Orange CDMA shutting down - where to now?

Submitted: Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 12:15

ThreadID: 30952 Views:2555 Replies:6 FollowUps:20

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myfourby

So - about 12 months ago I thought I'd go CDMA - why? -Because the coverage in rural areas is better - so I scanned the market and decided "Orange CDMA" was the best/cheapest option (it roams on telstra when out of its own network). So $200 upfront for a nokia 6225 and 9c per 30 secs prepaid I'm away!

But 12 months later - Orange are shutting down their network and trying to get all its customers to its 3G three network with relatively attractive plans (12 month plan $28 per month free sony-ericsson 9c per 30secs - or $48 12 month plan free nokia 6280 9c per 30 secs) - no attractive prepaid options as yet.

So - what am I to do? What is 3's rural coverage like for making calls - will it be as good as (or will it roam on) Telstra's new W-CDMA network when it's fully implemented? If I must buy a 3G phone - which 3G phone is the best for use in "not so phone friendly environments" (ie can handle a bit of rough and tumble..). Should I just wait until they cut me off and deal with it then - or make good of the deals they are offering me to switch now? I hate mobile phone companys!

Any advice welcome!

-myfourby

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Reply By: Utemad - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 12:35

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 12:35

If you want a CDMA then 3G will not offer the coverage you are after. I have the coverage maps for Telstra Qld in front of me and the GSM/3G map says that when outside of a 3G area your phone will use the GSM network. So unless you are happy with the range of GSM then get a CDMA phone of a different network.

Even if it did roam on Telstra's planned new network it won't do you any good because that network does not exist yet and is a couple of years away at best.

This is for Telstra so may be different for Orange but I wouldn't think so.

AnswerID: 155972

Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 12:39

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 12:39

Just to ad, since you already have a prepaid Orange CDMA I would just wait until you were disconnected and then take your phone onto the Telstra CDMA prepaid network. I don't know how the costs compare but you already have the phone.

FollowupID: 409943

Follow Up By: myfourby - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:31

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:31

Getting a CDMA phone on another network will not help - there will be no CDMA network in Australia within the next 3 years. Handsets on the Orange CDMA network cannot be used on any other network anyway.

From what I have been able to gather - Orange will shut its network within the same time frame as Telstra (read between the lines - at the same time). So I guess - your advice is to stay with Orange till they cut me off - fair call.

-myfourby

FollowupID: 409960

Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:50

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:50

No offence to you personally by why is it that every CDMA post comes with a response of "don't you know the CDMA network is closing?"? Why doesn't every laptop post come with a "dn't you know that your laptop will be obsolete within the time it takes to walk out of the shop?"?

It's years away guys! As you said yourself it will be within 3 years. It is not like within 3 years means it might be tomorrow. Don't worry yourself over it. Phones these days don't even last that long. If Orange isn't closing it's own network until Telstra closes theirs (good idea since Orange roams on Telstra) then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Just use it til you lose it.

FollowupID: 409967

Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:50

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 13:50

The time frame for cdma closure is hard to determine. It would appear that unless the new 3g network offesr equal or better coverage than cdma the government will not allow closure. I've just switched to 3 3g from orange, it certainly rocks around town and the ability to send and receive emails is just fantastic.

FollowupID: 409968

Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:15

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:15

I can send and recieve emails on my Telstra GSM. It is fiddly and you need a bigpond account to do it but it can be done.

FollowupID: 409974

Follow Up By: phil - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:29

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:29

The proposed Telstra W-CDMA network will be using the radio spectrum already "owned" by Telstra and used by the current CDMA network (but not all is used at present) It is claimed that because of this frequency the range will be similar to existing CDMA. There are not any phones available which will support this here at present. Apparently when they do come they will roam to GSM of various flavours so overseas roaming will be supported.
However.... I have been told by a Telstra executive (who is in a position to know) that Telstra will be fighting to have the government subsidise any new W-CDMA base stations which are not "profitable" for Telstra. Responsibility to shareholders and all that. Can't spend money on unprofitable services you know!

Phil I

FollowupID: 409976

Follow Up By: myfourby - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:30

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:30

Utemad - I guess my main reason for the post was to work out if I should take up a good offer to jump to three's 3G network now while there are some seemingly "good offers" available. And if I do decide to go that option - what ramifications there would be.
- So this question is relevant to me now - rather than in 3 years time.

-myfourby

FollowupID: 409977

Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:31

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:31

It's very simple with this ph Utemad, a pop mailbox with web interface comes free with the 3 service. The mailbox can collect mail from any other pop server, a couple of buttons and the mail is delivered to the phone. Sending is very simple also. Sending is 20c per email or $3/month unlimited, receiving is free.

FollowupID: 409979

Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:40

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:40

Fourby, If you want the best coverage in country areas then hang on to what you have now, there will be other good offers in the future. I only went over because I needed a new ph and I don't rely on it for comms in the country.

FollowupID: 409982

Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:43

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:43

Well I imagine that any phone that is available now will not be able to use the new network. However when the new network is online there may be phones that work on both similar to the CDMA/analogue dual band phones when CDMA 1st came out. Although that is of no use to you today.

However I still believe that any phone you have today will be dead or on its last legs by the time the new network arrives in any useable form.

Maddog with my GSM email you have to use painful menus and you are just reading your mail from the server so you never actually download anything to your phone. Very painful to use unlike your system. I only use it when absolutely necessary which thankfully isn't very often. I have noticed you can also use GPRS with a more visual friendly system but I have never tried it out.

FollowupID: 409984

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:48

Monday, Feb 20, 2006 at 14:48

Telstra presently sell various "3G" analog/digital signal phones, I bought a Motorola V810 CDMA phone last year. Sends and recieves pictures and E-mails etc and is small enough to fit into your pocket and not be noticed.