Where is Orcon Mobile?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Where is Orcon Mobile?

jmosen

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#19773 1-Mar-2008 06:40

Orcon's mobile offering, based on Vodafone's GSM network, was originally scheduled to begin late last year, then it was delayed until February. Here we are in March, and still no news at all.

Anyone have any inside scoop as to what's going on there?

It seems that orcon has really lost some momentum since the Cordia acquisition. Blog postings on the Orcon blog are few, no naked DSL or indeed VOIP offering of any kind, and clearly there has been some further delay of some kind wit the mobile stuff.

Jonathan

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#113887 1-Mar-2008 09:13

Interesting last night I was thinking about them too. Same questions...

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sbiddle

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#113891 1-Mar-2008 09:23

I'd heard a few whispers.. It seems that they're wanting to do some very cool things to lauch a product into the market that has features no other telco in NZ is offering and simply can't get them working properly properly.

willnz

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#114037 2-Mar-2008 02:21

It's a Government run business - you actually expected things to come on time?

I wonder if they're planning some DVB-H stuff? Also, still waiting to see what that softswitch they spent $2m on is actually going to do...

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#114063 2-Mar-2008 10:24

willnz: It's a Government run business - you actually expected things to come on time? I wonder if they're planning some DVB-H stuff? Also, still waiting to see what that softswitch they spent $2m on is actually going to do...

Whats a government run business??

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#114065 2-Mar-2008 10:25

willnz: It's a Government run business

It is actually owned by Kordia, a SOE. Not necessarily run by the government.

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#114093 2-Mar-2008 12:42

Haha I know, I was just being cheeky - couldn't help myself, sorry

pwner

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#114095 2-Mar-2008 12:57

if Orcon are planning anything without involving a telco then it rules out GSM based Mobile phone tech, so they are either looking at Wi-MAX or DVB-H both of which Kodira their parent company has done alot of work on and is in a good position to supply, but from what i have seen WI-MAX is great for data but for voice and moving around it doesnt come close to GSM or CDMA tech.

I would guess the real reason would be either comercial agreement issues with Vodafone or the fact that Vodafone has never setup a MVNO on its network here before and something technical is holding them up. my best guess would be SAM is holding up stuff, if they are still going down that road.

Bubzilla

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#115660 10-Mar-2008 09:36

I'm not sure how helpful this is, but I emailed Scott Barlett, CEO of Orcon, and he said:

"Orcon is working hard with our wholesale partner to get launch this service - the intricacies of mobile are many, but rest assured that we are doing our very best."

Pretty standard I know, but apparently it is still coming.

Radiotron

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#118872 26-Mar-2008 20:19

Good to see there is now a dedicated Orcon forum space, like everyone on this thread, I'm very interested to know when and what will be offered in the way of Orcon Mobile(TM), Duncan, are you out there, some news?

duncanblair

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#119009 27-Mar-2008 10:25

Hi guys,

We are well aware that everyone is super keen to see what we are going to do with mobile (my inbox keeps filling up with people asking when/where/how much!), and we are just as keen as you are to get it launched.

Unfortunately we have run into some problems with our friends over in the big red tent which have meant that the launch of Orcon Mobile has had to be delayed. I can't really add much more to your quote from Scott above, but I would just reiterate that we are working hard to get this product to market. The last thing we want to do is launch a same-same proposition and dissapoint everyone who is looking forward to a true new entrant.

So in summary, yes we are still working on it, but I can't give you a date just yet.

Cheers,
Duncan Blair
Group Product Manager
Orcon

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#119012 27-Mar-2008 11:02

Unfortunately we have run into some problems with our friends over in the big red tent

This is soo typical!

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garvani

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#119350 28-Mar-2008 14:15

It is typical, but as scott said it isnt an easy thing to do! or someone would have done it a long time ago.. I have patience, im on account with vodafone and have been for the last 2 years, but are more than ready to move! Its just like the 2 old boys on the mainland cheese ads say "good things take time" so take your time orcon, i just hope that it is indeed good when it finally arrives!

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#119356 28-Mar-2008 14:59

garvani: It is typical, but as scott said it isnt an easy thing to do! or someone would have done it a long time ago.. I have patience, im on account with vodafone and have been for the last 2 years, but are more than ready to move! Its just like the 2 old boys on the mainland cheese ads say "good things take time" so take your time orcon, i just hope that it is indeed good when it finally arrives!

agreed, hope we can keep the same number though? and hopefully the downtime is minimal since it is the 'same' network, unlike when you try to port your number to Telecom which can take up to five days I heard as it is being dealt with by third party.