Need unlimited voice and text for within Australia. What is my cheapest option?
Non-Data Sim for Telstra Locked Phone?
figarow on 25/09/2022 - 12:50
Last edited 25/09/2022 - 13:12
Last edited 25/09/2022 - 13:12
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Should have added I want unlimited voice and text. It will get too expensive otherwise.
More likely not to work, IMO. Recent reports of Boost not working in a new-ish Telstra-locked Nokia-something. Prior to that, it was pretty much a given that Boost would work in any Telstra-locked handset.
@figarow - Which model, and how long have you had it for? Amongst the things to consider is that even if you get it unlocked, it may be useless (or next to) on the Optus and Vodafone networks, depending on non-Telstra VoLTE support and which 3G bands it has (eg; a lot of the Telstra pre-paid cheapies lack 3G900).
As an aside, I recently got my Telstra Flip 3 unlocked for free, as I'd had it for over two years. I was somewhat surprised to find that it supports VoLTE on Optus and Vodafone in addition to Telstra, so it actually works ICW a VoLTE-enabled SIM on O & V. (As well as lacking 3G900 it also lacks 4G850, so it'd be useless on Vodafone in area where that's all they have.)
It's an Blade A7S 2020-T (also known as Evoke Plus 2?) Had it for over a year but never connected to a network.
In that case you'd be up for the full $80 for the unlock code from Telstra. Had you activated the included SIM card over six months ago, it would've been $25.
Specs on the ZTE web site say 3G bands are 850 and 2100MHz, so no 3G voice on Optus or Vodafone networks. It says it supports VoLTE, so with any luck it's like my Telstra Flip 3 (also a ZTE device) and will support VoLTE on O & V as well.
Handset issues aside, the cheapest unlimited voice and text plan that I'm aware of is Amaysim's $60 per year "Talk and Text Only" offering. (Amaysim uses the Optus network.)
A Telstra MVNO.
Cheapest I can find so far is Pennytel 1GB Sim Only Mobile Plan $11.99 / Month.
You might as well just get Woolworths Mobile 1 year plan for not much more then you get 10% discount once a month off your grocery shop.
Didn't know about that thanks for sharing, worth considering.
The 6 months works out cheaper if you don't need the data.
You'd still need to get the handset unlocked. Other than Telstra (obviously), the only other provider that it's likely to work on without unlocking is Boost.
OH!!
I might be better off getting a different phone then. The unlock is expensive.
Edit, after some digging just found these guys simunlock.com $24.90.Yep going to give the simunlock.com a go and then connect to the Amaysim's $60 per year "Talk and Text Only", cheers Colin.
That Amaysim plan requires existing customer however so I assume hooking up to this short term $4 plan and then switch will do the trick?
https://www.amaysim.com.au/mobile/cart/7-day-10gb?promo=9747…
Won't be the cheapest, but regular Telstra monthly plans include unlimited data shaped to a relatively generous 1.5Mbps.
Aldi Mobile pay as you go might work. Turn of 4G so your credit doesn't get used up.
https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/payg