Telecom is encouraging customers in the Kāpiti region to switch mobile networks before the CDMA network closes at the end of this month.
Since 1 July 2011, when Telecom announced the CDMA network would be closing on 31 July 2012, a good response has been seen from customers realising the benefits of XT.
Telecom store manager, Rory Faughnan, said response has been excellent to the CDMA offers, with an increase in customers moving from CDMA to XT.
“We have been getting some awesome feedback around switching to XT from customers in store as we are offering our prepaid CDMA customers a free $79 top-up credit with any prepaid XT handset purchased. Take up has been so positive that we’ve extended this deal until the end of July.
“Postpaid CDMA customers who sign up to a 24 month plan on XT can choose from a range of zero dollar handsets. We can’t guarantee customers’ mobile numbers will be available after the 31st July when the CDMA network closes, unless they have switched to another network so we’re really encouraging people to come in store and take up the offers as soon as possible,” he says.
To ensure awareness of the network closure, Telecom has initiated pre-closure voice announcements that customers hear before calls they make from a CDMA phone.
“Of course not everyone embraces change in the same way, but we are going all out to make the switch to XT as seamless as possible if they choose it. We are taking the extra time to explain to our customers the details of all our XT mobile plans and we also transfer their mobile phone number with any existing prepaid credit, voicemails and where possible, personal contacts to their new XT device,” says Mr Faughnan.
Once customers have made the transition to XT, they can take their old CDMA phone to a Telecom store to be recycled. The proceeds from the initiative are donated to Starship and help pay for their priority needs such as the Starship National Air Ambulance Service. In 2011, Telecom customers donated over 60,000 devices to Starship.
The XT network was purpose built for smartphones to enable a great mobile, data and apps experience with Telecom investing more than $900,000 in the XT network in the Kāpiti region during 2011.
Customers can check if they are on the CDMA network by calling 
333.
Further information
▪CDMA customers will not be able to access their voice mailbox from their CDMA device after the 31st July when the network closes. Telecom has the ability to put important voice messages onto CDs if customers wish (please note this incurs a customer charge).
▪Customers’ prepaid balance will expire when the network closes on 31 July 2012. However, Telecom understands some customers may not have a chance to use all their prepaid credit before then. Therefore, if a customer has a high prepaid credit balance after the closure, they can contact Telecom to discuss a refund until 31 October 2012.
Telecom store:
16 Ihakara Street, Paraparaumu
