --> Vodafone. All the phones still said Bellsouth, until they got formware updated or new. The name also varies from device to device. EG, VDFN or Vodafone or Vodafone NZ or VODAFONE. So yea, I'm quite sure the network just has a number, and the phone displays the name according to it's own network list.
The other way around this is, some phones + software will enable you to customise the operator logo, so that's another way to do it.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#124251 17-Apr-2008 07:04

Yes, coffeebaron is correct. The networks broadcast two numbers -- 530 is the Mobile Country Code for NZ (as opposed to the E.164 country code of 64), and the Mobile Network Code is 24 for NZ Comms. Technically I think we should have been 6 (as only 0-5 are or have been used in NZ) but we chose 24 to match our phone numbers -- 024.

The friendly name you see on your phone is stored in the handset firmware, and can be overridden by the SIM. My N95 (only about 8 weeks old) says NZ 24, not NZ Comms. A bit surprised anyone has one that says otherwise, since NZ Communications won't be the big brand name in the long run.

More useless trivia; if you ever see the IMSI of your SIM you will also note that it starts with the same digits -- 53024 for us or 53001 for Vodafone, and for the same reason. I don't know what MNC Telecom will be using for their UMTS network, but it will be 530XX also. The IMSI is what identifies you to the network; it has nothing to do with your directory number which you can of course now keep thanks to MNP.

And yes, the roaming opening was exactly as you say. It gives us a chance to start making a bit of money, which we like of course :-), and at the same time lets us continue to iron out or bugs without inconveniencing anyone. If we need to restart something any roamers using the bit we restart just get booted to Vodafone, so it's no big deal for them.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Aloha

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#124302 17-Apr-2008 09:58

I have the latest v21 firmware in my N95 and it shows: NZ COMMS

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#124304 17-Apr-2008 10:10

Where did you get the device? I needed a new connection when I left Vodafone so I just got a VNZ-branded one with the account. It's got the v12 firmware on it. Is yours debranded or parallel imported? As I understand it the v21 firmware is a generic...

Personally probably won't get around to h4x0ring my expensive phone until at least it's time to switch to NZCL for my general usage as opposed to testing!

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Aloha

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#124315 17-Apr-2008 10:36

SaltyNZ: Where did you get the device? I needed a new connection when I left Vodafone so I just got a VNZ-branded one with the account. It's got the v12 firmware on it. Is yours debranded or parallel imported? As I understand it the v21 firmware is a generic...

Personally probably won't get around to h4x0ring my expensive phone until at least it's time to switch to NZCL for my general usage as opposed to testing!

Mine is from VFNZ, but I rebranded it, because of the firmware. Rebranding is a piece of cake exercise and if you are not worrying about losing the warranty I recommend you to do it. There are many webpages dedicated to rebranding, you just follow the steps and change the product code. After it's been done you update your firmware with Nokia Software Uploader to the latest one, which is v21 at the moment.

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4