I Drew This

I happened to be in the car at around 6.45 this morning and the radio was tuned to ABC local (891). The hosts were talking with a representative of a leading telco regarding mobile phone reception, specifically in the Adelaide Hills area. He was explaining that the CDMA network was being phased out soon and the next generation (3G?) network was now in operation.

When you’re on the ABC, you’re not supposed to advertise. Having worked there, I know that guests sometimes tread a very fine line between saying who they work for (thus establishing themselves as having some kind of expertise in their field, which is fine) and blatant plugging of their brand.

This morning’s guest explained that some phones work better on the new network than others. With some you need a new 3G SIM to get the full benefit from the phone. He said that in his chain of shops they have a symbol displayed next to the phones that work best on the new network, or something. Then he said “so you can come into any Telstra shop” and… y’know, sales pitch.

I yelled at the radio (because I’m a man; it’s just what we do) and continued listening.

A caller from the Hills spoke about how his wife had recently bought a new phone. He stressed that his wife is pretty savvy and had done a lot of research before upgrading her handset. Of course, since upgrading, their reception is worse and it turns out the phone she got wasn’t the best phone to get. His point was that the changeover in service happens in about a year from now and phone companies seem to be pretty slow on the uptake in advising people about it and have little knowledge about what phone is best for what user.

And it was as though he could sense my frustration (though I’m a complete skeptic and know that’s impossible) when he said “…and when my wife went to get a new phone, she went into the shop… A TELSTRA SHOP… and they seemed to have no better idea than she had!”

And balance was thus restored to the universe.