deb68

Will our existing mobile phones work in oz, or do we need to buy new, or is it just a sim change and new credit?
Also, do you have pay as you go or is it all contract agreements please.
THANKS.

xzibit

They'll most likely need to be unlocked before you leave, then you can get some oz sim cards when you get there.

You can tell if they are network locked (probably) by putting in another network's sim and see if it works, or brings up an error message.

newjersey

both pay as you go and contracts are available.

Phlanger

Get them unlocked before you come out - its a pain in the arse out here.

Fluid36

If it is locked, simply google the model number along with unlock and you should be able to cheaply (<20 pounds) unlock it online depending on the model. Before you do this though call your provider and request a free unlock as a lot of t he time they will unlock it for you depending on how long you have been on contract with them.

On the other hand I have found contracts in Aus which provide a phone (iphone 4 etc) to be quite well priced. For example the $59 cap on virgin with iphone 4 allows you to call overseas as part of your monthly credit which is great for expats.

Deancm_MKII

Calling overseas on a $59 cap would last about... 5mins. That is before you started getting additional charges.

Fluid36

Not true, I can make a couple of hours calls per month no probs.

In Aus 59 cap refers to how much you pay per month, this includes $450 call time per month. Each country costs a slightly different amount to call obviously but the $450 gives you plenty.

Steve2009

I used to get a few hours to Ireland with Three for about that.

EDIT: About 4 hours on $55 cap.

bcworld

Yup. My $49 cap on 3 allows $100 of international calls at $0.80/minute.

i.e. 125 minutes.

Deancm_MKII

It was an intentional exaggeration. Maybe I should have used a smiley face so people don't take it literally?

Fluid36

Maybe, but I would say it's more than an exaggeration, you referred to the $59 cap as your point of reference without even knowing the available dollar amount call time so I would say it was more of a misunderstanding on your behalf.

Deancm_MKII

And by saying it wouldn't last 5 mins, which is so blatantly obvious a massive understatement it should have been obvious to all, apart from the anally retentive, and still got the message across that mobile phones calls in Australia are a rip off.

You have difficulty reading between the lines, don't you?

Steve2009

Try calling Aus from Ireland. How much is it to call Aus from a mobile in the UK? Aus seems cheap compared to Ireland.

Wol

Someone here put me onto Amaysim, which is apparently going gangbusters. 15¢ / min, no flagfall and $10pm for data.

Since I only use my mobile for say a couple of calls a month it's good value.

Steve2009

They're certainly going gangbusters on their advertising. I wonder whose network they're using. (EDIT: Optus 3G)