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rp_aust (Offline)
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Join Date: 17 Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne

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Default 28-03-2006, 02:12

New Zealand has two mobile phone networks, Telecom NZ and Vodafone, of which only Vodafone is GSM. Vodafone prepaid starter packs are available all over the country at a cost of $NZ35. For this you get the SIM card and $NZ5 of call credit. A further $10 of call credit can be obtained on the internet by filling in a short questionairre.

Vodafone coverage over NZ is good. Call costs (to landlines and to other Vodafone mobile phones) are $NZ0.49/minute with a minimum 1 minute call and charges over a minute accruing on a per second basis. Call costs to Telecom NZ mobile phones are $NZ1.39/minute. Calls to Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK and USA are $NZ0.49/minute with calls to the rest of the world at $NZ1.39/minute.

The Vodafone NZ SIM will roam outside NZ (in Australia with call charges the same as calls within NZ - although there is also a charge for incoming calls).

One quirk that the system seems to have is that account balance enquiries are handled through TXT. The balance is sent to the phone via a TXT message. This system seems strained, as there were a number of occasions over a two week period where the account balance was unavailable.

Recharges are available all over NZ for a minimum of $NZ20. The SIM card remains valid for 12 months from the date of last recharge.
   
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