Chosen few can text from Telecom to Vodafone

Telecom mobile customers can now send text messages across the gap to Vodafone customers, but only if they have certain phones.

The solution is something of a work around - customers send and receive text messages via the internet rather than directly across the networks.

“Telecom customers need to have a Nokia 5120i or 6120i or an Ericsson A1228,” says Telecom spokesperson Keadie Bradshaw. Calls cost 20 cents per message.

Replying to a Telecom text message is a little tricky for Vodafone customers, however. Instead of simply hitting the reply button and typing out the message, users send their text to 888 and must include in the body of the text the Telecom recipient’s cellphone number as an email address - 025xx@text.co.nz.

“It’s a work around until we can get an agreement with Vodafone in place.” Vodafone spokesperson Alison Sykora says Vodafone is working with Telecom on a permanent solution.

“We’re expecting to make an announcement in the next few months.”