Speaker: The Telecom XT Discussion
113 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last
-
Just worked out what was wrong with that Geekzone FAQ link -- it was missing a character.
It's here.
-
Next iPhone question - who is going to be first in NZ to offer the visual voicemail controls? I understand that Vodafone couldn't be arsed offering that but it seems to me a real drawcard.
-
There is, I believe, two forms of locking on an iPhone, one to restrict your choice of network and one to restrict your choice of application.
Vodafone don't apply the first one, but the second is there until you get a patch to jailbreak it.
-
Which is why I love my gPhone (and cupcake arrived today! now my bluetooth headphones work)
-
Just worked out what was wrong with that Geekzone FAQ link -- it was missing a character.
It's here.
I was expecting to find a web page with just one character on it. That would have appealed to my stupid sense of humor.
:-)
Anyhoo. Can somebody explain how Woosh can provide a broadband service over WCDMA and UMTS (all be it patchy due to the low number of cell sites) that is very competitive to land-line based offerings, when the big players Voda & Telecom charge like wounded bulls for the same tech. -
Telecom cannot guarantee the customer experience of a phone that is not sourced from and supported by Telecom
I second Sam M. This sounds like a brochure, or written by the legal team not normal humans who blog. Less jargon, more plain language please.
How about making it customer not Telecom-focussed. For example, "Your iphone might work but we can't guarantee it"
-
Here's a Proper question.
Can I port my prepay number to XT? -
How about making it customer not Telecom-focussed. For example, "Your iphone might work but we can't guarantee it"
Fair call. That was an official answer, but there's no reason they can't be in human language.
-
Neal,
Can somebody explain how Woosh can provide a broadband service over WCDMA and UMTS (all be it patchy due to the low number of cell sites) that is very competitive to land-line based offerings, when the big players Voda & Telecom charge like wounded bulls for the same tech.
The technology used by Whoosh is very different from the technology used by TNZ & VFNZ.
Part of the reason is that the technology to deliver Mobile serivice is more expensive that the technology to provide staionary services. -
The technology used by Whoosh is very different from the technology used by TNZ & VFNZ.
Part of the reason is that the technology to deliver Mobile serivice is more expensive that the technology to provide staionary services.More expensive because of more cell sites.
More cell sites = more customers.
XT is UMTS over WCDMA as is Woosh. The difference in technology is minimal but the difference in data charges is huge. -
Belt,
Just read Scoops QnA list. So here's my last question (I promise). With two days to go, WHEN will pricing be made public?
a) Wednesday
b) Thursday
c) FridayThank you.
I realise there are commercial reasons to keep these under wraps, but customers have commercial also :)
-
Woosh is something over half the price of Vodafone/Telecom for a data-only connection.
There are a number of reasons they are cheaper:
- they only provide coverage where it's straightforward to do so and there is a concentration of potential customers.- a mobile provider is under an expectation that their customers will be able to connect in most urban/highway areas. Woosh isn't - they don't expect you to move around much.
- mobile providers have to try and defend their mainstream business from cannibalisation by data (e.g. email instead of SMS, VOIP)
- woosh have a much simpler billing task because of the lack of per-call charging (not to mention no interconnection)
- woosh don't have to manage telephone interconnection and are basically unregulated
- woosh are pretty much offering a consumer-only service. They don't have to provide the service levels the corporate customers of full-service telcos expect
- woosh has always been on the edge of commercial viabillity
Having said that, maybe the woosh model will work out in the longer term as people do switch to doing all their communication over Internet and using the mobile device as a pure Internet terminal.
-
Couple of points:
@rich of observation not sure you're right about iPhones being double locked. If you buy one from Vodafone you can put ANY SIM card in it and it'll work. You'll need to change settings but that's it.
@Sam M - can't be arsed is a bit harsh. The tech guys are working hard to make visual voicemail work. The problem we've got (and we're not alone) is that Apple's preferred standard for voicemail is completely different to every telco's standard model. We're still waiting for VF HQ to provide the fix. I see it's gone in to Australia so hopefully that's an indication that we'll get it soon here.
@Belt - you say Vodafone only offers 2100MHz in the 3 main centres. This isn't quite right - we cover 70% of the population with 2100MHz 3G. That's the 19 main towns and cities and frankly I'm hard pressed to name any beyond those 19.
There's a belief doing the rounds that 850MHz is somehow technically superior to 900MHz. This is on a par with suggesting that 99FM is somehow superior to 95BFM. I'll leave the readers to decide for themselves.
Cheers
Paul
Vodafone External Communications Manager -
@paul,
@rich of observation not sure you're right about iPhones being double locked. If you buy one from Vodafone you can put ANY SIM card in it and it'll work. You'll need to change settings but that's it.
Glad you cleared that up Paul. That was my understanding also.
-
@Neal,
Welcome to Public Address System. Neal is one of the Telecomers - an expert in all technical aspects of XT Network as I understand it.
-
They are 'double locked' in the sense that if I buy one in the US I can't put a NZ sim card in it, nor can I load up any program that hasn't been blessed by Apple and provided through iTunes.
If I get it SIM unlocked I can put a Vodphone SIM in it, but I still can't put just any app (say a VOIP app to use my VOIP exchange at home) because Apple won't let just anyone sell anything through iTunes.
My Android/gPhone on the other hand will happily load anything I want to (or want to write myself) and I don't have to get Apple or Google or anyone else's permission to do so
-
If you buy one from Vodafone you can put ANY SIM card in it and it'll work. You'll need to change settings but that's it.
That's what I said, or tried to.
-
So far I'm afraid the discussion doesn't appear to be off the leash at all on any of the hard questions. Rather amusing to see vodafone answering most of the questions.
It really can't be a serious network if there are no iPhones on it. There is a hint of the "nod,nod wink, wink - we won't ask - just get the chip and don't tell us routine."
What I really wanted to know was how competitive they are going to be and whether I should wait for 2 degrees which does seem to have some "smart money" behind it.
Re: iPhones - I was contacted by an innovative service helping iPhone customers a while back. Telecom is being cagey because they haven't done a deal with Apple (yet?) and that is the right thing to do. I don't understand what the difference is - but might be helpful to some.
I don't read geekzone for the same reason.
unlockit appears to be able to provide an escape clause service with wiggle room.
Apparently it will
"allow you to change your APN without having to unlock, jailbreak or otherwise install any third party software on your iPhone."
I still a bit tempted to go <yawn>phones anyone?</yawn>
But to any reasonably mobile person they just cost a small fortune and we've had the over promise / under deliver routine for so many years now its is hard to get excited.
I did see elsewhere that the target was going to be yoof first - which seems to be somehow connected with petrolhead males and that is definitely not me but waiting for some real information to be released.
I have never seen Top Gear and not about to start anytime soon. I know there are other market segments like the one I've been in for 10+ years with Bellsloth and Vodafone.
We are looking for a smart network that offers value and service and useful information - not just another double-blind PR exercise.
And really we have to wait a few more days for useful details. Not sure there is any point to this discussion.
I agreee with Sam mostly we just need better Pricing on data so we can actually use it at will. I defy anyone to really understand account plans - the old adage about confusing the customers seams true to me.
Telstra seems to have understood this with their ads - although I've never met one of their actual customers.
Would love to be proved wrong though.
Looking forward to seeing Vodafone / I mean Telecom answer some / any questions...
meanwhile I'll research that gPhone / I have used Skype succesfully on an ipod and I understand that works on an iPhone as well.
-
Hi it's Rebecca here from Telecom Business. Sorry I'm abit late to the discussion - been a busy day getting ready for launch on Friday. If you can tell me your exact location, I'll ask the technical team to check out the 3G coverage map and let you know what to expect. The maps should be up on the website Friday but hopefully we can give you a good steer now. Cheers.
-
Hi Jason. Rebecca here from Telecom Business. Sorry I'm late to the discussion today - been busy getting ready for Fridays launch.
You're right, there is a whole lot we're keeping under wraps till Friday. But what I can tell you is that the new plans will be quite different to those you're used to. Instead of a contract for every phone, you'll be able to sign up to ONE contract for your business, and add/remove phones to that one contract as you need to. So it's going to be much easier to manage your businesses changing needs (adding contractors etc). Minutes can be shared across the phone users. That's why the phone prices might look higher - because our approach to subsidies will be radically different - they'll be part of the plan rather than in a discounted phone price.
From a Mobile Broadband perspective, yes these prices are going to get sharper.
If you're after great service, then why don't you give us a go? I could rave on about how the 126 call centre answers business calls within 20 seconds most of the time. I could tell you all about our Business Broadband helpdesk - dedicated to just answering business enquiries so you don't need to queue up behind some pimple faced gamer. But service is something you need to experience yourself of course.
Let me know if you've got any other burning questions and I'll see what i can find out for you.
-
Hi Sam,
Rebecca here from Telecom Business.Hey have to agree that our answer to THAT question is abit roundabout - and on that particular topic, I'm not going to give you anything better. But why don't you check out Chris Kealls blog on the NBR or Pauls response on this discussion. Read between the lines - sometimes others can say what we can't!
Glad to hear you're enjoying the mobile broadband experience. We have both the T-Stick and the Vodem in our household and I now have to hide my T-Stick as it's first choice. I can tell you there will be a better pricing plan announced - only 3 days away.
I'm not going to get into a debate about whether 850 is better than 900 - we're just focussed on providing consistent 3G coverage around the country - and the maps will tell that story when you see them on Friday.
Rebecca (not in PR!)
-
Hi Belt,
Rebecca here from Telecom Business. Our store staff are able to give you details now about the new network (and some of them might even tell you about the plans) but they can't sign you up till Friday - the 29th is the day agreed to as a result of the injunction I'm afraid.
However you will be able to purchase online - the mobile store on www is being completely overhauled for Friday. I've seen the test site, and it will have a dynamic comparison tool - just click and drag the phones. The phones are all in store now so you can decide what you're after and buy online or over the phone.
Rebecca
-
Danielle,
Ah the Palm Pre. Can't tell you how many people have been asking about that device! Simple answer - it's not on the launch list and I've got no idea what's on the future plan as it's shrouded in secrecy inside Telecom.
We've been getting some really good feedback on Facebook & Ffunnell about the types of phones people really want to see. I've compiled a list and put it into the "device team" here at Telecom. Personally I'm pretty excited about the line up that goes live on Friday - but then it's been an absolute desert on the device front for the last year - and I can't wait to throw my Okta Boss as far away as possible.
Keep telling us what you want to see - we are listening!
Rebecca -
Thanks Rebecca. It feels like a new era for Telecom and mobile phones in NZ. Will be interested to see how Friday goes.
I more interested in mobile data than an actual phone / that is more of a bonus. That Tstick is so ugly it just has to work well and if I read you correctly it may be actually faster after Friday.
Don't have time for queues so will wait till Monday.
-
Julian,
Sorry you got the "standard answer" about roaming charges.We're actually going to continue offering all our roaming Telecom customers "zone based pricing".
How it works: we've divided the globe up into 5 zones, each zone has a simple pricing structure. That means you can travel anywhere within that zone, and just pay the one price (it doesn't vary from country to country or network to network). Because you know the price upfront, you can roughly figure out what you're paying for a call (mins x price). There are no hidden costs with zone based pricing.
The advantage with Telecom is that you don't have to "opt in" to this pricing plan - you get it automatically when you roam.
The XT Network also means that all our phones will roam - finally!
There will no doubt be alot of talk over the coming weeks about who roams to the most number of countries - but what I'm looking forward to is that my voicemail will work on the XT Network when I roam. You may have found when you were travelling that your voicemail with the other guys only worked when you turned your phone off (handy feature eh!). XT means it'll work the same as it does here - when you're on the phone, no answer etc. Just remember to get a PIN number sorted for it. The Telecom roaming helpdesk will be available 24/7 .
If you've got any other questions about roaming - let me know.
Rebecca
Post your response…
This topic is closed.