Vodafone NZ confirms iPhone 4 sale date
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iPads available from resellers
By Sarah Putt | Auckland | Tuesday, 20 July, 2010 | 27 Comments
Vodafone NZ will offer the iPhone 4 for sale on 30 July, as foreshadowed by Apple at its recent press conference.
Vodafone spokesperson Paul Brislen confirmed the date but was unable to provide information on plans or say whether customers buying an iPhone 4 will receive a free ‘bumper’. A bumper is a kind of thick elastic band that covers the device’s external antenna in order to prevent the so-called "death grip" which can interfere with the signal strength. The antenna was a feature designed to improve the iPhone's performance (eg longer battery life) but it resulted in reports of dropped calls, forcing Apple to call a press confernce to address concerns last Saturday (NZ time).
As for the iPad, Apple has announced it will be on sale in New Zealand in reseller stores (for example, Magnum Mac and Dick Smiths) this Friday. Brislen says they will be sold with a Vodafone Micro SIM already installed. Again, plans are yet to be announced. As the iPad is sold via Apple distributors, Vodafone will be unable to offer subsidies on the device.
“The iPad is a different kettle of fish, we don’t sell it in our stores,” Brislen told Computerworld. “The Apple model for the iPad is they sell it and we support it.”
Meanwhile Vodafone customers can buy micro-SIMS – basically a cut-down version of a typical device SIM card - online and at the telco’s stores. Brislen says post-pay customers can exchange their exisitng SIM for free, while pre-Pay customers will pay $30.
Brislen says Micro SIMs are the new standard, and that Apple is the first off the block by introducing them for the iPad and iPhone 4. He expects most device manufacturers to move to this model in the next couple of years.
Other telcos, such as Telecom, 2degrees and Orcon, have indicated they too will be selling Micro SIMS that can be used in the iPhone 4 and iPad. However, none of these telcos have an official distribution deal with Apple.
“Nobody else has got a network that Apple trusts enough to run an iPhone on,” Brislen says.
Comments
im with vf for 7 years on contract
i had just ended the contract when vf introduce buy talk add ons...but vf cheats on us and decided to terminate buy talk add ons.. therefore im done with VF!!! all i need is an iphone and switch my network to something isn't vf
Posted by omg at 9:17:28 on July 29, 2010
Posted by omg at 9:17:28 on July 29, 2010
Side by side comparison of iPad on XT vs Voda
Side by side comparison of iPad on XT vs Voda - XT wins hands-down... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuxgSgMTL3o&feature=player_embedded
Posted by Apple fanboy at 15:57:48 on July 26, 2010
Posted by Apple fanboy at 15:57:48 on July 26, 2010
Side by side comparison of iPad on XT vs Voda
Further to my last post - whilst the second test in the Auckland CBD was slightly better on XT, there really wasn't a massive difference here.
Perhaps you could undertake some more tests, at different locations, perhaps New Market & some of the suburbs??
I hardly think doing two tests (well the first was hardly fair, considering it was on Vodafone's 2G GPRS network) is conclusive enough to say "XT is better/faster".
I would think the best of 5 or 7 tests, (where Vodafone have 2100Mhz coverage) would be a more accurate reflective of who is faster.
I look forward to seeing some more results, if that is possible.
Posted by G at 17:18:52 on July 26, 2010
Perhaps you could undertake some more tests, at different locations, perhaps New Market & some of the suburbs??
I hardly think doing two tests (well the first was hardly fair, considering it was on Vodafone's 2G GPRS network) is conclusive enough to say "XT is better/faster".
I would think the best of 5 or 7 tests, (where Vodafone have 2100Mhz coverage) would be a more accurate reflective of who is faster.
I look forward to seeing some more results, if that is possible.
Posted by G at 17:18:52 on July 26, 2010
Side by side comparison of iPad on XT vs Voda
I viewed your Video & it stated the testing was undertaken in Piha. Vodafone NZ use two frequencies for their 3G, both 2100Mhz UMTS in cities & major towns & 900Mhz UMTS in rural areas (outside of the main metropolitan areas).
The current iPad does not support 900Mhz UMTS, so outside of the main cities, townships, your speed will drop to GPRS (or dialup equivalent speeds - on it's 2G network) on the Vodafone network.
Telecom's XT 3G Network uses the 850Mhz UMTS frequency, with some 2100Mhz UMTS in major cities for infill capacity, it is 3G only, with no 2G.
The differences are huge - you are not, if you could please excuse the pun "comparing Apples with Apples" here & it's not Vodafone's fault that Apple have failed to release a device (again, as they did with the iPhone 3G & 3Gs) that doesn't support 900Mhz UMTS.
Ironically, the new iPhone 4 does support 850/1900/2100/900Mhz UMTS, therefore Vodafone customers will get 3G speed, wherever they have Vodafone coverage.
Posted by G at 17:01:46 on July 26, 2010
The current iPad does not support 900Mhz UMTS, so outside of the main cities, townships, your speed will drop to GPRS (or dialup equivalent speeds - on it's 2G network) on the Vodafone network.
Telecom's XT 3G Network uses the 850Mhz UMTS frequency, with some 2100Mhz UMTS in major cities for infill capacity, it is 3G only, with no 2G.
The differences are huge - you are not, if you could please excuse the pun "comparing Apples with Apples" here & it's not Vodafone's fault that Apple have failed to release a device (again, as they did with the iPhone 3G & 3Gs) that doesn't support 900Mhz UMTS.
Ironically, the new iPhone 4 does support 850/1900/2100/900Mhz UMTS, therefore Vodafone customers will get 3G speed, wherever they have Vodafone coverage.
Posted by G at 17:01:46 on July 26, 2010
not happy with vodafone customer service
I have been with vodafone for 10 years TOO LONG! I have no issues with 3G data coverage as I mainly commute around the auckland city. However when they were replacing their billing system, I was charged exzorbitant dollars for exceeding my GB limit on my Vodem, Then the trouble began, eventually after 10's of emails and retrival of recorded emails they finally refunded the exzorbitant fees they had charged me. I can't wait to to swith to telecom now that they have sim card technology, everyone is so friendly and they have implemented and automated feedback system, whereas vodafone takes NO ACCOUNTABILITY at the customer service level, did you know when call for customer service the staff will not give their FULL NAME? why the anonymous behaviour is there something to hide?
Posted by Pranil Bilimoria at 16:29:48 on July 22, 2010
Posted by Pranil Bilimoria at 16:29:48 on July 22, 2010
VF Never Again
I was with VF for five years, four years too long.
We ghve our sales staff on XT & IT team on VF. No end of problems with Vodafone with dropped calls, no coverage *in* town and billing problems.#
At least when Telecom have a problem they keep you informed and will get the rest of our business.#
#
Posted by Anonymous at 9:47:57 on July 22, 2010
We ghve our sales staff on XT & IT team on VF. No end of problems with Vodafone with dropped calls, no coverage *in* town and billing problems.#
At least when Telecom have a problem they keep you informed and will get the rest of our business.#
#
Posted by Anonymous at 9:47:57 on July 22, 2010
Xt
I've Been on vadiaphone with my iPhone 3G, and xt with my 3GS in Auckland. Whilst on vodaphone, apart from greater expense, poor speeds and coverage the only advantage was free business cards. Xt is far superior and in Auckland I have never experienced any of the outages. Even my mate at vodaphone admits xt is better to have and iPhone on
Posted by Benchod garnbhai at 23:11:04 on July 21, 2010
Posted by Benchod garnbhai at 23:11:04 on July 21, 2010
I'm over Vodas
I've been with Vodafone 3 years now, after being so fed up with Telecom broadband I moved everything over. Vodafone has just gone down-hill from day one. I've been back with Telecom for home & broadband a year now, and it's vastly improved from what it used to be and far superior to the buggy, slow service I had from Vodafone. I'm now seriously considering switching mobile to XT as well. Funnily enough, over the three months when XT had it's problems, I experience plenty of issues with Vodafone - though never noticed a word of it in the news. Yea, the first two XT issues were pretty damn major, but funny how the media jumps on the smallest thing now and completely ignores constant poor network performance and issues when they arise on the Vodafone network.
Posted by Anonymous at 16:07:02 on July 21, 2010
Posted by Anonymous at 16:07:02 on July 21, 2010
Reliable Networks..... Ahem
"Nobody else has got a network that Apple trusts enough to run an iPhone on," Brislen says.
Yeah, Apple is a real star at selecting the best networks to partner with. AT&T anyone.... Haha.
Posted by Anonymous at 15:36:49 on July 21, 2010
Yeah, Apple is a real star at selecting the best networks to partner with. AT&T anyone.... Haha.
Posted by Anonymous at 15:36:49 on July 21, 2010
Vodafone
Vodafone have revelled in XT's self-immolation. But Vodafone have spent stuff all on their network in the last 10 years and almost nil on development in the last 5. They were cavalier enough to even repatriate several hundred Millions $ back to Vodafone UK a couple of years ago just before the XT network was announced leaving nothing in the kitty to match the XT network. It the XT network hadn't fallen over 3 times then nobody would dare sing Vodafones praises. Vodafone are just pissing over its customers and just want the $ with no consideration for what the customer wants or needs. (I love the captcha on this posting - "bloodbath it")
Posted by Brendon O'Connor at 15:19:11 on July 21, 2010
Posted by Brendon O'Connor at 15:19:11 on July 21, 2010
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