Pay as you go mobile
 

A pay as you go sim card.

Hi everyone, I've never had one before, but it looks like it might be the best option for a while. Do you just buy one off the shelf? Which deals are the best in Australia? I see that most are time limited, are there some with longer limits? Anything else I should watch out for? Or is it cheaper in the longterm to get a proper subscription set up?

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I'm with Vodafone and they do bundles with how much you text/talk so you can pick your best option.
I hear Virgin are very good too. It depends on who does greater coverage in your area... so be careful of that otherwise you end up getting big drop outs in certain places.

http://youcompare.com.au/mobilephones/deals

And have a read of this:

http://cellphones.about.com/od/servi...payasyougo.htm

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I'm getting my 3 kids pay as you go mobiles for Chistmas. I've gone with Virgin's Beancounter as it's 10c a text 20c a minute for a call and free voicemail. Seems pretty reasonable.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

We got Telstra sims when we first arrived. They are very cheap for texts about 1cent I think. So good for kids.

Also has the best coverage in Australia if your living rural (I was originally 9hours to Perth)
However any unused credit disapears if you dont use it by the end of 30days.
Unless you send it to another family member then send it back to you;)

However Ive just signed up for a contract phone, as found they have better deals (with different provider).

Gems

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Many different deals out there depends on you usage... few ideas tho...

Look at Virgin Voda or 3 if you do a lot of in Australia calling for their prepaid caps.

Look at Telstra NextG if you spend time out of town or need the phone for emergencies were coverage matters.

Lok at Lebara for calling abroad lots...

You can either by a SIM and phone package or buy an unlocked Phone and insert the sim.

For 3 and Telstra nextG you have to have a phone that support these.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I have a phone, I just need the card.

I hardly use the phone, just need to be contactable on the move occasionally and for emergencies. Can I not just plonk down 20 bucks and get a card that'll work?

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

YES :thumbup:

Vodafone 365 day plan from $20 for the year, depending how you use it.

I make very few calls myself, mainly just receive them, so the $50 for a year gives me 300 minutes of free Vodafone to Vodafone calls + $50 credit for other calls and texts.

The $20 annual plan gives 50 minutes of free Vodafone to Vodafone calls + $20 credit.

http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/...5day/index.htm

Standard call rate is 39c per 30 seconds + 35c connection fee

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

we went for Lebara from crazy johns for SIMs for my wife's and my phone.

Free to call each other, reaonable pices for calls/text in Aus and very good for calling UK where the majority of are calls take place.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Thanks everyone, the vodaphone 365 thing looks the business.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

If you want a contract without having jobs . . .

send wife in to 3 - say her job is 'housewife'. If she passes the credit check she want need to prove income.

That's how we got our mobile and internet contracts . . .

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Thanks, but that's not the issue. What I want is a phone with no monthly fee and no lock in. $30 a year for the mobile is perfect. If I find I need to use the phone more I won't have any trouble signing up for a plan.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Understood - just thought that I would throw it in for further info . . .

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I am on the vodafone 365 thingy, its pretty good, I hardly ever use the phone so it lasts for ever.

Only had one issue with it, when I topped up once it moved me onto a 30 day package when that expired I topped up and it put me straight back onto the 30 day package. I had to speak to the call centre, it took them maybe 20 minutes to make some changes, they didnt know what had happened either. If you can, try to top up online, then you can check what package it is putting you on before you pay.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Oh, while I think about it, the $30 365 day plan costs $27 from Woolworths, Dick Smith etc. If you get the $30 voucher from them, and not the $27 one, you may well get the 30 day plan.

It almost happened to me once.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Anyone had experiene with Just Mobile? (15c per 30s, no connection fee, 180 day credit expiry)

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

We had Virgin PAYG sims, and did the V2V $29 top up which gives you free Virgin to Virgin calls and texts. Very handy if other people you know are with Virgin too. :)

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Not relevant to the op as he wants a yearly job but voda payg allow international calls within the bonus minutes/credit
Can be useful for some

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

You may also want to have a look at the Planet Mobile product from Planet ISP:

Planet Mobile

They have the simplest pricing of any mobile provider in Australia:

All calls = 33c per minute (Billed per second)
SMS = 16.5c per message
Data = 33c per MB

And that's it.

They bill monthly, to a nominated credit card, and only for what you use. There is no line rental - if you don't use it during a month, then there is nothing to pay.

No complex caps or plans or indecipherable charging systems. No expiry of credit either.

I use this, and have found it to be first rate. They piggyback on the Vodafone network.


S

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Thank you, this looks attactive. Anyone else had experience with this provider?

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I've got one and I'd say they offer better value than most (this is used mostly just for receiving calls). The 6 month credit expiry is the best feature!

Our second mobile is from TPG (bundled with my internet) - $15 gives you $300 worth of calls and texts - hardly use $300, so more than enough.

I use skype-skype for all international calls :)

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I have just bought one of these, as I had my son and wife using iSim which is closing down next month.

Bought a SIM for $5 at Box Hill (can order online as well) which gives $5 credit (which lasts just 30 days, so you have to recharge) and I can port the number over. So nothing to lose in trying them out. You have to recharge every 6 months for $15 minimum. Right now they are giving 50% extra free on the recharge. Also there is/was a referal where each of you get $15 credited, so I will get my son to refer my wife when she gets a Sim as well.

Most of their calls are quick or text, so no flagfall and billing by the second is important. Vodaphone is quite expensive for short calls, but I guess good for just receiving them. Just mobile use the Vodaphone network.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

We are all Virgin Bean Counters... except me

the bean counter is only available online... which can be a pain ... but at least I know what is going out when and where..

I brought one of the long lasting credits coz I dont use mine much at all...

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I'm exploring replacement for iSim...
Trying to decide between Just Mobile, Lebara and Planet Mobile

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Vodafone appear to have a new capped Mobile Phone plan on its non-contract options.

Cost $20 per month, on a month by month basis.
Costs are calculated as follows:

• Standard SMS 28c each
• Standard MMS (Video) 75c each
• Standard Voice calls 90c per minute +35c flagfall
• Standard Video calls $1.35 per minute +35c flagfall

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Though there appears to be quite a bit of alleged value in there, all of those call costs seem rather high - It probably won't take long to chew through that credit...


S

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

It comes down to how much the user uses the phone.

For example: Comparing Planet Mobile to Vodafone $20 Sim Only plan:

Say 60 x 2 minute calls + 100 texts per month - Vodafone is $30pm cheaper
Say 120 x 2 minute calls + 200 texts per month - Vodafone is $72pm more expensive.Personally though I like my daughters plan:

$10 per month
gets:
$130 worth of calls and texts60 x 2 minute calls + 100 texts per month = $10 total cost
120 x 2 minute calls + 200 texts per month = $122 total cost
:thumbsup:

Planet Mobile does look good for the high user.

But at the other extreme, I can spend as little as $20 per year for my mobile usage :thumbup:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I've got the Vodafone 365 because it suits my current circumstances but the fees are not so good. Will probably change it later in the year to another provider. I don't like the fee scheduling that most providers use in Aus: Such as call connection fees and costs quoted by the half minute

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Me neither - that's why I use Planet Mobile. Plus there is no minimum monthly spend - I pay for exactly what I use, so I always know where I am.


S

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I have a telstra PAYG mobile and PAYG wireless broadband widget.

The wireless works out at $0.016 per MB if you recharge $100 a month, but you can then transfer part of that $100 onto the mobile phone which works out very well for me. I'm online about 16-18 hours a day with a lot of up/downloads, costs me about $1.50 a day I reckon, the rest of the credit i just transfer to the phone.

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

ABCD - who is this with dear? :D

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

If i have a pay as you go mobile but dont go anywhere,do i still have to pay:confused:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Get back to work :rolleyes: :p

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

The child is snoring,the reaper has passed by:thumbsup:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

That's good news :thumbup::wub:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

Not if yer stuck in an isolation cubicle listening to him,now i know what my ex-wife went through:lol:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

:lol: Thank god for BE to keep you amused then!!! Can't you take your ipod to work, that should keep the noise out :sneaky:

Re: Pay as you go mobile
 

I'll send you a PM with the link, as you can also get the 1st month free with my referral. :thumbup: