Mum needs a smart phone probably on a plan and probably Telstra as she has just finished Optus plan and our area has issues with coverage. Please give me advice OR should she go with prepaid as she is not a big phone user min daily calls and txt and facebook ozbargains and ebay thanks
Phone plan for mum, or prepaid best deal probably Telstra
bsk on 24/04/2014 - 11:06
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Amaysim… As you go plan. We are light users and find it to be the best for us.
Is the reception issues with optus in your area phone related?? (Amaysim is on the optus network but we have never had reception issues)
I would completely agree (on the Unlimited plan myself), but Amaysim is an Optus reseller and OP noted that their area has issues with Optus coverage.
Boost Mobile? or…ALDI Mobile?
Both the MVNOs use Telstra towers, sounds like the best bet
Only Boost or Telstra have more coverage than Optus.. ALDI only gets access to towers that match Optus coverage.
coverage issues can also be due to handsets not being the right network band for your provider.
Just wonder what phone she should or could get on a plan again probably Telstra
Depending on your Mum's budget, I suggest spending a bit more dosh than on a Huawei. While they are OK, they are just OK. To some people it doesn't matter and it is a good price, but read some reviews first.
true - what else do you suggest?
It will depend on a number of things, budget, preferred screen size, iOS or Android or Windows Mobile.
On the budget side, a Windows Mobile Nokia Lumia 525 is quite good.
Moving up a bit in screen size and budget on Android, your choices are almost unlimited, from a Nexus5 to LG G2 and many, many more good choices. Just make sure, OP, that your Mum has a play with the bigger size to make sure she is comfortable with it.
Moving up a lot in budget and down a bit in screen size is an iPhone 5S. Very expensive but with excellent resale value and a very easy to understand OS and seamless integration.
Many, many choices. Get your Mum involved by trying out a few phones and all the main OS options.
Depending on where you are, if you go for Iphone she might be better of with a 4s than a 5. Iphone5 is not suitable for regional areas.
Probably check whether Telstra is better in your area before spending more just to be with Telstra. In my area, they are both terrible (less than 10 km from Brisbane CBD).
So I go with an Optus reseller instead.
If she'll be a very light call/sms user and use minimal/no data, then I'd go with SavvyTel 'no expire' pre-paid (Optus network). I'd grab a $150-$200ish smartphone from somewhere (Kogan etc.), get a $50 Savvytel 'never expire' pre-paid sim and away you go.
http://www.savvytel.com.au/prepaid/starter-pack-home. $60 worth of credit + 40 minutes & 50mb data (billed by the mb, which is what ruined it for me) included. Credit never expires. No plan, so if you don't like it you can move away easily. Check with Optus which frequency (mhz) runs in your area and make sure you get a phone with an appropriate radio for best coverage.
When I first got a smartphone I was with Savvy for a few months, averaged about $12-$14 use/month, but went to LiveConnected for more data at the same cost (on a plan that's no longer offered).
Savvytel itself is about to 'expire'.
Bought by Yatango (who, incidentally, recently announced appalling data-pack price increases beginning in May on their own plans), Savvytel is to be shut down. No new signups.
Best budget smartphone is Motorola moto G by all accounts. Can be found for $200 thanks to Google. And $238 in bricks and mortar stores.
If she doesn't really need a phone for much you could always consider a small tablet with 3g. Amaysim (and I'm sure others if Optus is genuinely bad) sell data only plans super cheap. My wife gets 1gb a month for $10. We use Google hangouts for texting and there's VoIP options a plenty for calls (more convoluted I know) or you could augment a tablet with a 'burner'phone.
Good call on the Moto G; bad call on the tablet / burner phone option.
Drop her on to a Citrix based remote VNC mainframe powered by a live CD Ubuntu with AOL messenger and Pennytel VOIP and a backup CB radio.
I know that didn't make sense but I've read too many situations on Whirlpool where the geeks give themselves a wet dream over replacing Dad's old laptop with some far out technology, when all Dad wants to do is play Solitaire faster.
You can get away with this kind of stuff if you have a very accepting wife, but you don't want to try it on your Mum, unless you like being 24 hour tech support.
In reality, as far as Android has come, Apple is the perfect out of the box solution, even though I think iOS 7 is hideous. MIUI is a nice compromise for a slightly prettier Android experience.
Ha ha ha. I sincerely hope I dont qualify as a geek. This dude was looking for cheap as chips. 'Data only' is the cheapest route to go. I was merely highlighting options not giving a specific recommendation.
That said. You're spot on with apple. Although I do think the gap between android and iOS is closing in terms of intuitiveness due to ios7 having a harder learning curve to old folks (IMO) vs previous iterations.
CB radio might just be the best call to date though.
Light user… Prepaid Aldi - 12 months expiry.
Runs on the Telstra network (best coverage)
But ask your mum what's more important for her,
economy all round or flashing a fancy handpiece
with a pricey plan.Hi, you say your mum NEEDS a smartphone. Are you sure? If we compare it to my mother, her eyesight is not what it used to be and she found the screen to be quite difficult to read.
If she is getting on in years, there are specific phones (just phones) that cater to an older person, bigger buttons, bigger display, easier to read etc
I know that this doesnt help with the plan choice, but perhaps consider this before going ahead with a smartphone for her.
cheersand facebook ozbargains and ebay
Vodafone has a $10 per month pre-paid option that may be worthwhile checking out. I top up my son's pre-paid account phone each month on the $20 Pre Paid International option but have noticed a $10 option too. As long as you top up on last day of that cycle any credit gets carried over. Purchased him a Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 recently (about $100 from AllPhones) which is an ideal little smartphone and it fits in his jeans pockets; he is very happy with it. Along same lines as the other Galaxy mobiles (similar) but only 500 mb data on his $20 plan, which is sufficient if only used for emails. Camera is only 3 mp. Additional data usage can come off the credit or check out the other plans. We have used Vodafone (uses Optus coverage) for years in outer suburbia and we haven't had any problems with connections; best check out your areas status first I guess then go with Telstra if your areas have any issues.
Vodafone pre-paid international Plan 250mb data on $20 top up, zero mb for $10, but 500mb $30 top up. The $ credit carries over if you top up on last day (30 days) but not the mb data apparently. As we all run Vodafone mobiles we make very good use of the free Voda to Voda calls, which is one of the main reasons I stay with Vodafone … plus the fact you can always reach them person on the phones if you have any problems or questions. Great customer service as far has been my experience with them.
hi, thanks for comments, atm she is using a iphone 3 gs given to her by a friend, and we have put a boost prepaid sim in to see if that is going to be a good option, costing $40 a month? think mum would like a larger phone, so will be watching out for a good deal
think mum would like a larger phone
iphone 6 should have a larger screen :)
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/128602-apple-iphone-6-case-r…
Estimate of calls and data usage?