2degrees 3G is here!
2degrees have been working on their 3G service for a while now, and whilst some of you may have been using it in areas where they are testing it has yet to go live for the whole country.
Well today all that changes. They have released new handsets, new pricing and the 3G network has been rolled out nationwide. Hit the read more for more details and the full press release.
National 3G Service – is switched on for 97% for where New Zealanders Live work and Play
New 3G Handsets – starting from $199
3G Mobile Internet – $6 for 50MB data, packs expire after 30 days and buy as many as you need.
3G Mobile Broadband – “Pay Less, Get More, Lasts Longer”
$20 – 500MB valid for 30 days, available in mobile broadband zones Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown
$50 – 2GB valid for 60 days, available in mobile broadband zones Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown
$150 – 10GB valid for 90 days (works out to be $15 per GB), available in mobile broadband zones Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown
Until 31st October those that sign up to the 512MB plan will get boosted up to 1GB and if you go for the 2GB you’ll get 3GB.
3G Mobile Internet works in any 3G area, regardless of whether you are on-net using 2degrees or off-net using Vodafone roaming.
Both types of service are available to be added to your iPhone/iPad SIM card plan.
Speeds within Mobile Broadband Zones.
The Mobile Broadband Zones are capable of speeds up to 7.2Mbps, with average speeds of 800-1400kbps.
Travelling out of a Zone?
If you travel outside of the Mobile Broadband Zones, then you can use a National Data Pack or pay the standard rates. To enable usage at the standard rates simply text Unlock to 233.
Zones:
2degrees mobile broadband zones (click to enlarge)
More detailed info on the zones can be found in the 2degrees Broadband Zones pdf
Modem and Plan details:
Show Press Release
August 3, 2010
2degrees launches 3G services and data plans
2degrees celebrated its first birthday today by launching its national 3G services and a range of data plans to meet New Zealanders growing demand for more affordable mobile broadband.
Chief Executive Eric Hertz reviewed the company’s progress, outlining its plans to extend its game-changing approach to voice and text into the mobile broadband market.
“On day one we halved standard prepay rates for calling and texting, and recently we launched a range of plans that make it even more affordable to call and text anyone in NZ. Now we’re changing the game again – this time giving mobile broadband the 2degrees treatment.”
Customers can connect to the internet using 2degrees mobile broadband via a handset or USB modem. Data is available in 50MB, 512MB, 2GB or 10GB packs and validity periods range from 30 to 90 days, depending on the pack purchased.
Mr Hertz said 2degrees was the first telecommunications company to provide bundles allowing New Zealanders to keep unused data beyond 30 days.
“2degrees is all about leading value and doing things differently for our customers. Today we are offering New Zealanders in our broadband zones more data, for less, with more time to use it, all without having to sign up to a long term contract,” he said.
“Our national 50MB Data Pack, for just $6, allows customers to get connected quickly and cost effectively wherever they are in the country, while our other Data Packs and USB modems provide great value for heavy data users within our Mobile Broadband Zones.”
“We want to provide consumers with as much choice as possible. Thanks to number portability and 2degrees microSIMs, New Zealanders can move to 2degrees for voice, text and data-intensive devices,” says Eric.
About the 2degrees 3G network
It is expected customers will receive average speeds of 800kbps to 1400kbps on the 2degrees 3G network. 2degrees technology partner is Huawei, a world-leading global telecommunications solutions provider.
The 2degrees 3G network is a separate network to its existing 2G network. The separation of the 2G/EDGE network from the 3G network means full redundancy in the event of any unexpected service issues. 2degrees customers with 3G-capable handsets can make use of the new network right away by making sure their handsets are set to dual-mode, though most 3G handsets should detect the change automatically.
2degrees’ larger data packs, 2GB and above, can be used in 2degrees Mobile Broadband Zones covering most of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Customers can visit www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/broadband to see if they are in zone.
ENDS
So what do you think? Are you making the switch?
Looks pretty good. Will almost certainly be switching my wife over when she gets her iPhone 4 delivered, and I’ll switch as soon as I’ve used up my prepaid credit (currently sitting at $100, thanks to winning some via http://twitter.com/VodafoneTreats).
(dclegg has made 19 comments)
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM STICKING WITH 2DEGREES!!! THEY ARE THE BEST!!!! OMG MY DREAM IS COMING TRUE!!!!!!! YAAAAAAAAY
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
Pretty good news. The deals are mostly good. I’ll probably swap over once my contract ends with Vodafone.
Spend the extra money now to by an iPhone without a subsidy so you don’t get stuck with Vodafone’s terrible prices.
(moviemichael has made 59 comments)
bloody brilliant love 2degrees
(Joe Bunting has made 69 comments)
I’ve been with 2Degrees from the get go – after some really terrible customer service from Vodafone over a number of years I couldn’t wait to give them the flick. 2D have good (free) customer service and the people on the other end of the line are always help.
My crappy old Motorola RAZR has been showing up 3G for a few weeks now, so I’m glad the roll out is official and they’re not going to turn it off and then turn it back on again, as most people assumed. I now have a blank 2D microSIM ready to go, and an iPhone 4 case, but am sitting, waiting for the 3 week delivery time for my iPhone to arrive from the apple.com/nz webstore.
The only thing that bums me about this deal is the “expires at the end of the month” thing. It should either roll over, or else there should be a $10/250MB plan as an alternative for topping up.
Still, good news …
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
Vodafone customer service is the prime reason I hear everyone providing for ditching Vodafone, or at least wishing to!… it SUCKs… and it’s not free for prepaid customers and it’s not even based in NZ… rubbish!!… i usually refer to it as cu*tomer service, where the * is an N.
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
It’s funny that I encountered recent posters around the Auckland city about Orcon just entered the game as well:
http://www.orcon.net.nz/mobile/broadband-plans
Haha, watch out Vodafail !
(alebar14 has made 22 comments)
I have been with Vodafone for years, in fact, I think I was with them when it was Bell South. With these 2 degrees mobile broadband plans, I’m definitely looking at changing.
I’ve worked out if I buy the new 512MB broadband plan (1GB at the mo) and pay about $2.00 a month for a Skype landline subscription (for 60 mins of calls), I would only use the 2 degrees network for any mobile calls (still cheaper than Skype) and still save myself about $20 a month on the Easy 60 + Broadband lite plan I’m currently on. And I would have 100 free texts (from topping up) instead of 60.
(MartyMan has made 23 comments)
Looks good,
But what if instead of traveling out of a zone, you live out of a zone. In my case Dunedin.
Any idea if they will be making more zones eventually?
(jordan has made 8 comments)
I don’t understand how this can harm Vodafail though, since 2Degrees and Orcon seem to be running on the Voda network from what I hear…?
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
Or Vopium!
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
Yaman_NZ wrote:
Heh. What’s weird is that, when they started, Vodafone’s customer service was really great. And then, without warning, it got really really crappy.
I was with them, on contract, from 2001 until about a year ago. I would have spent thousands and thousands of dollars, and yet, when I called to cancel my contract, no one even bothered to ask me why I was leaving, if there was anything they could do to convice me to stay with them, etc.
They only seem interested in signing up new customers, hence the debacle with only selling iPhones to new customers.
Also: I love how you can still get a 32GB 3Gs for $100 *more* than a new 32GB iPhone 4.Now there’s a deal!
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
Yes 2talk is great Value too
It’s 24 cents per minutes for NZ Mobile calls, however I have the $40 plan nationwide landline calls an 100 mobile minutes so it’s great value
2Deg U rock with the new broadband plans, cool yet we need more national coverage as I’m in Waikato so have to roam on VODAFONE
(Curly has made 6 comments)
Bugger about the zones though. Living in rural wanganui all I can get is mobile broadband. I would have spent the $150 no problem for the 10gig as I currently spend in excess of $120 for 2 gig from vodafone. I wonder if they will make an exception for me!!!
(RAV3N has made 22 comments)
I am a bit confused with the wording of their limited time only promotion. If I “sign up” for the 500MB pack until 31st of Oct, will I still get boosted to 1GB after the 31st, or is the boost given to purchases made only until the 31st?
(JimmyJ has made 31 comments)
Sometimes things just fall into place. Today I got my MicroSIM delivered by courier for FREE from 2Degrees, then my IPHONE 4 ARRIVED (I ordered through Apple UK), and now just to make my day that much sweeter this good good news from 2Degrees. Thank you Apple and 2Degrees, the #1 combination for a big thumbs up!!! Thumbs down Vodafone forever.
(seagull has made 10 comments)
Hi guys,
I am thinking to switch my carrier from Vodafail to either 2 degrees or Telecom pre-paid very soon. I still don’t understand. I simply like one of Telecom’s pre-paid pricing plan: NZ$18 per extra (Text Anyone 2500 + 240 MB Data). Because I will mainly use the iPhone for txts and internet. not so much for calls. Is there any pricing plan that suits my needs from 2 Degrees ?
(alebar14 has made 22 comments)
@ MartyMan: How much is Skype call to NZ mobile? Is it cheaper than 2Talk? 2Talk charges 24 cents per minute and it's a n NZ based company… long live NZ!!
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
Yaman_NZ wrote:
I was under the impression that 2Degrees had built their own network.
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
Darn they made me update all my data graphs.
Oh well .. here are the new ones:
http://www.whiteandblack.co.nz/2010/08/ipad-datap…
A few new graphs too now since the 60/90 day expiry makes a pure 30 day comparison unfair to 2Degrees.
(Richard has made 50 comments)