Let distance not be a barrier

Who is Vodafone? Vodafone Fiji Ltd is a subsidiary of Fiji Posts & Telecommunications Ltd and Vodafone Group Pic of United Kingdom.

Vodafone Fiji Ltd was launched on July 1, 1994 by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

What services are offered by Vodafone Fiji Ltd?

Vodafone specialises in mobile commu nications and its Fiji operation is based on a Pan-European Standard called Global System for Mobile (GSM). GSM uses digi tal technology and, as a consequence, offers superior speech quality over ana logue cellular networks.

Another important feature of GSM is its ability to be used in foreign (other) net works and this feature is termed roaming.

With roaming agreements with other com patible networks, we are increasing the coverage for the use of mobile phones overseas.

Vodafix Vodafone Fiji Ltd launched a new ser vice around the Vodafone Network to cater for the rural communities. This service termed Vodafix - the fixed phone wireless service, was jointly introduced by FPTL and Vodafone Fiji Ltd. This services is currently available to rural communities within the Vodafone coverage area.

Vodafix carries a low tariff plan, the monthly access is just SFII.OO while the calls from VodaFix are charged 33c per minute or part thereof anywhere in Fiji.

Unlike Vodafone, Vodafix is not mobile, it is permanently mounted in the house like other telephones. Because it is wireless, there is no limitation imposed by unavail ability of circuits or terrains, provided it is within the Vodafone coverage area.

What areas are covered by Vodafone?

Vodafone launched its service with 18 base stations covering Nausori to Ba along the Coral Coast, and is developing more base stations to enhance the coverage along this route. Vodafone coverage in the Northern division was launched in July 1995 with plans to implement two more sta tions around greater Labasa towards the end of 1995.

Vodafone coverage is limited to 35km from its base stations and uses microwave frequencies for transmission. These are some of the factors that prevent coverage to certain areas within the specific cover age area. Vodafone coverage is generally affected by high vegetation and buildings.

What is Vodafone’s product range?

Vodafone has two different types of mobile phones to offer, depending on your location and business needs.

Hand-Held Units Han-held units are low-powered units and they conveniently fit into your hand or pocket. Because thet are low powered, their operation can be affected in large buildings.

Car Phones Car phones are high-powered sets offering safety features such as hand-free operation, and are recommended for fre quent travellers.

How much does it cost to have a Vodafone?

Vodafones are purchased outright by the subscribers and like any other pur chase, the units are covered under warran ty for a specific period of time.

Apart from the unit price, the following rates apply: A once only Connection fee of SFIIO.OO and monthly access fee of $F44.00.

Calls made from a Vodafone are charged 61c per minute or part thereof.

People calling a Vodafone from a standard phone are also charged 61c a minute or part thereof.

Why does a mobile phone cost more in Fiji than In overseas?

Mobile phone prices are comparable anywhere in the world. The difference in price is normally attributed to currency rates, freight and duty.

Unlike certain overseas mobile opera tors who offer cheap prices on phones and then tie subscribers into long-term con tracts committing them to the network, Vodafone Fiji Ltd has only a one-year Network Service Agreement along with other standard conditions the subscriber signs for.

Who pays for the calls?

Like Fiji Posts & Telecommunications Ltd’s call charges, whoever makes a call, pays for that call. Therefore, a mobile sub scriber initiating a call will be charged for that call. Similarly, a Telecom subscriber calling a mobile will be charged for that call You are not charged for receiving a call.

The only time you are charged for receiving a call is when you have set a divert for incoming calls to another phone, and it is only the diverted portion that is charged to you. Calls received from Fiji while on roaming overseas are also charged to you.

What Value Added Services does Vodafone provide?

The value added services offered by Vodafone require no subscription fee, how ever, some of the services offered are also dependent on the feature of the mobile phone.

The Value Added Services currently available to Vodafone subscribers are:

VodaConnect This is an operator-assisted through connect service whereby a call from a mobile can be connected to another mobile or a standard telephone VodaConnect can be accessed by dialling 010 from mobile or 902010 from the FPTL telephone. Likewise a Telecom subscriber can be connected to a mobile subscriber. Only call charges apply and these are charged at normal Vodafone rate.

Vodaßill The itemised billing offered to Vodafone subscribers forms part of our commitment to better service and customer satisfaction.

The subscriber’s bill gives a complete breakdown, indicating the date, time, dura tion, number called and call charges for a particular call. Vodaßills can be paid at any ANZ bank branch in the country.

VodalD This feature is called Calling Line Identification (CLI) and is dependent on the phone feature. Mobile phones supporting CLI feature will display the calling party’s number before the call is answered. Mobile phones that support this feature are Mortola 82000, Ericsson GHI72, GHI9B, GH337 and Nokia 2110.

Vodafone subscribers wishing to sup press their phone numbers will be charged $F54.45 annually.

VodaMessage VodaMessage is the voice mail service offered to Vodafone subscribers. Calls to a Vodafone are diverted to the subscriber’s mail box when the subscriber is busy, there is no reply, when out of the coverage zone or when the mobile is switched off.

Vodafone subscribers can set uncondition al divert to their mail box if they wish to.

Normally, the divert leg of the call is charged, but in the case of the call being diverted to the mail box, the subscriber is not charged. Accessing mail box to retrieve the message is charged atnormal Vodafone rate. A five-second delay ensures that subscribers with no messages are not charged provided they hang up before five seconds.

VodaMessage will alert the presence of the new message through Short Message Service (SMS). Vodafone Fiji Ltd will be implementing a voice message alert by the end of this year. Once voice alert is imple mented, subscribers will be alerted by a voice prompt that there is a message wait ing.

Vodaßoam Vodafone subscribers can use their Vodafone in Australia. Roaming is one of the features of the GSM network. Vodafone Fiji Ltd subscribers (while in Australia) will be able to make and receive calls like they

do in Fiji. All calls made in Australia will be charged local Australian rates plus a sur charge of 32.25 per cent and will be billed here in Fiji with their Vodaßill.

VodaGroup This is the Closed User Group service offered to business organisations with a maximum of 10 members, the maximum being 100. Members within the group are charged 11c/minute for calls within the group, anywhere within the Vodafone cov erage area.

Members within the group can access other members by dialling short codes, nor mally three digits. This service is similar to a switchboard service. The difference being while the switchboard is confined to a com plex, VodaGroup applies to the whole Vodafone Network. Group members can move freely anywhere in the Vodafone net work and enjoy low call tariffs.

Calls made outside the group will be charged normal Vodafone rates.

VodaGroup members can receive calls directly from other mobiles or Telecom sub scribers.

VodaCare This is Vodafone’s 24-hour Customer

Care service. This service is offered 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The ser vices offered are: 115 - Customer Care: This service is offered free of charge and assists cus tomers with their complaints and billing inquiries. 100 - Spotlight Service: This service is charged normal Vodafone rates and sub scribers are provided with general informa tion. Wakeup calls form part of this service.

Ill: This is the directory service for Vodafone subscribers. Directory service is charged normal Vodafone rate.

What is Vodafone’s commitment to support and service of Mobile phones?

Vodafone Fiji Ltd provides warranty to the mobile phones and also provides main tenance for the phones not covered by war ranty. The cost of repair is borne by the subscriber if repaired outside the warranty period.

Vodasure Vodafone Fiji Ltd is provides an insur ance protection through its Insurance com pany to safeguard mobile phones against theft, damage or loss. This insurance cover can be extended to your mobile by our

VodaSure insurance package.

How do I get a Vodafone?

Vodafones can be purchased through Vodafone Fiji Ltd or from its approved deal ers. Connection will be provided by Vodafone Fiji Ltd.

Can I buy a Mobile from overseas and use it here?

Mobile phones purchased from over seas can be used in Fiji, provided the mobile phones purchased confirm to GSM standards. However, you will be required to pay connection and monthly access fees.

How would I know that a mobile phone is a GSM standard phone?

GSM standard mobile phones require a smart card called Subscriber Interface Module (SIM) for its operation. SIMs come in two sizes, a credit-card size and a plug in module. GSM phones will have provision for inserting these cards into the phones.

Generally Mortola phones support credit card size SIMs and the slot where SIMs are inserted is marked by an arrow. Ericsson and Nokia phones support plug in SIMs, placed between the battery and the phone.

Phones that do not support SIMs are non GSM phones. ■