New Ideos and Global Roaming

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › New Ideos and Global Roaming

lissie

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#70660 28-Oct-2010 11:43

The launch of Ideos has just about made me deside to jump from my ancient cdma telecom phone to a smart phone. However this review at cnet gives me pause as it says skype is not available - how can thatbe - there would have to be an android skype app - or can the phone manufacturer control what is downloaded ?

I would the phone to travel with - so I have 2 questions

a) can I just swap to local sim card on arrival at a new country - particularly thinking about doing this in ireland, malaysia, thailand

b) if you use wifi - exclusively - which I probably will do - do I even need a SIM? Do I still need to pay for data using a free local WIFI hotspot ?

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#396753 28-Oct-2010 11:46

The phone isn't locked; you can put in any SIM - even, gasp, a Vodafone or Telecom one. But I would be surprised if it would do anything other than display "Insert SIM" without one.

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n4

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#396757 28-Oct-2010 11:51

lissie: However this review at cnet gives me pause as it says skype is not available - how can thatbe - there would have to be an android skype app - or can the phone manufacturer control what is downloaded ?

Skype for Android has been released since that review:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=69297

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n4

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#396764 28-Oct-2010 11:58

SaltyNZ: But I would be surprised if it would do anything other than display "Insert SIM" without one.

I think you're confusing this phone with an iPhone :-) Oh, alright, I know an iPhone works without a SIM as well...

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lissie

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#396765 28-Oct-2010 11:58

@N4 - wonder if Ideos is among the supported handsets?

So if I am using WIFI with a smart phone at a free hotspot amd I using the phone's data allowance (and paying for it) - or not - what I am thinking at the moment is free calls from skype on a mobile via a free hotspot in say KL (or wellington airport) - am I missing something ?

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SaltyNZ

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#396773 28-Oct-2010 12:07

n4:
SaltyNZ: But I would be surprised if it would do anything other than display "Insert SIM" without one.

I think you're confusing this phone with an iPhone :-) Oh, alright, I know an iPhone works without a SIM as well...

Heh, if I hadn't just scored a free hand-me-down iPhone I'd be buying an IDEOS to replace my geriatric N95...

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

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freitasm

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#396776 28-Oct-2010 12:12

The IDEOS should run Skyp just fine... However, you will need a data bundle. Knowing how much data a smartphone uses you might be in the group that uses 500 MB bundles ($20 at the moment, with 500 MB bonus).

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CruciasNZ

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#396781 28-Oct-2010 12:18

Note that bundle is only usable on 2? own network, not VF roaming

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lissie

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#396783 28-Oct-2010 12:20

Yeah I am primarily looking to use the phone overseas - at home I am too cheap to pay mobile charges when I have a perfectly good setup in the office

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CruciasNZ

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#396785 28-Oct-2010 12:22

If you do that make sure you can disable the data while roaming or your bill could get higher than your plane flight

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lissie

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#396793 28-Oct-2010 12:34

I can get 500MB on a Malaysian SIM for NZ$10 - seems like the way to go ...

@ma2005 - you physically swap the SIM don't you ? There's no way I could be charged at NZ rates (which according to 2degrees own website are an hilarious $30MB !)

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

CruciasNZ

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#396794 28-Oct-2010 12:35

Just physically swap the SIMs yes

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timmyh

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#397020 28-Oct-2010 20:44

But when you insert a SIM card in another country you may have to also enter that networks APN for the internet access into the Android settings. Otherwise phone doesn't know how to activate the internet connection for that network.