tinaj

If we buy a pay as you go phone over here will we be able to take it over with us and just buy a new sim card for it?

Do they have pay as you go in Aus, any idea of the charges for mobile phone calls?

Any other useful info like which network is the best price wise?

Ta

markeh

Hi tinaj,

I suspect that most phones will work, but it will be interesting to see what the answer is.
I know that in the usa the phones there seem to have better range than UK ones. (GSM)

Bye
Markeh

lynnj

Tina

We use virgin here and i had intended to use it there too but it would appear they dont have a pay as you go option, i'm sure others do, we are taking our own phones with us but have been told you need to get them unlocked, again i have no clue how to do this.

So i'd be really interested to hear whats best, pay as you go or monthly bill, and which services have best coverage in WA.

Lynn

by the way good news on your house

lind

I've just got a new mobile- pay as you go- from the carphone warehouse as I intend to take it to oz and just get a new sim card.The chap was helpful and said that the PAYG phone was already unlocked.
My husbands is a contract phone with orange and he will have to go into the orange shop to get it unlocked for about £25-£35.

Sorry - don't know anything about tarrifs in oz

young_lad

I went to see a bloke on a market stall and paid £5 to have a Vodafone mobile unlocked (it takes 30 seconds to do and was the easiest fiver he earned). You shouldn't have to pay more than £10 to have it unlocked.

WhiteRose

Virgin mobile do have a PAYG option in Australia.

Check out http://www.virginmobile.com.au

lynnj

So they do, they just dont make it easy for you to find, i'm off to look at the rates.

Lynn

JimInSomerset

This site -
http://www.phonechoice.com.au/index.cfm?Section=Mobile

should give you all the information you need on plans etc.

Have fun.

Cheers

Jim

Badge

there is a website for unlocking phones - I'll dig it out

cost - a tenner.



badge

Badge

it may not be the best network - especially rural - but you can't go wrong with Optus in the city for the first few weeks you are there. Rock up and get the "Bring your own mobile" deal.

Badge

tinaj

Whiterose thanks for posting the Virgin details- I am with them over here and I have a Virgin mobile so will I need to get another sim out there then? Maybe I should ring them and ask.

The rates look good especially if we buy another Virgin phone for my hubby as well.

WhiteRose

We bought an Australian Virgin SIM card whilst we were out there on holiday last year. It cost $29, but we also got $29 worth of calls. You need to make sure your phone is unlocked, which Virgin (UK) will do for free provided you have spent at least £30 with them.

The call rates were good, especially for calls back to the UK, and coverage was fine in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. I couldn't say what it is like in more rural areas, but no problems in the city.

I would buy a phone in the UK, get it unlocked and take it with you as phones seemed to be quite expensive out there.

Hope this helps.

HiddenPaw

I bought my UK Nokia phone with me - I was on Vodafone in the UK and I bought a Vodafone sim card in Oz - din't need to do any unlocking - it just worked.

Initial PAYG sim card cost $30 and included $20 of calls.

karenvirginia

tina, my answer same as hiddenpaw. first i went with aapt in sydney payg, think it was same price as virgin red sim who i'm with now up on the goldcoast. (aapt not nationwade coverage) cost of calls is 38c per min and 25c per text anywhere but you can choose the type of plan. texting is best, when you get a landline the calls can be very chaep to the uk $1 for 10 mins then 22c per min, or get a prepay card and ring from callbox, seen these advertised with calls for 3 or 4c per min. not tried myself. lots of different rates available, depends on what you think you'll use most.
all the best anyway
karen

Rossi

here's a couple of unlocking sites I keep in my favourites

http://www.gsminside.com/unlocking/

http://www.unlockingmobiles.co.uk/remote.htm