Excessive Telecommunications Costs

• 

  neil on 10/11/2009 - 12:03

  +2

  You can get HSPA aka mobile broadband (3, Virgin, Optus etc.) and run VOIP (skype without having your computer on) on your mobile and for a router for home.

  Exetel for example:

  http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hspa-pricing.php

  $5/mnth plus applicable data charges for your phone.
  VOIP call costs:
  $.10 a call landline Autralia, $.15/min to mobile
  http://www.exetel.com.au/voip_planA.php

  As for mobile wireless,
  Same deal depending on how much data you will use a month

  If you are happy with your broadband, then you can just get a VOIP provider such as the above or Pennytel, Mynetfone and lots of others with similar prices.

  Suggest if you want a cheap prepaid to check out some of the plans on the wiki,
  http://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/cheap_mobile_plans

• 

  Davo1111 on 10/11/2009 - 19:54

  re phone - vodafone prepaid offers a 365 plan, where the credit expires after 365 days….
  from memory 8 think the minimum rechard is $20, but don't quote me on that.

• 

  manobik on 11/11/2009 - 03:03

  For mobile savvytel(www.savvytel.com.au) wins hands down. Call credit never expire. One off $20. Thats it.

• 

  manobik on 11/11/2009 - 03:32

  You are using wireless broadband. Can you explain what kind of wireless is that? Is it ADSL+wifi system or the Wireless NextG Broadband from Telstra or some 3G/HSPA service from optus/vodafone?

  I think if u just tell us how much u spend on each service(and name them) per month and what postcode and suburb you are in, it would be bit easier for us to provide you much needed information.

  • 

    keefie on 11/11/2009 - 13:05

    It is Wireless NextG Broadband from Telstra. $59.95 for 2G of downloads.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 11/11/2009 - 10:11

  While not as cheap as using VOIP - whic maybe hard to do with a wireless broadband connection here is one alternative.

  Maxotel have VOIP with an ANI callback option.

  You sign up a voip service with Maxotel, then you go to the website with your password and user name and set up Ani call back to your home number

  It works like this.

  You call out to the ani callback number
  The call cant be made, you get an engaged signal - so you pay nothing for the call at this stage.
  The Maxotel system detects your call, looks up and finds that the number you called from is in their database and is a valid account.
  Then the Maxotel system calls you back
  You get a call and a voice prompt to call any number you like

  Mobile, local, national, international

  Your costs are

  10c for the call back to your phone (untimed)
  plus the call out costs as here

  10c anywhere in Australia (untimed)
  20c per minute to mobiles

  So in effect you will pay 20c for untimed calls anywhere in Australia
  Mobiles 10c flat - think like a flagfall - AND 20c a minute

  Check their site out for international rates etc

  Pennytel also offers this service, but according to whirlpool users its not as reliable.

  While not as cheap as voip over broadband it is still much cheaper than Telstra and it isn't affected by your broadband connect issues and if power goes out you still an use vs losing your broadband connection.

  My sister cant get adsl being on a pair gain and she uses this and has saved over half here telecom calling costs - as you live in a rural area many of your calls will be STD so 20c untimed you get great freedom

  Hope that helps

  http://www.maxotel.com.au

• 

  manobik on 11/11/2009 - 15:17

  okay Neil already suggested, for mobile u can consider these,

  http://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/cheap_mobile_plans

  Regarding broadband, NextG is one of the most expensive plan out there and best countrywide coverage as well. You need to contact vodafone and optus wirless internet sales depertment and make sure they have HSDPA coverage in your area. After confirming the availability you can choose any OPTUS resellers like

  1. exetel
     http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hspa-pricing.php
     22.50 for 2GB or 37.50 for 5 GB

  2. pennytel data sim: $25 / 2GB
     http://www.pennytel.com (click products>Penny sim> Data plan)

  3. Dodo postpaid wireless: $25/2GB, $35/3GB, $45/6GB

  https://secure.dodo.com.au/wireless/Planselection.aspx?tab=0

  Or vodafone reseller

  1. Crazy Johnes postpaid : $ 33/3 GB (6 months contract with free modem)

  To ditch your landline phone and save phone rental, you should have some kind of backup service like pennytel voip or maxotel. And you need to invest some time to understand all the available options you have with those voip providers. Simply put if you have proper equipments(HSPA wifi router + ATA), you can use your same old landline phone set to call any phone using the internet. Or if you dont want to invest on those you can use a software phone on your computer to call/receive call. ANI callback is viable only if you have a landline phone line.