[vijith]

which mobile phone do u use???


i use motorola L9http://www.compareindia.com/media/images/2007/sep/img_22271_sep29_motorola_l9.jpg

[Kim39]

one that works:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:


Kim

[holland]

one that works:confused: :confused: :confused:


Kim

:laugh

[jubjub]

I got an Sony Ericsson Z310i, I love it.... its sooo PINK!!! (you can get a black one though!)

finally converted me from Nokia after 4 different models over the years!

[Familyofmonkeys]

I have a Samsung of some sort...not sure what type. Anyway...it is small and silver and was the cheapest phone I could afford with a decent camera on it.....wish it came in pink....that would be very cool (i have a pink PSP).

[Sam B]

just some old black brick - nokia something or other, that I've had for years.

[ourquest]

which mobile phone do u use???


i use motorola

I gather this is how you define yourself. New Zealand might not suit you as much as you thought.

[Jo Jo]

I have a fancy new Nokia, but have no idea how to use it apart from for making calls and sending texts. I'm sure there are all sorts of really useful features on there, but I can't be bothered to read the manual. I they'd stop changing phones all the time - all I wanted was the same as my old one...

[kzn2nz]

Nokia N70 - can't wait to downgrade to something simple!!!

Edit: My camera has only one camera, but my cellphone has 2. Neither is worthy of the title 'camera' though! Isn't there something wrong with that???:exit

[shakyle2906]

Hi
Brought my samsung D900 over with me from Uk!

Sharon

[Kim39]

Currently i have the phone i brought with me 2 years ago which is the Motorola E550, but i ordered 2 from the UK for xmas, and these are the Sony Ericsson W300i, one for me and one for daughter. I feel you get a better phone via the UK rather than buying here, as the price is just too much. These two cost me 100 squid for both, and just unlocked them via www.mrunlock.co.uk (http://www.mrunlock.co.uk) have been offered $450 for one since i have had them.


Kim

[leachio]

Hey Kim the Gringe is comin on over xmas, reminds me of u every time :laugh

Jub Jub just a word of warning with the sony ericsons, I took my k750i over and dan his k800i we both luved them but both of them started havin problems charging. They wouldnt charge via their chargers, sounds strange I know but stevied can testify to tryin everythin possible to get mine goin, he cleaned the charger end of the phone, took the actual charger to bits with a big knife and could not come up with logical explanation why. I had a new battery sent over from UK, tried diff chargers to no avail. They would charge via a usb cable on laptop but even after a 24hr charge there was hardly any life in them.

I hope this never becomes the case for you but just incase u will know ur not alone!

[jubjub]

Leachio, I bought mine over here, so hopefully it will be fine cos its got an NZ charger and all... fingers crossed!

[nickydwuk]

I have a samsung U600. Got this as part of my contract. Chose the phone 'cos it is slim and fits in my pocket and has a really good camera. Saves having to carry phone & camera around when we go out. Hopefully will get it unlocked so I can bring it with me.

[Syed]

I have Nokia N73, very nice phone. No one can beat nokia....even their simplest phone is just perfect. Samsung, LG, Sony Erics..etc suite ladies...Motorolla is loosing market shares...
I will try iPhone however..but it has poor camera, big in size, only work with some carries...however it is a cool device...

N73 was the best then (a year before), it's only disadvantage is no wifi....

[Silverwing86]

Nokia N95 (parallel imported because I wanted it to be unbranded so that none of the features would be disabled by Vodafone) and absolutely love it !

It has a great 5 Mpx camera (which is the main reason I bought it, like Nickydwuk, I too prefer to travel light :D), extremely useful calendar function which can synchronise with Outlook (third most important feature to me after the phone and the camera), an excellent music player and GPS (unfortunately the maps for NZ aren't the best as yet, but a potentially useful tool nonetheless, hopefully the maps will be upgraded soon...).

Don't use all the fancy Internet features on it though because I still find data costs waaayyyy too expensive....

Cheers,
Silver

[jdbob]

iPhone (hacked)

[LesleyS]

I bought the cheapest Nokia I could find in Sainsbury's 30 quid including a 10 quid top up voucher - it's 'awesome' no gadgetry and works a dream with my NZ chip!

[KerryS]

I had a brick of a Nokia, which I'd had for years, but I dropped it earlier this year and had to get a new one as the screen broke.

I now have a Sony W880i, which is OK. Bit too small for me, as I frequently lose it in the depths of my bag. I only use it for calling and sending texts - I don't use all the other gadgetry it has...

I am tempted by an iPhone, but only because that would save me carrying my iPod and phone with me. I just don't want to pay the extortionate price that they are at present.

[CityBlue]

I gather this is how you define yourself. New Zealand might not suit you as much as you thought.

How on earth can you make a statement like that from a harmless thread?

Seriously though, maybe you should read your post back to yourself before you post it:mad:

[ourquest]

How on earth can you make a statement like that from a harmless thread?

Seriously though, maybe you should read your post back to yourself before you post it:mad:

Point taken.:o I suppose it is harmless on the surface but it does surprise me that it it as important to some; bear in mind that it wasn't asked as a question like "will my phone work in New Zealand?" or "is it cheaper to bring my phone with me?", but was merely a statement and included a big photograph of the phone that the member uses, rather like an advert. I apologise if my comment caused offence, but in my experience New Zealand is not as concerned with branding as many other places in the world and my own annoyance and frustration came out in a (too) cuttingly sarcastic way in my post...there is a simplicity and subtlety in the way New Zealanders choose their tools like cars and phones, and I for one would hate that to change, as it is part of what makes New Zealand desirable and different. Hence my comment here "harmless on the surface", as threads such as this one continue what is something of a myth that these external details are important in life.
But that doesn't make it right that I impose those views on others, and I could have opted instead to keep quiet. Sorry.:o

[CityBlue]

Point taken.:o I suppose it is harmless on the surface but it does surprise me that it it as important to some; bear in mind that it wasn't asked as a question like "will my phone work in New Zealand?" or "is it cheaper to bring my phone with me?", but was merely a statement and included a big photograph of the phone that the member uses, rather like an advert. I apologise if my comment caused offence, but in my experience New Zealand is not as concerned with branding as many other places in the world and my own annoyance and frustration came out in a (too) cuttingly sarcastic way in my post...there is a simplicity and subtlety in the way New Zealanders choose their tools like cars and phones, and I for one would hate that to change, as it is part of what makes New Zealand desirable and different. Hence my comment here "harmless on the surface", as threads such as this one continue what is something of a myth that these external details are important in life.
But that doesn't make it right that I impose those views on others, and I could have opted instead to keep quiet. Sorry.:o

Thats a really nice post to apologise :clap

[Chiba]

A Palm Treo 700wx (http://www.palm.com/nz/products/smartphones/treo700wx/) from work (on Telecom), and a Nokia N73 (http://www.nokia.co.nz/link?cid=PLAIN_TEXT_742189) for personal calls (on Vodafone). No brand name tomfoolery - the Treo was handed to me, and the N73 saves me carrying a seperate digital camera. Handy - all the kids stuff's enough to carry as it is...

[RamblingPaddies]

sorry if i'm raking over old coals but couldnt find previous threads

will handsets from the UK work with NZ sim cards ?:uhoh

[dilanium]

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10631&highlight=cards+UK+mobile+phone

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9854&highlight=UK+cards+mobile+phone

these threads might help answer your question.

[aberdian]

it's a something or other 6800 i think. It works. Lets me talk to people. Bought it after my old one went missing for 9 months, only to turn up 3 days after buying the new one in one of my wifes lesser used handbags....... Oh well!

[benandclare]

sorry if i'm raking over old coals but couldnt find previous threads

will handsets from the UK work with NZ sim cards ?:uhoh

Yes they will but you'll need to get them unlocked before you come over and you'll be restricted to Vodafone as the Telecom ones have the sims built in

[PeteS]

sorry if i'm raking over old coals but couldnt find previous threads

will handsets from the UK work with NZ sim cards ?:uhoh

Yes.

Out here Telecom only supply handsets without SIM cards, and you cannot get Telecom handsets to work on other networks.

Vodaphone do supply SIM based phones, and so you can bring your UK SIM based phone out here, put a Vodaphone pay as you go SIM in it and it'll work.

I have an ancient Nokia 6310i that was 2 years old when I bought it out here nearly 3 years ago. it just keeps working.

[nickydwuk]

Can it be a UK vodaphone sim? Or is it a different company in NZ then UK?

[PeteS]

Can it be a UK vodaphone sim? Or is it a different company in NZ then UK?

NZ Vodaphone SIM. Same company, different network, and the NZ SIM makes you an NZ mobile in NZ rather than a UK mobile in NZ.

[RamblingPaddies]

need to get them unlocked before you come over

thanks for the info

how does one unlock a phone ? i thought the handset was essentially just a house for the SIM to work in ... if all I am getting in NZ is a SIM then the handset shouldn't matter if the 2 are compatible right ?

[Syed]

thanks for the info

how does one unlock a phone ? i thought the handset was essentially just a house for the SIM to work in ... if all I am getting in NZ is a SIM then the handset shouldn't matter if the 2 are compatible right ?

When my phone locks, I press unlock then * key.
If you are talking about phone itself, then you might need screw drive or enough mechanical force to set apart it pieces. :D

If the phone is locked by carrier then you need hammer :no or Google..
Use Google with your phone model number and carrier name...digg more, we can not help without knowing your phone details....

I suggest to not buy unlocked iPhone either as new firmware will lock it again, while new firmware with added features are unavoidable sometimes...

[Syed]

thanks for the info

how does one unlock a phone ? i thought the handset was essentially just a house for the SIM to work in ... if all I am getting in NZ is a SIM then the handset shouldn't matter if the 2 are compatible right ?

When my phone locks, I press unlock then * key.
If you are talking about phone itself, then you might need screw drive or enough mechanical force to set apart it pieces. :D

If the phone is locked by carrier then you need hammer :no or Google..
Use Google with your phone model number and carrier name...digg more, we can not help without knowing your phone details....

I suggest to not buy unlocked iPhone either as new firmware will lock it again, while new firmware with added features are unavoidable sometimes...

[benandclare]

thanks for the info

how does one unlock a phone ? i thought the handset was essentially just a house for the SIM to work in ... if all I am getting in NZ is a SIM then the handset shouldn't matter if the 2 are compatible right ?


Most mobile fone shops should be able to unlock your phone from your "provider" Vodafone, O2, orange etc etc.

I had a UK vodafone payg sim in my UK phone and assumed that as it's Vodafone or Telecom in NZ , no probs. Clare had her O2 handset unlocked whilst in UK.
Rolled along to Vodafone shop and bought 2 sims, Clare's worked fine ..mine locked grr grr took £25 to unlock it, works fine now.

Hope this helps

[IanW99]

thanks for the info

how does one unlock a phone ? i thought the handset was essentially just a house for the SIM to work in ... if all I am getting in NZ is a SIM then the handset shouldn't matter if the 2 are compatible right ?

Mobile phones are either supplied SIM-free or by a network provider.
If they are SIM free then any of SIM from any of the providers will work in it including the ones from UK or NZ (vodaphone only).

If the phone has been provided by a specific network provider e.g. O2 or Vodafone etc, then they may 'lock' the phone so that it will only work on their network (with their SIMs). This is primarily done because they subsidise the price of the phones.

If it is locked then you will need to get it unlocked before you can use a different networks SIM in it.

Ian

[Syed]

People might not be very familiar with GSM and CDMA Technologies. Before you bring your phone to NZ, you should check that it support the right technologies. NZ will be probably only GSM, so CDMA phones will not work even if they are not locked by carriers.
Any one confirm on comment on this point

[IanW99]

People might not be very familiar with GSM and CDMA Technologies. Before you bring your phone to NZ, you should check that it support the right technologies. NZ will be probably only GSM, so CDMA phones will not work even if they are not locked by carriers.
Any one confirm on comment on this point

Telecom actually use CDMA, so would guess that it would be possible in theory at least to be able to use a mobile phone that supports this standard in NZ. I think the problem here is that these phones do not have a SIM and are effectively permanently locked to one carrier (you won't be able to change the phone number). So your mobile may work if it has roaming ability but you would have to retain the original number and service e.g. just as if you have gone on holiday to NZ.

Vodafone in NZ uses GSM 900Mhz so you need to ensure that the mobile phone can use this band (any European Dual-band phone will do for example). For these phones, once you replace the SIM then they are just the same as any other NZ mobile phone.

Ian

[Howie]

Cool thread. I bought the cheapest Motorola when I arrived in NZ and am ready to upgrade to a better phone. I think I've been sucked into NZ's cell phone culture and now I want a phone with a camera, with down loadable ring tones, with a colour screen!!! OK, I get laughed at when I pull my phone out. It does allow me to call and txt though. But now I want MORE!

So I've been debating which phone to get for about the past 6 months. I think I finally have motivation (and money) to actually purchase something, but I'm still undecided. I want a quad band phone (so I can use in North America) at least 2 megpix camera (so I can take decent pics for my blog), there is no way I'm getting another Motorola - no good reason, just don't want one. I don't want to spend more than $400 (but am willing to get a used phone) Here's what I've been thinking about:

Blackberry: I like the Pearl 8100 and think it looks cool. The web based functions are way too expensive to actually use, but I want to use my phone as my PDA. The only security approved PDA that I can use at work to synch with my work calendar is a Blackberry. But, I've heard that they make great PDA's but not actually great phones. Plus the camera is only 1.3 mpix.

Samsung U600. I love the slimness of this phone. Great camera, great features. A little above my price range, but I think I can get one for about $400 on trademe. I have heard that the battery is not great and basically needs charging everyday.

LG KU800 'Chocolate' : Not as slim as the Samsung, but similar features and looks like a good phone. I can get it for $400 from vodafone. Although I'm willing to buy used or imported from trademe, I would feel a little more secure having a vodafone phone with a warranty.

Nokia 6120: The only quad band Nokia I can afford. I don't like the look of the phone, but it's a Nokia so maybe it will actually work.

Sony Ericsson S500i or K550i or w810i: Sony seems to have the most quad bands for me to choose from. But I have no idea how to choose between them!

So please help!!!! I can't decide and I've been thinking about this for far to long and just need to go and get a phone. But spending so much money makes me nervous so I want to make sure I really like it and feel good about the purchase. Which is way I've been putting it off for so long.

[Syed]

Most phones use Symbian OS details here
http://www.symbian.com/phones/index.html
So they will have almost same software features.
Please consider, if you can use computer software eg Nokia PC Suite, which helps you download media files from phone, and have synchronize functions etc.
Then decide the phone hardware features, eg camera , quick buttons, screen size..
and then price....

[IanW99]

...
Blackberry: I like the Pearl 8100 and think it looks cool. The web based functions are way too expensive to actually use, but I want to use my phone as my PDA. The only security approved PDA that I can use at work to synch with my work calendar is a Blackberry. But, I've heard that they make great PDA's but not actually great phones. Plus the camera is only 1.3 mpix.

Samsung U600. I love the slimness of this phone. Great camera, great features. A little above my price range, but I think I can get one for about $400 on trademe. I have heard that the battery is not great and basically needs charging everyday.

LG KU800 'Chocolate' : Not as slim as the Samsung, but similar features and looks like a good phone. I can get it for $400 from vodafone. Although I'm willing to buy used or imported from trademe, I would feel a little more secure having a vodafone phone with a warranty.

Nokia 6120: The only quad band Nokia I can afford. I don't like the look of the phone, but it's a Nokia so maybe it will actually work.

Sony Ericsson S500i or K550i or w810i: Sony seems to have the most quad bands for me to choose from. But I have no idea how to choose between them!
...


I always think a mobile is a very personal thing, so not sure if anyone is really going to be able to give you an answer that will be perfect for you.

A few things that I will say, the LG KU800 doesn't appear to be quad band so doesn't meet your requirements (most reviews I have seen also say that it isn't actually that good).

The Sony Ericsson S500i appears to have a lot of build / design issues so probably best avoided.

From the specs and user reviews, out of the phones that you listed the Sony Ericsson W810i appears to be the best of the bunch that you are looking at, but you may not really like the style?

For me, I'm looking at the Samsung D900i which ticks all the right boxes for me and seems to meet your needs (bit cheaper that the ones you listed) but I really want to try it before parting with any cash.

When you come to buy, check out Mobile phones on PriceSpy (http://www.pricespy.co.nz/cat_8.html?s=1&g=170) for the best deals.

Ian

[river11]

I've got a rubbish Tmobile sda, it does have sat nav on it but it's falling apart, the sides have been superglued on, it's scratched to buggery, it keeps turning itself off, windows locks all the time. I just couldn't be bothered getting a new one.

[kanatakiwi]

Cool thread. I bought the cheapest Motorola when I arrived in NZ and am ready to upgrade to a better phone. ........I want a quad band phone (so I can use in North America) at least 2 megpix camera (so I can take decent pics for my blog),
So please help!!!! I can't decide and I've been thinking about this for far to long and just need to go and get a phone. But spending so much money makes me nervous so I want to make sure I really like it and feel good about the purchase. Which is way I've been putting it off for so long.

I have a NOKIA 6820 which has many features I love, most important being the flip out keyboard which is just like a computer keyboard. this means I can text without having to put my reading glasses on! It also has the all important tri-band so I have a North american sim card, a European one, and an NZ one. All work well, but there are coverage issues in NZ sometimes, something to do with the 900 mhz issue in NZ. (Coverage is better in australia on an NZ sim card, than it is in NZ, go figure)

It also has email, bluetooth, speakerphone, good camera, can be synchronized with computer, etc etc, more stuff than I ever use, although I keep promising myself that I will learn. I was told anything similar here would cost at least $800, (it cost me $80 in Canada at a year end sale) but am still thinking of replacing it, because whats the use of all the bells and whistles if you can't get coverage when you need it.

But am hooked on the "QWERTY" keyboard function, has anyone seen anything similar for sale here?