REPRESENTATIVE (New Zealander): New Zealand Telecom. How may I help you?
STUDENT (Australian): Hi. I just moved to Auckland from Sydney…um, I’m an exchange student…and I need to hook up Internet in my flat.
REPRESENTATIVE: Well, welcome to Auckland. So, um, are you on a student visa?
STUDENT: No. Actually, my mum was born in New Zealand, so I got myself a temporary residency quite easily.
REPRESENTATIVE: Brilliant. The only reason I ask is because you do need to have a valid visa to set up an Internet account. Work visas, student visas, temporary or permanent residencies…these are all fine. But some people call us with tourist visas, and there’s nothing we can do.
STUDENT: I see.
REPRESENTATIVE: And you said you live in a flat, not a dorm, right?
STUDENT: Yes. I’m renting out a family flat.
REPRESENTATIVE: OK. No problem. We’ll just need you to decide on a broadband package, and we’ll hook you up soon as possible.
STUDENT: Uh, how long will it take for that to happen?
REPRESENTATIVE: If you choose a package today and we get your account set up, I can have a technician over there by tomorrow afternoon. It will take him or her about an hour to get it all set up, and then you’ll be good to go.
STUDENT: Fantastic. I’ll be out of the house tomorrow morning, and have plans in the evening, so tomorrow afternoon works perfectly.
REPRESENTATIVE: Have you had a chance to browse our package offers?
STUDENT: Unfortunately no. It’s been so busy since I arrived. I’ve been running around like a mad person.
REPRESENTATIVE: No worries. Let’s go over the options together.
REPRESENTATIVE: We have three primary Internet packages. But, uh, you are looking for just Internet, right? Not phone and Internet? Or cable and Internet? You get heaps more with a combination package.
STUDENT: Just Internet. I don’t watch TV, and I use my mobile for calls.
REPRESENTATIVE: Sure. Let’s talk about Internet-only packages then. Um, we have three types of packages. ADSL Broadband, Ultra VDSL Broadband, and, uh, Ultra Fibre.
STUDENT: What’s the difference between them?
REPRESENTATIVE: Well, first of all, the amount of data you get with each package. The ADSL and the Ultra VDSL include 40 gigabytes of data per month, whereas the Ultra Fibre comes with 80.
STUDENT: Is that extra data necessary?
REPRESENTATIVE: It depends on what you’re doing. If you download lots of movies, you’ll want more data.
STUDENT: I’m usually just checking emails or browsing the Web.
REPRESENTATIVE: Then 40 gigabytes would be more than enough.
STUDENT: All right. Is there any other difference?
REPRESENTATIVE: Speed. The download speed for the ADSL is between 8 and 12 megabytes per second. The Ultra VDSL is 15 to 17, and the Ultra Fibre goes up to 30.
STUDENT: The Ultra Fibre is significantly faster.
REPRESENTATIVE: Yeah. But you won’t notice it unless you are trying to download extremely large files. The Ultra VDSL is plenty fast for your purposes.
STUDENT: What’s the cost of that package?
REPRESENTATIVE: $85 per month. The ADSL is $75, and the Ultra Fibre is $105.
STUDENT: I think I’ll go with the Ultra VDSL.
REPRESENTATIVE: Smart choice. Can I have your name?
STUDENT: Karen Parker.
REPRESENTATIVE: P-A-R-K-E-R?
STUDENT: Yeah. That’s right.
REPRESENTATIVE: And your address?
STUDENT: 594 Rudy Street. Flat 103.
REPRESENTATIVE: All right, Karen. There’ll be a technician getting in touch with you tomorrow to work out a time to hook it up. Anything else I can do for you today?
STUDENT: No, that’s good I think. Thanks so much.