2degrees for Christchurch visitors

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 2degrees for Christchurch visitors

RyanMelissa

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#51076 27-Nov-2009 06:01

Hi all (from Singapore),

I will be spending my honeymoon in Christchurch for 15 days.

As my husband needs to stay in contact with his clients back in singapore during this period,
we are thinking of getting a 2degrees prepaid SIM card which allow us to call back
home at a much cheaper rate.

We have compare with a few telcos, 2degrees offer a more attractive deal.

Qn:

A) Can we purchase a 2degrees SIM card easily from Christchurch International airport?
B) Where can we buy the top-up voucher? any supermarket?
C) Planning to use the SIM card on my N95 mobile, suitable?

Thanks for all your advices and recommendations.

Cheers, Melissa!

1 | 2

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#276735 27-Nov-2009 07:19

You will have no trouble using it with an N95 assuming the handset isn't SIM locked to your existing network.

I'm not sure whether there is anywhere at Chch airport that sells SIM's but it won't be hard to find one - all supermarkets and petrol stations sell the SIM cards and top up vouchers. Virtually every convenience store also sells top up vouchers and some also sell SIM cards as well.

SaltyNZ

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#276736 27-Nov-2009 07:24

Hi, first off, congratulations on your wedding!

Not sure about the airport but you can pick up one of our cards at dairies, supermarkets, petrol stations, and a bunch of other places. Top-up vouchers are also obtainable from any of those places.

I have an N95 myself and it does work fine for data. I assume your phone isn't SIM-locked. We have EDGE, but 3G is currently not available.

If you top-up after you buy the card, you'll be able to call back to Singapore land lines at 22c/min.

Cheers
S

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

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

SaltyNZ

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#276737 27-Nov-2009 07:25

sbiddle: You will have no trouble using it with an N95 assuming the handset isn't SIM locked to your existing network.

I'm not sure whether there is anywhere at Chch airport that sells SIM's but it won't be hard to find one - all supermarkets and petrol stations sell the SIM cards and top up vouchers. Virtually every convenience store also sells top up vouchers and some also sell SIM cards as well.

Oh, snap!

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

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

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#276740 27-Nov-2009 07:42

RyanMelissa: Hi all (from Singapore),

I will be?spending my honeymoon in Christchurch for 15 days.

As my husband needs to stay in contact with his clients back in singapore during this period,
we are thinking of getting a?2degrees prepaid SIM card which allow us to call back
home at a much cheaper rate.

We have compare with a few telcos, 2degrees offer a more attractive deal.

Qn:

A) Can we purchase a 2degrees SIM card easily from Christchurch International airport?
B) Where can we buy the top-up voucher? any supermarket?
C) Planning to use the SIM card on my N95 mobile, suitable?

Thanks for all your advices and recommendations.

Cheers, Melissa!

Hope you enjoy your stay in NZ

Vodafone NZ have a promo on $2 for 2 hours calling to Singapore landlines and many other countries

The 30 countries included in the offer are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA.

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/2-for-2/

John

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#276757 27-Nov-2009 08:35

And if only Vodafone had $2 simcards...

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#276769 27-Nov-2009 08:53

The original poster will need to check the N95 to make sure it isn't locked to the home network - much easier to sort out now than once you get to Chch.

A $2 SIM, eh? So they're only going to make one call home? At least it'll be a good long chat - two hours is quite a while to be chatting. Why not go for a $20 one and make ten calls! ;-)

Hope you enjoy your honeymoon and congratulations!

cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

SaltyNZ

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#276773 27-Nov-2009 09:22

As usual, it depends on your calling patterns.

A 2 minute call on 2degrees would cost $0.44 @ 22c/min
A 2 minute call on Supa Prepay would cost $1.78 @ 89c/min

You could talk for 9 minutes on 2degrees, and still be slightly ahead ($1.98 @ 22c/min).

Thereafter, the next break-even point is at around 2:37:

A 157 minute call on 2degrees will cost $34.54 @ 22c/min
A 157 minute call on Supa Prepay will cost $34.93 @ $2 for 2 hrs + 37 minutes @ 89c/min

Thereafter, 2degrees is cheaper.

If you're a casual caller then $2 for 2 hours is suitable, but a business user might not want to hang up on a long conference call to keep the call cheap.

And, as friedCrumpet pointed out, first you need to buy the SIM, which will cost you $29.95, or effectively $19.95 if you go and register. IIRC (note - that's not a guarantee, I might be wrong there) we're still giving a $3 credit to register on our website, which kind of makes the $2 SIM cost -$1.

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

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

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

SaltyNZ

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#276776 27-Nov-2009 09:38

Oh, I forgot to add that if you're calling a Singpore _mobile_ then 2degrees is always cheaper. We charge 44c/min for calls to Singapore mobiles; $2 for 2 hours only applies to landlines, so you're always paying 89c/min...

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

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

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#276781 27-Nov-2009 09:45

SaltyNZ: Last time I looked (setting my dad up with 2degrees last week) registering put you in to a chance to win something.

Paul: Let's face it, on a honeymoon, would you rather be making long calls home or er, well, enjoying the honeymoon... I suspect for keeping in touch with clients will require many short calls rather than a few long ones.

Personally, I can't understand why anyone would want to talk on the phone for 2 hours. But that's just me ;)

SaltyNZ

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#276783 27-Nov-2009 09:53

friedCrumpet: SaltyNZ: Last time I looked (setting my dad up with 2degrees last week) registering put you in to a chance to win something.

Ahhh, you're probably right. I look after the back end; I don't spend much time in the self care systems...

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

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

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#276791 27-Nov-2009 10:23

YMMV naturally, but if you're talking about calling Singapore then Vodafone is the best offer. $2 for two hours is better value than anything else on the market.

and if we're talking about a 157 minute call, surely you'd just hang up and call back? So talk for two hours and then talk for another two and then talk for another two...

but frankly I'm with you on that one: if you're on a honeymoon don't call anything but room service. (Mind you, the original post did say some business calls would be made and they can drag on especially if you're doing a weekly meeting etc ... two hours will fly by!)

cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

timestyles

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#276797 27-Nov-2009 10:41

Ok, as far as I know, you can't buy a 2 degrees sim at Christchurch Airport. I rang the bookshop and they said they didn't sell them (note to anyone at 2 degrees: why?).

Anyway, your best bet is to buy one from a Dick Smith (www.dse.co.nz) store. You might want to stop in at Dick Smith from the airport, assuming they are open, of course. Confusingly, Dick Smith have two shops in Westfield Riccarton, one upstairs and one on Rotherham St. These are nearest to the airport.

If you really want to drop the cost, you might want to buy a calling card, they have really inexpensive prices, and you can get them heaps of places (Dick Smith and many others). I use Kia Ora, http://www.kiaoracard.co.nz/kiaora.html who offer 3.9c/min to Singapore. You'll need to phone a local number though, so you might end up paying a local call fee from a motel. Obviously the cellphone method is a lot easier.

RyanMelissa

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#277145 28-Nov-2009 06:09

Wow...
Thanks for your replies :)

Sbiddle,
Thanks for the reminder, i have checked my N95 is not sim locked.

SaltyNZ (cute nick!)
Yup im aware of 2degrees Magic to-up promo *Wink
No offence (notice there is someone from Vodafone) but
i have compared Vodafone with 2degrees and finds that 2degrees suit us better
in terms of rates back home (both mobile and landline), its more cheaper.

friedCrumpet:
Im with you! i've never talked 2 hours on the phone before.
Definitely no long hours on the phone when on Honeymoon, haha.

timestyles:
Thanks! will check on the Dick Smith shop from the airport.
Had thought of calling cards (Gotalk card), but the rates are expensive.
some calls are being charged in 5 mins block.

Is there anyway i can get the 2degrees SIM card to be delivered to Singapore?
I have checked their website, did not see any international delivery.

Cheers, Melissa.

DeroyBoy

262 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#277177 28-Nov-2009 10:43

Dick smiths website http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/ sells 2 degrees sim cards and ships international but shipping is $40.

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#277332 28-Nov-2009 22:42

Most BP's sell them, so they are pretty easy to get 24hrs.

The only reason I can think to get one ahead is if you need the number before you leave (which is why my friend ended up with tmobile in the uk, I had a sim that they sent here for free so he took it since he had to program speeddials before leaving NZ)

I dunno if 2 degrees have any way that a number can be reserved before getting the simcard.

I would expect that simcards in a snack vending machine at the airport is something that 2 degrees should approch the snack machine companies about doing....

Richard rich.ms

1 | 2