I am creating this topic to discuss announcements made during the 2degrees press event on 3rd August.

I will be updating this topic from the meeting.

As expected 2degrees is annoucing their 3G service. Here are some of the hightlights:

- 3G Mobile Internet pricing: $6 50M of data (for mobile phone and smartphones).

- 3G handsets starting at $199 and some smartphones

- 3G Mobile Broadband service will $20 500MB of data valid for 30 days. Availabe at 2degrees mobile broadband zones only (Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington). $50 2GB of data for 60 days. $150 10GB mobile data. Until end of October $50 for 3GB for 60 days.

The 3G Mobile Internet will work on any 3G location, regardless of on-net or Vodafone roaming. The 3G Mobile Broadband service is only available on 2degrees network, and you will pay for casual data usage if you travel outside the zone.

You will obviously have the 3G Mobile Internet on a handset and 3G Mobile Broadband on a USB modem.

Mobile Broadband IS an effective substitute for fixed line broadband.

It will work just fine on a handset. You can buy both Mobile Internet AND Mobile Broadband on the same SIM. Your handset will use the Mobile Broadband while inside the zone, and the Mobile Internet while outside.

If you don't have the Mobile Internet while outside the zone then you will pay casual data.