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Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 26th, 2003, 02:14 PM
Ian Lloyd
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Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

I'm gonna be in Australia for around 7 months. During that time I'd like to
be able to make/receive calls on a mobile. I don't want to use my UKL mobile
(£1 per minute to make a call? No thank you!)

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia 5210)

There must have been loads of people who have done this before, so your
recommendations will be appreciated!

Ian

  #2  
Old November 26th, 2003, 03:06 PM
Dean Chapman
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Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

I just popped into the local Optus shop and bought a PAYG sim for about
A$40.
Your phone will have to be unlocked from it's current network to do this
though.
Dean.

"Ian Lloyd" wrote in message
...
I'm gonna be in Australia for around 7 months. During that time I'd like

to
be able to make/receive calls on a mobile. I don't want to use my UKL

mobile
(£1 per minute to make a call? No thank you!)

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my

own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia 5210)

There must have been loads of people who have done this before, so your
recommendations will be appreciated!

Ian



  #3  
Old November 26th, 2003, 04:36 PM
Maurice ON4BAM
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Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 13:14:48 +0000, Ian Lloyd
wrote:

I'm gonna be in Australia for around 7 months. During that time I'd like to
be able to make/receive calls on a mobile. I don't want to use my UKL mobile
(£1 per minute to make a call? No thank you!)

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia 5210)

There must have been loads of people who have done this before, so your
recommendations will be appreciated!


We took our Belgian phone to Oz last summer (winter downunder)and
bought an Optus prepaid pack at Dick Smith in Sydney
http://www.dse.com.au
Worked well during ou trip....There were a few places without coverage
in QLD, but nothing to worry about...



Bye Maurice
--
Hamradio: ON4BAM / M0CIL / 9H3Z http://www.qsl.net/on4bam
Travelstories from Alaska, Scotland, South Africa,Iceland,
Faroe Isl., Australia and IOTA activations
  #4  
Old November 26th, 2003, 05:58 PM
WL
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Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?


"Ian Lloyd" wrote in message
...

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my

own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia 5210)


Also make sure your phone is tri-band for Aus

Will


  #5  
Old November 26th, 2003, 06:59 PM
Dean Chapman
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Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

Why? My dual band worked fine on Optus.
Dean.

"WL" wrote in message
...

"Ian Lloyd" wrote in message
...

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my

own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia

5210)

Also make sure your phone is tri-band for Aus

Will




  #6  
Old November 26th, 2003, 07:08 PM
J.V.
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Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

I took my mobile to Oz last year and the year before,my phone is SIM-lock
free,make sure you have done that too.
The first year I used Vodaphone $25 for a simcard including $25 prepaid
value.it worked fine all over Oz
The second year we used Communic8,by Telstra,simcard and $25 value,but
,Telstra didn't allow us to SMS to the Netherlands,while Vodaphone did,they
don't tell you in advance which countries can and can't be reached,
therefore I recommend Vodaphone,prices are the same and Vodaphone works
worldwide so why take a chance.

enjoy Oz
J.V.


  #7  
Old November 26th, 2003, 11:29 PM
Paul O
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Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

Vodafone Pre-paid are cheapest - best for city use. Telstra have the best
coverage.
All three offer pre-paid sim cards. Your phone must be unlocked. Australia
uses the international GSM (dual band) frequencies.
Phone shops are everywhere - and recharging cards can be bought at
supermarkets, servos etc.

Have Fun



"Ian Lloyd" wrote in message
...
I'm gonna be in Australia for around 7 months. During that time I'd like

to
be able to make/receive calls on a mobile. I don't want to use my UKL

mobile
(£1 per minute to make a call? No thank you!)

What's the best option for me? I really want a pay as you go option, I
reckon, and I don't want to spend a fortune on a phone (I will bring my

own
in the hope that I can simply get a Sim card and put it in my Nokia 5210)

There must have been loads of people who have done this before, so your
recommendations will be appreciated!

Ian



  #8  
Old November 27th, 2003, 05:39 PM
Ian Lloyd
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

DNA samples taken on 26/11/2003 2:06 pm from "Dean Chapman"
revealed that:

Your phone will have to be unlocked from it's current network to do this
though.


Out of interest, how do I know if the phone is locked?

I just changed from an O2 contract to a O2 PAYG, if that helps at all ... So
I presume it /is/ locked.

  #9  
Old November 27th, 2003, 10:11 PM
J.V.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

the only to find out is to put a simcard of another provider in your
phone,if it works it's simlock free


  #10  
Old November 28th, 2003, 05:44 AM
Paul O
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Posts: n/a
Default Mobile phone in Australia - suggestion for temporary contract?

Believe it or not just phone the company with whom you are contracted and
ask!!! They are happy to tell you!



"Ian Lloyd" wrote in message
...
DNA samples taken on 26/11/2003 2:06 pm from "Dean Chapman"


revealed that:

Your phone will have to be unlocked from it's current network to do this
though.


Out of interest, how do I know if the phone is locked?

I just changed from an O2 contract to a O2 PAYG, if that helps at all ...

So
I presume it /is/ locked.



 




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