We're with Virgin atm. We've been, and may occasionally still go to places that we lose reception, but Telstra phones are still connected. We need of a phone/pre-paid that we'll only need to take a call on, and perhaps call voice mail for that missed call. I saw that Telstra has a $70/yr deal and was wondering which other companies offer better deals and have reception coverage on Telstra.
If you don't plan on making any calls on it or using data, this is by far the best option.
Tried it before, during the months that I didn't make calls it last, but as soon as I needed to make calls on it, all credit disappeared within a two weeks… albeit all the calls was in regards to investment property and that took a long time to sort out.
Telstra Wholesale = a LOT less coverage!
Roughly 50% of the retail coverage by land area.
Telstra Wholesale coverage is only barely better than Optus… That's the point of it.. to be a direct competitor to Optus and Vodafone without chewing into the profits that Telstra can make on the superior network.
If you want Telstra Retail coverage, you need to go with Telstra or Boost (even Boost is slightly limited I believe)
Telechoice use the Telstra network, albeit currently being 3g until they get upgrade to 4g around mid year. So id expect coverage for Telechoice to be the same as Telstra's, until of course, someone switches off a Node.
Suggest to check which provider is best in area you guys often go and then make a choice, there are many good deals around sitting on Telstra/Optus. Vodafone sadly has always been bad experience for me because of reception.
Not if you buy 12x $30 Telstra Telstra Pepaid SIM Starter kits for $5 and buy 12x other non-Telstra SIMS to port your number to and from when you change SIM. I bought 12 $2 Optus kits for 0.05c each :)
This way you get the full "Freedom" (to be ripped off by AU largest Telco! THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM!) or whatever retarded name plan for less than $70 :)
Only got a couple of the Telstra sim for $5. Is that still available anywhere?
Thanks for the suggestions. To keep things simple, I think we'll stick to one number (thanks Digi1), good idea though. I never even thought of Aldi, that's why I posted here.
Just to be clear the process is:
Activate first SIM until credit is expired (after 30 days or what have you) making sure to port your existing number if necessary.
Activate non-Telstra SIM making sure to port your existing number.
Immediately activate a new Telstra SIM and port your existing number in order to start using a new SIM.
So you will not lose your existing number if this was your assumption.
This method does of course require 5 or 10 minutes work per month online every 30 days so it's not as convenient by any stretch.
Is there a wiki page to for this process. I am just curous to see how it works.
Telstra $30 + $30 = $60
www.aldimobile.com.au/plans/payg
($15+/yr)(Telstra Wholesale = bit less coverage) (ALDImobile uses part of Telstra’s 3G mobile network. The mobile product of ALDImobile provides a 3G coverage footprint of 98.5% of the Australian Population covering 1.3 million square kilometres. Outside the 3G coverage footprint, customers will revert to 2G coverage and speeds. The combined 2G and 3G footprint covers 98.8% of the Australian population.)