Just got a prepaid sim from Kogan, and am Not happy. Activation number didn,t work. Spent 30 mins trying to get the right combination. So I ring kogan mobile- put on hold for 35 mins!At least Telstra is reliable. It would be nice if the sim WORKED. Bill
I'm getting VERY confused here. I have a new Kogan sim (and a new Aldi sim, thanks to a GN from Victoria, a bloke I hope wins Lotto this weekend becos he's a ripper).
Will my Kogan sim work in a new, UNLOCKED, non-Telstra phone? Or do I have to use a LOCKED Telstra phone? Do I have to get a new number or can I port my old (Savvytel) number? I don't mind getting a new number.
I have a locked Telstra phone, but I don't want to mess about with it becos It's really good in the bush.
I'm also trying to get Virgin to unlock a phone I had with them some years ago and have not used since, but am getting the runaround about how they "don't recognise the IMEI number". Funny that, they recognised it OK when I signed up. I am beginning to understand why John Howard banned guns in this country!
Cheers, Tony
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Go to one of those kiosks in any major shopping centre that repair mobile phones. They have a million and one ways to unlock phones and fix your problem with sim cards. You will recognise them because they are usually flogging Chinese accessories too...
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Cheers, Chris...
"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin
This is an interesting topic. My son is about to buy a Samsung Galaxy from Kogan after I went on line searching.
He only wants the phone, not the package or connections etc.
A funny story behind this. He went out last night to the pub. Informed me this morning he had lost hs phone. I back tracked over town in the reverse order to when he left here last night. Found it smashed in the middle of the road half way to town. Sim card works in his old phone and he's charging that up but he needs the Samsung Galaxy so he can do his banking etc as doesn't have a laptop.
So the question is, if he buys the one off Kogan to put his sim card in will it work and will it be easy to get it going.. He doesn't have the patience to deal with it if its not straight forward and I won't be here when it arrives in the mail.
I'm not sure if the Kogan phone is locked to Telstra But if his last one was from Kogan then the new one from them would work the same as the old one I will have a look on there site if they are locked in to telstra
1. All phones from Kogan come Network UNLOCKED, thus you can use any carrier, retailer, wholesaler, provider you like! Telstra, Kogan, Optus, Virgin, Voda, you name it
2. If you have a Telstra "locked" phone (meaning it is SIM locked) you can use any retailer, provider, wholesaler that also uses the Telstra Network, today that is Kogan, Aldi, Boost, etc... and obviously Telstra.
3. If a phone is UNLOCKED, you can use anything in it, in any country, whatever you like.
4. If you have a Optus network locked phone, you can use a Virgin SIM in it and Vice Versa (same network, same details)
5. Buying an UNLOCKED phone, also means you dont get all the providers bloatware on it, that only slows the phone down, you just get the handeset as the manafacturer intended.
6. Some LOCKED handsets, will let you put another providers SIM card in them, they will turn on and you can make all calls and send text/SMS messages, you just can not use the internet, you will be on the 2G network for calls and texts.
So i undetstand it can be confusing, so i hope that clears it up for some people.
Worth mentioning for those that want a Samsung Galaxy S3, that Kogan have dropped the price to $419 (as the S4 is out now), so great price for a brilliant bit of hardware.
Also worth a mention, for those that like to use Mud Map HD or HEMA or Oxiexplore, they will run on the these smart phones.
If you know the right people, or would like me to organise it for you, you can get phones UNLOCKED (network unlock, so you can use other companies SIM cards in it) for as cheap as $10
I got an Iphone4 unlocked cheap last week..... Its now running HEMA Maps and TomTom with full offline mapping, so you can be completely out of 3G network range and still navigate you way around.
EDIT: As part of the ACMA rules, there are a certain amount of phones that MUST be available to the Australian public UNLOCKED.
People like Kogan import thier handsets directly from HongKong, so they are outside the AMCA rules anyway, plus you dont pay GST, in fact, your transaction is with a completely seperate company to Kogan Aust.... you purchase off Kogan HongKong P/L. Its in the small print. There are also many other companys offering the same service, some cheaper then Kogan.
People have also been having issues with Kogan SIM cards lately, recharges not working, incorrect details, SIM cards failing and needing replacement.
I am currently using an ALDImobile SIM card and find it working brilliantly!
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Sunday 17th of March 2013 01:33:31 PM
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Sunday 17th of March 2013 01:37:50 PM
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Sunday 17th of March 2013 02:02:09 PM
I do understand how confusing the world of Mobile phones is.... I think everyone has been confused about networks and locked phones etc, and terminology that is used for 2 different situations...
I was exactly the same and had to learn the hard way ;)
As well as a phone/handset being Network Locked... it can also be Blocked. Meaning, its IMEI number has been Blocked from the Australian Networks. This occurs if a phone is report as lost or stolen with the provider, not the police ;) All the Australian Network Providers share this information between them, so if its been Blocked, it will not work in Australia on any network, however, it will work overseas. Hence many just sell their handset on ebay to and overseas buyer.
If you have been unfortunate enough to purchase an Iphone that is Blocked, there is a guy that can Unblock it for you: http://www.beijingiphonerepair.com/store/#!/~/product/category=3388146&id=20909775
A friend of mine used this service last week and can confirm that the $60 spent is well worth it.
If I have an Optus phone and get it unlocked, can you then get rid of the Optus bloatware, once you are no longer on the Optus network.
I have recently bought a LG -705 and as I have never had a smart phone I am on a steep learning curve. At the moment I use a Exetel wireless modem when away from home, on the Optus network. If I connect to Aldi Mobile will I then be able to use this smart phone as a modem and do I tether it to the puter or can I set it up as a WI FI hotspot that is secure
when you put an new sim card in your unlocked phone whats is on a Telstra Network It wont have any thing to do any more with Optus I hope this will help you David
Regards John
-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 09:05:19 AM
If I have an Optus phone and get it unlocked, can you then get rid of the Optus bloatware, once you are no longer on the Optus network.
I have recently bought a LG -705 and as I have never had a smart phone I am on a steep learning curve. At the moment I use a Exetel wireless modem when away from home, on the Optus network. If I connect to Aldi Mobile will I then be able to use this smart phone as a modem and do I tether it to the puter or can I set it up as a WI FI hotspot that is secure
Thanks
David
No, unfortunitly the Optus Bloatware will remian on your phone. That is more a firmware issue, not a Network Lock issue (they have nothing to do with each other)
I have a Pre-Paid Optus Android phone a bought 16months ago, I actauly asked the same question myself and the answer is NO.
All the Unlocking with do, is open the options to select another network, you phone features, apps, bloatware will all remain the same i am affriad.
If you are really keen, you could search some forums and there might be some stock firmware for that handset???
Alternitively, you can get editing software that might allow you to remove it. Most Android Forums would be able to help you.
You can "root" the device, I believe you may be able to delete the bloatware that way. "Rooting" is the same as "Jailbreaking" for an Idevice.
And it if you get it wrong... then you have r@#ted it ;)
I have been using thethering as my main internet connection at home for the 16months!
Unlimited Internet, Unlimited Call, Unlimited texts for $2 a Day, only on the days i use it.
Love it, downloaded 7Gb over the passed 48hours, no problems at all.
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 03:14:47 PM
At the moment I use a Exetel wireless modem when away from home, on the Optus network. If I connect to Aldi Mobile will I then be able to use this smart phone as a modem and do I tether it to the puter or can I set it up as a WI FI hotspot that is secure
Thanks
David
You do realise you can Tether with Optus too Dave?
Tethering with an Android device is not controlable by the network provider, so you have open slather! Tether away!
Tethering via an Iphone can be controled by the network provider, in fact, Optus does control Iphones in that way on Pre-Paid, but there are Apps available that negate that problem.... so there is no problem anymore ;)
Good Luck with your Android Phone, there is so much you can do with them.
I see you have this one: http://www.lg.com/au/mobile-phones/lg-Optimus-L7-P705
Have a look around the Forums, you can TomTom and HEMA 2012 Navigation Apps for them.... very cheap ;) :) ;)
In fact, Android has become the prefered platform for Navigation software now.... OziExplorer, Hema, TomTom, Sygic, Navigon, Maps n Trax.
Making your new phone, quite a handy device. And just a side note, i have my Android Phone tethered for 3 or 4 days straight sometimes, no drop outs, no problems, you just have to keep the charger plugged in!
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 03:29:18 PM
This topic is so full of information that it could become confusing to someone who may read it by chance.
So I will add my bit of info.... Unlocked phones old or newer models may work on other networks, depending on the whether the phone is a 900Mhz or 2100Mhz generally optus/vodafone or 850Mhz Telstra/Aldi/Kogan and some vodafone. Lots of newer phones usually work on all but older ones sometimes depend on who sold them. But this is not always true.
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This topic is so full of information that it could become confusing to someone who may read it by chance.
So I will add my bit of info.... Unlocked phones old or newer models may work on other networks, depending on the whether the phone is a 900Mhz or 2100Mhz generally optus/vodafone or 850Mhz Telstra/Aldi/Kogan and some vodafone. Lots of newer phones usually work on all but older ones sometimes depend on who sold them. But this is not always true.
This is true and good advise.... Unfortunitly its not quite as cut and dry as that, as there is also a mix of 2G and 3G networks to consider.
Example: Where i live, Optus only have the 3G service on thier 900Mhz country network, they also use the 2100Mhz network off the same tower, but its ONLY voice and SMS coverage aka the 2G network.
So if you were to buy or get given an older Iphone 3GS handset, which only covers 850Mhz, 1900Mhz and 2100Mhz.... You could only use that phone for 2G services
So techinically, yes you can use the phone, but not the high speed data part of your plan.
Swap handsets to one that also has a 900Mhz radio inside it, and you'd be able to use the full service of your plan, Voice, SMS, MMS and Data.
To get back on Topic, KOGAN are copping a flogging in the media and ACMA and TIO in regards to booting users for using the "So Called" Unlimited service.....
I now feel very sorry for suggesting Kogan at all...... I have also suffered my own issues with their servie and horrible customer service. I have moved to ALDImobile for my Data service and will be staying with Optus for my phone.
Kogan have less then zero customer service and now restrictions and on top of that, have been booting users that are hardly even heavy users. It will become news very shortly.
Salty, thanks for your input on this. I have a Kogan sim. Will see how it goes with the "free" 100 minutes of calls before trying to top up and/or use it regularly. That way I'm only down about $5.
Courtesy of an excellent Nomad in Victoria, I also have an Aldi sim. Will try that first and hope you can top up online, as Aldi has not come to WA yet. I have tried their web site, but get a warning about its lack of a secuirity certificate, so did not log into it.
Pity really, as Kogan seems a very good deal. I need only some calls, as I have never learned to text, and I don't need data feed.
Cheers, Tony
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I had a great experience with all my Kogan SIMs on the "Free Trial" period. It was once i re-charged them i had issues. For calls i think you will be fine!
Horses for courses, pick between ALDI or Kogan using their pricing structure that suits you best.
As a side note, i have actually been blown away with ALDImobile SIM card and service, i am only on the $5 bonus credit, and its been on full time for almost a week, the internet gets used via it every day, still haven't used up the $5 yet :)
Admittedly i dont really download on that SIM, but i use it for devices that need a constant connection to the internet 24/7. So far i have been very impressed. I will certainly be recharging and spending my money with them!
Yes, its a shame you dont have ALDI native in your state.
Unlike Kogan, when i walk into ALDI in Geelong, they had hundreds of SIM starter packs at the check out, was just too easy.
They also work in ALL Telstra locked devices, as well as any Unlocked device :)
-- Edited by SaltyDog on Thursday 21st of March 2013 09:00:08 AM
A little side note to this thread. In my (Perth suburban) Coles today I bought a $30 Telstra recharge voucher and for a further $5, they throw in a prepaid Telstra Next G phone, the Prepaid Roamer. It comes with a sim loaded with $10 call credit!
So I get a (not flash but quite reasonable) phone and some calls for less than the price of a normal sim card. From Telstra Next G! I can then move it on to Telstra Simplicity, or, presumably, Aldi or Kogan service.
Might go to another Coles tomorrow with with wife's Flybuys card (they say only one phone per customer). Getting a bargain from Telstra would just make my whole day!
Cheers, Tony
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