[suebeenz]

Hi,

I don't know much (anything) about cellphones, and I'm not sure what the best/cheapest way to go is. CDMA, GSM, ... the list goes on. Does anybody have words of advice here for buying a mobile phone in NZ? I thought I read/heard that NZ carriers were rolling out a new network this year ... ?

Thanks! :D

[*Paul]

There are only two systems now, GSM (primarily Vodafone) and CDMA-based from Telecom.

Buy a GSM phone from either Parallel Importers (Auckland, Wellingtion) or (pay a bit more) a Vodafone shop. You then need a prepay pack or get a monthly plan. If you get a triband or quad band you can use it all over the world with local SIM cards.

I would stay away from Telecom just on principle - they have been ripping off the population in this country for decades. The prices are about the same - it's a virtual monopoly.

Consider a prepay if you don't do much calling. And remember you only pay for outgoing calls, the other party pays for incoming calls.

[*Paul]

Oh, another difference (from the US anyway) is that cell numbers are not placed on the local area code, they are "national" numbers, 021, 027 etc. When you dial out you always use the area code even if the number is a local land line.