Getting Mobile
After a couple of weeks in Australia you’re going to have your wallet crammed full of scraps of paper upon which you’ve scrawled the numbers of all you’re your new best mates. But if you want to build up a social network you’re going to need to get mobile. There are three networks to choose from Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone.
Pre-Paid Plans
The cheapest and most convenient option is to choose one of the Pre-Paid plans where for a one-off amount you get a phone, SIM, and usually some credit thrown in. Then to recharge your credit just head to the local newsagent where you can buy top-up cards.
Telstra
The Telstra Pre-Paid Plus Pack costs $89 and includes a Nokia phone and $10 of credit. The phone is reasonable but don’t expect anything that flips or sends pretty pictures. Calls cost 70c per minute and if you are calling an Australian mobile between 9pm and 7am weekdays and at weekends, the first ten minutes of each call will cost 1 cent. 25c per text message.
Vodafone
For $79 Vodafone offers a starter pack which includes a Motorola phone, SIM card, and $30 worth of credit. You then choose one of the following options which all have cheap Vodafone-Vodafone charges but vary on rates depending if you like to text, talk at night or just talk a lot. This is quite a popular deal and works out quite cheap if you persuade all of your friends to get on the same network. The only problem is that they mobile is usually a piddly little thing, with an annoying ringtone which causes lots of confusion in the youth hostel when everyone has the same phone with the same ring.
Night Talker– with a $30 recharge card you get 120 minutes of free minutes between 8pm and 8am. Standard call rates are 60c per minute
Texter – Recharge with $30 and get 60 free texts to anyone in Australia. Standard call rates are 60c.
Talker – Recharge with $30 and standard call rate is 40c per minute anytime to any mobile or landline.
Optus
Optus offers pretty similar deals to Vodafone. $79 gets you a Motorola mobile and then you can choose from a number of options which give you either free calls, free texts or free calls and texts when you recharge with $30 or more.
Where do I buy my new phone?
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone shops are located all over the place and you won’t be able to walk down a high street without finding one or all of the above. Alternatively, shops such as Woolworths, Dick Smith’s and Tandy have mobile phone offers.
Where do I buy top up cards?
You can get recharge cards from more or less any newsagent, petrol station, supermarket or alternatively you can go into a mobile phone shop and they will be able to sort you out.
Ringing Mummy
If you want to use your mobile to ring home then you are a fool, a fool I tell you. It will cost you an extortionate amount of money and you’ll be going through recharge cards like toilet paper. The best option is to pop down to the local convenience store, newsagent, 7/11, Woolworths, Coles etc and get an international calling card. You can pick up ones for $10 or $20 and there are normally a few to choose from. Just ask the newsagent which card is offering the best rates to the UK at the moment and you will be able to natter to mummy for hours for not much more than a fiver.
Copyright British Balls 2005
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