Bigpond is the marketing arm of Telstra Corporation that sell broadband internet. They will sell you monthly post paid plans. On their fixed plans you get a bundled modem if required (fixed line or mobile.) You will be issued with an e-mail address and provide an e-mail service. You can set yourself up more addresses (up to a total of 12 I think) for yourself, family and friends who you allow to use your connection.

Telstra basically sell phone services. You can access internet data over their mobile phones but you don't get an e-mail address or service. They also have mobile modems that they sell and provide prepaid internet allowances. Again there is no e-mail address provided. For an e-mail service you have to use Google, Yahoo or other provider.

They use the same mobile telephone system for mobile internet. The type of service you want determines which arm you deal through. You can get both through Telstra shops but I find it is better to deal over the phone with Bigpond (the shops don't seem to know as much.) - As I said, the difference is pre-paid with no e-mail service Vs post-paid with e-mail service.

-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 22nd of December 2012 09:46:41 AM

This isn't to do with Telstra or Bigpond but is just about cheap mobile and internet access on the road.

I bought a $2 Amaysim sim card and a $29 unlocked Motorola phone....then activated the Amaysim sim on the "Pay as you go" plan and put $20 credit on it. This lasts 3 months and rolls over when you renew...calls and SMS are 12c a minute no flagfall.
Then I bought another Amaysim sim and a $29 unlocked mobile broadband USB modem offf Ebay....activated the sim on the "Pay as you go Data plan" and put $10 credit on it. This too lasts for 3 months.
Both the above run on Optus 3G which is not as good as Telstra for coverage but is still pretty good.

Bottom line is I now have a mobile phone AND mobile internet for a minimum of $40 for 3 months and any unused credit rolls over. If I want to download an email I plug the USB moden in to the laptop, log on, download my emails and then log off. For 10c I can down load 2 or 3 emails.
I don't use either very often but they suit me as I'm a tight-ass...for someone looking to stay in contact at minimum cost I think it's hard to beat. (but no good off the beaten track).
Regards
Denis

Edit; -   best thing about this setup is NO CONTRACT - no lockins for 2 years and no obligation.

Hi Lilly31, good question, and yes it is confusing.

Telstra owns Bigpond, but the two have different broadband services, somewhat using the same infrastructure.

Speaking only wireless broadband,

Telstra provides mainly business customers and also the prepay service, while Bigpond mainly provides domestic customers with post paid plans. You would need a business account with Telstra to get internet other than prepay. Both provide 3G/4G connections through usually different coloured modems. For example the Telstra 3G USB modem was blue where the Bigpond was white.

Both services run through the same wireless network (or the same mobile phone tower) but use different and unique APN's (Access Point Name) to channel you down to the right server for content and billing purposes. You can cross match the different modems on the other service but you need to change the APN which is pre-programmed and hidden from "fiddle fingers". Telstra's APN is "telstra.internet" whereas Bigpond's is "bigpond.telstra" or something like that last time I looked.

When you have a Telstra modem you can use the online "My Telstra" to manage it the same as a prepay mobile phone. Bigpond has "My Bigpond" online account managers and never the two will meet.

Telstra provide a 'bulk service' for business with no or little add ons where Bigpond offers "Bigpond Unmetered" to attract the domestic market, where some content through the Bigpond portal is free of download charges.

So, they are the same but different and very confusing when you start dealing with them.

My view is the best for personal use is the post paid Bigpond plan (usually 2 years) with subsidised wifi modem. That way you'll get some content free of charge. Recent modem advances with Sierra wireless have given Telstra not a bad wifi unit, that can be used with multiple pc's, but it cannot be SOHO networked successfully unless additional equipment is purchased.   Unless you are a business the only Telstra internet you will get is prepaid where every download costs and is very expensive if you use it a lot. We know because we have both for various reasons and can compare the two.

The two are not really the same and were set up for different purposes, use different gateways and target different customer markets, have different staff and use different data bases for your account information,  even if both are sort of the same company or owners.

Hope this helps.

E&OE.

-- Edited by Nomad246 on Saturday 22nd of December 2012 09:12:45 PM

Hello 

I am a bit confused  ..can someone tell me difference between TELSTRA  AND BIGPOND MOBILE BROADBANE  ..  I thought both were same but seen no so 

which is best for on road for on the road     ...and also which is best WIFI  or UBS stick

Hi lilly31,

Bigpond is a section of TELSTRA so are basically the same people.

As for mobile Broadband well I use Bigpond 3g network with a USB Stick "Bigpond Ultimate" and find it the best in coverage, not as cheap as some but cover is very important to me. I also have an external antenna that plugs into the top of the USB stick to help with cover.

I have however just set up my iPhone 4s to ba a modem as it has the "Blue Tick" so get extra Rural Cover and that is better than the Ultimate cover. When my Ultimate contract runs out I will cancel it and get extra data on my mobile phone, it will then get used for home and out in the playground.

I hope that is all of some help to you.

DOUG

Hi Doug, When you use your mobile phone as a modem, can you still receive calls, or does the internet take priority?

Pete

Currently using the new 4G modem wifi for about nine mths,, as we have had about six different ones fail over three years this is the best one so far.

Can be powered by 240volt, usb from comp. or run from its own battery.

Has provision for external ant.

JC.

wasn_me wrote:

---

Hi Doug, When you use your mobile phone as a modem, can you still receive calls, or does the internet take priority?

Pete

---

 That I can't answer as I have not used it enough to find out, just set it up in readiness. Good question though. Maybe someone else here knows the answer.

Thanks Doug, I'll keep watch.

Pete

Both have the same wireless broadband (WBB) services but the pricing and plans slightly differ...

Eg postpaid WBB from Telstra excess usage is charged at $x.xx per MB while on bigpond service speed is slowed...so unless you want to pay extra per month to gain same speed all the time bigpond is overall cheaper..

Note you Do not need to be business customer to use Telstra!

Wifi would mean that you could use yr phone, tablet, computer and laptops all on the one service simultaneously. But if you had a USB generally only one of these could be used at a time

A 12 month contract on bigpond wifi, device is currently $48 but on Telstra monthly payments of $5-15 on top of monthly usage plan is extra. Plans might be slightly different priced.

Bigpond also allows monthly plan changes up or down not sure about Telstra.

If you want same monthly cost with no surprises bigpond would be better choice in my opinion. Cya