[deepthir]

Hi,

I want to buy a nokia phone here in India and use it when i come to NZ. So the big question is, is it possible to use mobile phones from other countries in NZ?

[TonnyTessa]

I used my UK motorola one. It needed unlocking first, but after that worked without any problem :)

[DMcG]

Most mobile phones are tied (locked) to a particular phone company and can only be used with that company's network. If you want to move networks, you'll need to have it unlocked first. Check the model number with Google. Some phones can be unlocked with a few key presses - others need more expertise (and a cable) - for which someone will probably charge you $25 or $30 to do.

Dougie

[IanW99]

Hi,

I want to buy a nokia phone here in India and use it when i come to NZ. So the big question is, is it possible to use mobile phones from other countries in NZ?

There are two main networks in NZ, Telecom with CDMA and Vodafone with GSM.

On the GSM network there are various bands in use e.g. 850, 900, 1800, 1900 etc which is why you get dual-band, quad-band phones etc.

In NZ the two bands currently being used are 900 and 1800 which are the same as the two bands being used in India so any mobile phone purchased for use in India should also work in NZ without any problems.

You will of course have to ensure that the phone hasn't been locked to a network first (as has been mentioned previously).

Please note that if you buy a mobile that is on the Vodafone network in India it is not guaranteed to work on Vodafone NZ, it may still be locked to the India network and need to be unlocked.

Ian

[victoria24]

ian is correct in that the network lock codes are country and not network specific

[7of9]

Namaste Deepthir,

I wanted to buy a Nokia in Holland and phoned Nokia about the warranty. They told me if I buy the phone in Holland, I only have an European warranty and no warranty in NZ. So if your phone gets broken, you have to pay for the repair.

Peter

[Leo]

There are two main networks in NZ, Telecom with CDMA and Vodafone with GSM.

On the GSM network there are various bands in use e.g. 850, 900, 1800, 1900 etc which is why you get dual-band, quad-band phones etc.

In NZ the two bands currently being used are 900 and 1800 which are the same as the two bands being used in India so any mobile phone purchased for use in India should also work in NZ without any problems.

You will of course have to ensure that the phone hasn't been locked to a network first (as has been mentioned previously)...

Absolutely spot on, Ian! :nice1


I brought my unlocked Singapore mobile phone (running on GSM 900/1800 network) over to Christchurch and haven't had a single issue getting on the local Vodafone network. :raebanana :raebanana

[madmungo]

Is it advisable to buy a phone BEFORE you get to NZ?

I have been promising myself an Apple iPhone and have held off getting one in the UK (I have a Blackberry with work).

We are flying via the US to Auckland - is it worth buying an iPhone there hoping it's cheaper and that I can simply swap SIM cards or should I just pay extra to get one with Vodafone NZ?

Cheers, Chris

[PeKaJoSa]

iPhone in the UK is locked to the O2 network until 2013, and in the USA locked to AT&T until 2010. If you have a contract with them you will need to up pay for the cost of the remaining months of the contact term before leaving the country and jump through some other hoops if you want them to unlock it. :(

You could buy one SIM free in the UK (if you can get hold of one, and I think they are going for over £400 at the moment!)

I think your easiest option will probably be to buy a Vodafone NZ package when you get there... however other people already in NZ may have a different opinion... :)

Cheers!
Pete

[victoria24]

you can jailbreak an iphone for about £15 to unlock it. there should be quite a few kicking about as the 3g version was a free upgrade mid contract. i have 2 currently and my daughter uses the old one like an ipod touch.
the trouble you may have is that the phone is very data intensive so if you whack a payg sim in it with all the apps switched on, it could eat your credit unless you go on a comparable iphone plan.

[kanatakiwi]

There are two main networks in NZ, Telecom with CDMA and Vodafone with GSM.

On the GSM network there are various bands in use e.g. 850, 900, 1800, 1900 etc which is why you get dual-band, quad-band phones etc.

In NZ the two bands currently being used are 900 and 1800 which are the same as the two bands being used in India so any mobile phone purchased for use in India should also work in NZ without any problems.


Ian

And this is the reason you need to be careful about buying a phone in the US for use in NZ. Even a triband phone might be 850, 1800 and 1900 instead of the 900, 1800 and 1900. I brought a north american triband phone here, and the coverage was spotty as it did not have the 900 band. the phone does still work but not well because it is relying on a band which used to service the old 025 network, I have been told.

[dilanium]

I'm pretty sure you can buy an iPhone without a contract in the US- it just costs more. Also the plans here to get an iPhone through vodafone are pretty dear, so if you can, bring an iPhone with you.

[IanW99]

And this is the reason you need to be careful about buying a phone in the US for use in NZ. Even a triband phone might be 850, 1800 and 1900 instead of the 900, 1800 and 1900. I brought a north american triband phone here, and the coverage was spotty as it did not have the 900 band. the phone does still work but not well because it is relying on a band which used to service the old 025 network, I have been told.

Just as a side line to this, it would appear that Telecom are going planning to use GSM 850 at some point?

Ian

[BkyMonster]

I bought my phone and sim card through http://www.telestial.com/
Not sure if that is available to you though.

[deepthir]

Thanks TonnyTessa, Dougie, Ian, Victoria, Peter, Leo, kanatakiwi & BkyMonster! I was wondering about buying phones here and now I feel much better about it! Phones are much cheaper here so I guess I'll be phone shopping soon :laugh

Thanks again!

[madmungo]

Many thanks all for your advice, I'll probably try and pick up an iPhone in the US and then source a suitable data plan in NZ. Looking at the Vodafone tariffs I'm starting to understand that things do cost a lot more compared to the UK

[doowrehsij]

Good thread! - Can I jump in and pick some people's brains about UK phones?

I was thinking of selling ours on Ebay and getting a couple of Pay&Go phones in NZ.. any thoughts??

[victoria24]

i found this
http://www.phonedevil.com/shop/simdevil.html

[IanW99]

Good thread! - Can I jump in and pick some people's brains about UK phones?

I was thinking of selling ours on Ebay and getting a couple of Pay&Go phones in NZ.. any thoughts??

It depends on whether you still like your UK phones, want a new one or want to join the Telecom network?

UK mobile phones also use the same GSM bands as NZ so the phones will work without any problems.

If you are looking for a new phone, then have a look on Telecom and Vodafone (NZ) websites to see what phones are on offer and their costs.

Then see if you can the phone that you want and what the difference is in costs (and you should be looking for a sim free / unlocked phone). Don't forget to take into account warranty and that the plug will be wrong so will need an adapter.

Ian