Telecom: Uploading Is Free Till End Of January For Home Broadband Users.

By Benedict Wee

Telecom has just announced today that all of their home broadband customers get to upload as much content to the internet as they want without it affecting their monthly data allowance.

The promotion lasts till the end of January and your data cap is still counted when you're downloading stuff.

Free uploads for summer holidays

Take the rapid growth in photo-sharing sites and social media, add the Kiwi fondness for passing the holiday photo album around the rellies, top it with a bit of Christmas spirit, and you’ve got the recipe for a great broadband summer.

From now until the end of January, all Telecom home broadband customers will be able to upload whatever they want without affecting their monthly data allowance.

“Postcards, Christmas cards, holiday snaps and videos: the great Kiwi Christmas holiday is all about sharing experiences with family and friends,” says Telecom Director of Home Ralph Brayham.

“Letting New Zealanders upload content online for free is our way of recognising and encouraging the modern equivalent of that great tradition.”

Ralph says the past few years have seen an explosion in user-generated content (UGC) on the internet, with sites like Facebook, YouTube and MySpace routinely leading the way in both user numbers and growth rates.

“In mid-October, the 4 billionth photo was uploaded to Flickr, while internet analysts are predicting that more than half of US internet users will be posting UGC within the next five years.

“Our customers are as keen as anyone else to join in, and we want to make it easy for them to do so.”

Downloading data still counts towards the monthly data allowance.

Telecom XT: New Phones, Broadband Plans &.. Ye Gods! Do We Finally Get Unlimited Texting?!

By Benedict Wee

It's good to know that the squiggly 5 year-old drawing isn't the only thing Telecom NZ decided to revamp in their recent overhaul.

In a press release yesterday, the telco announced that they were introducing 'Non-Stop Text', an unlimited texting add-on for their XT network that allows you to send as many texts as you want to any network for NZ$12 a month. The catch to this offer is that you got to sign up for the add-on by the 31st of January 2010 and it'll only last till 31st January 2011. (Link to site here).

This would mark Telecom NZ's return fire in the mobile war, specifically at 2Degrees who introduced any-network texting and calling at 9 cents a message and 44 cents a min respectively when they first launched.

No word on Vodafone's response to Telecom's new add-on, though I wouldn't hold my breath when it comes to them offering a similar promotion. I once had a debate about the lack of an unlimited plan on their blog and Paul (Vodafone's PR guy) responded by saying to the effect that we do not get the luxury of unlimited options in New Zealand. There were also some issues that he failed to comment on too.

The next announcement Telecom talked about was new mobile broadband rates for notebooks.

The details are as follows:

Prepaid - NZ$99 for a T-Stick Modem with SIM and 500MB data to use within the calendar month.

Postpaid - A free T-Stick Modem with 8GB of data at NZ$70 per month (NZ$80 if you're not a Telecom broadband customer) on a 24 month contract.

Postpaid - NZ$150 for a Turbo T-Stick Modem (at a fast 21Mbps) on a 24 month contract.

The last and not-so-interesting bit of the release is their latest offering of new mobiles; the Sony Ericsson Anio U10a (NZ$999) and the Samsung S6700 (NZ$499). Both of which are way too expensive and which lack any decent specs worth mentioning.

It looks like Telecom has decided to finally offer affordable services mobile-wise which the rest of the world has been enjoying for awhile now, although it would great if they'd also come up with better phones at more competitive prices (I could get an Android-run HTC tattoo for NZ$577 locally). Here's hoping competition would cause this to happen soon.

Source:

Telecom NZ - Press Release

Telecom Has A New Logo, Drawn By A 5 Year Old.

By Benedict Wee

Telecom has just announced their new logo at an event in Auckland:

Can someone please tell them that they don't need a new logo, they need newer, better phones and cheaper price plans.

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.

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.

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

iPhone Battle! Telecom vs. Vodafone

By Benedict Wee

Telecom has announced a special offer for iPhone 3G/3GS owners which might lure Vodafone customers into ending their contracts with the telco.

Bring your iPhone 3G/3GS to a Telecom store and sign up for a One Rate 180 plan (or higher) and get $600 account credit and 240MB of data every month for 24 months.

If you compare both the plans you get -

Telecom One Rate 180: $80/month for 180 minutes, 0 texts, 240MB data, $600 credit

instead of -

Vodafone iPhone $80: $80/month for 120 minutes, 600 texts, 250MB data. But that's not including the $600 (depending on which plan you signed up for, am using the $80 one) you will have to pay to end the contract if you just signed up for the plan which pretty much offsets the credit Telecom is offering.

Also, Vodafone is offering a one-shot 3GB data and 1000 PXTs till September for those who've signed up for iPhone plans. It's not much considering it's ending so bloody early but it's still something.

All in all it doesn't make much sense to switch to Telecom value-wise if you've just bought an iPhone with a plan because you'll still have to fork out extra for texts every month and there are extra hidden costs like paying for a sim card. Those who will want to switch might just want to stick it to "The Man" by, you know, singing up to the other "The Man".

Source:

Telecom Special Offers

HTC Snap is HTC S523 in New Zealand

By Benedict Wee

Telecom has announced their new smartphone; the HTC S523 (called HTC Snap in the US) is available in New Zealand. It's your basic BlackBerry-esque phone with the standard bells and whistles (Wifi, 3G, 2.0MP camera, microSD card slot) running Windows Mobile 6.1. Skype 3.0 should complement this phone nicely.

The price without a contract? NZ$728.95 (with SIM card). Pretty good for an entry-level smartphone if you're on the Telecom network. I'm hoping the iPhone 3GS will be available to them soon though.

Source

Telecom HTC S523

Skype 3.0 for Windows Mobile brings File Transfer and Texting

By Benedict Wee

If you got a Windows Mobile phone be sure to download Skype 3.0 before you leave for your daily duties. The new update brings new features like file transfer between Skype users and the best bit; free texting to mobiles both locally and internationally.

The other usual features like free Skype to Skype calls, free Instant Messaging and the ability to call mobiles and landlines at a cheap subscription price remain intact.

This update could "encourage" our local telcos (Vodafone and Telecom) to give up their mobile termination charges which the the Commerce Commission talked about yesterday.

Source: Skype

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

Telecom reinvents the wheel, launches mobile music store

By Benedict Wee

Telecom has launched their mobile music store which claims to be have the biggest selection selection of music tracks (3.2 million) offered in New Zealand. Of course since there is only one other competing mobile telco (Vodafone), that doesn't really mean anything.

So what's new with the music store? Telecom mobile customers aren't required to pay data charges when browsing and previewing a track and Kiwi artists will be featured on the music homepage which is pretty cool as it'll showcase local talent. Just access TWorld (Telecom XT's internet portal) via your mobile and you'll only be charged when you download a song. Each track will cost $1.99, the same price as Vodafone's store and the middle point for iTunes which sells tracks between $1.79-$2.39.

Currently, the phones capable of downloading music are:

• Nokia 3120
• Nokia 6120
• Nokia 6600
• Nokia E71
• Samsung F480T
• Samsung 5220
• LG GM310
• Sony Ericsson W705
• Samsung S8300T
• Sony Ericsson C510a

Note that there is only one phone in that list that is branded as a music phone (SE W705). The store is of course targeted at people who cannot wait till they get home to download music and have to get the latest song while on the move which I'm pretty confident isn't a big number.

If you've been waiting for a mobile music store from Telecom XT (all three of you) then good on ya. If not then move along, there's nothing to see here.

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

Telecom's XT texts are too expensive: NZ youths

By Benedict Wee

I've reviewed Telecom's XT plans when they were released and it looks like NZ's youth agrees that their texting plans are too expensive. 

Full story here. 

Saturday Edition: E3, iphone rumors and "where's the Magic Vodafone?"

By Benedict Wee

Nothing much to report about the NZ mobile scene this week except for the blunder Telecom made with their prepaid add-ons. The HTC magic is still not out on our shelves which I think is a big mistake on the part of Vodafone because should the WWDC announce the new iphone on monday (and they will), people might end up holding off on an android phone purchase which would be a pity. It's kinda hard to market the new android platform when it'll be overshadowed by everyone talking about the new iphone in the upcoming weeks till its launch and even if it does get advertised it'll be viewed as a "wannabe iphone" because of the timing of the news. 

Oh and Sony gets an application store too but it's nothing worth getting all excited over (yet). 

A lot of exciting news from E3 though, which will make gamers save up their cash: 

Microsoft has announced sequels to their games (Lips:NOH, Crackdown 2, Dead Rising 2, Forza 3) with 2 new Halos (ODST and Reach) and a new Metal Gear Solid series. They've also announced a better New Xbox Experience with the incorporation of a free music streaming site (Last.FM) as well as social networking sites; facebook and Twitter to the dashboard. 

The highlight of the event of course was Project Natal; the Xbox 360's new camera which provides seamless gameplay and a Minority Report-like interface. 

Nintendo finally showcased games staring their famous mascots (Metroid: Other M, Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros.) proving to jaded fans that the Wii is a console for them too and not just non-gamers (they'll have WiiFit Plus and Wii Sports Resort to look forward to). 

Other major announcements include a new Golden Sun game for the DS which many people have demanded for, facebook photo uploads from the DSi and two other Wiimote extensions to clutter up your already full drawer of Wii periperals; the Wii motion plus and Vitality Sensor. 

Sony too announced their exclusive sequels (Uncharted 2, God of War 3) and surprised everyone with the MMORPG sequel; Final Fantasy XIV as well as debuted new titles (MAG, Agent, The Last Guardian). The highlight of their show however went to the new PSP iteration; the PSP Go which didn't surprise many as it was leaked out last weekend. I just thought of a major reason why it is a big mistake to buy this new model but I'll save it for my Buying Guide segment in the future. 

What I was more interested in were the new games for the handheld (MGS: Peace Walker, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo). Sony also previewed their new motion controller which seems like it's caught between the Wiimote and Project Natal. 

In addition to the Big 3 conferences a whole lot of other games were seen on the show floor and I've got some of the highlights in part 1 and 2 of my blog.  

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

Well the new iphone announcement at the WorldWide Developers Conference of course! The event will start with a presentation by Phil Schiller where he'll announce the new iphone and its many new and shiny features as well talking about the new Snow Leopard OS for the Mac, a new ipod touch/iphone firmware update, new ipods and ipod touches and (mayhaps) an Apple tablet? 

Nothing is confirmed for sure (cept the new iphone) but whatever they're gonna announce, it'll be awesome as always. In the meantime -since we're on speculation- let's compile the list of rumors floating around on the internets. 

The new iphone will:

• change its shiny back to matte
• have cheaper (US$99) models
• have slightly different components
• have a better camera with autofocus and (finally!) video recording
• have improved RAM to run better games and applications 
• have a better processor to run applications faster and more efficiently 
• have VoiceOver like the iPod shuffle
• have bigger memory. Expect it to have at least 32GB to 64GB. 
• have an OLED screen
• have a glowing Apple logo on its back
• have a magnetometer
• have a front camera for video conferencing which will work with the ichat application in the new firmware update. 
• have a 3D graphics chip for better looking games and applications
• work on a faster network
• have better Bluetooth support so it'll be able to pair with 3rd party peripherals like keyboards and game controllers. 
• be released on the 17th of July

That is a long list of rumors. How many do you think are true? Of course nothing is certain till the actual day so stay tuned as I'll be waking up early to watch the live blog and posting the news as soon as it hits. Till then have a great weekend!

Rumor: new iphone in July with 3D graphics chip, better bluetooth, faster network

By Benedict Wee 

Kotaku's sources have revealed that the new iphone will have an integrated 3D graphics chip which will allow game developers to make better looking games for the mobile. They've also said that Apple is now hiring in-house game developers. Looks like they've taken note of the popularity of games on their potable OS, though there's no word if the future ipod touches will have the same chip but they most probably will. 

In addition, the sources have revealed that the new iphone will have better Bluetooth support which will allow 3rd party developers to make peripherals for the mobile like keyboards and game controllers. Also, the new iphone is said to run on a higher-speed network which AT&T (a telco and exclusive distributor of the iphone in the US) is currently working on. 

So are our networks compatible with the new iphone? Telecom XT did mention that they were interested in the iphone so did they know about this already? 

The new iphone has a rumored release date of July 17th along with the new firmware upgrade for current iphones.  

Source:

Kotaku New iphone will include 3D graphics chip, hits July

Telecom: worst prepaid add on plans ever

By Benedict Wee

Telecom launched their XT network last friday, the 29th of May and because of they do not pro-rata their add-ons (texts and data) many prepaid customers have had said add-ons expire on June the 1st. 

Telecom's head of PR and Sponsorship; Nick Brown has said that people who pay for extras at the end of the month would be at a disadvantage and this only applies to prepaid customers but it does not affect voice top-ups. He also added that those affected by this incident will be credited for any extras they purchased between the 29th-31st of May and that purchasing the extras will be pro-rata starting from now on. 

Still, what kinda asinine plan is that in the first place? Who's got the time to wait till the beginning of the month to top-up their extras? 

Source:

Computer world Early buyers expose prepay text and data issue on XT

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