OT: Mobile phone plans

Sep 01, 2008 4 Replies
D

OT, but I know some people know a lot about this stuff on here goes...



I've been with Vodaphone pre-paid for a long time now, but the coverage sucks, so I (and family members) am looking to switch. e.g recent trip from Perth to Broome, got no coverage anywhere in between, but everyone else in the towns had coverage. Blue Mountains in Sydney when I'm up there canyoning or whatever - nothing on Vodaphone, but friends with Telstra get coverage everywhere.



So the new plan:



- Has got to be a long term pre-paid, I hate plans. I use maybe $20/ year if I'm lucky. 12 month pre-paid highly preferable.



- Got to be able to keep my number.



- Got to use the Telstra service for the coverage. Doesn't have to be an actual plan with Telstra.



- Got to have auto-top up, don't want to run out when I need it.



Rather than sift though all the marketing crap out there, I figured someone might have some pointers?



Thanks. Dave.


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A

It probably doesn't matter too much who the service provider is, just who's network they use to provide it. Any providers using the Big T's network should provide good coverage. The next question should be 3G or GSM or both? Ask the relevant questions before signing up and demand to see a coverage map. That way if you get lied to you've got justification for backing out of the contract.

Cheers, Alan

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Q

About the only one I know of that has those features is "savvytel" they claim that it never runs out as long as you have some credit in the account. However it not much good for you as they use Vodaphone network.

Laurie. Registered Linux user # 468070
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D

On Sep 1, 5:04 pm, "Alan Rutlidge" > coverage sucks, so I (and family members) am looking to switch.

Yep, that's the idea. I don't care who I deal with as long as they use the Telstra network.

Any providers out there with long period no-frills pre-paid plans that use Telstra?

I presume that all service providers using the Telstra network would have identical coverage everywhere in Oz?

Considering that we only have GSM phones to make old fashioned phone calls and text, no need for 3G.

Thanks Dave.

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P

I have those exact same requirements. Voda's patchy even in the outer suburbs of Melbourne (Chelsea) so a change would be great for me.

Let us know how you go Dave.

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