Android-sale accepts PRE-ORDER now, lead-time in this term: December 10th, - December 20th, 2012. (This phone is not in stock, if you want to pre-order this phone at discount price, you need complete payment now)
The list price is $299.99, and the pre-order price is only $279.99.
I doubt if you could find another quad-core smartphone with jelly bean at this price.
10% Discount too using code 2012ADAY brings the price down to $252 USD = ~ $241 aussie bucks
Thanks giving day promo ends 26/11
illegal import?
A3Australia generally posts the same thing on most phone threads.
The TLDR version is that parallel imports don't come with the a-tick (or whatever the certification is called), and as a result is an "illegal" device due to ACMAs red tape.
Is anyone going to care? no, not unless your phone broadcasts out of frequency.
is an "illegal" device due to ACMAs red tape.
The ACMA has legislation, not "red tape".
Also, you forgot to mention the Electrical Safety legislation that 'covers' the AC charger.
It still is red tape. What type of guarantee does the A tick have over CE?
It appears others have mentioned my other arguments below, so i'll remove the rest.
Seriously, you post the same stuff in every mobile thread. Why do you get so worked up over it? If a device (most of the time coming from the exact same production line) doesn't broadcast out of band, then what's the problem?
They're going to throw you in jail for importing a mobile phone.
Please advise if this is the case, is buying an overseas handset illegal in OZ?
is buying an overseas handset illegal in OZ?
Yes, according to the Laws of Ozbargain, buying a cheap chinese handset from overseas will get you jailed. JV will be your jailmate.
In all seriousness, its not illegal, seriously what kind of law prohibits you from buying a completely harmless phone overseas.
Whew,……I was almost telling my Mainland mate to scrap the idea of buying it for me. C'mon scrimshaw!!!!!
It is unlawful to import, if it has no certification.
Import 1 or 2 @ $240/ea ? and certification of what… ?
The same goes for any AC charger with this phone, if it also has not got the required certification.
You are referring to testing standards and procedures…, passing ISO 9001 standards ?, these are not laws…
You are referring to testing standards and procedures…, passing ISO 9001 standards ?, these are not laws…
A very quick google search found these:-
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1728
http://www.acma.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=P…
http://www.acma.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=P…
One can bring (not import by mail, courier, etc.) a non compliant mobile phone into Australia for temporary use while in Australia - eg as a tourist. However, the mobile must be taken back outside Australia, or destroyed, after this temporary use.
Import 1 or 2 @ $240/ea ? and certification of what… ?
Any number. The mobile device and any associated AC charger must carry the mandatory certification.
it clearly states:
Apart from mobile phones, there is no provision for temporary exemptions to this requirement, even in the case of laptop and desktop computers purchased overseas that incorporate modems.
you did read the "apart from mobile phones" bit right ?
and again:
In almost all cases, telecommunications equipment purchased in another country (apart from some mobile phones) will not be suitable or safe for use in Australia.
I've bought soo many mobile phones from overseas sellers…
I'd suggest reading it again….
A mobile phone for personal use may be brought into Australia and connected to a mobile telecommunications network provided the phone meets Australian standards. If you are thinking about bringing a mobile phone back from overseas with you for personal use, check with your carrier or service provider before you take the trip. Some features available on a mobile phone purchased overseas may not be supported by an Australian carrier and may not be available within Australia. There are no labelling requirements for a mobile phone imported for personal use by this method.
is buying an overseas handset illegal in OZ?
No. Importing a mobile phone that has no compliance for use in Australia is in breach of the ACMA legislation. Same goes for any non-compliant charger.
I'd suggest reading it again….
So would I. The exemption for mobile phones clearly states "temporary".
This is for tourists, etc. - temporary entrants to Australia - BRINGING these devices with them. It is not an exemption to be used by anyone importing via mail, freight, etc.
Also, the mobile temporarily imported can be used with Australian carriers "provided the phone meets Australian standards".
And you have not addressed the non-compliant chargers being imported (imported, not carried in).
In the past I have had long discussions with managers from the ACMA, and with a manager from their enforcement section (this was a section of Fair Trading NSW) about both the ACMA's A-Tick legislation pertaining to mobile phones and the Electrical Safety standards for chargers. While it is true that Customs do not have the staff, time, and budget, to enforce the ACMA legislation for single phone shipments - they do look at larger shipments. Also, the ACMA (and Fair Trading) do issue warnings and fines - and even carry out raids on importers and retailers for non-compliant phones and chargers.
Also Customs listed this information on electrical and gas appliances imports:
Most gas and electrical goods 'imported and sold' in Australia must meet certain Australian safety and technical standards. Goods of this nature offered for sale over the internet from foreign countries may not comply with Australian safety or technical standards. Some gas and electrical appliances, including barbeques and personal grooming items, may not be able to be modified to comply with Australian standards and could present a serious safety risk if used.
==============
Imported and Sold in Australia must meet certain Australian safety and technical standards, not imported for personal use in Australia must meet certain Australian safety and technical standards.
As such Customs would not seize your mobile phone import (whether this is in freight, mail or personal carry in) provided it is deemed for personal use and not sold commercially.
I can smell a nitpicking topic here…, you're clearly providing an opinion, when the law clearly states this is a minor offence, and that
Some features available on a mobile phone purchased overseas may not be supported by an Australian carrier and may not be available within Australia.
is all they are worried about when it's purchased for personal use, so as to not have warranty issues and concern the government with foreign traders, your points may be valid for large scale imports, but totally useless here, we are talking about a poor man's smartphone… lol
what kind of law prohibits you from buying a completely harmless phone overseas.
The same "kind of law" that prohibits one importing "completely harmless" counterfeit goods? Or, not so "harmless" mobile phones without IMEI numbers - or with duplicated, faked, or cloned IMEI numbers.
As such Customs would not seize your mobile phone import (whether this is in freight, mail or personal carry in) provided it is deemed for personal use and not sold commercially.
I think you wrote this paragraph. If not - Please post a link to where this appears on the Customs website.
By the way, my information is that a personally imported (brought in by a tourist or temporary visitor) non-compliant mobile phone may not be sold or supplied while in Australia. "Commercially" was not mentioned - it can not be sold or supplied, privately or commercially.
of course i wrote that paragraph.
let alone the impact of such imports on Australia's domestic mobile phone manufacturing industry.
They're going to throw you in jail for importing a mobile phone.
What a silly statement. No, one can be fined. However, if customs seized a phone shipment they would just send a warning notices. If one kept trying to import, or tried to import many phones in one shipment, fines may be imposed.
I've sent a few phones from overseas to here, never have they once bothered to open it to check if it had any certifications. (e.g. the package hasn't been opened)
Custom would not seize a single phone shipment for personal use, unless there is specific ban on a type of phone (which they do not).
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp
Have a look at the above page, does your normal single phone import comes under restricted or prohibited item? Nope.
Have a look at the above page, does your normal single phone import comes under restricted or prohibited item? Nope.
In bold on that same page it states -
The information about prohibited and restricted goods provided on this website is a guide only. Customs and Border Protection recommends that you exercise care with its use. Customs and Border Protection further recommends that you seek more detailed information to ensure that you will comply with legislative requirements before attempting to import restricted goods.
So you are saying that Custom has not listed the category of goods that mobile phone falls under?
Please suggest what will Customs categorise the mobile phone as? Weapons, Drugs, Radioactive Material or Suicide device?
Please suggest what will Customs categorise the mobile phone as? Weapons, Drugs, Radioactive Material or Suicide device?
It is very difficult to have a sensible discussion, or supply the proper answer, when you are being so silly.
However, I was informed by a manager from the ACMA that when Customs do act on a sizable shipment - the phones are seized as "prohibited imports". I presume because they would not be compliant under the ACMA legislation. The phones chargers were not mentioned in that discussion.
You are not even giving factually correct information here, so not sure the bits about sensibility.
Sizable shipment? So how much is a sizable shipment, care to give a figure?
You can try to import a laser pointer in Australia through mail and courier, and 99.99% of the time, your package would be opened and the laser pointer would be checked for compliance against the regulations of having <1 mW. If not they would offer you options of destruction or mailing it back at your cost.
Now if real regulations against importation of mobile phone is enforced, you think that the Customs would not have the resources to check for mobile phones in the mail packages coming into Australia? Logically what you are saying does not sound factually correct.
Finally, stop arguing about the phone charger part, because Customs do not care about it, they are considered part of mobile phone.
You are not even giving factually correct information here
I am certainly trying to. I have written the facts as I know them from my experiences in complying with the legislation, and from my discussions with some ACMA managers, and with a manager of a Fair Trading NSW enforcement team.
Sizable shipment? So how much is a sizable shipment, care to give a figure?
From my discussion with the ACMA regarding phones it was four or more.
You can try to import a laser pointer in Australia through mail and courier, and 99.99% of the time, your package would be opened and the laser pointer would be checked for compliance against the regulations of having <1 mW. If not they would offer you options of destruction or mailing it back at your cost.
I do not know about lasers, or those percentages, or how many lasers are declared on the packaging.
Now if real regulations against importation of mobile phone is enforced, you think that the Customs would not have the resources to check for mobile phones in the mail packages coming into Australia? Logically what you are saying does not sound factually correct.
The main complaint of the ACMA was that Customs were not enforcing their legislation enough at point of entry. Just like counterfeit goods I imagine, and unsafe electrical items - I have seen non-compliant power supplies and chargers at MSY, and even Kmart.
Finally, stop arguing about the phone charger part, because Customs do not care about it, they are considered part of mobile phone.
Customs certainly are meant to "care" about non-complying electrical items such as chargers that plug-in to 240v.
they are considered part of mobile phone.
Are you saying that if a mobile phone is compliant (carries A-Tick) it does not matter that the charger is non-compliant? Because if so, you are wrong.
I think it would be reasonable to suspect that these Newman mobile phones have had no testing for radiation, and no testing for safety, (at least to any recognised international standards - certainly not to Australian standards).
Also, there is no guaranty that they would have 'real', individual IMEI numbers.
Any potentially unsafe AC charger supplied could probable be replaced locally with a 'safe' certified charger.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5369.asp
Here is your essential reading for counterfeit goods. FYI Customs would only seize counterfeit goods when the Company have lodged a valid notice of objections with Customs, and it is only valid for 4 years. Also, single items would only be seized if they deem it to be of a commercial nature.
What i am saying is that Customs do not care about your mobile phone (we are talking strictly mobile phone operating as a mobile phone, not as tasers or any other prohibited/restricted goods) carries a validation sticker or not (or its associated charger), as long as its deemed for personal use.
Finally, i do not care about the Newman phone, i got SIII or HTC One X android already, but please stop making up 'facts' to scare people, when Customs have no official legislation against the importation of Mobile phone or its charger for personal use.
This 6.5% discount is just the icing, Im just worried that it will get sold out within China.
Newman is relatively a small company competing against Samsung S3 at that price.
http://clickfortechnology.com/2012/10/newman-n2-chinese-comp…
I would rather pay double this for a phone from reputable sources that I know will last.
I am concern about this too, if it breaks (physically), there will be no support in OZ, but in terms of the software, it could be overcome.
What are the handset dimensions/size and weight?
How much internal storage & is there a memory expansion slot?
This model has been well reviewed by many people online.
You can google them.
Do you have a URL to a site that has the Newman 2's physical specifications?
Specifically the depth and weight?
I can't find them anywhere :(
I've been to those pages already. They don't mention dimensions or the weight.
They do have info on the dimension, but not weight.
That I could not find either.
I cannot find dimensions.
Yeh my bad, I couldn't seem to find it too. Well, the review on handset dimensions might very well be coming from OZbargain very soon, by the end of yr, hah.
"Support GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz & 3G: 2100MHz band"
So no Telstra 3G(NextG) or LTE?
I am not so sure about this. But I do hope that it will work with Optus, if I manage to get one from my friend in China.
I'd want to be certain of the bands prior to purchase. Misinformation about what bands yumcha phones work on are rife.
There are some reviews by Andi Sykes from Gizchina.com
Yep
Obligatory Nexus 4 reply… a $70 saving for an almost identically specced phone isn't worth getting given the lack of support.
Let me know if you can get one (nexus 4) in between Dec 2012 - Jan 2013, I would like to get one too.
Ah China, the land of phone plagiarism…
This type of debate/opinion is rather time wasting and is not welcome here, go tell the Judge.
I don't see where/how this particular phone has violated copyrights.
I think fact.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/world/asia/02piracy.html?_…
Counterfeiting in China is so deep rooted that when shops selling counterfeit merchandise were shut down by authorities, the owners protested publicly against this action, holding weekly public protests, and mocking those attempting to prevent counterfeiting as "bourgeois puppets of foreigners."
Why don't you google the company background and judge for yourself?
I don't know for sure, I am only interested in their products. Let me know if you find out.
And there doesn't appear to be any button to buy or order it!
LOL, there is no Add To Cart button!
Im not sure, I am not a rep, but it said its a pre-order, suppose you could e-mail them?
Im tossing in between Newman N2 and Xiaomi M2 (which is similarly specced as Nexus 4).
Or if you want to sacrifice some processing grunt, the BBK Vivo X1 is only 6.5mm thick with a beefy battery.
I thought about vivo x1 too, but its price is ridiculous by the Mainland standard, as reviewed by Andi here http://www.gizchina.com/2012/11/20/6-55mm-bbk-vivo-x1-priced…
I have narrowed down the selection to Newman N2 and Xiaomi M2, where the latter will see a crazy 3500mAH add-on in the near future.
You haven't considered the additional costs you might incur from having to ship the phone back if it's defective.
Put it this way: paying extra for a Nexus 4 phone gives you a guarantee that you will receive:
A high quality handset
Local warranty
Convenience of finding local repair, lower shipping costs
More accessories made for the phone.
Quicker Android updates, more ROM community support
I think all of these is worth paying an extra $70 for.
You are right, but I can't wait for Nexus 4, at current supply, you can't even get it in the states I believe.
I am hoping to get it by end of yr, so Nexus 4 is outa the question.
…now just for some availability!
Sidenote: I'm a previous iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 owner. Yes, previous iPhone 5 owner. Returned it after 1 week of use. The iOS6 Maps, stupid new lightning adaptor (required for my older dock & car mount) as well as decreased battery life and near useless Siri… add to those ridiculous upfront cost. So now looking at Android & WM8. Just don't like SG3 'big screen form factor'. Nexus 4 is on my list though early reports say despite the larger battery it isn't even on par with the iPhone 5. Ugh.. Nokia 5110 I think :)
I was going to put this up too, as I know there is no guarantee even if you are using a well-known branded smartphone with a long history, as compared to new startups or chinese phone makers.
Personally, I have had issues with Nokia Samsung and Sony Ericsson, so I am just in the stage where I would not mind trying new techs and new brands, on the adventurous side.
paying extra for a Nexus 4 phone gives you a guarantee that you will receive:
A high quality handset
Local warranty
Convenience of finding local repair, lower shipping costs
More accessories made for the phone.
Quicker Android updates, more ROM community support
Plus - legality, Electrical Safety Certification, A-Tick.
scrimshaw: You forgot they $20 delivery fee so it's $90 extra.
Never stopped Ozbargainers before, importing electronics from overseas. I hope you don't go through each of those deals posting about A-Ticks…….
A3Australia, Is there a reason why you are so focused on this one?
Yes I'd love an Xiaomi M2 too but the chances of that are zero . Chinese go into a lottery to buy one otherwise it's get ripped off by scalpers . Something tells me that Xiaomi would lawyered be back to the stoneage with their Ios-esque Customized rom in any western country anyway . Shame as their MIUI rom is the best I have used and worked a treat on my old desire .
For the Xiaomi, it was reported that USD $36m was invested in the R&D which took place in both China and some universities in the US. When Xiaomi M2 was launched, they had a keynote speaker just like Google too, there I think they talked about the number of MIUI users around the world, not just in CHina.
If its no because the Xiaomi M2 being harder to score, harder than the $100m OZ lotto (statistically), I'd jump on it.
Newman!
Considering most would expect a smart phone to last in excess of a year, if not two and most phones don't then Mr. Newman which is sure to last about 6 months is not an option
I would consider the Newman N2 (which is a successor to the Newman N1) to be an improvement over the previous model.
No one has commented on the WiFi showing as only A/B/G and the Bluetooth apparently only being 2.1…
Doesn't strike anyone else as odd?
Really? bluey 2.1 is kinda outdated, I thought it was the same as Xiaomi M2's Bluetooth 4.0…
I think im more biased to getting Xiaomi M2 now :(
Just found out, their WiFi spec is 802.11n
Nexus 4 US$299. That is all.
I wish they put a damn micro SD card in this device, I mean offering 8gb and 16gb only is ridiculous nowadays when a lot of people have 64gb cards in their phones:(. The price point is so excellent otherwise for whats on offer.
I've been using a 64gb card for more than 6 months now, and it'll feel criminal to downgrade that:(.
I agree that they should increase internal storage, but there are a couple of good reasons as to why they don't, and never will, implement MicroSD card slots:
(a) promoting their own cloud service.
(b) promoting their own digital delivery platform (streaming from Google Play)
(c) I think this is the most important: it would upset the OEMs. Google can't bring out a feature-gladden device that's already an absolute bargain. Pretty much every OEM except Samsung would be virtually driven into the ground.
where can i get one in Australia?
I imported the below phone from HK (DWI) and used it here for 18 months now, its not available in aussie. DWI even gives local support for it, though I never had to use it. It's a fairly common practice.
But that's a bit different to a phone which wont have local support, you may end up with problems that cant be resolved.
Price in title will help