Vodafone PrePay
Ok straight up I am only going to discuss Vodafone PrePay cellphones, for two reasons: a) I, me, myself, PERSONALLY think Telecom / Gold / Freedom pre-paid cellphones are CRAP - why? Because they use OLD TECH analogue system and provide you with none of the features you deserve to have and the phones look and work like something out of a B-Grade 70's movie; and b) because I work as a Vodafone sales rep and have discussed every network's prepay/prepaid deals with their respective sellers and they are all envious of Vodafone prepay.
Every current Vodafone PrePay cellphone has these features included in the pack when you buy it: * Caller ID - always see who is calling before you answer (great when you don't want to talk to the turkey who's calling!) * Text Messaging - send text messages to another Vodafone cellphone and receive them back - think of it as E-Mailing each other. * $100 worth of calls - yak your little head off for ages when you first get your cellphone so you can go "haha I've got a cellphone now nah nah!" * Fully GSM digital phone - that means that NO pervert can scan into your calls and your sound quality rocks (dont worry what GSM means... ok I'll tell ya.... Global System for Mobile communication - see you learnt something today!).
Right here's my recommended and not-recommended PrePay phones to buy:
* Ericsson A1018s - $129 [or $169 with Chatboard included] = a big value BUY. Note I included the word 'value' before buy. This phone wont be to everyone's taste with its styling, yep, its a boxy looking thing. But, you get what you pay for. Again, but, this phone isnt as bad as what you may think for the $$$ you pay for it, Chatboard compatable (for fast keyboard entering of text messages), compose your own ringing tone, alarm clock, good reception, interchangeable face panels, and a FM radio attachment is due out soon! 200 name and number storage.
* Sagem RC815 - $169 = DONT buy it. Simple as that, it fails more than Homer Simpson. Sure, 5 colours to choose from, 12 ringing tones (all high pitched crappy sounds btw) and its got a 'hands free speaker' like the Alcatel Easy DB (see lower). Yep, its small too, but it has one of the WORST reception ratings EVER! Hey, only 125 name and number storage. Pronounced 'Say - gim' , say no.
*Alcatel One Touch DB - $199 = this is a BUY. It's the latest from Alcatel in New Zealand, its new and improved over the older, now gone totally, Easy HE and Easy HF. Has 'hands free speaker', which can be ok in a quiet area or with the car windows up to chat without holding the phone. 4 day stand-by time is good too, plus this phone will run on AAA alkaline batteries. 5 hot colours are available, from most popular to least: Atoll Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Red Tonic, Snow (white, geddit), and lastly Dune Yellow. The rubberised sides and front make it look and feel modern plus its a great phone to hold, not too big, not to small. 200 name and number storage.
* Philips Savvy - $169 = since a price change, downwards, from 1 March 2000 from $199 I now say this is a BUY, with a 5 day stand-by and awesomly light packaging of the phone are the big bonuses. Reception on this smaller phone is ok too, for a change, proving that not all small phones have bad reception. The text messaging is good and if the person you are sending the message to also has put out for a Savvy you can send an ICON along with the text, like happy face to skull n crossbones. Has an alarm clock and calculator built in as well. In yellow, black and green, this phone is the 'cutie' of the range and unfortunately looks too similar to its gutter trash Telecom cousin the Isis. 200 name and number storage.
* Ericsson T10s - $379 = it's sadly a DON'T buy, why? you've already read it and gasped most likely, 379 smackaroos for this baby. Sure, its small. One tick. Sure the menu is easy to use. Two ticks. It comes packaged with a Chatboard (- it needs to come with it!). Half a tick. Umm, otherwise the reception is BAD. The styling looks like the 700 series, ie its what we call 'classic', or in non-salesperson lingo, its bloody old looking! Comes in Juicy Blue, which is a dark blue, good colour, sort of. 200 name and number storage.
Ok, so now you have read all about the phones, I'd better tell you about the call costs:
All these rates are national calls in New Zealand to any number (except 0900), plus these 5 countries: Australia, USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland.
$1.39 per minute between Monday and Friday, 7 am to 7 pm. $0.49 per minute at all other times.
Have fun on your PrePay purchase and stay out of tunnels!
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