In Aussie for a week - data options

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GregV

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Topic # 99316 16-Mar-2012 17:31

(I think this is the most appropriate forum, but feel free to move it if necessary)

I am spending a week in Oz next week, and am trying to suss out a good way to get myself connected while over there.

Have a W7 Omnia, which I plan on putting a prepaid data sim into, and sharing this connection with my laptop. I'll put my NZ sim in a couple of times a day to check texts/voicemail.

I will have access to wireless during the day, but want something for evenings, and while out and about around Melbourne.

I have just roamed on my NZ connection on previous visits, but want to avoid that this time.

Can anyone suggest a good option?

Cheers

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 596223 16-Mar-2012 17:51

I use Virgin Mobile. The $19 recharge gives you $50 credit on account for calls/SMS *AND* 1GB free.

Make sure you get a SIM card in the "YOUR CAP" plan and then charge $19 to it.

Or... you can buy any SIM card, login to your Virgin account, go to the recharge page and change the prepaid plan to YOUR CAP, BEFORE you put $19 into it.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

garvani

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Reply # 596247 16-Mar-2012 18:58

I got back from Melbourne on Tuesday, i was there for 10 days and got an Optus prepaid sim which costed $30, it came with $300 worth of credit for calling and txting. 500mb of data and unlimited social networking. My iphone 4 was on the whole time and i was using it quite often for general browsing, google maps etc. I managed to use ~140mb for the whole trip.

Telstra has the best network over there in terms of coverage and speed, followed by optus then vodafone (Virgin are owned by Optus and piggyback off there network)

freitasm

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Reply # 596251 16-Mar-2012 19:17

Whatever you do, don't get Vodafone in Australia.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

josephhinvest

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Reply # 596260 16-Mar-2012 19:36

I bought an Optus prepaid micro sim for my iPad last time I was in Melbourne.
I think it was $30 for 3 gb I think. Worked well, but you can't buy prepay sims anonymously, you have to provide ID and contact details!

Cheers,
Joseph

nigelj

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Reply # 596261 16-Mar-2012 19:45

I'm going to (potentially) be in a similar boat to OP soon too...

freitasm: I use Virgin Mobile. The $19 recharge gives you $50 credit on account for calls/SMS *AND* 1GB free.

Did Virgin ever fix their international texting, still really annoying with them after purchasing a SIM having massive international texting problems (texts basically sent to /dev/null), even after telling them I needed International Texts, on return "oh yeah, that batch of SIMs doesn't do International Texting atm, it's broken and we don't know when/if it's going to be fixed".

freitasm: Whatever you do, don't get Vodafone in Australia.

May I ask why? I know historically they've had problems in Australia, but from what I've read they've launched a new 850mHZ 3G network, and seem to be getting some not too bad reviews for the Pocket WiFi 2 device, I was intending picking up a Telstra or Vodafone/Optus SIM for voice/SMS and getting a Pocket WiFi on Vodafone for data, and unlock back here.

freitasm

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Reply # 596277 16-Mar-2012 20:08

Never had a problem with Virgin. As for Vodafone, I am not sure they have completed the full roll out.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

GregV

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Reply # 596281 16-Mar-2012 20:17

Thanks for the info everyone. Looks like it will be hard to top that Virgin Mobile offering.

networkn

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Reply # 596301 16-Mar-2012 21:33

Amaysim!

GregV

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Reply # 596317 16-Mar-2012 22:18

^ Also looks good!

3g

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Reply # 596321 16-Mar-2012 22:57

Normally get amaysim ($2 for SIM card, $9.90 for 1GB, $19.90 for 2.5GB).

But will try Virgin (fly out Sunday, so this post is very timely!)

Nigel H.

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Reply # 596349 17-Mar-2012 00:19

Not really best suited for a one weeker, but I've got an Optus prepaid sim ($30) and use the $2 a day plan while I'm there. Unlimited calls to Australian mobiles and landlines and unlimited data.
I have the laptop tethered to my Android more or less permanently and actually prefer it to the office wifi :)

openmedia

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Reply # 596512 17-Mar-2012 17:21

I also recommend the Virgin $19 Cap with 1GB data.

Last time I was over there I also grabbed a Telstra SIM card for $10 that came with 500MB data and more call credit for my wife to use.

A good thing with the Virgin SIM is it is valid for a year, the amayasim expires after 90 days without use.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat New Zealand as a Solution Architect for all things Linux, Virtual and of course Cloud. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

freitasm

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Reply # 596518 17-Mar-2012 17:49

True. I had my Virgin card since January last year, and used it five times in this time, spending only $19 on each of my trips to Australia.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

GregV

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Reply # 597805 20-Mar-2012 17:23

Went with the Virgin $19 plan. Thought it would be good to have the phone credit for any calls I need to make while I am here.

Thanks all for your input

NonprayingMantis

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Reply # 597827 20-Mar-2012 18:04

just be VERY careful with Optus (and Amaysim whihc is an Optus MVNO annd uses the same billing method) as they round each session up to the nearest 10MB - meaning if you do lots of short sessions (checking email, tweeting etc) your data usage will seem to skyrocket

see this thread for example:

http://www.mactalk.com.au/55/86118-10mb-blocks-thing.html
Tweets from Optus:

"Hey Danny, Pre Paid iPad data is charged in 10MB increments however the first 30MB of each day is charged as 10MB...

If you log on to the service to check an email then log off, this would be counted as a 10MB. Hope this helps - Ian
.....
...
if u use 13MB in one session then disconnect, it's counted as 20MB of ur data. Use 19MB and disconnect, it's 20MB - Ian

Changing apps would end a session and start a new one. Sending a tweet, then closing and opening mail would be two sessions - Ian

ETA: Oh I see you already went with Virgin. oh well. :P

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