New XT MicroSIMs on their way
For all those that have been holding out for your Telecom XT MicroSIM, as of Monday you will wait no more.
We have just received confirmation from Telecom that the MicroSIMs will be available from Monday 26th July, but there will be limited stocks available.
Hit the read more for details of pricing.
MicroSIMs can be used on either prepaid or postpaid however depending on stock levels postpaid will take priority.
The pricing for MicroSIMs will be exactly the same as the standard SIM pricing. Prepaid $29.95 and Postpaid $19.95 *but* on an open term postpaid 500MB plan, XT customers can get a FREE MicroSIM.
You will need to contact your local store on Monday to check if they have availability.
And in case you are not sure who to choose…. aside from pricing check out the coverage on XT compared to Vodafone.
FYI Vodafone’s ‘extended 3G’ runs over 900MHz which the iPad cannot receive, so in these areas you will drop down to GPRS (2G) speeds when running on Vodafone. XT’s 3G network uses iPad-compatible frequencies everywhere it broadcasts, so you you will get much better speeds out of your iPad on XT. The image below shows a comparison of 3G in the Christchurch areas. The red on the Vodafone map is their 3G service and all colours on the XT map is 3G.
XT vs Vodafone Coverage Map (Click to enlarge)
What do you think, just what you’ve been waiting for? Let us know in the comments!
UPDATE: I just called the Newmarket Store and they have a SIM Cutter available for those that just can’t wait. They said you do it at your own risk and if you break the SIM you’ll have to pay for the replacement, oh and there is no charge for it. They also said other stores will have them too but they are being distributed around and may not have one until tomorrow.
Pffft. Limited stock…. Can’t XT do anything right?
(NewZealanda has made 18 comments)
chris0326 wrote:
They are talking like these are just the same as normal sims so you will find that $29.95 actually gets you 500MB preloaded…so no at all expensive. Someone might want to confirm this but currently when you buy a prepaid data sim (which these effectively are) you get $29.95 credit on your $29.95 sim. Vodafones Micro Sims have nothing loaded on them
(camtab has made 468 comments)
@chris0326 – Yes all the Vodafone “owned” stores will have them for sure – and some of the Digital Mobile, First Mobile, DS Wireless stores – along with your MagnumMac, Student IT’s etc will have iPhone 4′s next Friday.
Re XT MicroSims – Yay – bummer about cost but at the end of the day the coverage gains are worth $20 to me – keen to see if they have some iPad data plans on offer soon to – they don’t want to leave it too long.
(NZ_Guy has made 12 comments)
NZ_Guy wrote:
Maybe they do want to leave it for awhile, everyone will jump to vodafone for the ipad plan, overload their network and then say “why not join our 100% reliable network on our NEW data plans”
lol (maybe I should get some sleep)
(RAV3N has made 22 comments)
@ NZ_Guy:
Thanks @NZ_Guy! What about JBHiFi? Do you think they will have them next friday? I heard when JB was selling the 3GS or 3G, they won’t sell it on it’s own, you had to get a plan with it to be able to buy it. Will that be the same with iPhone 4?
(chris0326 has made 21 comments)
I thought the vodafones extended 3G network
was 3G 900mhz, not GPRS am I wrong??
(Joe Bunting has made 69 comments)
@chris0326 – My educated guess would be no for JB HiFi on launch day. I am commenting on launch day – in a months time you will be able to buy it in all the stores you can buy a 3GS today
(NZ_Guy has made 12 comments)
Joe Bunting wrote:
This comment is completely wrong, and making comments on speed is dangerous. Vodafone Extended 3G is in fact 3G, and not GPRS (which is 2G). It runs on 900MHz which the iPad does not have the capability to recieve. However it will recieve Telecom’s 3G coverage which runs on 850MHz. The iPad will recieve both Vodafone and Telecom’s coverage on 2100MHz
(CenterNZ has made 2 comments)
CenterNZ wrote:
Ohk yep brilliant I thought so my iPhone 4 will run beautifully on voda then similar (in theory) to xt yes??
(Joe Bunting has made 69 comments)
@ Joe Bunting:
Yes, the iphone4 is going to be the perfect device for the Vodafone Network
(CenterNZ has made 2 comments)
Yeah, the VF extended 3G network is 900MHz 3G (I’ve actually heard it’s 3.5G like XT, and is faster than VF’s 2100MHz).
(Dezroy has made 20 comments)
Dezroy wrote:
That’s really good, I’m on 2degrees and roaming on voda network with 3G it’s brilliant going to be even better when the 4 comes out next week!
(Joe Bunting has made 69 comments)
Disregard the comment I made about 900MHz being faster (what I heard from a mate that works with VF).
From VF website (http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/7173):
Vodafone operates their network on 2 different frequencies (2100MHz and 900Mhz). Both of these give you the same rich, super-fast, 3G experience.
3G Broadband operates at 2100MHz
3G Broadband Extended operates at 900MHz…
…Both 900MHz and 2100 MHz give the same experience. They have the same speed and performance…
(Dezroy has made 20 comments)
Dezroy wrote:
Still good 3G nonetheless
(Joe Bunting has made 69 comments)
yay
i only asked this eek about their micro Sims
they must want to give vodofone a good run for their money, with the Ipads and iphones
can anyone, confirm that next week we will have Iphone4??
or is everyone in the dark
(kiwiboi22 has made 57 comments)
CenterNZ wrote:
What Dan was getting at is the Vodafone’s extended 3G signal uses 900MHz which the iPad doesn’t work on, therefore in ‘extended 3G’ areas you’ll actually be receiving a 2G signal on your iPad. I’ve changed the wording to reflect that so as to rule out any confusion.
(Steve Lawrence has made 645 comments)
Seems there was also this bit that went with the announcement to the media:
…Telecom has now announced its data pricing for the Apple iPad computer tablet, which went on sale in New Zealand today. Telecom today said it would offer 240MB of data for $18 per month, or 500MB of data for $29.95 a month. 2GB and 4GB data plans would also be available…
Full article http://tinyurl.com/2g5e2bx
(only real new bit is the $18 for 240mb as they already had the $29.95 for 500MB)
(camtab has made 468 comments)
@ camtab:
i did not think, that Telecom could offer data plans for apple products.
as vodafone have a deal with apple
(kiwiboi22 has made 57 comments)
Big deal? NZ is so way behind.
(cheron888 has made 3 comments)
kiwiboi22 wrote:
I think the idea is that Telecom is releasing Data Plans… what you use them for is your choice isn’t
And here in NZ, I understand, the iPhones were sold unlocked even if sold through Voda… so could be the same with the iPod xL
Can anybody confirm that …. Dan??
(xescuy has made 22 comments)