custard creams

Hi, i am visiting Tauranga next week for a good look around. i may possibly have a couple of interviews and would need to have a contact number.
Should I wait until I arrive and buy a pay as you go phone? or are there any alternatives?
also I will be looking at accommadation in tauranga or papamoa for a week if anyone has any recommendations.
As I will be on my own so basic accommadation is fine.

thanks, 5 days to go

happynz

If you have a phone with a sim card I believe you could bring that over and whack in a Vodafone sim card and you'd be sweet easy as...However, charges are sorta high priced, on the pre-paid it's something like NZ$1.50 a minute to make calls, NZ$0.20 to send a text. It's free though to receive calls and text messages.

Pete n Shell

I wish people would do their research before replying.

In the UK I used to work for Orange you know cellphone people. You bring a Phone over from the Uk make sure its unlocked from the network your with.
How do you know? Ask in a phone shop simple as that or contact the supplier of your phone or network.

If your handset is unlocked just buy a prepay pack for Vodafone when you get to New Zealand. You cant use Telecom so no choice you have to use Vodafone sim cards. If your phone does not have a sim card (highly unlikely) you will have to buy a complete phone.

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/personal/p...epay-plans.jsp

You will pay 49c per minute to make calls or $1.39 only if you ring Telecom Mobiles.

Eitherway it is cheaper than using the roaming call costs of a UK Mobile.

custard creams

Hi, Thanks,

As I only have a company phone I will need to buy one, should I buy a phone in the UK or in NZ? Do you have an idea o f the cost of a mobile in NZ?
thanks

happynz

Thanks Pete for correcting my reply.

Anyway, Richard...I've seen pretty basic pre-pay Vodafone Motorola or Nokia mobiles at Dick Smith's (a electronics chain store all over the country) for as little as NZ$90.

Evilbert

Why can't you use telecom sim cards? Does that mean the choice is vodafone and...erm.... vodafone?

happynz

I think Telecom mobiles don't use sim cards. At least that is what I have heard.

Pete?

custard creams

thanks Pete,

what do you think is the best value, considering I need to be contactable in NZ and also to be able to call my family in the UK each day?

thanks

Pete n Shell

Actually its Shell replying better sort that one day

Telecom mobiles do not have sim cards.

The question really is how long are you planning to be in New Zealand at this stage? I think you have indicated at a week?

If thats the case you would be better off just getting a Vodafone sim card for your UK mobile provided its network unlocked.

There is no differrance in rates on pre pay what ever way you go you will be paying 49c per minute to call the UK or any landline or that network mobile in New Zealand.

You use Vodafone to ring Telecom mobile or vica versa you will pay $1.39 per minute.

Just for your info numbers starting 021 is Vodafone and 027 is Telecom.

What ever you choose someone will tell you differant.

Evilbert

Totally stupid question now, but can I use my current UK sim card (O2) when out in NZ? I can appreciate it will be more expensive, but for recce purposes it might not be worth the hassle of getting another sim card?

mcuddy1

O2 will have roaming agreement with the GSM provider here.(Voda) Telecom is cdma at the moment but they are changing to the GSM standard.
So yes it will work fine. All my O2 business phones I brought worked with a Voda sim card.
I would buy a phone in the UK and bring it with you, they seem very expensive over here.

garryhg

hi jacky g here... i got a nice little nokia phone with sim in the wearhouse for $39.99 vodaphone....its been a good phone....theres not the same pressure out here to get the latest mobile,

Pete n Shell

thats cheap

garryhg

that was very cheap,very chuffed with myself

Woodlea

When are Telecom changing to GSM mcuddy? It surely won't be soon or all those Telecom phones will become obsolete?