[Malay-Coopers]

We have recently moved to NZ from the US and are looking into getting a cell/mobil phone and we are suprised by how expensive the monthly costs are and how few minutes you get. What has been your experience with Vodafone or Telecom?

thanks

[KerryS]

Telecom - wouldn't touch them with a bargepole! Terrible reception, poor customer service and half the time text messages sent abroad never reach their intended destination despite being charged for them.

Vodafone are fine for me. Good package (although I'm on a plan which no longer exists and have no intention of changing as my deal is far too good). Their customer service is reasonable and they're giving away free phones on some of their packages now.

[Park City Partner]

Hi there and welcome! I moved here from the US about a year ago and my cell phone habits have changed dramatically! Most people text here as the plans, as you discovered, are hideous compared to what you are used. We use Vodaphone and they have been fine. We do a pay as you go deal and use the Bestmate option which gives you one phone number you can call as much as you like for only $6 a month.

As an aside, when I went back to the States in Nov I went back to my old habits! I got a SIM card for my old tmobile phone (which they unlocked for me when Imoved here) and started calling like mad again.....

Good luck with settling in...

[suebeenz]

Because of the high costs, I decided to go for the pay-as-you-go, which don't charge you when people call you (only when u make calls). As was alluded to above, you need to do your best to cut back your usage to keep costs in control.

I only have experience with Telecom. Guessing for pay-as-you-go, wouldn't be much difference between the two. I haven't noticed issues with reception (but I do hate telecom for their 3rd world broadband - but that's another thread).

By the way, has anyone found a website where you can send txts for free? Skype is great, but expensive for sms.

[sarahw]

We brought our phones from overseas & they would only fit Vodafone SIM cards in them (evidently Telecom was using a different system - don't know if that has changed in the last couple of years but their cards weren't compatible with our phones - so we kind of had the decision taken out of our hands).

I use the phone to text friends back in the UK and here and for emergency phonecalls or to be contactable if I need to be - so I just pay-as-you-go - I think I use about $10 a month. I've found Vodafone to be quite good out here but then I was happy with them back in the UK too. They did do free texts on weekends for quite a few months last year which was very handy!

[Caniwi]

[QUOTE=Park City Partner;128513]As an aside, when I went back to the States in Nov I went back to my old habits! I got a SIM card for my old tmobile phone (which they unlocked for me when Imoved here) and started calling like mad again.....[QUOTE]
Park City Partner...

I have a locked phone here in Canada, that I intend to take to NZ with me.....did they charge you a fee to unlock it?

Caniwi

BTW, why doesn't the "quote" come up in box??

[stu70]

The closing quote bracket needs a "/". Then the statement within teh quote would be "quoted". Regards

[clg]

We are doing what park city planner is doing, pay as you go vodafone and texting. We don't spend much on the mobiles now but it works fine for basic communication.

[Caniwi]

The closing quote bracket needs a "/". Then the statement within teh quote would be "quoted". Regards

Thx Stu70, realised I'd deleted some essential characters! :laugh

[Park City Partner]

They did not charge me a fee, they were very nice about it. Hopefully your carrier will be the same.

[keeweescot]

By the way, has anyone found a website where you can send txts for free? Skype is great, but expensive for sms.

Found this one today - I can't really recommend it as I haven't used it apart from sending a couple of test messages (which worked fine). It looks good to me but maybe someone else has been using it?

Sal

btw - this was to a uk mobile but they appear to work worldwide.

would help to add the link :D http://www.wadja.com

[kanatakiwi]

Hi Caniwi,

I brought a phone from Canada, did not get charged for unlock. One thing to note, it has to be the right kind of phone with the correct bandwidth. I brought an LG which I purchased from Telus Mobility and it does not work here, however a NOkia phone which I purchased second hand in Canada, works fine here because it is a GSM phone and can be used internationally. Telecom in NZ said my NOkia phone would not work on their network as its not compatible, so I got the sim card from vodaphone, use pay as you go, works fine. The sim card cost $35,

[Caniwi]

Thx Kanatakiwi

I have a Vodafone SIM from a previous trip, so that's awesome, I just bring it over and get it unlocked there.

[Lisa&Andy]

Hi
Great help - just the question I was thinking about. Lots of people have mentioned Vodafone :)