Next G Phones

I am currently using a Nokia 6233 phone which apart from being fairly heavy on battery usage has been quite a good performer. barbara still carries a CDMA phone as I am not to sure on Telste coverage away from main towns .. From what I have gleaned from conversations with various people Next G coverage away from main metro. centres is not to flash.

Bruce

I checked out 'Next G' a week ago in a Brisbane Telstra shop. I was informed the coverage will be better by next December. I believe the software in transmitters is being upgraded to accomodate the Next G frequency as fast as they are able. The assistant was of the opinion my travelling in country areas would be better served with CDMA until around Dec 07 compared to that which Next G can do now. In fact it is expected the CDMA will be fased out early 2008. Also the choice of Next G phones presently is best checked at stores. There were four handpieces on offer at the store I attended.
I have been very happy with the CDMA via laptop coverage for e-mails, SMS and calls right around Aus last year. cheers Neil.

Hi Brian

I have recently purchased Telstra 850 phone although I won't be able to give a report on coverage until after a 6 week trip away April - early June.
Looking at the coverage maps given it doesn't appear much worse than CDMA for our trip to Innamincka , Birdsville , Coober Pedy , Alice springs - ie non-existant for a fair chunck of it.
I know it can switch between the GRPS or 3G network automatically.

Main reason I purchased it, is it can be used as a wireless modem for the laptop although the data plans for that are a bit limiting. $29.95 a month for 70 Mb but it's a casual plan which I can take as required and I didn't have to purchase a Bigpond aircard with the associated minimum 2 year contract.

Cheers

Darryl
Brisbane

I was told in a Telstra shop in Mildura that there are two 3G networks. one is the 3G 850 which is the one that will replace the CDMA network and the other is the one (3G) that will replace the GSM network. At the time (end Sept 2006) there were no 850 phones available and the network would not be available until early 2007. I hope this helps.

Regards
Brian

Hi Brian,
As you know we livw in the NT and in places that only run on CDMA network. We have, after much discussion with Telstra changed our GSM phone over to Next G, Motorola V6, and are very happy with it. Have been on the road now for 6 weeks from Darwin to Bundaberg to BTi then across the middle to Adelaide and are currently sitting in Alice awaiting part for the car. Phone has worked everywhere that our cdma has worked and has better clarity, I think!!
Cdma will be phased out in most of the country by the end of 08 but here in the NT they think it may take a little longer. DO NOT buy a 3G only phone as the minute you leave the bright lights it will not work. Also another small thing is that if you travel overseas then the Next G phones all have a sim card so can be taken whereas the old cdma's didnt.
Hope this helps.
Prue

We are using a Next G phone, a Motorola Maxx V6.
Havn't commented here as yet because we have not tested the service out of town.
The phone itself is fantastic, best I have ever used.

The phone can be coupled with a Bluetooth hands free kit and these can be totally portable or hard wired to the vehicle system.
The hard wired version can be coupled to the mute control on the car radio.
We are using the portable type, Motorola T305, about the size of a matchbox.
This allows us to easily take it from vehicle to vehicle and to use it in the van if required.

Together with my dealer, a very helpful bloke who goes out of his way to help, we researched every Next G phone on the market now seeking a model with external antenna.
None have the facility.

As for coverage, Telstra claim that every existing CDMA cell is now also a next G cell so coverage will not be less than with CDMA for voice.
Not so for data, some cells will not handle data as yet.
City coverage, at least from the user end, seems better.
Faster and clearer connections.
Sending e-mails directly from the phone is a cinch.

Regards
Bob

Well I went around to our local Telstra Shop and purchased the Telstra 850 Next G phone, on a $30 plan that includes $25 of calls. For an additional $49 (special) I obtained a hands free car kit that I will now have to take around to Sound In Motion and have them install it into the F250 for me. They just disconnected the CDMA phone and migrated the number to the new Next G phone.

Also what will be available with this phone is an external annena kit, but the I have to go to a Communications accessory place in Sugar Rd, Maroochydore to get this. When I get it I will put it in the caravan.

Thank you everyone for your posts.

Brian

Hi Brian.
I was CONNED into getting the Telstra F850 about 2 months ago.(All I was after was to be connected to MY HOUR).
The reception down here is so bad it goes flat every night searching for a signal, so I need to keep it on the charger all day (Can't use it, as I don't have it on me) SO IT IS USELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sent the first one back, it was so bad I thought it was broken, but the replacement is just the same.
My fix is to put the sim card in my old digital which works fine, but I am still paying the extra plan fee. I have logged (reported this to Telstra) but several weeks later they have still not replied.
Bob I don't believe that the coverage is better than the CDMA, it is actually worse here, so they can't be using - thoes blocks or whatever.
My Brother-inlaw brought the LG model. It is slightly better, (reception) but still basically USELESS.He has also reported this to Telstra but had no response.
Anybody whishing to report this post to Telstra please feel free.
The Next G network is holy & solely a Telstra network (NO OTHER COMPANY IS ABLE OR WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT)
It has a loooooong way to go before it is worth using.