NextG phones - who has one? and is it any good?

DanXR6T · 14-11-2006, 10:00 PM

As the topic says, who has a NextG phone, and does it go or blow?

I have to get one for work as Telstra won't fix my CDMA work phone.

Dan..

MO · 14-11-2006, 10:19 PM

If I understand it correctly the G gives you the same coverage as cdma and nothing else..but you pay more..new phone etc.

BeStRaFe · 14-11-2006, 10:24 PM

i have a next g phone
a jas jar is the one that i have...

its greeat.... i get video calling anywhere i have coverage...
and i use it for broadband anywhere....

its pricy though

DanXR6T · 14-11-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeStRaFe

i have a next g phone
a jas jar is the one that i have...

its greeat.... i get video calling anywhere i have coverage...
and i use it for broadband anywhere....

its pricy though

Well its a company phone, any costs are invisible to me. I just was wondering if anyone had any experience with any of the current available models.

I would most likely be not looking at the JasJar whatever it is, but one of the other ones, Samsung, LG, Motorola, etc.

**Peuty** · 14-11-2006, 10:38 PM

As ar as I am concerened the only pone to have at the momentis the LG. However, if you can really hold off a bit, wait until March when Nokia brings out their new HSDPA (Next G) handsets.

By the way, the only part that is more expensive about Next G is the video calls, mobile Foxtel etc, call rates remain the same, as does the plans the phones are available on. So if you aren't going to use the added benefits of Next G, your costs *should* remain the same.

DanXR6T · 14-11-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

As ar as I am concerened the only pone to have at the momentis the LG. However, if you can really hold off a bit, wait until March when Nokia brings out their new HSDPA (Next G) handsets.

By the way, the only part that is more expensive about Next G is the video calls, mobile Foxtel etc, call rates remain the same, as does the plans the phones are available on. So if you aren't going to use the added benefits of Next G, your costs *should* remain the same.

If I could hold off I would, but the Purchasing Officer at work wants to migrate me across, and I just have to walk in and choose the phone I want.

I was looking at either the LG, the Samsumg A701 or the Motorola RAZR V6. My little bro has a Razr V3x, and he reckons it's good, so I'm assuming the V6 would be okay too (except that it would be better if it was called an I6 instead!!)

**Peuty** · 14-11-2006, 10:53 PM

Yeah the Motos are an ok phone feature wise, but I can tell you that almost every V series phone we have sold has had problems in some shape of form.

I still reckon the LG is the way to go in the current lineup, but that is totally up to you.

DanXR6T · 14-11-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Yeah the Motos are an ok phone feature wise, but I can tell you that almost every V series phone we have sold has had problems in some shape of form.

I still reckon the LG is the way to go in the current lineup, but that is totally up to you.

What problems do they have?

Quasi · 14-11-2006, 11:00 PM

I've got the V3Xi and love it.

I haven't had a need for the video call yet, and only connected to the web a couple of times.....VERY briefly

However, although I'm not real big on mobile phone cameras the 2MP camera on this takes real nice quality happy snaps.

Big Mike · 14-11-2006, 11:39 PM

You want some info about Next G - I'm the man

Addressing some points raised above - "The G gives you cdma coverage and costs more" No, if you have a cdma contract, phone repayments etc., Telstra is waiving ALL of the associated costs in cancelling the existing commitments, and transferring you to a new Next G plan/contract (there are a few new plans, but all existing plans can be used as well - so you can maintain the "same" plan you are on now, but starting a fresh contract) - and the handsets range from 380 to 1275 or so in price; so a "member plan - with phone repayment option" like you may have now, will be the same with xxx plan and $17 up to $54 per month phone repayments depending on the handset. However, the "phone plan" where a $0 handset is included in the contract (dodgie dealers say its 'free' but its not - its just included with no other costs) are also available for certain handsets and various price levels.

Example - get yourself a $20 phone plan and a Samsung A701 is included, it has the biggest screen and access to all the features. You can also get the ZTE 850 which is Telstra's generic brand - its actually pretty good value all told, but have had some issues under warranty.
Get a $40 phone plan and you can choose those, or an LG TU500 wich is perhaps a better unit, though it misses a couple of Next G features, same as Samsung A501 and ZTE 850 (Telstra branded job)

Coverage - Next G (which is just lingo for Generation 3.5, essentially the 3rd gen like the Telstra/Hutchison3 network - and now Optus/Vodaphone 3G networks - PLUS what's called HSDPA - High Speed Download Packet Access - just like broadband) replaces ALL cdma and ALL gsm coverage areas - the target was 94% of population by 2nd quarter 2007 - it was switched on a few weeks back and covers 98% of the population (not land mass) more than 100 times larger than any other high-speed network in Australia; and the largest land mass of ANY single network anywhere in the world.

The costings, well until further notice (at this stage July 2007) video calls are charged at the SAME rate as voice calls - depending on the plan, there is one series called "Get Connected Plans" which charge at 35c per minute. (yes per MINUTE not 30sec blocks) - they also have untimed calls (free after flagfall) in the higher tiers to Tesltra mobiles and ALL fixed lines.

To watch Foxtel, as much as you want, in 15 minute blocks, costs a flat rate of $12 for the month and gives you 12 channels and actually unlimited access (though 'fairplay policy' applies). Your data usage is the one people get caught on - standard PAYG data is 22c per connection, then 2.2c per kB. If you buy an $8 monthly pack (each month - its not a contract) you get 3MB included data, free connection, and 0.26c per kB - you alse get $200 worth to play with for the first two months. There are also $5 and $29 data packs, and others.

Picking a handset - well the Samsung A701 is the most functional and clear, consice unit. Its also very affordable. The Samsung A501 pink and blue are smaller, more about fashion, and miss just a couple of features here and there, along with the more robust feeling LG TU500 which is otherwise an excellent unit. iMate's JasJar reffered to above is NOT a NextG phone, it is an old 3G unit with data speeds around 300kb/s peak. NextG users at this stage can expect 550kb/s min to 1.2Mbps average; with peaks of 3.6Mbps. The iMate JasJam is the Next G pda - and is great, but not compatible with Foxtel (not a big issue for most people). Unquestionably the pick of the lot is the Motorola RAZR MAXX V6 which is the ONLY handset capable of 3.6Mbps (others do not function above 1.8Mbps); also it includes 50MB internal, a 64MB card, bluetooth audio, and all sorts of wonderful functions. That's what I've had for a little while now - Telstra shops still reckon they don't exist and argue with me, but I've sold dozens and have one myself! I chose it for the features, data speed and capacity, the LED lighting and construction (its frosted aluminium and tempered glass - NOT plastic like the others) and the store I went through included bluetooth stereo headphones, a 1GB micro card, usb-bluetooth audio adapter for my PC, and some other goodies. I have played with all of them extensively (I do NOT work at a shop, I play with REAL phones, not test dummies or dsiplay models) and can give you an honest comparison, or answer any other questions any of you might have.

Coming next year, hopefully before Easter, is a Nokia N95 which is a NextG HSDPA ready handset, incorporating the phone/PDA functionality of the iMate JasJam, all the internet facilities of ANY of the current handsets such as sensis, wheris.com (triangulates your location from transmitters - accurate to within 10 meters or so) and all the other great stuff - PLUS a full Sat Nav unit with GPS, positioning, tracking, route mapping etc. exactly like a NavMan or TomTom unit. Its worth keeping in mind - like all Nokia's it looks boring and will no doubt be just as troublesome as any existing model, but to be a full PDA with GPS as well, in the palm of your hand, is certainly VERY COOL.

DanXR6T · 14-11-2006, 11:48 PM

Thats an awesome read!!

Anyway I'll see in a few days when I go in to pick one up, hopefully they will have the Motorola there, but if they don't I'm looking at the LG or the Samsung A701.

I noticed not many of them have carkits - is this being phased out due to the popularity of Bluetooth carkits?

flappist · 15-11-2006, 04:41 PM

The LG has a car kit, it is crap. I makes the stereo go off and stay off and does not have direct connextion for the antenna. The LG phone also does not understand that it is in a car kit and therefore will nor auto answer and the screen turns off after a few seconds.

Neither of the Samsungs have car kits.

The "Hong wong long dong gong" or whatever that telstra have rebadged as a ZTE is a shocker.

Not only have the CDMA cells been upgraded to NextG (UMTS850) but most of the GSM cells too. I had rock solid 3G coverage on Great Keppel yesterday witn almost no CDMA.
They also work in aircraft up to at least 5500ft.

It amuses that there is a phone system that is designed to have long range and most of the handsets are designed to use bluetooth and work only in urban areas.
I hope the new Moto has an external antenna hole as my current V3x is GREAT except that its 3G is UMTS2100 and that doesn't work here (or anywhere where "normal" people live actually)

philstoj · 15-11-2006, 07:56 PM

I have the moto V6 MAXX, just got it, quite happy with it.
Still sussing the new network.
Plan was set up just like my old contract so no extra $$, and get 2 months free access to foxtel.

csv8 · 15-11-2006, 08:50 PM

VODAFONE is launching its version of NEXT G and its up to 4 times faster than TELSTRA's version. Technology is moving too fast. !!!

flappist · 15-11-2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

VODAFONE is launching its version of NEXT G and its up to 4 times faster than TELSTRA's version. Technology is moving too fast. !!!

Yes but it will only work in the capital cities......

Big Mike · 16-11-2006, 11:33 PM

WRONG - Vodaphone and Optus have just launched their UMTS 2100 network, which is the same technology generation-3 network as built by Telstra and Hutchison3, to rival said network. As anyone on 3 or with a Telstra 3G phone can attest, there is buggerall coverage and while I am open to the possibility that Optus/Vodaphone's new network might indeed be bigger and more expansive than the Telstra/Hutchison network, its still at 2100 Mhz which means it goes through walls a bit better, but doesn't travel nearly as far...

... as the 850 Mhz network employed exclusively by Telstra and being/about to be introduced by some of the premium providers around the world. Being 850 Mhz the signal travels much farther, requiring less base-stations for eqiuvelant coverage areas. However, it is interupted by walls and tunnels more - so Telstra has spent money installing repeaters in every major shopping centre, tunnel, carpark, down every city street, etc., rather than building thousands more basestations.

Vodaphone can claim what the like - as will any provider. I can give you right here the inside goss with NO MEDIA BULL - just the actual cold hard facts having witnessed it myself: Telstra's "generation 3.5" (read Wikipedia for more about the technology) is the fastest technology and biggest network available in the world. I have seen in the most remote areas actual speeds (not test data) of around 1.5Mbps continuous transfer. In more needy areas, 3.6Mbps as supported only by the Moto MAXX at this stage, is maintained seamlesly. Throughout regional Victoria I have seen 14.4Mbps. Keeping in mind the target was Q1 2007, somewhere near 1.2Mbps - and in Q4 2006 we're getting peaks of 14.4Mpbs, to 98% population - more than ever on CDMA and GSM combined; I'll let you interpret the current forecast as you wish: The target now is to provide 14.4Mbps flawlessly by Q2 2007, and have speeds UP TO 40 Mbps by the end of next year in some areas.

"Next G" is a registered trademark which we are claiming is 3 - 5 times faster than 3G (though it is CLEARLY much faster at present, and still has immense potential), your claims of Vodaphone's service being faster is ****ing in the wind as far as I'm concerned until I see different - maybe its a bullshit claim, maybe you're just anti-Telstra, or maybe they're actually building something with 1.8Mbps and looking at that relative to our minimum advertised guarantee of a highly understated 550kbps and saying "about four times faster". I'm also betting it will just be 2100 mhz to use their existing handsets, and therefore essentially just a software upgrade to their stations, nothing more.

Whatever you wish - but keep in mind - Telstra has spent over $1bn AUS on researching, developing, and building this technology. That's one million-million in Australia, not a thousand-million like the US. Wikipedia reffers to a "4G" solution, which at this stage does not exist anywhere in the world - the technology is purely theoretical and a fantastic direction to be heading in - but at this stage Telstra has the upper hand, and WILL DO SO FOR QUITE SOME TIME in this particular field.

flappist · 17-11-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philstoj

I have the moto V6 MAXX, just got it, quite happy with it.
Still sussing the new network.
Plan was set up just like my old contract so no extra $$, and get 2 months free access to foxtel.

Just bought one, it will be here on monday.

4.9 EF Futura · 17-11-2006, 09:19 AM

Big mike - a king amoungst men!!! Great to hear about what nextgen is actually is instead of just what it does.

So 2.2 per kb... is that same price as WAP/GPRS access?

Im in the market for a new phone soon, so i might sit back and watch this thread progress. Let's hope its not ruined by Telstra haters lol. I'll have to jump on the site and see what phones are supported.

So the "old" 3g... this was all 2.4ghz was it? (i think that's what my 6630 has, not that i ever used it) And 850mhz is much better as far as transmission goes?

sgt_doofey · 17-11-2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

That's one million-million in Australia, not a thousand-million like the US.

Looking at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billion
1,000,000,000 (one thousand million; 10^9), used by most English-speaking countries (American and usual modern British meaning)
1,000,000,000,000 (one million million; 10^12), used by most other countries outside Asia (older British meaning)

Edit: From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales

Quote:

Australian usage

In Australia, some documents use the term thousand million for 109 in cases where two amounts are being compared using a common unit of one 'million'. As of 1999, the Australian Government's financial department did not consider short scale to be standard, but used it occasionally [5]. The current recommendation by the Australian Department of Finance and Administration (formerly known as AusInfo), and the legal definition, is the short scale. Education, media outlets, and literature all use the short scale in line with other English-speaking countries.

Seems that short scale (thousand million) is not the standard, but it is the "current recommendation."

4.9 EF Futura · 17-11-2006, 10:19 AM

Lol, i that passage didnt really sink in to my head...

But i know everyone in the regulated finance sector (banks, credit unions, insurers, superannuation and life comapnies/friendly societies) use 10^9 as 1 billion.

I imagine telstra would use the "official" government stance, if anyone is able to interpret that lol.

philstoj · 17-11-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Just bought one, it will be here on monday.

They are a good phone, ive gotten used to motorola now so its all familiar.
Only issue im having, though not with the phone, is i cant get the MPT cd to work on my pc due to some bloody windows error!!
Otherwise all good.

MotherNatureVer2 · 17-11-2006, 12:25 PM

I have the Samsung A501 .... have had it for a month now & must say as much as I dislike telstra right now I am impressed with this little phone.

I am getting as good if not fractionally better coverage even out here in Central West NSW. There is no hope for any of the other providers out here & thus I have to stick with them........

I am new to all of this fangdangled stuff with phones .... this is my first one with a camera let alone internet access ........ and these video calls .......OMG ........ I thought they were only in ScFi movies :P

My wonderful OH has a LG phone as the Samsung was just way too small for his fingers to use properly. Whilst he is having a few problems with it ...... I must say the problems are user not phone ones, He is a creature of habit and learning this modern
stuff isnt one of his things :P

All in all I am finding this NextG stuff quiet intriguing and am as I have said rather happy with the recepition we get out here ;)

DanXR6T · 17-11-2006, 06:20 PM

Well I am getting a Motorola Maxx, that is, when the shop gets their act together and can move me across - I'm part of a corporate premium plan, so apparently its a bit more complicated.

For the carkit I'm just getting a bluetooth speaker kit, as the phone's reception is good enough in my main areas as far as reception goes. Looking at the coverage maps, I won't gain much by using an external aerial. Anyway it's good to be not available ALL the time, can't spend all day on the phone...

Dan..

Big Mike · 19-11-2006, 11:29 PM

Sorry it took me a while to get back online guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Big mike - a king amoungst men!!! Great to hear about what nextgen is actually is instead of just what it does.

Without sounding like a knob, that's my job now. And seeing as I'm excited by the whole thing too, I'm happy to give any advice or answer any questions I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

So 2.2 per kb... is that same price as WAP/GPRS access?

That IS WAP/GPRS. 22 cents connection and 2.2 cents per kB - data packs in $5 $8 and $29 - the one I choose to push is the $8 with zero connection, then 0.26 cents (thats a quarter of a cent) per kB with 3MB included - and for first two months $200 worth of data AND downloads as a special offer at the moment. Whenever you "accidentally" press on the WAP button of your phone, it will connect and charge. You'll see heaps of 1-second wap sessions on your bill at 22 cents if you're on P.A.Y.G., or get a data pack and they'll free!

Those in the market for a new phone, seeing how this thread progresses, lets keep it progressing there must be plenty of people with various carriers and various handsets willing to talk about their experiences here?

And for the last question above - yep 2100Mhz travels through stuff better, but not nearly as far, as a frequency of 850Mhz. For the record, CDMA also operated at 850Mhz which is why it travelled far and wide, but not inside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Seems that short scale (thousand million) is not the standard, but it is the "current recommendation

I wasn't aware of that - quite interesting really. All I can add is that I asked the question point-blank "Is that a thousand-million or a million-million?", thinking only yanks used the short scale (to make more billionares) and the answer was "The figure we're working with is one-million-million". I also thought a BN was a million-million vs a GIG being a thousand-million. We have gigabytes of data not billybytes, then terrabytes which once again make sense with the deca/kila/mega etc system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

I have the Samsung, dislike Telstra, and OH has LG

I have nothing to do with what phones get tested or approved, I can only give info on what's available - and I think you'll find the A501 very cute and impressive! The A701 or LG TU500 as I said before should be ok for clarity and larger buttons; I reccomend both a lot to people with arthritis or vision impairment; as the buttons are seperated and good contrast especially LG with silver/aluminum face and black buttons. Good to hear you have the coverage, and like the handsets; and are getting stuck into all the extra features! Video calling inparticular is something that a lot of people don't understand or are afraid of, or simply don't see the need. I remind them it wasn't that long ago a mobile was "real nice to have, but definately not needed" compared to now when you really have to have one for all sorts of reasons. Video calling will be simillar - imagine how telephone fraud will be effected for example, if you can see the other person's face! Pretty soon, you won't answer the phone unless you can see who's calling for fear they might be a scammer - just like many people now don't answer an 'unknown number'.
But, MotherNature, would you care to elaborate on your disslike for Telstra? Someone above reffered to "Telstra haters" - well, this is a public forum for discussion - so lets discuss. Don't hate or bash or be stupid - go back to the Holden forums if you're gonna act like a bogan. But I'll try to answer as much as I can here if people genuinely ask and want answers!

Oh and feel free to PM me if you want something specific, like getting on the data pack option above, etc.

BENT_8 · 20-11-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

You want some info about Next G - I'm the man

Addressing some points raised above - "The G gives you cdma coverage and costs more" No, if you have a cdma contract, phone repayments etc., Telstra is waiving ALL of the associated costs in cancelling the existing commitments, and transferring you to a new Next G plan/contract (there are a few new plans, but all existing plans can be used as well - so you can maintain the "same" plan you are on now, but starting a fresh contract) - and the handsets range from 380 to 1275 or so in price; so a "member plan - with phone repayment option" like you may have now, will be the same with xxx plan and $17 up to $54 per month phone repayments depending on the handset. However, the "phone plan" where a $0 handset is included in the contract (dodgie dealers say its 'free' but its not - its just included with no other costs) are also available for certain handsets and various price levels.

Example - get yourself a $20 phone plan and a Samsung A701 is included, it has the biggest screen and access to all the features. You can also get the ZTE 850 which is Telstra's generic brand - its actually pretty good value all told, but have had some issues under warranty.
Get a $40 phone plan and you can choose those, or an LG TU500 wich is perhaps a better unit, though it misses a couple of Next G features, same as Samsung A501 and ZTE 850 (Telstra branded job)

Coverage - Next G (which is just lingo for Generation 3.5, essentially the 3rd gen like the Telstra/Hutchison3 network - and now Optus/Vodaphone 3G networks - PLUS what's called HSDPA - High Speed Download Packet Access - just like broadband) replaces ALL cdma and ALL gsm coverage areas - the target was 94% of population by 2nd quarter 2007 - it was switched on a few weeks back and covers 98% of the population (not land mass) more than 100 times larger than any other high-speed network in Australia; and the largest land mass of ANY single network anywhere in the world.

The costings, well until further notice (at this stage July 2007) video calls are charged at the SAME rate as voice calls - depending on the plan, there is one series called "Get Connected Plans" which charge at 35c per minute. (yes per MINUTE not 30sec blocks) - they also have untimed calls (free after flagfall) in the higher tiers to Tesltra mobiles and ALL fixed lines.

To watch Foxtel, as much as you want, in 15 minute blocks, costs a flat rate of $12 for the month and gives you 12 channels and actually unlimited access (though 'fairplay policy' applies). Your data usage is the one people get caught on - standard PAYG data is 22c per connection, then 2.2c per kB. If you buy an $8 monthly pack (each month - its not a contract) you get 3MB included data, free connection, and 0.26c per kB - you alse get $200 worth to play with for the first two months. There are also $5 and $29 data packs, and others.

Picking a handset - well the Samsung A701 is the most functional and clear, consice unit. Its also very affordable. The Samsung A501 pink and blue are smaller, more about fashion, and miss just a couple of features here and there, along with the more robust feeling LG TU500 which is otherwise an excellent unit. iMate's JasJar reffered to above is NOT a NextG phone, it is an old 3G unit with data speeds around 300kb/s peak. NextG users at this stage can expect 550kb/s min to 1.2Mbps average; with peaks of 3.6Mbps. The iMate JasJam is the Next G pda - and is great, but not compatible with Foxtel (not a big issue for most people). Unquestionably the pick of the lot is the Motorola RAZR MAXX V6 which is the ONLY handset capable of 3.6Mbps (others do not function above 1.8Mbps); also it includes 50MB internal, a 64MB card, bluetooth audio, and all sorts of wonderful functions. That's what I've had for a little while now - Telstra shops still reckon they don't exist and argue with me, but I've sold dozens and have one myself! I chose it for the features, data speed and capacity, the LED lighting and construction (its frosted aluminium and tempered glass - NOT plastic like the others) and the store I went through included bluetooth stereo headphones, a 1GB micro card, usb-bluetooth audio adapter for my PC, and some other goodies. I have played with all of them extensively (I do NOT work at a shop, I play with REAL phones, not test dummies or dsiplay models) and can give you an honest comparison, or answer any other questions any of you might have.

Coming next year, hopefully before Easter, is a Nokia N95 which is a NextG HSDPA ready handset, incorporating the phone/PDA functionality of the iMate JasJam, all the internet facilities of ANY of the current handsets such as sensis, wheris.com (triangulates your location from transmitters - accurate to within 10 meters or so) and all the other great stuff - PLUS a full Sat Nav unit with GPS, positioning, tracking, route mapping etc. exactly like a NavMan or TomTom unit. Its worth keeping in mind - like all Nokia's it looks boring and will no doubt be just as troublesome as any existing model, but to be a full PDA with GPS as well, in the palm of your hand, is certainly VERY COOL.

I upgraded on thursday to the Moto V6 maxx and love it!
My old phone was a Kyocera cdma which i hated and when a friend said i could change to the new system for nothing i thought beuty.

I was on a $40 plan with $29 phone payment.
Now im on a $60 plan with 10c cheaper blocks and no handset repayments so im $10+ better off a month which is absorbed by $10 less included calls.
The result= cheaper calls better phone and no price increase.

Cheers
Steve

4.9 EF Futura · 20-11-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

That IS WAP/GPRS.

Ahhh, i see.

So what you're saying is that NextGen is a "different" way to access the WAP/GPRS networks? (as well as "full size" internet)

**GasoLane** · 20-11-2006, 05:01 PM

Er... Big Mike. You dont happen to work for Telstra do you?

MotherNatureVer2 · 20-11-2006, 07:38 PM

My main complaint has been a lack of service & lies or misinformation given to me about the moving over from the CDMA network.

I have made an official complaint and the 'case manager' is looking into what I have been through to get 4 NextG phones activated and on a plan thats suitable to us and on a single bill........ I had a huge wait & a lot of crap told to me about the kids phones but we now finally have them ..... no thanks to a 180k round trip last Saturday as one of the phones was a birthday present ......

I now find that when we were told that our phones would only cost an extra $5 & $8 respectivly extra on the plan it happens to be $22 & $23 ......... just a little different to what we expected ........

I have found the business Untimed plans ......... I am hoping they will see fit to let us change over to those plans for my wonderful OH & myself ........ and also a change to the home/business landline here ........

If not I am not going to be happy as I may well pull everything I have with them ...... 4 mobiles, landline and broadband ................The landline & internet could be sourced elsewhere but not the mobiles as there is no coverage with anyone else out here .....

This is a classic case of city slickers having NFI about living in the bush ;)

Big Mike · 20-11-2006, 10:42 PM

I actually have lived in the bush, and I know how difficult it can be to "pop down to your local dealer"; I am also becomming all too aware of customers coming through to my department being absolutely mislead and basically told outright lies. As there is a case manager handling your issues, its probably not something I could resolve any more by simply looking into. If you have been promised a handset for $5, and the cheapest it can be is $23, well bottom line is "I'm very sorry you were told that, but this is deal and this is as good as it gets". As much as Telstra values each and every customer, if the phone repayments are $23 per month (at NO profit to Telstra, or interest), we can't exactly PAY you to use our service. Its magnificent we have the only network to cover as far as it does, but unfortunately it probably leaves you feeling somewhat monopolised and like you don't have another option. Part of what's being put in place at the moment is an initiative whereby I can forward a report on another consultant, or a dealer, if their information or sales practice has been poor or misguided. It sounds like you've been given the runaround and its not how the business principles state that it should be. So I trust your case manager will take all that onboard when calculating a solution and reimbursment for your efforts.

Yes GasOLane I wanted to just be a Next G network informant and expert, but now its fairly obvious that I have recently started working for Telstra after an 18 month break of relaxing and trying to work out what direction my work life should take, after quitting my previous job in disgust.

4.9 Ef Futura - The easiest way to describe it is this:

1-G Anologue - and subsequant CDMA
2-G Digital GSM phones
2.5-G GSM phones capable of using GPRS
3-G - GSM phones capable of video calling due purely to more data transfer capacity (like a faster broadband connection, only wireless)
3.5-G - branded Next G - GSM phone, with all that data speed of 3G, plus HSDPA which is a data-packetting-thing so its sends data in compressed "packets" rather than streaming, so its MUCH faster again. WAP and GPRS haven't changed, its just faster.
The frequency, and the squillions of dollars, is what makes the coverage area so large, more so than the actual 3.5-G technology.

Wireless broadband started with CDMA, then CDMA 1x, then EVDO which is being replaced now with GSM-style 3.5G (think of the others as cdma handsets with esn numbers; where the new Next G broadband is like a GSM phone with simcard)

4.9 EF Futura · 21-11-2006, 10:53 AM

Nicely put mike, makes a lot of sense.

Lol, might be getting a few more queries from this direction as im looking very closely at the imate jasjam to replace the ever-faithful nokia.