Drop The Rate, Mate! Campaign Stands Behind IT Minister's MTR Decision Process

By Benedict Wee

Matthew Hooton, spokesperson for the Drop the Rate, Mate! campaign has commended Steven Joyce's (Communication and Information Technology Minister) decision to reject commercial offers on mobile termination rates from telco duopoly Vodafone and Telecom and will instead wait for the Commerce Commission to make a recommendation before making a decision.

"My Joyce's anouncement last week indicates he has made a commitment to following the proper process, and that is to be welcomed," said Hooton, "His announcement creates a great deal of confidence that the current process will lead to New Zealand's market rules being brought into line with international best practice, brining more competition and lower prices for consumers."

New Zealand has one of the highest call/text/data rates in the world and lacks an "unlimited" plan option despite selling mobiles at a high price. A good example is Vodafone's attempt to charge NZ$250 a month on a 2-year contract for the Apple iPhone 3G last year. The plan was eventually made cheaper due to public protest.

Is Your 2Degrees SIM Missing? (Full Update)

By Benedict Wee

Since news of 2Degrees emerged in May I've had high hopes for our 3rd mobile provider and was pretty excited to try out their new services. I registered for their Chinwag promotion and got my partner as well as our mates to sign up and was eagerly awaiting the free SIM to be posted to me, hell I've even bought a mobile especially for the occasion. Its seems however that things have run into a snag as my SIM card has been lost, twice. Here's a short rundown of events:

• July 5th - Signed up for 2Degrees Chinwag campaign. Got a text confirming signup.
• August 7th - Got a text from 2Degrees assuring SIM would arrive Sat 15th latest.
• August 11th - Got another text from 2Degrees saying SIM is in the mail.
• August 13th - 2Degrees SIM in mail, addressed to my partner who also signed up.
• August 14th - Sent email to 2Degrees enquiring about SIM and reconfirmed address. No reply.
• August 19th - Sent direct message to 2Degrees on Twitter asking about lack of communication.
• August 20th - Got text informing new SIM has been sent. Got reply via Twitter asking for details. Replied saying not necessary as text has already said SIM has been sent.
• August 25th - 5 days since text, still no SIM.

It seems like I'm not the only one experiencing the missing SIM phenomena. A mate of mine has "lost" hers in the mail too but she's not as excited about the new telco as I am and has decided to not pursue the matter and stick to Vodafone. I'm pretty sure most people would take that attitude as well.

I find it a tad amusing as the problems I've experienced in purchasing the China-made mobile to put my 2Degrees SIM in -exhausting and tedious as they were- have finally come to a resolution as the phone was delivered yesterday, thus making the international retailer of fake mobiles from Hong Kong more reliable then our local companies. It's more sad however as I feel pretty let down as the excitement of testing out the new telco's services has crashed in utter disappointment by the big delay in communication and the loss of my SIM. Twice.

So what's the deal? Did 2Degrees send the SIM to the wrong address twice? Do we have dishonest postal workers*? Did the prawns from District 9 take it? Whatever the case it doesn't look good for our new telco as I'm sure I'm not the only one who is experiencing the problem of disappearing SIM cards.

What about you guys? Are your Chinwag SIMs missing?

Update: Just got an email this morning from them, they're going to resend a SIM but in an unmarked envelope this time. Looks like there are cases of people pilfering SIM cards from mailboxes and 2Degrees PR person Bryony Hilless will be providing us with some information about the process so stay tuned.

Update 2: 2Degrees has explained the process of sending the SIM cards out in the comments below, if you're still missing yours go to the website here or email them at care@2degreesmobile.co.nz with your mobile number and mailing address.

* I highly doubt this as the Post Office here provides an excellent service and I've not lost a single piece of mail once. Good work posties!

Telco Rip Off: A Cliff Notes Version Of The Fight Against Telecom and Vodafone

By Benedict Wee

I've been meaning to write an article about the current mobile tyranny we suffer under the two big telco giants Vodafone and Telecom and why we should support government regulation but the "Drop The Rate Mate" campaign has beat me to the punch.

What I'll do instead is summarize the notes I've been gathering to simplify the situation about why the government should step in so Kiwis everywhere will be able to leave behind the archaic and expensive mobile rates the two telcos are charging and finally join the rest of the developed world in using our mobiles to communicate without trepidation.

The situation:

• Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) - This is the rate one telco charges another if you call/text someone from another network be it from a mobile or a landline.
• New Zealand has one of the highest mobile termination rates amongst first world countries.
• Vodafone and Telecom charge around 15 cents per minute for calls and 10 cents per text to contact someone from another telco.
• This charge is passed to us the consumer, who have to pay for them. That is why it costs $0.89 per min to call and $0.20 to text someone from another network.
• Commerce Commission - A watchdog group that ensures fair practices and promotes competition amongst companies (in this case, telcos) so we get the best value.
• The Commerce Commission says the rates are way too high. A proper rate should be about 4-7 cents per minute for calls and 0.5-1 cents per text. Even then the rate would still be considered expensive.
• This means we pay over 2 times the amount for calls and 10 to 20 times more for texts.

• Because of this abhorrent activity, mobile users either resort to using two mobiles or congregate under one telco to avoid paying MTRs.
• As a result, Vodafone and Telecom make a massive profit from charging high MTRs, almost 2.5 billion in the last 10 years.

• The Commerce Commission is asking the government to step in and regulate MTRs so the prices are lowered and we pay less.
• Vodafone and Telecom want to remain independent and do not want the government to regulate. They lower their rates slightly under a pretense to show they do welcome competition. The rates are still too high.
• New mobile telco 2degrees has difficulty entering the market because the MTRs are too high for a startup company to afford. As a result, they're unable to offer much a cheaper, more competitive rate and hence are left to charge $0.44 per minute for calls and $0.09 per text.

• The Commerce Commission will be accepting submissions by the different telcos which will be compiled and then sent as a recommendation report to Steven Joyce, Minister for Communications and Information Technology. He will then decide if the government should intervene and force the MTRs down, giving telcos a fair chance to compete and thus resulting in cheaper calling rates for us.
• 2degrees and 7 other organizations want to support the regulation for lower MTRs and have set up the "Drop The Rate Mate" campaign to not only draw the attention of the public, but to combat Vodafone and Telecom who will employ fierce lobbying tactics to discourage the Minister from government interference.

How it harms Kiwis and New Zealand:

High costs: Because of artificially inflated MTRs, we pay hundreds more than we really need to.

Low usage: We avoid using our mobiles/landlines to communicate as a result of the high cost.

Double phones: We resort to using double mobiles in order to work around the high costs of contacting someone.

Artificial group segregation: Those unable to afford/don't want to use two mobiles are then left with no choice but to follow the telco which most of his/her contacts use in order to minimize the extra charges. If 13 out of 20 of a person's group uses Vodafone then said person is driven to choose Vodafone as well and will be hesitant to contact the other 7 who are on different networks. This segregation is artificially manufactured and spreads till a monopoly is formed.

No competition: Because MTRs are charged so high other competitors find it difficult to start their own telco and are discouraged from doing so. What is left is two companies who continue to dominate the market and are able to set whatever price they want without anyone being able to challenge them.

Stunted Technological Growth: This bit was not mentioned by anyone but it incenses me the most. Because we are unwilling to use our mobiles often and think that calls/texts/data is at a premium, we've all adopted a phobic or indifferent mentality towards new technology which is counterproductive to our society.

As technological innovation continues to evolve by leaps and bounds it is essential that we keep up with its progress and learn how to use these new-fangled gadgets to improve our lives, the economy and New Zealand as a whole. By charging ridiculously high rates consumers are discouraged from utilizing an everyday device that has been around for decades to communicate with each other.

The telcos have inadvertently created a time warp that has set us back years where contacting each other with mobiles was considered a luxury. What proves this theory is the lack of mobile choices in our shops and the high cost of purchasing them despite contract subsidies. The end result of not thinking of our mobiles as playing a big part our lives is an apathetic attitude towards not only new mobile technology, but all kinds of technological advancement by extension.

If you do feel strongly about this issue and would like to support the "Drop The Rate Mate" campaign, you can sign the petition on their website here.

Sources:

DropTheRateMate - Termination Rates: The facts

"Drop The Rate Mate" Campaign Launches. Fights Against Vodafone And Telecom.

By Benedict Wee

Finally!

Erine Newman (TUANZ CEO), Tex Edwards (2degrees), Sue Chetwin (the Consumer Association) have team up with Matthew Hooton, of public affairs consultancy Exceltium, to create a web-based campaign urging government action over mobile termination rates.

Inspired by a similar campaign in the UK, 'Drop The Rate Mate' aims to support the Commerce Commission's draft on recommending government regulation on artificially inflated mobile termination rates created by Telecom and Vodafone to prevent competition and maintain their duopoly.

Both Telecom and Vodafone have expressed their disagreement with the Commerce Commission's recommendation and have been trying relentlessly to discourage government intervention. Matthew explains:

"Steven Joyce (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) will be the focus of fierce lobbying by Vodafone and Telecom. This is to assure him he is backed by the New Zealand people."

A total of 8 organizations have joined the cause:

• Airnet
• Federated Farmers
• The Federation of Maori Authorities
• The New Zealand Union of Students Associations
• TUANZ
• 2degrees mobile
• Unite Union
• Consumer

The campaign will launch today with a media conference in Wellington.

To give your support and sign the petition visit their site at http://www.droptheratemate.org.nz .

Source:

Computerworld - 'Drop the rate mate' campaign targets MTRs.

So Is It Time To Switch To 2degrees? A Buying Guide

By Benedict Wee

Well we've gotten all the details about how much mobile newcomer 2degrees is charging for its services and the reaction has been pretty mixed. Let's go though their list of services using a Buying Guide.

Why I like it

Cheap Call/Text Rates:

Thank God. I can stop telling people that my calls are $0.89 a minute now. Also, $0.09 is not too steep a charge (for now) for texting.

Texting Overseas:

To anyone in the 21 countries is awesome. Will be texting mum more often.

SIM Cards:

Are finally cheap. They come in both $2 and $20 varieties with the respective value inside. I always wondered why I had to pay almost $30 for a SIM with no credit.

Easy To Read/Understand Pricing:

Calls? $0.44/min anywhere, $0.22/min to 2degrees mobiles and landlines if you top up. Texts? $0.09. Picture messages? $0.50. Data? $0.50/MB. It's really simple. Vodafone is now officially the only telco that makes my eyes glaze over when I read about their pricing structure. Telecom isn't too bad however.

Calling Customer Service:

Is free. Always a good way to let consumers know you care and value their input.

Meh

Calls Overseas:

Might be cheaper but I'd be able to skype or use a phone card at a better rate.

Port Your Number:

And you get $5 credit. Come on 2degrees, you gotta do better than that to get people to switch.

Per Minute Billing:

Is kind of a let down but the lower call rates don't make it hurt too bad.

Why I don't like it

Data:

Is expensive. $0.50/MB is way too much to charge to surf the internets. It's a pity cause if this was cheaper I'd switch from Vodafone immediately.

GPRS and EDGE:

If you're gonna charge so much for data it should at least be on a HSDPA network. GPRS and EDGE (it's like 2.5G) is considered slow in any 1st world country.

Handsets:

Telecom had a better line of phones when they launched. Vodafone still tops the list in terms of better overall phone choices. 2degrees only has one smartphone on the list and it isn't good. I was hoping for a Hero or Palm Pre to make its debut here. Sad.

Conclusion

Overall, I'm feeling pretty positive about the network despite its lackluster launch. 2degrees is stepping in the right direction and they can prove to be a formidable force against the duopoly that is Vodafone and Telecom. The points I don't like about the network are easily improved with time and I hope that they're working hard to bring us great mobiles and postpaid plans.

I saw on their facebook site that there are some people who are quite negative about the launch, complaining about the lack of "Best Friends" or thousands of texts for a cheap price. All I can say is hold on. They've only just started and once they get their bearings we'll be able to see better value deals. Besides, mileage will vary from person to person and since the SIM cards are affordable I highly recommend that you just get one, top it up and see how far you can go with the telco. (Update: They're even giving away free $2 SIM cards for a limited time.)

2degrees has brought something to New Zealand that we've lacked for a long time: competition. It can only get better for us consumers from here.

2degrees gives pricing details (Updated)

By Benedict Wee

We're getting live updates via Twitter from 2degrees about their service rates. Will update them as they are announced.

• Only PrePay option for now as only 25% of the market use Postpaid
• $0.44 a minute to call anyone, anytime
• $0.09 a text to anyone
• $0.50 a picture text to anyone
• $0.44 calls, $0.09 texts and $0.50 picture texts to anyone in 21 countries!
• Free 100 anyone texts for $20 top up (lasts for 30 days)
• Free 150 anyone texts for $30 top up (lasts for 30 days)
• $0.22 a minute to call any 2degrees mobile when topping up (lasts for 30 days)
• $0.22 a minute to call any NZ landline when topping up (lasts for 30 days)
• Port your number and get $5 credit
• SIM cards at $2 or $20
• Top up by voucher, credit/debit card, free 201 call, online
• Roam internationally, view usage online, get customer care for free, 24/7
• No per second billing, calls are charged per minute.
• $0.50 per MB of data.
• GPRS and EDGE (2.5G) for now, 3G later.

The 21 countries who have the same call/text charges are:

Here are some phones available from their network:

2degrees launches August 5th. Everything else announced the day before.

By Benedict Wee

Highly anticipated telco -2degrees- has just announced on twitter that they will be launching their network on the 5th of August. However, information on the price plans, mobile handsets and their subsidies will only be available the day before to the press at a preview in Auckland.

Since we're heading towards the end of the month we should receive the free SIM cards with $5 prepaid credit soon for those who signed-up for their promotional Chinwag event.

2degrees have been keeping their cards close to their chest so we have no indication what mobiles they will be carrying so we can't do much but speculate. Personally, I'm hoping for a nice surprise with a great line of smartphones (Palm Pre or HTC Hero?) when they launch.

Updated Rumor: iPod Touches To Have Cameras and Microphones

By Benedict Wee

A well-connected source has told Wired that Apples factories in China have already begun manufacturing iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones. These iPods are expected to hit in a couple of months during Apples second annual announcement of upgrades to its line of products.

The inclusion of a microphone to the iPod Touch might mean a huge shift in the way we do voice communications. With apps like fring that already provide voice-over-IP and Skype due to be released soon, future iPod Touch users would be able to make calls whenever WiFi is available just like iPhone users. So this means not needing a home phone line and the ability to call overseas for cheap. You could even use the WiFi available in public places like the library to make calls.

Adding this function to the camera (which will be able to take pictures and video) and you'll have an all-in-one multimedia device costing from $389 to $659. A significant price gap between them and the $1179 and $1379 iPhone 3GS Vodafone is asking for.

Source:

Wired - Apple Preparing iPod Touch With Camera, Microphone: Source

Nokia news roundup - Buying Guide: N97 and Android.

By Benedict Wee

Judging from Twitter reports of local tech celebrities, Finnish mobile giant Nokia held a press conference in Auckland today to debut their latest smartphone, the N97. I don't have the phone physically but I'll give it a buying guide based on the information I can gleam from impressions/reviews by other tech blogs.

Why I might like it

Sturdy:

Nokia has been making phones for a long time and they've been known to make them to last. Expect the N97 to posses the same sturdy-ness.

Size:

Measuring 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, the N97's dimensions are ideal for any pocket from bermudas to tight-fitting jeans. It's pretty amazing that it's only slightly bigger than the Nokia 5800 and it comes with a full QWERTY keyboard. It's like a mini netbook!

Features:

32GB should be an internal hard drive standard for all smartphones released after July. The N97 does just that and with an upgradable microSD slot you'll get a potential 48GB worth of storage space. What to do with that much space? Listening to your music would be appropriate as the mobile has a standard headphone jack.

The user interface looks pretty. With widgets like Qik, facebook, RealPlayer, YouTube, Accuweather and Spore already installed in the phone you'll be able to streamline your accounts and play videos from the get go.

These features combined with a 5 MP Carl Zeiss optics lens, digital compass, WMV/RealVideo video player, 2-way transmitter (able to receive signals for radio or to broadcast music to your fm receiver), removable battery and voice command/dial makes the mobile almost comparable to the iPhone 3GS and HTC Magic. Almost.

Meh

Ovi Store:

It's not the Android Market and it's definitely not the Apple App Store. Nokia's own online application store for their phones is still in its early stages so don't expect to download heaps of useful apps for the N97 and they've still got a long ways to go before developers create any that are worth mentioning. Why? Because those who want a bigger consumer base and money develop iPhone apps and those who want the freedom go to Android. After that they'll have other popular platforms to develop for like Palm and BlackBerry so you're looking at pretty tough competition out there. Also I heard the store is pretty hard to navigate.

Why I won't like it

It runs Symbian:

Or to be more specific; Symbian OS v9.4, Series 60 rel 5. The Symbian OS has been around for awhile now, going through various upgrades the past few years to its current iteration today. Symbian is also the oldest mobile OS when compared to the iPhone OS or Android so one would think that they've perfected the art of creating a easy to use operating system. They didn't. It's clunky and not very user friendly interface can be frustrating to use.

Looks like a million things happening at once

This is a major mistake to make. With us spoilt on the smooth UIs of the iPhone and Android one would think that the N97 had the strong, capable body of a 18 year old with the personality of an 81 year old. Looking at the video reviews of the phone I kept telling myself that the phone would be perfect to run Android. And speaking of Android..

I'm inserting the Nokia news about the Android here. They've flat out denied the rumors that they will release a smartphone running the Android platform. To quote:

"There is no truth to this story whatsoever. It is a well known fact that Symbian is our platform of choice for smartphones."

Why Nokia? Android could be the saving grace you need to get back that market share you've lost when other smartphones like the iPhone and HTC Android mobiles were released. You've got awesome looking phones which last really long and all you need is to have an OS that runs perfectly and you'll get an uber-phone that people will want to buy. I know, I know, you own Symbian now but flogging a dead horse is not an option when there are better platforms out there that many are using. Android is free for pete's sake!

Back to the review, I don't think anyone should bother to learn how to use an interface that might (or might not) get phased out in a couple of years because there are easier and better looking OSs out there where you'll only need to learn only once.

Price and Processor:

So apparently Finland is encased in a magical bubble where recession is a word that goes with spring to signify a weeks break for university students in March and there are no other smartphone makers out there that could possibly compete with their mobiles. Either that or Vodafone NZ is trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for most expensive phone sold commercially ever.

The cost of the phone is NZ$1799 without a contract.

Now compare that to the other (better) options in the market; a 32GB iPhone 3GS for NZ$1379 or the HTC Magic for NZ$1099 and you'll wonder how Nokia (or Vodafone) came to that really, really, really far out price. The N97 might be like a mini netbook, but its pricing is in the notebooks range.

Also why does the N97 only have a 424 MHz processor when the iPhone 3GS has 600 MHz and the HTC Magic 528 MHz? That's only a tiny step up from the iPhone 3G's 412 MHz. Does the 18 year old have the mind of a 81 year old as well?

Conclusion

The N97 gets so many things right but the stuff it gets wrong are so glaringly bad that you've got no choice to but to keep on staring at it like a vehicle accident. Bad OS, slow processor and an incredibly high price makes me give the phone a major fail. I would not recommend buying it at all.

It's a real pity though, and I can't help but feel sad for the Finnish mobile giant. I remember the time when I was 16 and I fell in love with the 3210 which began a very long love affair with Nokia till the 6280, but its refusal to get with the times, their ridiculous pricing and its unwillingness to be open about their OS might end up being the source of its own destruction.

Look for the N97 to appear on Vodafone's (and maybe 2degrees') shelves soon.

Sources:

Gizmodo's review of the N97

The National Business Review's review of the N97

TechRadar's report on Nokia and Android

2degrees campaigns gets me excited

By Benedict Wee

2degrees has started their campaign to free us Kiwis from the tyranny of the other two telcos. The first move; offering a free SIM card with $5 credit in their "Great New Zealand Chinwag" campaign. You can sign up for the free SIM (which will be sent out around the launch date in August) here.

What they did next was debut their pretty cool ad staring funny-man Rhys Darby. In it he talks about how we're only separated by two degrees instead of the usual six and pokes fun at the other telcos and their archaic pricing methods like being bound to a contract, getting confused at complexed plans and choosing who to put on a special list for unlimited calls (an obvious jab at Vodafone's Best Friends plan) before ending with him explaining that the more people sign up, the more savings everyone makes. It beats watching Telecom's avant garde ads with Richard Hammond (what does a boat have to do with texting?) any day. Check the video out:

From what I can gather from the ad, it looks like 2degrees might introduce a fixed price for calls/texts to any telco and possibly scrap mobile handset subsides (as they usually come with contracts). It doesn't sound very attractive at the moment but they've just started their opening salvo and the free SIM card campaign is a step in the right direction. I for one am pretty excited about how they plan on competing with the other two telcos.

You can take a look at their webpage here and join their facebook page here.

Vodafone responds to 2degrees accusations, tells em to grow a pair

By Benedict Wee

Paul Brislen, Vodafone's External Manager has refuted the claim that there is a duopoly between them and Telecom evidenced by a research 2degrees commissioned which showed students in the Auckland and Dunedin region making a majority of calls and texts to phones of the same network.

He says that having a small sample size of around 100 people does not constitute a proper study and that student preference in mobile networks is hardly insightful as the majority of calls and texts are to fewer than a dozen numbers which will explain the high percentage traffic to the same network.

As for the duopoly allegations; Paul said that 2degrees is not only wrong, they're complete rubbish citing the recent incident where they took Telecom to court because they interfered with their network.

When addressing the lack of competition Paul claims that it is not only alive and well, you could argue that there are too many operators for a population our size as we've got 9 of them (Update: Vodafone, Telecom, 2degrees, TelstraClear, Black and White, CallPlus, Orcon, M2 and Compass Communications. Thanks Paul!) and not 3. He then ended the rebuttal with this:

Competition is alive and well and kicking up its heels in New Zealand. If NZ Comms (now know as 2degrees) wants to play there’s plenty of opportunity but can I just put out a heartfelt plea: Stop complaining and get on with it.

Alright then, ball's in your court 2degrees. Got a response?

Evidence of Vodafone and Telecom duopoly found by 2degrees

By Benedict Wee

We're still a ways off from hearing about new mobile telco 2degrees' mobiles and prices plans but it seems like they've keep run into barriers while trying to set up their network.

With Telecom resorting to bullying tactics and 2degrees leaving the self-regulatory forum that promotes fair competition between telcos claiming unfair bias from the three big service providers (Telstra, Vodafone and Telecom), the new company hasn't exactly gotten the warm Kiwi reception that this country is famous for.

To add to the list of the unfair advantages the current telcos have right now, 2dgrees has uncovered evidence of a duopoly between the two major companies; Vodafone and Telecom.

2degrees had commissioned a report (which was carried out by Phoenix Research) to survey calls and texts that began and terminated on the same network (also known as 'on-net' mobile traffic) amongst students in Auckland in September 2008 and Dunedin in May 2009.

What they found out was that rather than providing competition between the two carriers in each city, they have divided the regions between themselves with Vodafone dominating traffic in Auckland and Telecom in Dunedin. How much traffic did they dominate?

For Auckland students on Vodafone:

• 93% of their calls were made to another phone on the same network
• 96% of their texts were sent to another phone on the same network

For Dunedin students on Telecom:

• 81% of their calls were made to another phone on the same network
• 90% of their texts were sent to another phone on the same network

As for the market share of the two telcos in the different regions:

• 97% of Auckland students who were surveyed are on Vodafone
• 85% of Dunedin students who were surveyed are on Telecom

The research was done between 120 students in each region which were spilt equally between venues and call/text data collected was from logs stored in students' phones with Auckland results being final and Dunedin being indicative.

If the research is true it would mean that Telecom and Vodafone might have an under the table agreement to dominate a respective region thus allowing them to charge whatever price they want on their calls without needing to compete with the other telco. This would also explain why calls/texts to other carriers cost extra: they want people to use the provider that controls that region.

Looking at this research you can tell that the people who suffer from this tyranny is us, the consumer. Without actual full-on competition telcos have free reign to charge whatever they want on calls/texts/data and take their time to bring mobiles which the other parts of the world had months before while creating ridiculously expensive contracts for subsidized mobiles. It's the same problem with power, they're shortchanging us and taking our hard-earned money. We do not have to put up with this.

Sources:

2degrees News

Saturday Edition: WWDC and the HTC Magic

By Benedict Wee

Apple's yearly WorldWide Developers Conference was a roller coaster of emotions for me. On one hand, I was excited about all MacBooks going Pro and the new OSX -Snow Leopard- costing only US$30 to upgrade for Leopard making it the cheapest operating system upgrade ever. On the other I was disappointed at the "upgrades" in the new iPhone 3GS which brings it to the same standard most smartphones in the market already posses. More ups and downs here. 

We find out what's inside the new iPhone 3GS and how they'll be able to play better videogames the older models can't. 

On a more local note we find out that the HTC Magic from Vodafone has been delayed and will release in the same month as the iPhone 3GS though there is no confirmed launch day. Those who are interested can sign up on Vodafone's site as they've started pre-registration. I (and a couple of others), not wanting to wait for an ambiguous date and being tempted by Vodafone reps, Ben and other people who already have the mobile (or at least tried it out) have taken the initiative and bought it from an importer. My first impressions of New Zealand's first Android phone are here.

A more pressing matter is new mobile service provider 2degrees resigning from the TCF (Telecommunications Carriers Forum) which is supposed to promote healthy competition between telcos and thereby allowing us to benefit with cheaper call/text/data costs. They claim that the forum is headed by the three big providers (Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear) which is counterproductive to the cause and might explain why we our services are still at an all time high. Something smells fishy here. 

And what do we have to look forward to next week? 

Well I'll be concentrating heavily on my newly bought HTC Magic so expect a review soon. More Magic news includes Paul Brislen (Vodafone's External Communications Manager) releasing more details on the phones launch, including when paid apps in the Android Market will be available. I'll also be checking out the free apps in said Market and will be posting a list of recommendations for Android users. 

Also, update 3.0 for the iPhone and iPod Touch will be released on the 17th. Will give a review on that too.

That's about all we have for this week. Have a great weekend everyone! 

2degrees: I will not be part of the Empire!

By Benedict Wee

New mobile communications company 2degrees has resigned from a self-regulatory group that was supposedly set up to promote competition amongst New Zealand telcos. The Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) works collaboratively on the development of key industry standards and codes of practices that underpin the digital economy of New Zealand. In short, they ensure that no one network provider has a stranglehold on the market and that there is fair competition amongst the other telecommunication companies. 

But 2degrees claims that TCF is set up and largely controlled by Telecom, Vodafone and Telstra, the three major players in the industry which means that they are financially inclined to support their own personal causes. Bill McCabe - 2degrees' Chief Commercial Officer- believes that the lack of effective competition and consumer choice continue to be the most pressing concerns of the Telecommunications Industry and that the TCF is not best placed to promote it:

"The stated goal of TCF is to promote competition for the long term benefit of New Zealanders, but its board is dominated by the three biggest incumbent networks whose financial incentives will be to maintain their dominance of the market. Any real promotion of competition by these firms would be counter-intuitive. TCF membership is therefore an unnecessary and time consuming distraction for 2degrees,"

With 2degrees accusing Telecom of employing bullying tactics previously, one can't help and come to the conclusion that the current telcos are trying to gang up to force 2degrees out of the telco business. It could be possible that they've seen the new company's price plans and are viewing them as a credible threat. 

Source:

2degrees News Site

TCF Website

Saturday Edition: The weeks summary and what to look forward to next week

By Benedict Wee

It's been a pretty hectic news week for mobile providers:

• Telecom launched their 3G XT network. you can read the review of their price plans, mobiles and the reaction of competitor 2degrees.
• Vodafone has given away credits and is giving away mobiles in order to distract people from the launch.
• 2degees calls Telecom a bully cause they don't wanna share.
• Nokia's version of the iTunes Application store -Ovi- is launched. 

And I finally get to review the DSi and compare its price. 

So what do we have to look forward to next week?

• Vodafone might release information and price plans on the HTC Magic. New Zealand's first phone running the Android OS. 
• Video game expo E3 opens it's doors in LA. Teaser announcements from Square-Enix (new game NIER, preview of Final Fantasy games), Lionhead (the people who brought you Fable) and Edios (Tomb Raider and Hitman, recently acquired by Square-Enix) are only a tiny fraction of the major news that'll we get. Look out for the new a UMD-less PSP and previews of eagerly anticipated games: Dante's Inferno, Batman: Arkham Asylum, White Knight Chronicles, Fragile and tones more. Can't be there? Well neither can I but check here for constant updates. 

This'll be enough to whet our digital appetite until the announcement of the new iphone the week after at WWDC. Have a great weekend everyone! 

2degrees disses Telecom’s price plans, says not the time to sign up for 2 or 3 year contracts.

By Benedict Wee

2degress CEO Mike Reynolds has called Telecom’s mobile charges underwhelming:

“If I was a customer I’d be asking: is that it..?” says the ex-President of Singapore telecommunications group Starhub.

He then went on to compare Telecom’s plans with that of Virgin’s network in the US, citing that even without the unlimited calling  service we would be paying about NZ$800 for similar services. Mike then proceeded to talk about mobile contracts:

“Now is not the time to sign up to two or three year contracts. Soon we will be unveiling the 2degrees price plans as we countdown to our launch in August. I urge New Zealanders to hold off till then, when they can make a fully informed decision.”

So does that mean 2degrees won’t have contracts? Does that mean no handset subsidization? Or does he just want us to take up contracts with 2degrees?

At the end of the day it’s the combination of price plans and mobiles that’ll make us decide whom to subscribe to. 2degrees can talk the talk but can they offer a better combination of calls and text? Will they provide the latest in mobile technology and save us from this time stasis of really old phones? Can I please not pay $6 if I wanna watch Susan Boyle on Youtube on my mobile? We’ll be lookout when August approaches. 

Sources:

Scoop: Telecom price plans underwhelm 

2degrees: Telecom is being a bully

By Benedict Wee

New Zealand Telecom is being accused of deploying playground-bully tactics by telco provider 2degress. The new mobile network provider, which is set to launch in August, has claimed that Telecom has refused to interconnect with 2degrees’ local “Homezone” calling service which has resulted in them not being able to provide said service, thereby cutting them out from the market.

2degrees have alleged Telecom of being blatantly anti-competitive and accused them of abusing their current market power. Chief Commercial Officer, Bill McCabe said in a statement on the 2degrees site:

“This is a piece of aggressive, bullying behavior that betrays Telecom's insecurities about competition from 2degrees' new mobile network, which is just months away from launch.” (Update: Just announced on NZI Business, 2degrees is taking Telecom to the communications commission to seek a ruling on this matter, apparently this has happened before with Vodpahone.)

Annnd the claws are out! 

Sources:

2degrees Telecom's bully-boy tactics aimed at stifling mobile competition

TVNZ Telecom accused of bully boy tactics

Fourth mobile provider coming in three months

By Benedict Wee 

New Zealand will have another mobile communications provider to choose from this coming August. 2degrees is tossing its hat into the ring which has -until now- been dominated by Telecom New Zealand and international network operator Vodafone.

Once president of Singapore’s second biggest info-com company; Starhub, CEO Mike Reynolds says that most countries have at least three network operators to keep up healthy competition and commented that;

"There is no other comparable country that has to suffer such poor value in the mobile market and that can be attributed to a lack of a vibrant competitive environment."

He made no comment on Telstra’s cellular service. Presumably cause he doesn’t see them as a threat or he does not even know about them.

Indeed the three operators have been far too comfortable in their attitude when competing for mobile users. The call rates are high, the plans archaic and -in the case of Telecom and Telstra- the phones they offered, ancient.

Hey Telstra, the year 2000 called and they want their mobile back.

Speaking from personal experience, I was mortified when I found out that making a call costs 89 cents a minute for a prepaid Vodafone plan and I gave up trying to remember the cost of a call with a prepaid Telecom one as it was unnecessarily complicated. In Telstra’s case I was scared off by the single mobile phone they were offering with their monthly (2G!) plan which you could only get if you subscribed to their landline and broadband service.

So how will this new provider be different? As of today there have been no news on plans or handsets and all we got is a half-baked ‘you could say it’ll be cheaper’ statement made by Reynolds.

Here’s what I’m hoping for -

1) Better calling rates: I studied in the UK last year and the calls I made to my mates locally and family overseas in a month amount to less than how much I top up in a fortnight here in NZ. Charging (almost) a dollar a minute is daylight robbery.

2) Better monthly plans: Subsidizing around $120 for a mobile when you sign up for 24 month plan (Vodafone) and even lesser for a Telecom one is a major rip off. Other countries like Singapore and the UK offer over $200 off a handset with a 2-year plan. In some cases competition is fierce enough for telcos to offer certain mobiles for free.

3) Newer mobile models: For God’s sake please bring in newer mobiles. Vodafone isn’t very guilty of this but Telecom seems content to stick to phones that my mom used 5 years ago. As for Telstra, they have only one mobile which pretty much speaks for itself. In an age where information is but a mere click away lots of NZ dollars are given to overseas based online shops (or similar sites like ebay and craigslist) which sell the latest handsets and this money could be better circulated in the local economy.

So will 2degrees live up to its promise of a better mobile experience or will it just be another playground bully vying for our money? We can only hope that they do but till then we will have wait for the price plans and handsets to be announced. I’m pretty optimistic because Starhub was (and still is) my favorite communication provider when I lived in Singapore. They were the first to offer free dial up internet followed by free incoming mobile calls then same rates for voice and video (3G) calls and eventually free landline calls with cheap IDD rates. Granted we might not get similar deals cause we’re considerably larger but there should be something in the works that give the rest a run for their money.


Sources -
TVNZ: Third mobile telco rebrands as 2degrees
Scoop: New Zealand Communication Appoints CEO