#vodafonenz

[gystforkickz]

Customer is a die hard @nzwarriors fan who has had a few pairs done by me. So here is another. The indigenous jersey was the theme behind this one. There are koro patterns on both panels that you can just see faintly. Was fun to make and I do like how it turned out. #nzwarriors #vodafonenz #customairjordans #nrl #matteroffaith #angelusdirect #angeluspaints #liquidkicksofficial #lacego https://www.instagram.com/p/CUYudE7hl2O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[fuckyeahworldoftaika]

From today’s vodafonenz snapchat

[nellyjellyxo]

At work bright & early! #VodafoneNZ #vodafone #FAB #internet #hardworker #wierdo #lol #uglyidpicture #nohate #toearly

[otagochamber]

Product Review - Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 – from Vodafone NZ

Paul S Allen 20 November 2013

First let me make a confession, I am an Apple fan, at home I use an iMac and I also use an iPad although while at work I use a Windows 7 desktop.

My current mobile is a small and somewhat limited Samsung Galaxy Mini with 160MB of memory. This old phone is only useful for day to day text messages and phone calls but anything beyond that it starts to struggle. When the Vodafone business team in Dunedin gave me the opportunity to try the top-of-line 16GB Galaxy S4 I jumped at the chance.

Spec wise the Galaxy S4 is a great phone and I cannot find fault at all with the speed or functionality. The operating system Android Jellybean is easy to navigate and is in many ways easier to use than iOS on my iPad.

For details on the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S4 visit the Vodafone site.

I thought I would fall in love with the phone instantly but, to my surprise it took a while. The problem was, at first, it was just too big. The 5 inch super AMOLED screen although incredibly clear was awkward to hold and use in one hand.

I have got over this now. The benefits of the large screen size far out-way the disadvantages of its size.

I love the phone. To the point where I use it more than the iPad for the useful and sometimes productive world of social media.

Recently while on holiday I tried out the 13MP camera and was quite pleased with it. I found it useful and produced a very reasonable image. With the addition of a free app, Snapseed, I am happy with the images it can produce. Although I will not be giving up my real DSLR camera for a phone.

Here is one of my pictures (click here for more examples)

For checking email, scheduling appointments, or updating your social media status this is a very good piece of kit.

I have tried hard to use my mobile data allocation of 500Mb per month but to my relief I have found it not to be too hungry. I am sure this would change if I were connected to a 4G signal and watched video using mobile data.

The phones connectivity is reliable even in remote areas, although in the Central Otago town of Naseby we did lose coverage, but I was on holiday so who needs to be connected.

Over Wi-Fi the phone remains connected far beyond the range of the old Galaxy mini and the iPad2 I use. The speed of switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data is also very good, although it does get confused at times when you are on the outer limits of Wi-Fi coverage. The fix for this is just turn off the Wi-Fi.

The system controls are easy to find and use.

A function that works so well I turned it off, the face detecting feature, that, when you turn your head away from the screen the video you are watching pauses. I can see the point of this but found it to distracting as I constantly move my head while multitasking and watching videos.

Pros

Easy to use Keyboard size Powerful Super clear screen Highly functional communication Reliable Fast Good battery life (mostly charged it once per day) Great apps from Google Play and Samsung store

Cons

Just one if you have small hands, the size. This phone will be on the large size for some.

Would I recommend this phone?

Very much so and without hesitation.

The only thing that I would like this phone to be is full compatibility with my iMac, but I guess while Apple and Samsung are at war that will remain just a dream. I can easily live with this and with Samsung Kies software it is fully able to connect and importantly back up with both Mac and PC.

Let me encourage you to talk with your Vodafone team about your mobile needs, I am sure they have a solution for you.

Paul S Allen Otago Chamber of Commerce

Coming soon a review of the HTC one...

[pauseforasecond]

The problem with Vodafone mobile plans in New Zealand

My current mobile situation:

Network: Vodafone. Plan Type: Smart Data 24 Month Contract. Contract Cost Per Month: $90. Includes: 200 anytime minutes to all mobiles and landlines; 2500 texts to any mobile; 1GB of data; 1 NZBestMate1000 (this means 1000 minutes and 1000 texts to one friend on the Vodafone network). Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3. Cost of Mobile Phone: $0 (free when I signed up with the $90 Smart Data plan). Total Cost Over 24 Months: $2160.

Now let's look at my previous mobile situation and what I would be paying if I bought the phone instead of signing up for a contract:

Network: Vodafone. Plan Type: Super Prepay. Prepay Cost Per Month: $22. Includes: $12 for 5000 texts to any mobile; $10 for 100MBs of data. Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3. Cost of Mobile Phone: $1049. Total Cost Over 24 Months: $1577.

So you may be wondering why I'd bother with a contract then. Here's the reason:

My little prepay plan gave me a measly 100MBs for $10. On contract I receive 1GB per month. Vodafone being the nice guys they are, charge $30 for 512MBs on prepay. Which means 1GB on a prepay plan would be $60 a month. Add to that my $12 text add on and you'd be looking at $2777 in total over 24 months for the same amount of data as my contract. So it's more expensive to be on prepay in this case.

Here's what really riles me up. At the end of the month when I look at how much of my $90 plan I used up, this is generally what it looks like:

200 Minutes: 50 Minutes Used (25%) 2500 Texts: 250 Texts Used (10%) 1GB Data: 1GB Used (100%) 1000 NZBestMate Minutes: 100 Minutes Used (10%) 1000 NZBestMate Texts: 25 Texts Used (2.5%)

So naturally, you'd say "Well Jess, why didn't you pick a less expensive plan with less minutes/texts so you aren't wasting money?". What a good question anonymous person reading this. Let's have a look at the cheapest Smart Data plan available - the $70 plan.

Network: Vodafone. Plan Type: Smart Data 24 Month Contract. Contract Cost Per Month: $70. Includes: 100 anytime minutes to all mobiles and landlines; 2500 texts to any mobile; 1GB of data; 1 NZBestMate1000 (this means 1000 minutes and 1000 texts to one friend on the Vodafone network). Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3. Cost of Mobile Phone: $749 Total Cost Over 24 Months: $2429

Well gee. What the hell happened there? A cheaper plan that works out to be more expensive in the long run? As a side-note Vodafone gives you the option to buy an additional 1GB of data if you run out during the month on contract. This costs an extra $20.

Ok ok, but Vodafone surely has other options? Yes! Of course they do. Here's a list of the options:

1. Smart Data Contract 2. Super Prepay 3. Smart Contract  4. Prepay Smart 5. SIMple Prepay or Contract

We've already looked at 1 and 2 and we won't look at 5 because it doesn't include data. So let's look at the cheapest Smart Contract:

Network: Vodafone. Plan Type: Smart 24 Month Contract. Contract Cost Per Month: $45. Includes: 100 anytime minutes to all mobiles and landlines; 2500 texts to any mobile; 250MBs of data; 1 NZBestMate1000 (this means 1000 minutes and 1000 texts to one friend on the Vodafone network). Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3. Cost of Mobile Phone: $949 ($100 discount on the phone with the $45 Smart plan). Total Cost Over 24 Months: $2029.

Well...that's interesting. I'd be paying only $131 less than my current contract for something that gives me only 1/4 of the data. So let's see what it'll cost to add on that extra data to this $45 plan. Of course I can't just add on the amount I'd like. On this plan my only option is to buy a whole 1GB for $20. So an extra $20 a month would bring this lovely little contract to a total of $2509 for 24 months.

The final plan we'll look at is the Prepay Smart plan.

Network: Vodafone. Plan Type: Prepay Smart. Prepay Cost Per Month: $19. Includes: 500MBs of data; 50 minutes, 5000 texts. Mobile Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3. Cost of Mobile Phone: $1049. Total Cost Over 24 Months: $1505.

Ok maybe now we're getting somewhere. Let's add on the extra half a GB and see what that brings us up to. Oh wait. On this type of plan you CAN'T add any extra minutes/data/texts without rebuying the entire package for the month. So if I use all the data and need more I'd need to pay an additional $19. This would also change the date that the plan renews each month. Let's assume I repurchase the package twice each month and...well. You can see where this is going.

So this brings me full circle to conclude that the current contract I am on is the best one for me. And also that Vodafone is completely and utterly lacking in providing diverse packages for its customers. The inability to tailor your plan to meet your mobile needs is frustrating. In my ideal mobile world I would only need:

100 minutes; 2GBs of data, 300 texts.

But of course the concept of allowing users to choose how much they need is completely beyond our mobile phone networks. They tack on thousands of texts to each package like we're some 12 year old children who spend all day texting. Apparently in their eyes this "adds value" to the package.

I'm fed up with it. But I'm locked into this 24 month contract now and although I complain bitterly I still think that Vodafone is an excellent network provider. It has great coverage and fast 3G but really, I feel like they can achieve SO much more through giving customers the option to customize EVERY aspect of their mobile plan.