Best low-end BYO plans?

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Bruce Bradbury - 22 Feb 2004 11:41 GMT

Any suggestions for good basic low end byo plans (GSM)? My wife is
currently on an Optus 'yes thanks' plan and has to decide whether to
renew ($20 min spend, about $20 included calls). Any better plans
around?

Her current spending is about $25/month on average - though varying
quite a bit from month to month. Calls are mainly to landlines or
mobiles on virgin or orange, about half on and half off-peak. Special
'free time' deals are not that important (too much effort remembering
when they apply!).

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Paul Wright - 22 Feb 2004 12:42 GMT

One of the new Optimiser plans might be worth considering on the BYO $22
plan with $22+5 calls, with 30 for 10 day (30c for 10 mins to landlines 7am
to 7pm, 7 days) or an off peak option after 8pm with 10 mins to any number..

> Any suggestions for good basic low end byo plans (GSM)? My wife is
> currently on an Optus 'yes thanks' plan and has to decide whether to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> 'free time' deals are not that important (too much effort remembering
> when they apply!).

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Joel - 22 Feb 2004 23:45 GMT

The best deal around for low end users, is from Unison mobile at 18 cents
per 30" with 18 cent flagfall from memory.SMS is 22cents. Pay by direct
debit and your bill emailed to you and you get your first $5.50 of calls/sms
each month for free.

Ask about their first 100 sms free deal just for signing up. They give you a
start up credit of $25 and extra call credits if you introduce a friend. I'm
still in credit from 3 months ago when I signed.

They use the Voda network which doesn't have the coverage of Optus but as
long as it works where you need it, it's a great deal. There is a modest
cancellation fee if you cancel/port under 12 months so make sure the Voda
coverage is OK before you sign
www.unisonmobile.com.au

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Whytoi - 23 Feb 2004 12:49 GMT

Pretty good. But AAPT's prepaid deal is still extremely competitive
amongst all these.

> The best deal around for low end users, is from Unison mobile at 18 cents
> per 30" with 18 cent flagfall from memory.SMS is 22cents. Pay by direct
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> > 'free time' deals are not that important (too much effort remembering
> > when they apply!).

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Tom N - 26 Feb 2004 04:09 GMT

You can go onto Optus "Your Saver Plus" which you can get at any Optus shop.
No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty good call rates. You have to
make a call at least every 3 months.

You can also move handsets currently on an Optus plan onto "Usage Only
Plan". No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty good call rates. You
have to make a call at least every 3 months.

"Usage Only Plan" can only be got by Optus "Solutions Plus" 1300 301 406 as
the retail people don't know anything about it.

Not a lot of difference between rates for "Your Saver Plus" (22c / 30 sec
plus 22c flag fall, both plus GST) and "Usage Only Plan" (28c / 30 sec plus
GST, no flag fall). Which is better depends on the length of your calls.
Voicemail deposit and retrieval rates seem to be cheaper.

Both plans are one flat rate to all numbers at all times and no freebies
like Free Time. 30 second billing.

Virgin Mobile is another to consider - they also use Optus network. Ther is
no Vodafone coverage at my house so I didn't consider them (and AAPT prepaid
is vodafone).

I switched about Jul 03 so the info above is current for then. The plans
are still around as I have one phone on each plan.

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Joel - 26 Feb 2004 11:22 GMT

> You can go onto Optus "Your Saver Plus" which you can get at any Optus shop.
> No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty good call rates.

No longer available to new customers, replaced by Your saver 9, $9 monthly
minimum with higher call rates of approx 32 cents per 30" with a 25cent
flagfall

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The Family - 26 Feb 2004 12:36 GMT

I think Optus stopped selling those great usage-only plans in about Sep 03,
though existing accounts continue to run.

At the moment Yes shops are promoting Your Saver 9 / Advance Your Saver 9
(The only difference between these two plans appears to be that "Advance" is
only available to existing Optus GSM residential customers).

Monthly fee is $9 with $9 of included calls. Calls cost 31.9c/30 sec with a
25.3c flag fall. Unused calls can be rolled forward for up to 3 months.

> You can go onto Optus "Your Saver Plus" which you can get at any Optus shop.
> No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty good call rates. You have to
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> > 'free time' deals are not that important (too much effort remembering
> > when they apply!).

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Bruce Bradbury - 26 Feb 2004 23:13 GMT

> At the moment Yes shops are promoting Your Saver 9 / Advance Your Saver 9
> (The only difference between these two plans appears to be that "Advance" is
> only available to existing Optus GSM residential customers).
>
> Monthly fee is $9 with $9 of included calls. Calls cost 31.9c/30 sec with a
> 25.3c flag fall. Unused calls can be rolled forward for up to 3 months.

The optus phone rep told that
- I could add my 'yes thanks' extra $5.50 worth of call credits to
this plan if I sign up for 12months.
- That optus billing (at least on this plan) was not based on '30
seconds or part thereof' but instead the next unit only came in once
you passed the 15 second mark. Is this true or was he talking
nonsense?

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Joel - 27 Feb 2004 11:30 GMT

All Optus mobile billing, regardless of plan is charged in 30" increments
and not before. You are not charged for the next 30" until you get to 31"
Yes thanks call/sms credits can only be obtained if you have spent at least
$20 per month over the previous 3 months and you commit to stay on Optus
post-paid for a minimum 12 months otherwise a $55 cancellation fee applies,
even if you move to prepaid. There is no cancellation fee charged if you
upgrade to a new contract and phone deal though, as you are still committed
to staying with Optus.

> > At the moment Yes shops are promoting Your Saver 9 / Advance Your Saver 9
> > (The only difference between these two plans appears to be that "Advance" is
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> you passed the 15 second mark. Is this true or was he talking
> nonsense?

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Rod Speed - 26 Feb 2004 19:17 GMT

> You can go onto Optus "Your Saver Plus" which you can get at
> any Optus shop. No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty
> good call rates. You have to make a call at least every 3 months.

> You can also move handsets currently on an Optus plan onto "Usage
> Only Plan". No monthly charge and no minimum and pretty good call
> rates. You have to make a call at least every 3 months.

> "Usage Only Plan" can only be got by Optus "Solutions Plus"
> 1300 301 406 as the retail people don't know anything about it.

> Not a lot of difference between rates for "Your Saver Plus" (22c / 30 sec
> plus 22c flag fall, both plus GST) and "Usage Only Plan" (28c / 30 sec plus
> GST, no flag fall). Which is better depends on the length of your calls.

Makes a big difference to the cost of a 30 sec call tho, almost double.

Those are plenty for many quick calls.

> Voicemail deposit and retrieval rates seem to be cheaper.

> Both plans are one flat rate to all numbers at all times
> and no freebies like Free Time. 30 second billing.

> Virgin Mobile is another to consider - they also use Optus network.

Its pretty lousy value for short calls tho.

> Ther is no Vodafone coverage at my house so I
> didn't consider them (and AAPT prepaid is vodafone).

It is the cheapest by far for short calls tho.

> I switched about Jul 03 so the info above is current for then.
> The plans are still around as I have one phone on each plan.

> > Any suggestions for good basic low end byo plans (GSM)? My wife is
> > currently on an Optus 'yes thanks' plan and has to decide whether to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> > 'free time' deals are not that important (too much effort remembering
> > when they apply!).

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