Pay as you go mobile
#16
BE Forum Addict







Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,949












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?
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?


#17
Devil's Advocate







Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 2,269












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
Can be useful for some

#18

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

#20

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


#21
Forum Regular



Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 199








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.

#22

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...
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...

#24
Guest
Posts: n/a

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.
Cost $20 per month, on a month by month basis.
Gives you $150 each month to spend on calls, texts etc.
plus:
$200 worth of Vodafone to Vodafone standard national voice calls within Australia all day, every day
plus:
50MB of data for mobile Internet.
Costs are calculated as follows:plus:
$200 worth of Vodafone to Vodafone standard national voice calls within Australia all day, every day
plus:
50MB of data for mobile Internet.
- 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
#25

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.
Cost $20 per month, on a month by month basis.
Gives you $150 each month to spend on calls, texts etc.
plus:
$200 worth of Vodafone to Vodafone standard national voice calls within Australia all day, every day
plus:
50MB of data for mobile Internet.
Costs are calculated as follows:plus:
$200 worth of Vodafone to Vodafone standard national voice calls within Australia all day, every day
plus:
50MB of data for mobile Internet.
- 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
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

#26
Guest
Posts: n/a

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
Vodafone
60 x 2.15 = $129.00 ($2.15 is the cost for 2 minutes inc flagfall)
100 x .28 = $ 28.00
Total $27 cost after cap benefit
Planet Mobile
120m x .33 = $39.60
100 x .165 = $16.50
Total $56.10
Say 120 x 2 minute calls + 200 texts per month - Vodafone is $72pm more expensive.60 x 2.15 = $129.00 ($2.15 is the cost for 2 minutes inc flagfall)
100 x .28 = $ 28.00
Total $27 cost after cap benefit
Planet Mobile
120m x .33 = $39.60
100 x .165 = $16.50
Total $56.10
Vodafone
120 x 2.15 = $258.00
200 x .28 = $ 56.00
Total $184 cost after cap benefit
Planet Mobile
240m x .33 = $79.20
200 x .165 = $33.00
Total $112.20
Personally though I like my daughters plan:120 x 2.15 = $258.00
200 x .28 = $ 56.00
Total $184 cost after cap benefit
Planet Mobile
240m x .33 = $79.20
200 x .165 = $33.00
Total $112.20
$10 per month
gets:
$130 worth of calls and texts
Call Costs
20c per 15 seconds
25c per text
60 x 2 minute calls + 100 texts per month = $10 total cost20c per 15 seconds
25c per text
120 x 2 minute calls + 200 texts per month = $122 total cost

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

#27
Banned










Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348












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

#28

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
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

#29
Fronting the Parole Board










Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,462












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.
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.
