Somewhere, Telecom's XT team is, perhaps, enjoying a quiet moment of Schadenfreude.Ten days after a storm of user complaints erupted on Geekzone about its mobile network, Vodafone has finally admitted a plague of problems.Glitches on its 3G mobile ne
Somewhere, Telecom's XT team is, perhaps, enjoying a quiet moment of Schadenfreude.
Ten days after a storm of user complaints erupted on Geekzone about its mobile network, Vodafone has finally admitted a plague of problems.
Glitches on its 3G mobile network have at times stopped mobile phone users from being able to send email or connect to a website, or even make a call or send a text.
And because no service alert was issued, many customers were unaware the fix was often as easy as re-starting their phone.
This morning a service message has finally been posted to the carrier's website. It reads:
Vodafone acknowledges the current network issues that some customers are experiencing on their 3G mobiles, and we are working around the clock towards a resolution.
The issue has been traced to the 3G cell site network, and the way it communicates with 3G mobiles during and after active data sessions. The effects are intermittent but customers may experience one or all of the following symptoms:
• Missed calls and delayed texts while in coverage
• Unable to make calls until the phone is powered off and on
• Unable to set up 3G data [that is, email and web] sessions
If you experience any of the above issues, please turn your phone OFF and then back ON to resume service.
At present, there is no estimated time for the problems to be resolved.
Tuanz business development manager Katherine Hall said Vodafone's delay in publicly addressing the problem did not compare favourably to Telecom's up-front communication on its XT woes.
One industry insider told NBR that the so-called data-stalling issue behind Vodafone's problems is also causing a delay in the roll-out of its new, faster HSPA+ network (Telecom has already turbocharged XT with HSPA+).
But Vodafone spokesman Matt East today told NBR that the industry rumour was incorrect. It did take four days from NBR's initial inquiry for the telco to reach that conclusion.
Why the 10-day lag before fronting up to the public (if an unannounced help forum note can be counted as fronting up)?
Someone at Vodafone may be thinking: Paul, where are you now? (Answer: thinking about this).
