Using Telstra Credit for Google Play on iPhone? / Cheapest Android phone with nano-sim slot?

Lmjp80 on 05/09/2016 - 12:35
Last edited 05/09/2016 - 13:25 by 1 other user

Anyone have any experience using their Telstra pre-paid credit to make Google Play purchases which then enable services for their iPhone? I'm on an old Cap+ plan with basically no limit on my main balance (currently over $600), and I only ever use my balance to buy data packs if I run out of data during the month.

From what I've elsewhere, it's just a matter of buying a cheap Android phone (or borrowing one), put your SIM in there to set up the subscription against Telstra credit, then use the subscription on your iPhone (because Google Play music, Spotify Premium, etc. lets you use the your subs on 3 devices).

What I'm wondering with respect to this is:
- if I'm going to do this, what's the cheapest Android phone with a nano-sim slot that I can use to set it up?
- do you ever need to go back to the Android device to do anything, or will the subscription just run indefinitely against your Telstra credit?
- any OzBargain recommendations on other ways to maximize this credit? It looks like I missed the golden era of the rebate apps where you could get the money back as cash! There's a good list at https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/tppm_drawdown, just wondering if there's anything else

• 

  scrimshaw on 05/09/2016 - 12:47

  +1

  Here's a list of Android phones with Nano-sim slots
  http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2014&nPriceMax…

  The cheapest Telstra compatible device, if you want a phone that is capable of taking advantage of Telstra's high speed 4G LTE network, is the Telstra 4G Buzz sold at Coles for $59 currently. It is a Micro SIM device so you would need to use a SIM adapter in order to fit it in.

  To my knowledge, it is not possible to pay for Spotify using Google Credit, or Telstra Credit, you need to either purchase a Spotify Gift card from a physical store or pay online using CC / Paypal.

  You can however get Youtube Red (also known as Google Music all access) using Play Credit. I don't know how the auto-billing would work though.

  • 

    mjp80 on 05/09/2016 - 13:06

    Yah I don't really care if it's 4G compatible since I'll only be using it to set up the accounts, not stream content, so 3G would be fine. So looking for a suggestion of something readily available at retail or online. $59 is probably a bit more than I'd like to pay. Good point on the SIM adapter though. That would just mean I need to find the cheapest Android phone period.

• 

  tomclancy on 05/09/2016 - 12:48

  +2

  You still can get the money back as cash through the Rebatr app (at 55% of value). Or 70% if you create your own Google Play app

  • 

    mjp80 on 05/09/2016 - 13:09

    Really? I thought they had killed that. How hard is it to make my own app? :)

    • 

      tomclancy on 05/09/2016 - 14:06

      +2

      They only stopped new sign-ups to the Freedom Plus prepaid option (which was the prepaid option that most people were using to cash out the recharge credits). Telstra replaced that prepaid option with another called 'Prepaid Plus' - pretty much identical sans recharge credits. At present, if you have Telstra $30 starter packs lying around you can still activate them on a different prepaid option (Longlife, Simplicity) and receive the $30 recharge credit.

      Rebatr, as a standalone app, is just a way to convert any Google Play billing method into 55% cashback. It works for Telstra billing, Google Credit earned via Opinion Rewards, Google Play gift cards and even normal credit card charges. So if you still have Telstra recharge credit waiting to be used then yes you can still use Rebatr to cash out at 55%.

      It's not that difficult to make your own app (from personal experience). Plenty of articles online how to do it. The only catch is Google charge a one-off USD$25 developer fee before allowing you to upload apps to the Play Store.

  • 

    INFIDEL on 10/12/2016 - 09:31

    REBATR is now dead. App removed from Play Store.

    • 

      tomclancy on 10/12/2016 - 10:35

      There's another public app called T-cashback (more polished than Rebatr but only 50% Cashback). I used it once, can verify that it is legit.

      Still the best is my own private app giving 70% Cashback :)

      • 

        INFIDEL on 10/12/2016 - 13:13

        Thanks PBG - had searched OB for that as has been mentioned before.

        [Update] Installed T-Cashback on 2 Android phone, but can't progress past Sign in with Google - which I click, shows T-Cashback signing in, but just loops back to sign in screen, not App😯 (Telsta SIM is not installed to preserve credit, but Google account is activated)
        Any suggestions? Not sure T-Cashback is working?

        Was contacted on Whirlpool about private app - but have little use to warrant the effort. Rebatr was handy.

      • 

        INFIDEL on 10/12/2016 - 14:15

        @Infidel:
        Seems app needs Telstra account in use to even open - to check it out. But there is a tutorial

        I changed plan from PrePaid Plus to Beyond Talk to use up credit - but it has expensive data costs (10c+/MB)… Will use some credit to redeem Credit.

        (Will probably Creditme2u the $30/mth to another account in the mean time to build up sizable credit, then redeem.)

        Only recommended by T-Cashback if on old FREEDOM plan. (I bought these $30 Starter Packs @$1each, so now connect 1 every 28days on PPPlus plan.)

        Can I use it if I am using Beyond Talk, Simplicity or Long Life plans?
        Since your calling and data usage will also cost your recharge credit for these plans, probably you should not use our app. But if you are planning to stop using or change your plan, you can use our app to get part of your remaining recharge credit back.

        And wait… In most cases you can get your cashback by the end of the next month following your purchases.

        5. Wait for transactions confirmed
        Please allow a few weeks to have transactions to be confirmed before get your cashback.

        6. Fill your bank detail and get paid
        After transactions have been confirmed, you can request to get your cashback paid.

      • 

        tomclancy on 10/12/2016 - 16:37

        @Infidel: I haven't used T-cashback for >12 months so maybe it's changed the login method. I didn't have any problems, but then again I had my Telstra sim in the phone (was on freedom plus at the time).

        I have a large number of $30 Telstra starter packs so what I do now is activate on PPPlus, use it for 28 days then on the final day switch plan to simplicity and then buy $30 from my app in the play store.

      • 

        INFIDEL on 10/12/2016 - 20:11

        @PBG:
        Same (tried Beyond Talk this time), except buying from my own app😀

      • 

        tomclancy on 10/12/2016 - 22:36

        +1

        @Infidel: How many starter packs ks do you have left? The app build is actually very easy (and free) using online tools. The only cost is the USD$25 one-off Google developer fee, which if you have a decent number of starter packs left could be covered by the additional 15/20% Cashback each month. It also gives you added security that your app won't pulled and that your funds are secure. Google pays on the 15th of each month for the prior month so not very timely, but you can see in app payments being made and recorded instantly, just have to wait the funds to be paid. If you want some app creation instructions PM me

      • 

        INFIDEL on 12/12/2016 - 08:13

        @PBG:
        T-Cashback fails to sign in when on Telstra - just asks to sign in with Google, shows T-Cashback signing in, then back to Google sign in - so no longer works! Seems own app is only way.

        Thanks for the offer of instructions to help me to understand this. It's been a while since I've written code, and no experience with apps. Could be interesting.

        Will Creditme2u current credit
        (about to expire) to LongLife account today & consider. (Busy looking after very ill family member at moment.)

        I've then only got a total of 5 packs left ($179 total credit to redeem) to use by end of April. ($125 - 34 is good)
        Of course, likely to use again on my return to Australia in June.

      • 

        tomclancy on 12/12/2016 - 10:15

        +1

        @Infidel: No worries. When you're ready shoot me a PM and I'll give you detailed instructions. No coding involved, I used an online app builder called AppsMoment - super easy to understand. The only coding I've ever done was HTML and that was a long time ago but Apps Moment is all drag and drop stuff.

        Good luck with your ill family member, hope they get better soon.

      • 

        INFIDEL on 12/12/2016 - 11:49

        @PBG:
        Thanks😯