MyRepublic - New Fibre-only ISP

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104 posts

Master Geek

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#1153783 14-Oct-2014 16:42

ckc: I'm going to carry on with my Spark order, I think.

It sounds nice, targeting the heavy user demographic, but I think that the Fibre TV offering is being a little disingenuous. Despite being asked directly, Marc hasn't said if this is simply a smart DNS and fibre reliability that lets them create the marketing term of Fibre TV. That's disappointing. No direct response to the discussion would seem to indicate that this is a matter they want to avoid, which makes me think it's just a really expensive version of "global mode" and they're just rolling a turd in glitter.

It sounds like marketing crap to me, and marketing crap that's $15 more than the Callplus companies are offering the same service for, and three times as much as third party smart DNS services. I may not work for an ISP so may not know much about how the product gets delivered, but I know something smells fishy here when it's being openly discussed and the company don't want to talk about it.

Good luck with the venture though.

We do more than Global Mode. We like to think we do it better. The Other Guys don't state the technical details, so how can I say whether we do it differently? Also, we will publish the list of unlocked sites, I couldn't find that list for Global Mode. That may not be much, but it's more than Global Mode. We make it easier for users to connect to our service. The Other Guys indicate that some devices don't work, and point users to Geekzone for more support. Geekzone isn't our helpdesk. We (hopefully) made it easy enough to use that there will be no unsupported devices or problems people will need to go to Geekzone to figure out. Not that there's anything wrong with Geekzone, @freitasm. But it isn't, and shouldn't be the official help platform for a professional ISP.

So, MyRepublic has more supported devices (based on "their" statements they have some that don't work, or require work arounds). More supported sites (estimated, as they don't list them). Though, as we publish our list (the list at the moment is the popular ones, not the full list, but being updated at the moment), I expect them to just copy us, without listing theirs, which is another reason we don't like going into detail.

The wording has been clarified since the initial live date, but if you sign up under the 3-month trial, you will never be charged anything for Fibre TV. It's not $15. For now, the offer is "free, forever" (so long as you remain a customer, after signing up in the trial period).

So try it and come back here and tell everyone about it, we will give you the best user experience. But you can't prove me wrong unless you try it.

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic
www.myrepublic.co.nz

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1153799 14-Oct-2014 16:53

Whinery:
We do more than Global Mode. We like to think we do it better. The Other Guys don't state the technical details, so how can I say whether we do it differently? Also, we will publish the list of unlocked sites, I couldn't find that list for Global Mode. That may not be much, but it's more than Global Mode. We make it easier for users to connect to our service. The Other Guys indicate that some devices don't work, and point users to Geekzone for more support. Geekzone isn't our helpdesk. We (hopefully) made it easy enough to use that there will be no unsupported devices or problems people will need to go to Geekzone to figure out. Not that there's anything wrong with Geekzone, @freitasm. But it isn't, and shouldn't be the official help platform for a professional ISP.

So, MyRepublic has more supported devices (based on "their" statements they have some that don't work, or require work arounds). More supported sites (estimated, as they don't list them). Though, as we publish our list (the list at the moment is the popular ones, not the full list, but being updated at the moment), I expect them to just copy us, without listing theirs, which is another reason we don't like going into detail.

The wording has been clarified since the initial live date, but if you sign up under the 3-month trial, you will never be charged anything for Fibre TV. It's not $15. For now, the offer is "free, forever" (so long as you remain a customer, after signing up in the trial period).

So try it and come back here and tell everyone about it, we will give you the best user experience. But you can't prove me wrong unless you try it.

So in short for the $15 you'll publish a list of supported services and provide support if people have problems with it.

My personal opinion is you should drop using phrases like "The Other Guys" all the time and talking about them copying you and what they don't do - I get that you're a new player and you're trying to differentiate yourself but for me it's starting to come across as very negative.

Whinery

104 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#1153804 14-Oct-2014 16:58

NZCrusader:
Would also like to know which games are benefited too.

We are getting a list of games. We have some lists, but the request list and the done list don't match, so we want to get them closer before we publish a list. But one is coming. We just launched two days ago. Some of the details still needed some work. A huge network capable of giving thousands (and tens of thousands) the best Internet experience in NZ was the launch requirement. The minor details are the targets now. If we waited until everything was perfect, it'd take years. We, and the industry, move too fast for that.

We werent quite ready for the level of detail demanded here, and thought $99 unlimited fibre broadband, free Fiber TV, free phone on the best network in the country, try it free for 3 months, no obligation would get the interest, not the technical details on optimized games, or Fibre TV.

The best way to know if it's better than what you are on now is to try it, and come back here. I'll give you 3 months free. Just for you. I'll even throw in Fibre TV and a phone line.

And nobody seems to be asking the more interesting questions (at least to me). Does any other ISP use the ATA on the ONT for their voice? I don't know any that do. So ask about that. It makes the other guys look silly. Honestly, I'm not saying nobody else does it, but that I know the #1, #2, and #3 ISPs in the country don't. I didn't look at the other 70 or so. There are interesting details I am allowed to talk about without restriction.

But the ones that differentiate us in the market place are the "special sauce" and they want to keep some mystery around them to not have them immediately copied, as they are our differentiator, for the moment. Though that bar will be a moving one, as the other ISPs try to copy us. Why can I talk about the voice? Because there's nothing we are doing that isn't in the published LFC voice design guide. But the real question is, why can't any of the Big-3 figure out how to read a TUG? And why would they not want to follow it?

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic

ckc

321 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1153820 14-Oct-2014 17:39

Whinery:

We do more than Global Mode. We like to think we do it better. The Other Guys don't state the technical details, so how can I say whether we do it differently? Also, we will publish the list of unlocked sites, I couldn't find that list for Global Mode. That may not be much, but it's more than Global Mode. We make it easier for users to connect to our service. The Other Guys indicate that some devices don't work, and point users to Geekzone for more support. Geekzone isn't our helpdesk. We (hopefully) made it easy enough to use that there will be no unsupported devices or problems people will need to go to Geekzone to figure out. Not that there's anything wrong with Geekzone, @freitasm. But it isn't, and shouldn't be the official help platform for a professional ISP.

So, MyRepublic has more supported devices (based on "their" statements they have some that don't work, or require work arounds). More supported sites (estimated, as they don't list them). Though, as we publish our list (the list at the moment is the popular ones, not the full list, but being updated at the moment), I expect them to just copy us, without listing theirs, which is another reason we don't like going into detail.

The wording has been clarified since the initial live date, but if you sign up under the 3-month trial, you will never be charged anything for Fibre TV. It's not $15. For now, the offer is "free, forever" (so long as you remain a customer, after signing up in the trial period).

So try it and come back here and tell everyone about it, we will give you the best user experience. But you can't prove me wrong unless you try it.

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic
www.myrepublic.co.nz

I don't really want to prove you wrong, because I have nothing to prove. It doesn't sound like anything different to either Global Mode or a smart DNS like Overplay or Unblock-us. I'm just questioning the ethical standpoint of claiming you're providing "Fibre TV" for $15/mo, and a tenuous comparison of service and transparency levels to something that Callplus customers get for free. Doesn't matter if I pay for it. If your marketing involves a sleight of hand to promote a service that's uncompetitive and not unique, it makes me uncomfortable and not really interested in being a customer.

As a comparison, Unblock-us customers pay US$5/mo. They have a massive list of sites and great support levels, as well as offering smart VPN for troublesome sites or for when you're not at home. That's heaps cheaper than your $15/mo. They get exactly the same as you're providing, only about $8/mo cheaper and with VPN services. You just change the DNS servers on the router and all your devices that use that are supported. It's not rocket surgery.

But it's the term "Fibre TV" I have an issue with. It is disingenuous to suggest that you are offering anything dramatically different to anyone else by labelling it Fibre TV. No box, no smart TV, just need a laptop? Then it's only Fibre TV in a very literal sense, as in you can get TV shows through fibre. But that's not different to anyone else. I understand the need to differentiate yourself in the market. I understand that you need a USP in a competitive environment. But please. For your own sake, don't pretend it's any different.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1153858 14-Oct-2014 18:55

Whinery:
NZCrusader:
Would also like to know which games are benefited too.

We are getting a list of games. We have some lists, but the request list and the done list don't match, so we want to get them closer before we publish a list. But one is coming. We just launched two days ago. Some of the details still needed some work. A huge network capable of giving thousands (and tens of thousands) the best Internet experience in NZ was the launch requirement. The minor details are the targets now. If we waited until everything was perfect, it'd take years. We, and the industry, move too fast for that.

We werent quite ready for the level of detail demanded here, and thought $ 99 unlimited fibre broadband, free Fiber TV, free phone on the best network in the country, try it free for 3 months, no obligation would get the interest, not the technical details on optimized games, or Fibre TV.

The best way to know if it's better than what you are on now is to try it, and come back here. I'll give you 3 months free. Just for you. I'll even throw in Fibre TV and a phone line.

And nobody seems to be asking the more interesting questions (at least to me). Does any other ISP use the ATA on the ONT for their voice? I don't know any that do. So ask about that. It makes the other guys look silly. Honestly, I'm not saying nobody else does it, but that I know the #1, #2, and #3 ISPs in the country don't. I didn't look at the other 70 or so. There are interesting details I am allowed to talk about without restriction.

But the ones that differentiate us in the market place are the "special sauce" and they want to keep some mystery around them to not have them immediately copied, as they are our differentiator, for the moment. Though that bar will be a moving one, as the other ISPs try to copy us. Why can I talk about the voice? Because there's nothing we are doing that isn't in the published LFC voice design guide. But the real question is, why can't any of the Big-3 figure out how to read a TUG? And why would they not want to follow it?

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic

At least read his statement... "FREE" forever for original signup customers!

nokiadore

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1153879 14-Oct-2014 19:02

Signed up for the gamer plan last night ..... Cant wait

pchs

184 posts

Master Geek

#1153883 14-Oct-2014 19:13

Whinery:

And nobody seems to be asking the more interesting questions (at least to me). Does any other ISP use the ATA on the ONT for their voice? I don't know any that do. So ask about that. It makes the other guys look silly. Honestly, I'm not saying nobody else does it, but that I know the #1, #2, and #3 ISPs in the country don't. I didn't look at the other 70 or so. There are interesting details I am allowed to talk about without restriction.

No I don't believe there is any RSP using the ATA on the ONT - It does not make them look silly, I'm sure they could use it if they wanted too but they have probably made a commercial decision not to use it for one reason or another. remember the LFC guides were partly designed by the large ISP's as part of the TCF working groups.

A question for you around your voice service since you can talk about it without restriction. will you be looking to build your own carrier voice platform, I see you are not a member of the NAD so presumably you are reselling another voice service (hopefully not just reselling one of those 3 ISP's voice products that you refer to as silly :)

Sharesies

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sbiddle

30853 posts

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#1153892 14-Oct-2014 19:23

Whinery: Does any other ISP use the ATA on the ONT for their voice? I don't know any that do. So ask about that. It makes the other guys look silly. Honestly, I'm not saying nobody else does it, but that I know the #1, #2, and #3 ISPs in the country don't.

It makes you look silly when you don't know the #1 ISP is* using the ATA voice port.

There are pros and cons to using the ATA port. Just because you opt to use it doesn't make your voice solution any superior or worse than others.

*it's provisioned and does have bias on the line and can access a voice platform - it will be migrated across to a VoIP solution across once Spark finish reading the Broadworks instruction manual and can make it work.

Whinery

104 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#1153915 14-Oct-2014 20:01

ckc:
I'm just questioning the ethical standpoint of claiming you're providing "Fibre TV" for $15/mo,

I never claimed that, as anyone signing up to the residential plans gets the service for $0 FOREVER (as long as they stay a customer). I'm not sure how $0 for life is charging $15.

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic

sonyxperiageek

2955 posts

Uber Geek

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#1153918 14-Oct-2014 20:12

Whinery:
ckc:
I'm just questioning the ethical standpoint of claiming you're providing "Fibre TV" for $15/mo,

I never claimed that, as anyone signing up to the residential plans gets the service for $0 FOREVER (as long as they stay a customer). I'm not sure how $0 for life is charging $15.

Regards,
Marc Whinery
Senior Product Manager, MyRepublic

Yes, but that's not what was stated on your website before and nor was that the implication of your (or MyRepublic's) posts before as well.

Sony

ckc

321 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1153919 14-Oct-2014 20:15

I saw that. Signing up in the trial period gets you it free forever. That still doesn't change that you're going to start charging people $15/mo for a smart DNS that's unquantifiably better than the Other Guys. So I get it for free, and then I tell people I know about MyRepublic, and you start ripping off people I know at the rate of $15/mo? Nah.

You are using weaselly terms to try and make like it's a USP, and it's not. You were doing your best to be evasive when you were directly asked what it was.

I don't think you've given out many straight answers. I think you did your best to be evasive when questioned about what Fibre TV actually is. I think you've been unable to convince me, at least, to the extent that I'd feel confident in a) trusting you to set me up, b) when locked into a 12 month contract down the line, trust you to deliver the service, and c) be honest and upfront about what services you're going to provide. How would this idea of Fibre TV hold up with the Commerce Commission? It's borderline misleading - if people on here have to interrogate you about it, the average user might well be misled.

I started out trusting what you said and enjoying the idea of competition that wasn't Spark. But what you've said, and the way you've avoided giving any real answers or differentiating yourself from the Other Guys, instead relying on "Sign up and see!", that's made me very wary.

Do yourself a favour. Go look at how BigPipe deal with responses in their forum. That's how you deal with the heavy user/gamer demographic.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1153921 14-Oct-2014 20:29

sbiddle:
Whinery: Does any other ISP use the ATA on the ONT for their voice? I don't know any that do. So ask about that. It makes the other guys look silly. Honestly, I'm not saying nobody else does it, but that I know the #1, #2, and #3 ISPs in the country don't.

It makes you look silly when you don't know the #1 ISP is* using the ATA voice port.

There are pros and cons to using the ATA port. Just because you opt to use it doesn't make your voice solution any superior or worse than others.

*it's provisioned and does have bias on the line and can access a voice platform - it will be migrated across to a VoIP solution across once Spark finish reading the Broadworks instruction manual and can make it work.

HAHAHA Classic!!!

I'm sure I've seen Chorus say on here many times there are a decent handful of ISP's using the ONT's ATA. Isn't the biggest issue with the ONT the actual provisioning of it?

sbiddle

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#1153925 14-Oct-2014 20:40

chevrolux:

I'm sure I've seen Chorus say on here many times there are a decent handful of ISP's using the ONT's ATA. Isn't the biggest issue with the ONT the actual provisioning of it?

Provisioning is a lot better now that they've moved to TR-069 from XML, and yes, there are a number of providers capable of using it as a solution.

The downside of using the ONT port is the fact it's not an entirely consistent product across Chorus and LFC hardware, and it doesn't offer full interoperability with every solution out there.

It's not better or worse than a RGW, it's just a different way of presenting a dial tone that some will choose to use, and others won't.

myfullflavour

896 posts

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Full Flavour

#1153939 14-Oct-2014 21:07

sbiddle:
chevrolux:

I'm sure I've seen Chorus say on here many times there are a decent handful of ISP's using the ONT's ATA. Isn't the biggest issue with the ONT the actual provisioning of it?

Provisioning is a lot better now that they've moved to TR-069 from XML, and yes, there are a number of providers capable of using it as a solution.

The downside of using the ONT port is the fact it's not an entirely consistent product across Chorus and LFC hardware, and it doesn't offer full interoperability with every solution out there.

It's not better or worse than a RGW, it's just a different way of presenting a dial tone that some will choose to use, and others won't.

Trustpower have a large market share of UFB connections and use the VoIP port on the ONT, so MyRepublic is certainly not unique in this area.

To offer an RSP perspective - our LFC (Ultrafast) don't offer any type of automatic provisioning for the voice on ONT service which doesn't make this service feature feasible for us.

myfullflavour

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#1153943 14-Oct-2014 21:15

Whinery: We do more than Global Mode. We like to think we do it better. The Other Guys don't state the technical details, so how can I say whether we do it differently?

How can you say you think you do it better when in the next sentence you are telling us you don't know how "The Other Guys" do it, therefore you can't offer a comparison?

This sums up what is frustrating me about this thread.

Lots of claims being made, but nothing to back those claims up.

The audience on Geekzone aren't stupid, they want to know the ins and outs so they can make up their own mind on how your particular service feature is better.

"Trust us" doesn't fly, this audience deserves better.

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