Telephone service providers

shadyandme · Senior Member

Telephone service providers

Firefly · Guru

If you want coverage, the only provider who gives a reasonable amount, unfortunatley, is Telstra. We bought a Nokia and is the only brand we ever trusted but they have gone to the pack in the last few years and I will not buy another from them.

We use our mobile as our modem for the computer as well, thats a brilliant idea. smile

bill12 · Guru

I have a telstra blue tick phone, A samsung 2550 flip , I think. The blue tick means its a fringe area phone that you can use in the country, and I think they are about @ $80 at any post office or Telstra shop.Also , you can fit an outside car aerial, for even better reception.The Samsung flip phones have big buttons for people who wear glasses like me, and the battery life is good.A cigarette lighter power lead is availiable on ebay cheap. I hope this helps you.

-- Edited by bill12 on Sunday 12th of June 2011 04:06:53 PM

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Yep - Telstra are the ones with the best coverage, and the blue tick phones are the ones to get.

yeoeleven · Guru

I have had an optus account for years since I was in business and did not want to change. My mobile was also old and I went to an Optus Shop for advice on the best phone for coverage without the bells and whistles. They recommended the Nokia 2730 telling me it has G3 coverage with dual band whatever that is.

I bought it for $49 and the assistant changed over the sim card and set it all up for me I also wanted the connector for the laptop and they tried to sell me on bluetooth for around $30 but I only wanted the USB connection, they said that they could get it in for me for around the same price as the bluetooth. I was able to find the actual part number from the Nokia site and bought it for under $4 frim Ebay.

Time will tell how the coverage actually works but that is the Optus option you were asking about as explained to me by an Optus staff member

John

Firefly · Guru

My daughter is an Optus customer and she told me Optus don't sell their phones locked, which is a bonus. If you found you couldn't get the coverage mate, if you bought a Telstra pre paid sim, I wonder if that way, you could have the best of both worlds, as I said, if the Optus doesn't get the coverage you need.

Beth54 · Guru

I've had a Telstra Next G blue tick phone for several years. I wouldn't have anything else now.

In the past I've had Ericcson, Nokia, and Samsung. I wouldn't advise a Samsung if you want an easy phone. It's un-necessarily complicated.

I now have an LG slider with big numbers. I think it cost $80 from the Telstra shop. I've only had it a few months, but so far, so good. I've also changed to pre-paid a couple of months ago.

shadyandme · Senior Member

Thank you one and all for the help and advice, I can now make an informed decision, Norma

Happywanderer · The Master

I'm on a Telstra contract but thinking of going on to prepaid. What sort of deals do they have these days. Do you get so many $ worth of calls for a certain amount like you do with a contract. I have to wait till my contract ends so better go check that out.

Travel Bug · Guru

I am on Telstra NextG for the best coverage.

I changed over to pre paid a while back and they have many options.

The one that I chose is $30.00 per month with 30 days to use it.
For this, I get 60 minutes of free talk time + 200 free texts.

The free talk time is automatically used first...
If there is money left unused from my $30.00...that ticks over to the next month.
That happens each month, which suits me.
I paid my $30.00 last Friday when it was due and I am currently in credit $98.06 plus 200 free texts. I will use a lot of that next week while I am away.

Because with pre paid, I am not locked into a plan, I can choose to recharge any month with as low as a $20.00 option or as high as $100.00.

There are other plans that don't expire for 3 or 6 months. It's all a matter of choosing the one to suit your particular needs.

Cheers. Pam.

Happywanderer · The Master

Sounds good Pam, will look into that.

Bubs · Senior Member

I have been on the road for 2 1/2 years using Telstra prepaid, $30 per month, out of which I get 120 free talk minutes, 120 free txt msgs and buy all my internet browse packs with as well! (Out of my credit I buy $10 200MB browse pack and find this is enough for me for a month. If I run out I just buy another $10 pack).! I use my samsung s5510T as a modem for the internet as well. It works beautifully!! I have cover where a lot of the others don't. The only places I haven't had cover is where there literally is NO cover for any service.

Cheers,

Dianne

-- Edited by Bubs on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 10:38:45 AM

Travel Bug · Guru

Hi Bubs

I looked at that plan too....but I didn't need the browse pack.

There really is a deal to suit everyone isn't there.

Cheers and happy travels. Pam. smile

Esmeralda · Guru

I need to look for a new internet connection - I currently have a 3 USB but when on my maiden voyage found that I had no country coverage. Phone which a blue tick phone under a Telstra $40 plan worked fine, but I am going to look into prepaid rather than the monthly plan. The monthly plan while I was away cost almost double what it normally is and probably would only have been around $30 on a prepaid!! confuse

-- Edited by Esmeralda on Tuesday 14th of June 2011 12:11:56 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Went into Telstra while in town to check on their prepaids. They couldn't do a deal better than the plan I already had. But as my contract had expired they offered me a new contract and upped everything.
I was paying 49.95 a month and as I'm in the 3 for 1 deal I get discounts so only costs 29.95 anyway. (same as before)
I now get $550 a month free calls, unlimited texts and 1.5 Gg of internet. The free calls now include all calls to 13 & 18 00 numbers. Thats new, it never used to.
I also have 3 Ggs on my wireless broadband so now if I run out of that I still have and extra 1.5 Ggs on my mobile. All handy when travelling.

Before I was getting $400 a month free calls with text included in that. And only a few hundred mbs on the internet connection.

Cruising Granny · Guru

You get nothing for nothing. I don't understand if you're on a $40/mth plan how can you get all those calls and texts for "free"?
That doesn't compute to me. Even at 25c/SMS if you do enough it's going to cost each time over and above your plan.
I can't use prepaid viably because I only have mobile and I use it for work. If I don't use my phone much, mainly for SMS it still costs me $40 per month plus whatever I use.
I won't use the mobile for internet because it uses more phone time, therefore costing more per month.
I keep phone and internet separate because Telstra/Bigpond really know how to stuff up bills.
The last phone I bought was a Sony Ericsson "free" package, but I know nothing in this world is FREE.

pws25 · Senior Member

i have the same 'plan' but I top up with $40 & ya get 200 free mins.

Happywanderer · The Master

I swear CG, its not costing me anymore. It will only cost more if I go over the limit which is 550.00 worth of calls. Txts are unlimited so cost me absolutely nothing, no matter how many I use.
I've been using it that way for years and never got a bill for anything other than the monthly fee.
I have never been anywhere near the limit but handy while travelling to have that option. They will txt me when I get to 80% and again at 100% to let me know where I'm up to.
That last trip up north I used a lot more than I usually do, was so glad I had the option to do so.

Travel Bug · Guru

Glad that you got it sorted to your satisfaction Marj.

It always pays to investigate your options as "plans" and "pre paid" are updated constantly.

Cheers. Pam. smile

Sheba · Guru

Just Googled this.

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/prepaid/prepaid-offers

Cheers,

Sheba.

tonyd · Guru

Yes, interesting site. Hard to believe Telstra is getting competitive. Is there a contract involved, and, if, so, for how long? The site is not clear on this.
I don't like contracts, which is why I like Amaysim's $39.90 a month for unlimited calls to mobiles and fixed line phones. You sign up for one month only. Runs on the Optus network, which is probably nearly as good as Telstra's these days.
Going to give it a go, as it would be cheaper than my Telstra fixed line phone and more convenient when travelling.
Cheers, Tony

Sheba · Guru

tonyd wrote:
Is there a contract involved, and, if, so, for how long? The site is not clear on this.
To the best of my knowledge, all Pre-paid is non-contract. Only have contracts if you're paying off the Phone, and/or on a Plan.
Please correct me of I'm wrong any-one.
Cheers,
Sheba.

Happywanderer · The Master

I don't know about contracts for Prepaid as never had a prepaid.
With mine, Yes there is a contract but my last one ran out last January so haven't been on contract since then. It made no difference to my monthly account.
You can have a 12 month or a 24 month contract, the girl suggested I just go for a 12 month this time, usually I get 24 month contracts, as with a 12 month she said if at the end of that time a better deal comes up I have the opportunity of going with it.
You can go on monthly accounts though and not be on a contract, It is up to you.

Esmeralda · Guru

I will be going to Telstra tomorrow to check out what I can get - I think that I am out of contract, so that is one less hurdle. I am more interested in mobile broadband though at the moment.

shadyandme · Senior Member

Hi Esmeralda could you let me know how you go with mobile broadband I will need to do that to. Thanks Norma

Happywanderer · The Master

Norma, I have wireless broadband. I rang telstra and they posted the pack out to me. Its 49.95 a month for 3 Ggs and the option to change it to a different plan online if you wish.
I know there is lots of different plans and I'm sure a better one than that now.

lilly31 · Guru

I have prepaid mobile broadband with Telstra you can get a contract one too .. I the use internet a lot and usually cost me $50. a month as with all pre paid it does work out a bit more expencive but that way i have no bills and i like it that way

Thats for 3 GB

-- Edited by lilly31 on Thursday 16th of June 2011 03:29:04 PM

Esmeralda · Guru

Ok all, I went to Telstra today. Renewed the contract on the mobile phone its now $49 per month for $550 per month of calls and MMS and unlimited texts and 1.5Gb data. I was paying $40 amonth for $40 worth of calls. The wireless broadband is $39.95 month for 3Gb data each month. They are going to send me a USB thingy in the mail which will cost $9.95 for delivery. This is on a plan and they will send the bills by email. I looked at a prepaid wireless but the monthly recharges were more expensive than being on a plan - I would need to pay $50 to get the 3Gb data. With 3 I am paying $39.95 so I am not worse off financially and I will be able to access the internet in rural areas which I couldn't do before.
Cheers, Helen

Happywanderer · The Master

Thats exactly the same deal that I got Esmeralda. I'm sure you can't get any better than that. I was very pleased.

justjo · Senior Member

Hi all

Just some info that might help, I've just bought a Telstra pre-paid mobile wi-fi with 5 GB data over 90 days on special at Harvey Norman for $49.00 usually $99.00.

I thought that was pretty good. It wasn't advertised on special in the Geraldton shop but I asked as it was advertised on the net and they said they had just forgotten to put the special up.

Jo