The 'Universal Service Obligation' [25/2010]

[peterh_oz]

Personally I like NAB's internet banking. Why? Their website automatically adjusts for my little Nokia 6121, and I can do everything I need to on the mobile phone. Without an iApp!

I also use Westpac and the biggest bugbear is that I cannot schedule recurring payments. Yes I can predate, but if I want to, say, make a regular payment (rent etc) I cannot! I don't know of any other bank that has this feature missing - and I've used CBA, StG, CUnion, MEBank and now NAB.

You also mentioned about "having to go into the branch to do stuff you can't do online, such as the 100 points ID check to open a new account". Have you tried uBank? Open a fully functioning account online, INCLUDING the 100 point ID check. 24/7 Skype access to call customer service, they even have a landline for those on VoIP (or capped mobile phone services) for which a call to a 13 number is a higher charge (25-30c on VoIP, and often excluded from capped charge included calls on mobile services)! And unlike ING and many other "online accounts", you CAN transfer to any account and are not limited to only withdraw to your linked account. The only thing you can't do is BPay.

[Dr Ron]

TX: 21st June 2010

The Telecommunications 'Universal Service Obligation'

How often are consumers being treated with contempt by major tech goods manufacturers?

Have you ever noticed that the price of a particular piece of gear seems relatively and reasonably priced, then after you part with your hard earned cash, you find yourself the victim of an extortion racket when it comes to buying accessories for your new gadget?

If you've bought a mobile phone in recent times, you would certainly have come across after-market accessories such as car kits and BlueTooth headsets. These are traditionally copies of original or authentic accessories, sometimes of a better quality, at half the price.

Last week the 4th generation iPhone was launched by Apple to a less-than-euphoric welcome, probably because Apple had lost a few prototypes and we'd all seen it before, but on reading the fine print, Apple have chosen to use a micro-SIM which is not compatible with its recently released iPad.



According to Nick Wilkins, press relations manager at O2, a UK based carrier, an iPhone 4 micro-SIM inserted into an iPad will detect that it is not in a smart-phone, and will not work.

He said, "The micro-SIMs for the iPhone are set up to allow voice calls, SMS messages and data functionality, whereas the iPad micro-SIM is provisioned to allow pay-as-you-go data transfer only."

This decision will prevent Apple users from carrying over a data allowance from their iPhone to the iPad. O2 said that it will, in time, make available a SIM which can be converted back and forth between the micro and regular sizes. But what about Australian carriers?

Another downside is that it will slow down the end user's ability to swap SIMs out and change carriers based on their location or service, unless they have a collection of micro-SIMs. But not allowing the iPad and iPhone to swap SIMs looks only to be a sweetener for the telcos that support the devices, ensuring Apple devotees have to buy two services.

It also means that those with an older iPhone and a 4G iPhone can't swap between the two devices with the same number.

So before you all race off to the local Apple store, just remember you'll need a new micro-SIM from the carrier of your choice before you start making calls on your new toy.


Also in this episode

• Telstra and NBN Co do a deal;
• Twitter's fail whale has its busiest month in two years;
• Telstra launches T-box, and fixed-line phone pricing will remain unchanged;
• Facebook issues a detailed response to privacy concerns;
• Apple delivers a MobileMe update; and
• we take a look at online banking - who's good and who's not so good.

Gadget of the Week

Horizon’s MiniPak personal fuel cell charger!



Designed for charging portable electronics on the go, the MiniPak has two refillable cartridges, each with the juice equivalent of around 1,000 AA batteries.

US $99.00. Even powers your flux capacitor.

Read the review at engadget.


Website of the Week

Not Melbourne IT.

Get competitive domain name pricing at:

http://www.registerfree.com/

Good prices for .com.au domains.


Odd Spot

Smell-O-Vision technology comes to billboards.

It's not just the picture of beef on a new billboard in North Carolina that tries to catch drivers' attention, it's the aroma coming from the sign.

The billboard on N.C. 150 in central North Carolina emits the smell of black pepper and charcoal to promote a new line of beef available at the Bloom grocery chain.

Bloom is part of the Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion chain.

Read more.


This Week's Panelists

Andrew McColm, Graeme Callaghan and Justin Dunlop.


How to Listen to Tech Talk Radio

• This episode - on the pod.
• This episode - full 2-hour show.
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