Exec Summary: If you are on a 500gb Telstra home phone/broadband bundle that is more than 2 months old, checkout the new bundles because chances are you can save money and get more stuff for free…
If you are with Dodo/TPG or another unlimited ADSL 2+ ISP, are happy with your internet speeds, and use VOIP for your calls, pass on this deal…
Deal will be of most interest to those in Telstra cable Internet serviced areas….
Short story - Telstra have updated their home phone/broadband bundles. At least at the top end the price has dropped slightly ($5 per month), and there are several new inclusions which are attractive such as:
- A free micro-SIM for an IPAD with 500mb of downloads per month free (watch the excess charges above 500mb)
- $50 of call credit for up to 4 post-paid mobiles (I think there are conditions about they must be on the one bill)
Long story - I signed up to the 500gb Pinnacle broadband/home phone bundle in December 2012. I declined T-box and was paying $150 per month for 500gb of downloads + home phone line rental + unlimited local/STD calls (annoyingly excluding 13xxxx calls which you still pay for)….
Browsing the web today looking at mobile plans when I noticed the bundle prices and inclusions have changed - the names of the bundles haven't changed, but the newer bundles are better and cheaper, at least at the top end of town….
So the new Pinnacle bundle without T-box is $145 per month (save $5 per month compared to earlier bundle). It includes everything the old Pinnacle bundle did (home phone line rental, local/STD calls excluding 13xxxx numbers + 500gb of broadband downloads).
In addition you now get a free Micro-SIM to use in your IPAD - and that comes with 500mb of data downloads free per month (but they will sting you HARD for any usage over 500mb). You also get $50 of bonus call credit on up to 4 of your family's post-paid mobile phones with Telstra.
I am sure the haters are gonna hate and complain $145 per month is way too much. It probably is, but I do know you are getting access to the best non-NBN broadband in Australia… I for one was already a happy customer and even happier now….
Existing bundle customers can switch bundles over the phone (takes about 10 minutes). If you are already on an existing bundle I believe you don't need to re-contract.
New customers also get free installation I believe but must sign up to a 24 month contract.
I'm missing something… How is this a bargain ??? Does it include Foxtel ?