Vodafone new Zealand now SIM Locking

[Jonathan Mosen]

For the few of you who also live in new Zealand on this list, please be
aware of the following statement from Vodeafone which is a preeptary move
against GSM offerings coming later in the year from Telecom, Orcon, and NZ
Communications.
 
Vodafone's mobiles are sold exclusively for use on Vodafone New Zealand's
network. 

 

>From 1 May we are locking new handsets to our network.  All new handsets
sold will include information about handset locking and how to unlock
handsets.

 

Locked handsets can be unlocked for a fee of $50.

 

This is being done to protect the customers' experience of the Vodafone
brand.  Vodafone brands its mobiles with both the Vodafone and Vodafone
Live! look and feel.  If a customers takes a Vodafone mobile to another
network, the customer won't be able to access the Vodafone experience and
services.