Forced off pay-as-you-go data plan, what's good now?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Forced off pay-as-you-go data plan, what's good now?

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#138074 18-Dec-2013 23:42

Just came back from a two-week trip overseas, and found that my old (old old) T-Stick 10¢/MB 500MB data plan is being retired. I guess the writing's been on the wall for two years now, but it's still sad, as I didn't use mobile data all that much (averaged 100MB a month or so). I thought I could keep on the grandfathered plan for some time yet, but at least now I don't have to worry about losing my SIM or the number expiring :P

The new offered plan is now 500MB for $15/mth, which isn't all that good value for money, so wondering if people have other ideas about what's decent nowadays?

I've got a Nexus 5 coming just before new years, so can look at getting a 4G plan, but I'd rather not spend more than $20 a month for txts and data (I don't call much either).

Vodafone's 4G prepay looks interesting, but 2degress is tempting with their roll-over txt and data...

Thanks in advance!

1 | 2 | 3

4014 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#954579 19-Dec-2013 00:53

I remember when getting 500mb for $49 was good value

You might want to look into the pre-pay options

Skinny has the $4 for 200mb/7days so if you are only occasionally using it, and not every week, then it might only cost you $8 a month for 400mb if you are using it once a fortnight.

Telecom has the $15 for 500mb/30 days prepay

2 degrees is $10 for 100mb/30 days of national coverage (delivered over vodafones network)
or if you are in the 2degrees zone (delivered using their own towers) then its $99 for 12gb/12 months

Vodafone gives you 512mb for $10 a month on a 12 month contract

So if you are in a 2degrees zone then they are probably the best deal for you - $99 yearly 12gb/12months
If you are outside a 2degrees zone, then vodafone is probably best - $120 yearly 512mb/30days

Edit: I made a mistake as pointed out below, the 2 degrees 12gb is actually only gives you 6 months to use it.

Ray Taylor

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scheduler

264 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954627 19-Dec-2013 08:54

Hi

I think the 2 degrees plan is $99.00 for 12GB available for 6 months. Another option may be a 2 degrees plan and share data accross Phone and usb modem

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#954630 19-Dec-2013 09:05

Vodafone offer Prepay bundles that last 3 and 6 months on a semi new prepay plan called ' PrepayData '

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/mobile-broadband/prepay/

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#954701 19-Dec-2013 10:55

raytaylor: I remember when getting 500mb for $49 was good value

You might want to look into the pre-pay options

Skinny has the $4 for 200mb/7days so if you are only occasionally using it, and not every week, then it might only cost you $8 a month for 400mb if you are using it once a fortnight.

Telecom has the $15 for 500mb/30 days prepay

2 degrees is $10 for 100mb/30 days of national coverage (delivered over vodafones network)
or if you are in the 2degrees zone (delivered using their own towers) then its $99 for 12gb/12 months

Vodafone gives you 512mb for $10 a month on a 12 month contract

So if you are in a 2degrees zone then they are probably the best deal for you - $99 yearly 12gb/12months
If you are outside a 2degrees zone, then vodafone is probably best - $120 yearly 512mb/30days

I meant 500MB for $15 was bad value when for $20 you get 100 minutes and unlimited txt to NZ mobiles; Telecom just pushed me onto a plan that merely matched what I had before, which I can't blame them for, especially since the SIM was bundled with a T-Stick. But it isn't all that good value so I'm not going to stick with that.

Yea 2degrees' 12GB pack is 6 months as scheduler said. With Skinny unfortunately my usage pattern tends to be something like 2-3MB per week, but every so often I might suddenly use 10-15MB on a particular day. Over a month that fits within 100MB, but it's very bursty so weekly plans don't work that well

. That said, 800MB for $16 over 4 weeks isn't too shabby.

I think I should also clarify that I'm looking for an option that includes data and txt (and minutes if it comes with it, but it's not necessary); I've taken the T-Stick SIM out and used in a phone sharing as a WiFi hotspot for a long time now (much more versatile), so I don't need to stick with a data-only plan/pack. I haven't yet looked at "on account" plans yet, since my usage is pretty low and those plans start at $19...

Thanks for the replies so far though!

wongtop

565 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954702 19-Dec-2013 10:59

How did you find out that the plan is ending? I've got a datastick on that plan. Very useful when we are onsite (but only every 3 months or so) and haven't fired it up for a few months. Will be sorry to see the end of that plan.

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#954705 19-Dec-2013 11:02

wongtop: How did you find out that the plan is ending? I've got a datastick on that plan. Very useful when we are onsite (but only every 3 months or so) and haven't fired it up for a few months. Will be sorry to see the end of that plan.

Got a txt as soon as I left airplane mode after I got back from overseas (I've taken the SIM out of the T-Stick and stuck it into a phone); I used to use even less, maybe 10MB across 4 months, so this was a very flexible plan. Didn't seem profitable though, and I guess its time has come, haha.

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#954707 19-Dec-2013 11:07

johnr: Vodafone offer Prepay bundles that last 3 and 6 months on a semi new prepay plan called ' PrepayData '

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/mobile-broadband/prepay/

Some trade-offs compared to 2degrees; more expensive but longer time to use it. I'm interested in the new prepay 4G add-on though, and since the rest of my family uses txt5K on Vodafone, sticking with you guys would be an advantage there.

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scheduler

264 posts

Ultimate Geek

#954708 19-Dec-2013 11:08

Yes I got that text bit of a shame. I moved to the $3 for 30mb which will do what I need. Its not my primary data device. The other option is the Telecom $9.00 for 100mb option If you need to you can always by a 1 month boost of $6.00 for 50mb when you need. That is the 1 good thing of telecoms prepay offering they alow you to literally design your own plan

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#954709 19-Dec-2013 11:13

Hadn't noticed that, I'm used to Vodafone's monthly-recurring packs. Maybe I can stick with Telecom, hm...

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#954713 19-Dec-2013 11:22

Nooooooooooo!! why are they doing this?

It is like buying a new car but they take out the power steering and radio!! Actually it is worse, we have no choice.

Sirius

15 posts

Geek

#954717 19-Dec-2013 11:26

I'm resigned to its fate. Telecom has been nice enough to grandfather us for two years at least, ever since they replaced the plan with the $25 for 500MB one. It was only a matter of time before they found some excuse to change us to some other plan. In this case the excuse is "half price"