Warning: ALDI SIM Does NOT Work in Telstra Locked Phone

GordonD on 22/08/2024 - 14:35

I thought we'd mutually figured all this out. I'd thought this is what we'd been telling people on OzBargain. And Google didn't find me any references to the contrary.

A SIM from any phone company that uses the Vodafone network will work in a Vodafone locked phone.

A SIM from any phone company that uses the Optus network will work in an Optus locked phone.

But I've just found that an Aldi SIM will not work in a Telstra locked phone. Maybe its something to do with Telstra having a wholesale network and a retail network.

So I've wasted the cost of what seemed like a bargain new second phone from Woolworths for very occasional calls that I'd intended putting a PAYG SIM in. All $9. And the $5 for the Aldi SIM.

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Comments

  • spackbace on 22/08/2024 - 14:36
    +1

    Maybe its something to do with Telstra having a wholesale network and a retail network.

    100% this. Boost = full Telstra, Aldi = Wholesale Telstra

    • DOGGYWOWWOW on 22/08/2024 - 15:01
      +2

      Boost doesn't work on locked Telstra devices either.

      • spackbace on 22/08/2024 - 15:02

        Ok that's annoying

      • randomthought on 22/08/2024 - 21:16
        +1

        Did for me last time I tried (about a year ago).
        You can try contacting Telstra on chat and tell them you’re intending to travel overseas and want to be able to use a SIM from overseas so you’d like the phone unlocked please. It’s worked for me with no charge.

        • DOGGYWOWWOW on 22/08/2024 - 22:03

          Depends on the handset I suspect. Mine was a Telstra branded device (a rebadged ZTE) and it didn't work.

          • randomthought on 22/08/2024 - 22:18

            @DOGGYWOWWOW: Mine was a ZTE/Telstra too (MF910Y wireless hotspot thing). Maybe they are treated differently to an actual phone or maybe it's changed recently or maybe 'who knows' cos it's Telstra :)

      • OMGJL on 22/08/2024 - 23:45

        I had a telstra 4G USB dongle and that worked with a Boost SIM.

        maybe locked phone's different.

      • Danam on 23/08/2024 - 15:57

        My understanding is that Telstra locked phones used to work on reseller networks, but that changed a number of years ago.

        I was told not to buy a phone from Telstra to use with Boost.

  • jv on 22/08/2024 - 14:40
    +2

    Buy a $2 Telstra sim, activate the phone, wait six months, then unlock it for $25

  • Boioioioi on 22/08/2024 - 14:44

    Interesting, I did this back in 2013 and it did work.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/08/2024 - 16:05
      +1

      Likewise, my experience was different from O.P.'s, but it was a few years back.

    • GordonD on 22/08/2024 - 17:35

      Yeah, I thought it used to work.

      But an earlier poster says it doesn't even work with Boost - which is full Telstra - any longer.

  • Drakesy on 22/08/2024 - 15:11

    People buy locked phones in this day and age?

    • DOGGYWOWWOW on 22/08/2024 - 15:23
      +2

      They don't judging by how OP could find a phone for $9

  • sharkyoz on 22/08/2024 - 15:29
    -1

    Duh?!

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/08/2024 - 18:30

    Why would it work?

    • Daabido on 22/08/2024 - 20:53

      It was an assumption and not an unreasonable one considering how the other networks work.

      But it is the big T, so probably unreasonable. Who's going to throw a full fat Telstra plan at a $9 phone? I think that's the real question.

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 23/08/2024 - 07:27
        +1

        Fair - i mean i see the logic but Telstra dont really play fair

  • HopeM on 22/08/2024 - 23:19
    -1

    You need to go into Telstra chat, tell them you've had the phone for 1 year they will give the code for free that's all I did. But you need to have a Telstra id to log into.

    3 days later got the email with the code which seems to be specific to your individual IMEI

  • payless69 on 23/08/2024 - 05:28

    Why would anybody expect another sim card to work in a different locked phone?

    My free HN phone has 2 sim slots and they even promised a fake warranty.

  • Chris Topher on 23/08/2024 - 12:57

    In my experience Tel$tra wholesale has clamped down on all devices sold under the Tel$tra name which are locked to Tel$tra retail. In the past it was a bit "loose", but, sadly no more.

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