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Optus PrePaid Offers Data-Free Music Streaming (Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music)

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From May 2, Optus will ramp up its battle for prepaid customers with the use of music apps such as Spotify, Pandora and Google Play Music to no longer be counted towards users' data limits.

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  • +14

    What about post-paid?? I just ported to Optus post paid for 10GB, as I was exceeding my previous 6GB voda plan, a bit factor being Spotify.

    • +2

      Yeah, what about that?

    • +1

      I asked optus live chat. this does not apply to post-paid. only pre-paid :(

      • +3

        which makes no sense, why not give the people who are locked in a contract some freebies? smh

        • +8

          I'm guessing, they are testing the water with prepaid. Because Optus has no contract forcing them to keep offering the deal with us, if it brings their network to its knees.

          Whereas if someone signs up to a 24 month contract under the basis of having unlimited streaming, Optus must honor that for 2 years. Otherwise customers would have a case to TIO.

          Also if they pull the deal, prepaid customers will only loose one recharge if they don't know about the change. Whereas postpaid customers could be up for thousands of dollars.

        • +15

          why not give the people who are locked in a contract some freebies

          Um because they're locked into a contract and therefore are in no danger of paying their money to someone else?

          Giving a customer who has already agreed to a level of service freebies is a loss.

        • @PainToad:

          "Whereas if someone signs up to a 24 month contract under the basis of having unlimited streaming, Optus must honor that for 2 years. Otherwise customers would have a case to TIO."

          All Optus would have to do is advertise the service as "limited time only" and that would not be an issue at all.

        • It makes no sense to give post paid this freebie. If you use up all your data then you pay more money. Why would they help you not pay them money?

      • -3

        Damn got excited and then read prepaid = sux :( Someone start a Change.org petition we can fix this

  • +2

    …and saturate their mobile data network.

  • +9

    Optus network is worst possible, and guys planning to switch should really think!

    i signed a 12 months contract and regret it a lot

    • +1

      Same, paid massive exit fees cause after 12 months on a 24 month contract I was over it!

      • What issues did you face out of curiosity?

        I moved from boost prepaid and attempted to go to telstra business but they majorly messed up the porting process.

        Got frustrated and went to optus about 6 months ago instead. All in all it's been pretty good for me so far.

        • man you dont need to pay exit fees if reception is crap

    • +10

      Yep, contracts suck these days and best avoided.

      Prepaid is a very competitive market, with lots of bonus offers and counter-offers. It's very hard not to get a great deal.

    • Switch to Vodafone, they have gotten really good. Used to be with Optus for 10 years. Will never go back.

      • +1

        Lol remember when Vodafone was actually the worst. It just shows anything is possible

    • I am in the same with you all guys they promise better 4G but it sucks, my work mates who have Vodafone have huge better performance on 4G.

      I want to exit from the Optus contract but they asking me to pay massive dollars for breaking the contract. Please avoid the post-paid contract with Optus. Never do this again "Great Lesson learned"

    • +2

      Have no problem with optus network.

      11gb data for 50 bucks is a no brainier for me.

      Win win in my Eyes.

      For got to mention so far there has been no network outage.

      • +1

        For got to mention so far there has been no network outage.

        Nice dig at Telstra :)

        • I got a prepaid Telstra for half a month, and had two network outages in that time

  • +3

    Looks very interesting.
    I wonder if it will work with Amaysim and the like?
    I've been uploading my CD range to Google play so hopefully these will be free to stream.
    Even better if uploading to Google play works for free data.

  • Oh cant wait to use my Optus prepaid sims!!!

    • Me too, but then i realised that the Sims i brought are marked as mobile broad band only unlike Telstra :(

  • -1

    does this include Amaysim which uses Optus network? or specifically just Optus subscribers?

    • -2

      And vaya? Although I heard amaysim now owns them.

  • +1

    Will these work by buying an Optus Prepaid Sim with no credit and using it?

    • I want to know this as well!

      • +1

        "As long as customers have some data or prepaid credit applied to their accounts, they’ll be able to access these music streaming services — through their existing subscriptions, except in the free tiers of Spotify — without data use being counted as usage. "

        http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/04/optus-prepaid-customers-ca…

        I have no idea what Campbell Simpson is saying about Spotify Free…

        Does it count or not towards data? It's a clumsy sentence he wrote.

        • +1

          Clumsy doesn't begin to describe it.

    • Unlikely but just a guess.

  • +1

    Cool but dont need to stream much anyway considering you can store your play lists locally on Spotify.

    • +1

      Only if you have Premium though

      • +2

        Doesn't everyone have premium that uses it regularly?

      • +1

        you'd think so, but not many people do. One of my friends laughed at me for "paying for music" (I use Google Play) like it was unheard of in this day in age.

    • As long as you have the storage. I don't. Lousy 16gb phone.

  • Good deal - streaming music accounts for nearly half of my wife's mobile data, so this will work well for her.

    • +20

      get a divorce, cheaper in the long run

      • +2

        She pays her way…..one way or another.

  • +9

    "Data-free music streaming will be available to Optus mobile customers until June 2017, with the possibility of extensions"

  • Any news for Optus owned Virgin?

    • I want to know this too.

  • +3

    Streaming music in the car, fantastic! :)

  • +2

    Great news! I'm still on the old Woolworths pre-paid deal that was moved to Optus ($26 per 45 days, 5GB data). I used to hit the 5GB before 45 days when on Spotify extreme quality, so will be flicking it back on come 2nd of May, thanks TA!

    • +1

      If Optus made this old Woolies plan 4G, I'd be like a pig in mud. Can't see it happening though, not for 45 days anyway.

      • +2

        4G was turned on for my service late last year :) I'm in Melbourne and the 4G quality is acceptable for my needs :)

        • +1

          Green with envy, like the colour of the SIM card!

        • Did it just happen, or did you do something to make it happen? :)

        • +1

          @klownz: My wife is with Amaysim (I think), she had 4G turned on a few days before me. I remember I was driving to work while streaming Spotify and realised it said 4G in the top corner - almost ran off the road with excitement :P
          Don't see why anyone else on the same deal shouldn't be on 4G, might be worth checking if 4G/LTE is enabled in your phone settings.

        • @bassiveguitar:

          might be worth checking if 4G/LTE is enabled in your phone settings

          Definitely is, because I've been on Amaysim for last two months (2 x $10 7-11 starter packs). I have until August, I think, to add some more credit to the ex-Woolies SIM.

        • @bassiveguitar:

          And you are on the old $26 / 45 days / 5GB Woolworths Optus deal?

          Will check it out, I think I need a replacement SIM anyway.

        • +1

          @klownz: Bingo. But now that you mention SIM, I did swap it over at Optus shop for a micro SIM when I got my Nexus 5, so that could be the trick. When swapping I asked them 10 times that I was going to be kept on the same deal (insecurity much!), and it's still definitely $26 / 45 days / 5GB.

    • I'm on that plan too. I find Optus 3G to be a bit crap but it's so cheap that I can't bring myself to change unless they force us off by removing that plan.

      Until then, enjoying dat value.

      • Are you in a city? If it's the old Woolies deal then I'd imagine you should be able to get 4G. Might be worth investigating in your phone settings, otherwise try calling Optus.

        Edit: I have just realised I swapped physical SIM while remaining on existing deal, so that could be worth doing at Optus Shop.

        • Interesting. I'll have to look into that. Cheers.

    • +1

      I thought I was the only one still on it.

      I love that three years later there's no plan on the market that can compare to its value.

      • Indeed! Will be the saddest of days if they ever took it away from us!

    • It looks like there is a bit of a cath-22 for those of us on that 'Optus Prepaid Cap' plan. According to http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/prepaid/plans/legacy-pla… it includes the unmetered music steaming deal but according to http://www.optus.com.au/shop/entertainment/music/legacyrm you have to top up with $30 or more to get the deal. The plan is nominally $30 (or $50) but you get a discount for recharging online which brings it down to $26.

      I recharged today and didn't get the unmetered music.

      • Yeah I'm on the same plan and noticed that the $26 recharge on the optus app does not include the free streaming, but the $44 recharge does… who is going to pay $44 for $20 more credit and double the calls when you can just recharge more frequently on the $26 plan and get more data?

        Perhaps they might enable it for us - we are on the optus prepaid cap which is listed on the website as eligible…

      • Looks like they've now turned on the free streaming for us.

        Had a notification today that they were crediting me 500mb of data.

  • is this only for pre-paid? I'm on a 24 month mobile plan with optus.

    • +14

      I cringe and crawl up in corner when I hear of 24 months plans :)

      • Me, too. I am on a SIM Only 12 Month plan, but I can't see me getting better value than $30 with 10GB.

    • checked with optus livechat. definitely only prepaid. lolwtf. why would that make sense? wouldn't they use this deal as a way to rope people into contracts? does this mean any bogan can go buy a ten dollar optus sim and have unlimited spotify?

      • +6

        So because someone doesn't want to be locked into a provider for 2 years and wants to avoid ridiculous bill shock, they are bogans?

        From my experience, bogans are normally the ones who go postpaid, as they can't afford phones outright or HAVE to have an iPhone.

      • +8

        you can be that bogan…

        I believe in you

  • Fair use terms and conditions still applies .

    There will be a limit for free steaming , if you keep breaching this they have the right to terminate your contract without notice Or if your on postpaid be weary as they may be able to charge you for excessive use over the fair use policy

  • ta OP for also considering amaysim users!

  • -1

    They should also include this on BYO month to month! Although with 20GB of internet I have each month to share along with my partner that would just pure greediness 😉

  • +2

    I wonder what plans this will work with. If it works with the long expire plans would be tooooo good!

    • +1

      Yeah was hoping to get a long expiry sim and just leave the old ipad in the car!

  • Netflix??

    • Your considering free video streaming?

      Video is a much greater step than audio…. doubt it…

  • +2

    Say good bye to net neutrality!

      • +2

        Are you high?

        TRAI in India supported Net Neutrality and effectively banned Facebook's Free Basics.

        By zero rating Pandora, Spotify etc it makes it harder for others to compete. As there is now an incentive to go with one of those companies as you won't be charged for data there.

        Does a B. CompSci degree count as a science degree?

      • +2

        So you'd be happy if your ISP shaped Netflix (or some other service you like) to 256Kbps because they wanted to push Stan instead? Net neutrality has nothing to do with arts students.

  • -1

    Awesome initiative. Hope other telcos follow suit :D

  • +3

    This sucks for net neutrality.

    • There is no internet outside of Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, eBay and Netflix.

      There never was an Internet outside of Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, eBay and Netflix.

  • Say Goodbye to Spotify Premium…No offline music is needed anymore :D

    • +1

      Maybe.

      As per StrayfireX's comment above, reproduced here:

      "As long as customers have some data or prepaid credit applied to their accounts, they’ll be able to access these music streaming services — through their existing subscriptions, except in the free tiers of Spotify — without data use being counted as usage. "

      http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/04/optus-prepaid-customers-ca…

      I have no idea what Campbell Simpson is saying about Spotify Free…

      Does it count or not towards data? It's a clumsy sentence he wrote.

  • +3

    Wonder if this would work. 60 dollar 365 day recharge old phone in glove box with Pandora controlled via my HU. Years worth of Pandora streaming hmmmm

  • So is it prepaid "mobile" only or is prepaid broadband included in this as well?

  • -1

    Wow this is pretty amazing….. I hope it includes mvno networks.

  • +2

    It's good but what about net neutrality guys :(

    • I don't think so. Offering something for free is not the same as offering access to something

  • I was in America last week and noticed that T-Mobile had unlimited music and video streaming included. I wondered if it would come to the Australia carriers. Obviously the Optus offer is not as good as the T-Mobile but it is a start.

    Here is the details on the T-Mobile offer in case anyone is traveling:

    http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/free-music-streaming.html

    Now if only Optus will offer unlimited youtube and kodi streaming……

    • kodi streaming

      Lol, no.

      • Just dreaming…

  • +1

    Hopefully Telstra does the same for Google Play Music. Paying for the subscription using Telstra credit + unmetered streaming would be a killer combination.

    • +2

      I was just thinking this, I might get an optus prepaid sim to use just for this, pay for play music using my normal Telstra account and stick the optus sim in my old nexus 4 that I use as an mp3 player. At the moment i just download to it using Wi-Fi and have my Telstra broadband sim in if I ever need it.

      Worth remembering as well that Google let's you upload your own music for free so it's a nice way to have all your music anywhere you go if you aren't willing to pay the monthly fee.

  • Wow, will this work with the $2 a day plans?

    • As long as you have credit.

      Nobody knows if Spotify Free is covered.

  • Im on optus month to month mobile no contract.. not prepaid, does this apply to me?

    • not prepaid

      You answered your own question.

  • Haha, my main music app on the android is PowerAmp but if this works with Amaysim then I guess I'm switching to Google Play.

  • Really good deal but not as good as my legacy Boost 9GB per month for $15 and unlimited calls texts which I got a while back :D

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