Telco v Online Sellers - why the huge price disparities?

I'm looking around for some new mobile phones. I've not decided yet
exactly what I want. However, the phones that I have looked at can be had
for considerably cheaper online, such as Ebay, for example, than if I go
into one of the telcos' shops.

For example, the Nokia N95 is $1,195 outright via Telstra. Or between $800
and $900 on Ebay.

For example, the Motorola V9 is $350 to $500 on Ebay. Telstra's price:
$829.

There are similar price differences for the other networks that I quickly
checked.

How can these Ebay sellers flog them for so much less than what Telstra,
as an example, sells them for? Why doesn't Telstra try to compete with
this market?

Has anyone had any success negotiating a price break when buying outright
from Telstra?

Last year when I was in the market for the Treo 750 none of the shops that
I visited were interested or couldn't drop below the $1,095 "rrp" mark.
Yet I bought one off Ebay for $600.

Someone's making a lot of money here, and I daresay that the EBay sellers
aren't giving their phones away...

Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote:

> I'm looking around for some new mobile phones. I've not decided
> yet exactly what I want. However, the phones that I have looked
> at can be had for considerably cheaper online, such as Ebay,
> for example, than if I go into one of the telcos' shops.

> For example, the Nokia N95 is $1,195 outright via
> Telstra. Or between $800 and $900 on Ebay.

> For example, the Motorola V9 is $350 to $500 on Ebay.
> Telstra's price: $829.

> There are similar price differences for the other networks that I quickly checked.

> How can these Ebay sellers flog them for so much less
> than what Telstra, as an example, sells them for?

Quite a few of the phones sold on ebay arent sourced from Nokia and
Motorola in Aust, they're mostly chinese product imported by the seller.

> Why doesn't Telstra try to compete with this market?

They dont need to.

> Has anyone had any success negotiating a
> price break when buying outright from Telstra?

Didnt even bother trying.

> Last year when I was in the market for the Treo 750 none of
> the shops that I visited were interested or couldn't drop below
> the $1,095 "rrp" mark. Yet I bought one off Ebay for $600.

Me too with my N95. I deliberately chose one being sold with
a full Aust warranty from a seller with lots of feedback too.

> Someone's making a lot of money here, and I daresay
> that the EBay sellers aren't giving their phones away...

Corse they arent.

It's quite likely that the ebay ones are imports that dont carry the A tick.
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/..._10,pc=PC_1728

Snapper wrote:
> I'm looking around for some new mobile phones. I've not decided yet
> exactly what I want. However, the phones that I have looked at can be
> had for considerably cheaper online, such as Ebay, for example, than
> if I go into one of the telcos' shops.
>
> For example, the Nokia N95 is $1,195 outright via Telstra. Or between
> $800 and $900 on Ebay.
>
> For example, the Motorola V9 is $350 to $500 on Ebay. Telstra's price:
> $829.
>
> There are similar price differences for the other networks that I
> quickly checked.
>
> How can these Ebay sellers flog them for so much less than what
> Telstra, as an example, sells them for? Why doesn't Telstra try to
> compete with this market?
>
> Has anyone had any success negotiating a price break when buying
> outright from Telstra?
>
> Last year when I was in the market for the Treo 750 none of the shops
> that I visited were interested or couldn't drop below the $1,095
> "rrp" mark. Yet I bought one off Ebay for $600.
>
> Someone's making a lot of money here, and I daresay that the EBay
> sellers aren't giving their phones away...

"Snapper" <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote in message
news:47e45d82$0$16254$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> I'm looking around for some new mobile phones. I've not decided yet
> exactly what I want. However, the phones that I have looked at can be had
> for considerably cheaper online, such as Ebay, for example, than if I go
> into one of the telcos' shops.
>
> For example, the Nokia N95 is $1,195 outright via Telstra. Or between $800
> and $900 on Ebay.
>
> For example, the Motorola V9 is $350 to $500 on Ebay. Telstra's price:
> $829.
>
> There are similar price differences for the other networks that I quickly
> checked.
>
> How can these Ebay sellers flog them for so much less than what Telstra,
> as an example, sells them for? Why doesn't Telstra try to compete with
> this market?

Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

> Has anyone had any success negotiating a price break when buying outright
> from Telstra?

No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

Pleae wrote...

> It's quite likely that the ebay ones are imports that dont carry the A tick.
> http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/..._10,pc=PC_1728

The ones that I was looking all supposedly were Telstra phones. For
example the Treo that I bought had the Telstra logo on startup and the My
Place thingy went straight to Bigpond when selected.

Michael wrote...

> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?

> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog a
stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..

> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

Why?

That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

"Snapper" <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote in message
news:47e5a605$0$28659$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Michael wrote...
>
>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
> who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog a
> stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..
>
>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
> Why?
>
> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra is silly when you can
purchase cheaper elsewhere.
Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little unsure about
the different models and pricing available.
As an example this site lists various models at different prices
http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
Any thoughts?

Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>> Michael wrote

>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.

>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?

>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate
>> sellers who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking
>> to flog a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..

>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

>> Why?

>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.

He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it
on a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.

Thats generally true, but not always.

> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.

> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little unsure about the different models and pricing
> available.

Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.

> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10

> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
> Any thoughts?

I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.

One minor downside with it is that it no longer has a card slot.
That can be convenient for moving stuff to the N95, but I couldnt
care less myself, because wifi and usb are fine for that for me.

Fred wrote...

> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little unsure about
> the different models and pricing available.
> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
> Any thoughts?

For us the 8gb is not on the shopping list. It's not a NextG phone. The
plain N95 is, however.

Thing is, one of its features is that of a GPS. From the reviews that I've
read (and I posted the links here the other day), they're saying that it's
a (read: expensive) subscription service to download the maps. You can buy
a navigator for around $200 these days, so why would you bother with the
N95 if you're buying it for this feature (as well as the phone bit)?

The 8 gig storage would be handy I s'pose given that it has a 4mp camera.
But how good the camera is I don't know. Still, I s'pose a flash memory
card can be installed for photo/video/music/sound file storage if we go
for the non-8gb (NextG) version.

Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
> Fred wrote
>
>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.
>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>> Any thoughts?

> For us the 8gb is not on the shopping list.
> It's not a NextG phone. The plain N95 is, however.
>
> Thing is, one of its features is that of a GPS. From the reviews that
> I've read (and I posted the links here the other day), they're saying
> that it's a (read: expensive) subscription service to download the maps.

No they dont say anything of the sort, and thats not true anyway.

> You can buy a navigator for around $200 these days,
> so why would you bother with the N95 if you're buying
> it for this feature (as well as the phone bit)?

To have everything in the one device, for when you are out of the car.

> The 8 gig storage would be handy I s'pose given that it has
> a 4mp camera. But how good the camera is I don't know.

Excellent. Its actually got two cameras, not just one.

> Still, I s'pose a flash memory card can be installed for photo/video/
> music/sound file storage if we go for the non-8gb (NextG) version.

On Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:44:35 +1100, Rod Speed wrote:

> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>> Michael wrote
>
>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.
>
>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate
>>> sellers who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking
>>> to flog a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..
>
>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
>>> Why?
>
>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?
>
>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.
>
> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it
> on a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.
>
> Thats generally true, but not always.
>
>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
>
>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little unsure about the different models and pricing
>> available.
>
> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.
>
>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>
>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>> Any thoughts?
>
> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.

What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95? Obviously one
has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't... and the casing is
different (though the dimensions are precisely the same) and the 8GB
version's screen is 0.2" larger.

Is that it? Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the extra
memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>> Michael wrote

>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.

>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?

>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate
>>>> sellers who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking
>>>> to flog a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..

>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

>>>> Why?

>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.

>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.

>> Thats generally true, but not always.

>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.

>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.

>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.

>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10

>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>> Any thoughts?

>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.

> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?

Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.

No card slot.

> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...

You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?

> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely the same)
> and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.

> Is that it?

No card slot on the 8GB.

> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?

It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.

Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:
> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>> Michael wrote
>
>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from
>>> what isnt with ebay.
>
>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate
>>>>> sellers who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie
>>>>> looking to flog a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk,
>>>>> cable, etc..
>
>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
>>>>> Why?
>
>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?
>
>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.
>
>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it
>>> on a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from
>>> telstra.
>
>>> Thats generally true, but not always.
>
>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
>
>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.
>
>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.
>
>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>
>>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>>> Any thoughts?
>
>>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.
>
>> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?
>
> Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.
>
> No card slot.
>
>> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...
>
> You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?
>
>> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely the
>> same) and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.
>
>> Is that it?
>
> No card slot on the 8GB.
>
>> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
>> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?
>
> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is
> black on the front.

Not available with NextG yet.

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:54:46 +1100 "Rod Speed"
<rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

> > It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is
> > black on the front.
>
> Not available with NextG yet.


Is next G 3G, or 3.5G or a bastardisation of either? Or neither?

Or Tel$traG?

(Parkybot, where are you when we need you?)

Where I live, previous occupant who worked for Orange (3) left behind a
staff magazine (Australia doesn't score a mention), in which it says
China is developing 4G, whatever that is.

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:25:02 +1100, John Phillips wrote:

> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:54:46 +1100 "Rod Speed"
> <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is
>>> black on the front.
>>
>> Not available with NextG yet.
>
>
> Is next G 3G, or 3.5G or a bastardisation of either? Or neither?
>
> Or Tel$traG?

It's 3G at 850MHz.


> (Parkybot, where are you when we need you?)
>
> Where I live, previous occupant who worked for Orange (3) left behind a
> staff magazine (Australia doesn't score a mention), in which it says
> China is developing 4G, whatever that is.

There's talk of 5G on Wikipedia. Everyone's all excited about it!

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:53:11 +1100, Rod Speed wrote:

> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>> Michael wrote
>
>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.
>
>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate
>>>>> sellers who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking
>>>>> to flog a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..
>
>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
>>>>> Why?
>
>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?
>
>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.
>
>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.
>
>>> Thats generally true, but not always.
>
>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
>
>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.
>
>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.
>
>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>
>>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>>> Any thoughts?
>
>>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.
>
>> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?
>
> Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.
>
> No card slot.
>
>> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...
>
> You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?
>
>> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely the same)
>> and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.
>
>> Is that it?
>
> No card slot on the 8GB.
>
>> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
>> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?
>
> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.

But the 8GB is considerably more expensive. For example, the N95 is
available on 3's $29 cap for 24 months with an $18 per month repayment.
The N95 8GB is available on the $29 cap with a $38 per month repayment.

Over the terms of the contracts, that's a $480 difference in price.

$480 for 8GB of memory, and a black case (and no card slot), seems a bit
much.

John Phillips <flatulantdingo@deadspam.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote

>>> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.

>> Not available with NextG yet.

> Is next G 3G, or 3.5G

Everything along those lines. And wifi too.

> or a bastardisation of either? Or neither?

> Or Tel$traG?

Nope.

> (Parkybot, where are you when we need you?)

Head up his arse, as always.

> Where I live, previous occupant who worked for Orange (3)
> left behind a staff magazine (Australia doesn't score a mention),
> in which it says China is developing 4G, whatever that is.

Yeah, that xG crap is a complete wank.

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>>> Michael wrote

>>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

>>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.

>>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?

>>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

>>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
>>>>>> who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog
>>>>>> a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..

>>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

>>>>>> Why?

>>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

>>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.

>>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>>>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.

>>>> Thats generally true, but not always.

>>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.

>>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.

>>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.

>>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10

>>>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>>>> Any thoughts?

>>>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>>>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>>>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.

>>> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?

>> Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.

>> No card slot.

And no NextG currently.

>>> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...

>> You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?

>>> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely
>>> the same) and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.

>>> Is that it?

>> No card slot on the 8GB.

>>> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
>>> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?

>> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.

> But the 8GB is considerably more expensive.

Yep, largely because the 8GB is relatively new.

> For example, the N95 is available on 3's $29 cap for 24
> months with an $18 per month repayment. The N95 8GB
> is available on the $29 cap with a $38 per month repayment.

I hardly ever buy phones that way.

> Over the terms of the contracts, that's a $480 difference in price.

Its nothing like that much difference outright say from ebay from a decent seller
with lots of feedback for an Aust model with full local warranty with Nokia.

> $480 for 8GB of memory, and a black case (and no card slot), seems a bit much.

Yeah, I wouldnt have paid that much extra for it myself.

It took me a while to decide to pay what is more than the decent low end laptops
cost for a phone, but eventually decided that I would use it out of the house a lot
more than a laptop because of the vastly better portability which means that I take
it out every single time I go out of the house for any reason at all, even just for some
exercise, and since I'm rolling in it anyway, stupid to not have that convenience.

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:36:41 +1100, Rod Speed wrote:

> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>>>> Michael wrote
>
>>>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
>>>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.
>
>>>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>>>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
>>>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
>>>>>>> who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog
>>>>>>> a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..
>
>>>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
>>>>>>> Why?
>
>>>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?
>
>>>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.
>
>>>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>>>>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.
>
>>>>> Thats generally true, but not always.
>
>>>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
>
>>>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.
>
>>>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.
>
>>>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>
>>>>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>>>>> Any thoughts?
>
>>>>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>>>>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>>>>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.
>
>>>> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?
>
>>> Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.
>
>>> No card slot.
>
> And no NextG currently.
>
>>>> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...
>
>>> You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?
>
>>>> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely
>>>> the same) and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.
>
>>>> Is that it?
>
>>> No card slot on the 8GB.
>
>>>> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
>>>> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?
>
>>> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.
>
>> But the 8GB is considerably more expensive.
>
> Yep, largely because the 8GB is relatively new.
>
>> For example, the N95 is available on 3's $29 cap for 24
>> months with an $18 per month repayment. The N95 8GB
>> is available on the $29 cap with a $38 per month repayment.
>
> I hardly ever buy phones that way.

It makes sense for me, because I'm perfectly happy with 3 and intend to
stay with them for at least the next 24 months even without a contract
(mainly because of my extensive use of HSDPA broadband - by all accounts
Voda, Optus and Virgin's offerings aren't nearly as good in terms of speed,
reliability).

In any case, the payout figure on a $29 cap is only $20 x no. of remaining
months + remaining handset instalments.

3 does seem to be charging too much for the 8GB model versus the standard
N95, though.


>> Over the terms of the contracts, that's a $480 difference in price.
>
> Its nothing like that much difference outright say from ebay from a decent seller
> with lots of feedback for an Aust model with full local warranty with Nokia.

The handset I really want is the E51, but it's "Telstra Exclusive" in
Australia, and I can't find any (new) Aust. models on Ebay.

Plus, because I'd be using it on 3's network, I'd prefer to avoid NextG
firmware. (I suppose I could always flash it with generic Nokia firmware,
but there have been some reports of people bricking theirs when they try to
do it.)

I've found a HK dealer (with plenty of positive feedback, and Australian
bank accounts), selling new E51s for $291. That's dirt cheap, and I
suppose at that price it would be worth the risk of it failing within the
first 12 months and running into warranty problems.

My other alternative is to wait until the HSDPA Blackberry is released
later this year.

>> $480 for 8GB of memory, and a black case (and no card slot), seems a bit much.
>
> Yeah, I wouldnt have paid that much extra for it myself.
>
> It took me a while to decide to pay what is more than the decent low end laptops
> cost for a phone, but eventually decided that I would use it out of the house a lot
> more than a laptop because of the vastly better portability which means that I take
> it out every single time I go out of the house for any reason at all, even just for some
> exercise, and since I'm rolling in it anyway, stupid to not have that convenience.

I'd be perfectly happy with the 6120, were it not for the fact it doesn't
come with an inbuilt VOIP client.

The only thing I regularly use on my handset (other than voice + data) is
the calendar. And I've only recently started using the Nokia calendar
after discovering an app to sync it over the net with Google Calendar (I
don't use Outlook).

I don't really use GPS (almost impossible to get lost in Adelaide -- and if
worst ever came to worst, I've got the Google Maps app installed on my
handset).

I suppose I could use the 8GB for music, but suspect I'd lose interest in
using it as an MP3 player after the novelty wore off. In any case, I could
just grab a MicroSD card if I ever found I needed extra memory.

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>>>>> Michael wrote

>>>>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.

>>>>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.

>>>>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?

>>>>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?

>>>>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
>>>>>>>> who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog
>>>>>>>> a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..

>>>>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra

>>>>>>>> Why?

>>>>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?

>>>>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.

>>>>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>>>>>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.

>>>>>> Thats generally true, but not always.

>>>>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.

>>>>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.

>>>>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.

>>>>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10

>>>>>>> I am wondering if the 8GB version is worth the extra money.
>>>>>>> Any thoughts?

>>>>>> I believe it is myself and chose to buy one. From an ebay sight.
>>>>>> Bought one with an Aust warranty from a seller thats a normal
>>>>>> Aust retailler with lots of good feedback and saved heaps.

>>>>> What ARE the differences between the N95 8GB and the N95?

>>>> Its physically different and looks better with the 8GB.

>>>> No card slot.

>> And no NextG currently.

>>>>> Obviously one has 8GB of internal memory and the other doesn't...

>>>> You quite sure you aint one of those rocket scientist fellas ?

>>>>> and the casing is different (though the dimensions are precisely
>>>>> the same) and the 8GB version's screen is 0.2" larger.

>>>>> Is that it?

>>>> No card slot on the 8GB.

>>>>> Surely there must be more to the 8GB model than just the
>>>>> extra memory and an almost imperceptibly larger screen?

>>>> It looks completely different, the silver front is gone, the 8GB is black on the front.

>>> But the 8GB is considerably more expensive.

>> Yep, largely because the 8GB is relatively new.

>>> For example, the N95 is available on 3's $29 cap for 24
>>> months with an $18 per month repayment. The N95 8GB
>>> is available on the $29 cap with a $38 per month repayment.

>> I hardly ever buy phones that way.

> It makes sense for me, because I'm perfectly happy with 3 and
> intend to stay with them for at least the next 24 months even
> without a contract (mainly because of my extensive use of HSDPA
> broadband - by all accounts Voda, Optus and Virgin's offerings
> aren't nearly as good in terms of speed, reliability).

Its got some real downsides tho on the price you pay for some
phones and the fact that what they have available is quite limited.

> In any case, the payout figure on a $29 cap is only $20 x no.
> of remaining months + remaining handset instalments.

> 3 does seem to be charging too much for the
> 8GB model versus the standard N95, though.

Yeah, grossly over priced.

>>> Over the terms of the contracts, that's a $480 difference in price.

>> Its nothing like that much difference outright say from ebay from a decent seller
>> with lots of feedback for an Aust model with full local warranty with Nokia.

> The handset I really want is the E51, but it's "Telstra Exclusive"
> in Australia, and I can't find any (new) Aust. models on Ebay.

Thats unlikely to be true forever tho.

> Plus, because I'd be using it on 3's network, I'd prefer to avoid
> NextG firmware. (I suppose I could always flash it with generic
> Nokia firmware, but there have been some reports of people bricking
> theirs when they try to do it.)

> I've found a HK dealer (with plenty of positive feedback, and
> Australian bank accounts), selling new E51s for $291. That's dirt
> cheap, and I suppose at that price it would be worth the risk of it
> failing within the first 12 months and running into warranty problems.

Yeah, thats the main reason I didnt do that with the N95 since its so much more expensive.

> My other alternative is to wait until the HSDPA Blackberry is released later this year.

My punt is that the E51 should be available on ebay by then with the aust version.

>>> $480 for 8GB of memory, and a black case (and no card slot), seems a bit much.

>> Yeah, I wouldnt have paid that much extra for it myself.

>> It took me a while to decide to pay what is more than the decent low
>> end laptops cost for a phone, but eventually decided that I would use
>> it out of the house a lot more than a laptop because of the vastly better
>> portability which means that I take it out every single time I go out of the
>> house for any reason at all, even just for some exercise, and since I'm
>> rolling in it anyway, stupid to not have that convenience.

> I'd be perfectly happy with the 6120, were it not for
> the fact it doesn't come with an inbuilt VOIP client.

No wifi would be a big killer for me.

No GPS is less than ideal too.

> The only thing I regularly use on my handset (other than voice +
> data) is the calendar. And I've only recently started using the
> Nokia calendar after discovering an app to sync it over the net
> with Google Calendar (I don't use Outlook).

I've used outlook for years now and use it for everything calenda wise.

Thats one thing I dont use much at all in the mobile handset.

> I don't really use GPS (almost impossible to get lost in Adelaide

I dont use it for lost so much as being much more convenient when you want
to go to some place you havent been to before, takes you right to the door.

Very convenient for garage sales etc.

> and if worst ever came to worst, I've got the Google Maps app installed on my handset).

Its better than GPS in some ways once you are at the destination because
its more up to date and show individual house blocks etc even in my town.

Nowhere near as good as a tomtom when driving around and the only person in the car tho.

> I suppose I could use the 8GB for music,

I dont use music or radio at all, ever, unless say nuke attack is imminent etc.

> but suspect I'd lose interest in using it as an MP3 player after the novelty wore off.

Yeah, I havent even bothered to try it in my new car.

> In any case, I could just grab a MicroSD card if I ever found I needed extra memory.

Sure.

I do record almost all TV I watch, so I may well watch stuff like
that on the N95 say when waiting down the doctor's surgery etc,
but currently the wait is always only minutes so I dont bother.

Even 8GB isnt that great for that sort of thing, SD is 2-3GB per channel per hour so
even a short stay in hospital etc wouldnt be feasible. But I'd use the laptop then anyway.

Horry wrote...

> There's talk of 5G on Wikipedia. Everyone's all excited about it!

Sounds like "everyone" needs to get a life...

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:24:09 Horry may have written:
> > Is next G 3G, or 3.5G or a bastardisation of either? Or neither?
> >
> > Or Tel$traG?

> It's 3G at 850MHz.

3.5G - it does HSDPA too and they only flog HSDPA-capable handsets
through their stores.

PD

--
Paul Day

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:12:33 -0000, Paul Day wrote:

> On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:24:09 Horry may have written:
>>> Is next G 3G, or 3.5G or a bastardisation of either? Or neither?
>>>
>>> Or Tel$traG?
>
>> It's 3G at 850MHz.
>
> 3.5G - it does HSDPA too and they only flog HSDPA-capable handsets
> through their stores.

Actually, it's HSUPA as well. What's that? 3.75G or 4G?

It's 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA.

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:36:41 +1100, Rod Speed wrote:

> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
>>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>>> Fred <bluser@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>> Snapper <snapper1@y7mail.com> wrote
>>>>>>> Michael wrote
>
>>>>>>>> Because telstra are reliable, and ebay is mainly rubbish.
>
>>>>> Its trivial for anyone with a clue to sort out the rubbish from what isnt with ebay.
>
>>>>>>> What proof of this do you have that supports this assertion?
>
>>>>>>>> would you buy a phone from someone at a pub too?
>
>>>>>>> Dunno what this has to do with it. I'm talking about legitimate sellers
>>>>>>> who sell Telstra branded products, not some druggie looking to flog
>>>>>>> a stolen phone, sans charger, manual, disk, cable, etc..
>
>>>>>>>> No one is silly enough to buy phones outright from telstra
>
>>>>>>> Why?
>
>>>>>>> That is, why is it silly to buy outright?
>
>>>>>> Maybe he is saying that buying outright from Telstra
>>>>>> is silly when you can purchase cheaper elsewhere.
>
>>>>> He appears to be saying in that bit that its better value to get it on
>>>>> a plan and pay it off over time than to buy it outright from telstra.
>
>>>>> Thats generally true, but not always.
>
>>>>>> Telstra may offer better value by purchasing on a plan. Dunno.
>
>>>>>> BTW I have been looking at getting a Nokia N95 but am a little
>>>>>> unsure about the different models and pricing available.
>
>>>>> Yeah, it is one downside with the N95.
>
>>>>>> As an example this site lists various models at different prices
>>>>>> http://www.exeltek.com.au/secure/cat...+N95+&x=9&y=10
>
>>>>>> I am wondering if t