Guide to the best texting option [currently] on 2 Degrees!

mattie47

79 posts

Master Geek

#38918 5-Aug-2009 22:44

If you like me were in despair that 2 Degrees didn’t offer a texting plan (although don’t ignore the possibility in the future) then don’t fret. You still have the ability to get even cheaper texting options while on 2 Degrees and ditch your Telecom/Vodafone. If your phone has the ability to take applications, check out http://www.fishtext.com. Fish Text offers texting via the web on both cell phones and via your computer. A quick conversion from pounds shows a text will cost you 3.36 cents (4.28 cents if converting NZ to Euro) using their service. The only other charge is the use of internet access; in this case, 1MB of data on 2Degrees is 50cents. This would mean every text you send on 2 Degrees costs you 0.02 cents* in internet credit. Unfortunately on further investigation “Data is charged in 5KB increments. There is a minimum charge of 1 cent per data session.*” Basically meaning sending texts on average will be 1 cent minimum (per internet session) + text cost. This means if you are still in the internet session, your texts will become even cheaper (we’re talking fractions of a cent) the more you send.

Example of costs (note this is adding 1 cent internet usage for every text (3.36c) sent):

100 texts to any number in NZ - $4.36
150 texts - $6.54 (Telecom XT is $6)

Now don’t stop reading there, because it’s going to be even cheaper than that.

[INCORRECT]Currently, FishText match £ for £. Meaning you can almost halve the costs of what I just said (top up £5 and get another £5. So, 150 texts would then be about $4 (3.36/2) + 1 cent X 150 texts[INCORRECT] -Misread their website, Top up 20 pounds and get 5 more free therefore calculations below are invalid.

Telecom $10 [500] text equivalent would then be $13.40

Even more, top up your 2 Degrees phone with $20 once a month and you will get a further 100 texts free! (not to forget the also 22 cent P/M 2 Degrees and Landline calls)

So you’re looking at 600 texts a month for $13.40

Also, if your friends use Fishtext and are online, texts to them will be free.

Now several things to note:

1. I actually haven’t used Fishtext yet, only worked out what costs will be (Comment on the service I you have tried it

)
2. My maths may be wrong, if so, PLEASE correct me.
3. I have not included charges for topping up via credit card etc as I honestly don’t know what it will be.
4. Conversions were done using XE.com
5. If texting via pc or using web on phone via wifi, ignore the extra 1 cent charge per text.
6. Your account credit doesn’t expire with Fishtext

I'll say it again, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF ANY INFORMATION IS WRONG!

*http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/prices-on-a-page
**http://www.fishtext.com/ft_dataChargesAdvice.html – 1mb = 50cents on 2D, converted to pounds = 0.19. 0.19 = 0.0001 per session = 0.02 cents NZ.

paradoxsm

3000 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#243305 5-Aug-2009 23:19

I'm a registered subscriber, the messages do not send from Fishtext to 022 numbers nor do they actually allow the 6422 number to be selected. They state they "are supported" so i'll have to check why.

Where is the $ for $ matching? I can only find "top up $20 and get $5 free"

mattie47

79 posts

Master Geek

#243308 5-Aug-2009 23:26

paradoxsm: I'm a registered subscriber, the messages do not send from Fishtext to 022 numbers nor do they actually allow the 6422 number to be selected. They state they "are supported" so i'll have to check why.

Where is the $ for $ matching? I can only find "top up $20 and get $5 free"

ahhh I fail, just reread their site. misread the €5/£5 thing on the front page....Didn't realise it was Pounds and Euros. From a glance thought it was saying they would match what you top up. So, 2 degrees isn't supported by them? I simply saw on their homepage it saying they were. I look forward to hearing your response from them regarding it.

friendlymonkey

180 posts

Master Geek

#243316 5-Aug-2009 23:57

There is no way I can affOrd to sign up unless 2degrees offers a txt plan such as. Vodafones TXT600.
Do they not realise new zealand has a rate of texting?

Also roll on 3g and data plans

nakedmolerat

4629 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#243368 6-Aug-2009 09:43

paradoxsm: I'm a registered subscriber, the messages do not send from Fishtext to 022 numbers nor do they actually allow the 6422 number to be selected. They state they "are supported" so i'll have to check why.

Where is the $ for $ matching? I can only find "top up $20 and get $5 free"

how reliable is the service?