[TelstraClear] TelstraClear invitation mobile offer expires ... what next

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jasonwaiheke

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#30693 18-Feb-2009 06:34

Hi all,

anyone got insight into what telstraclears' new mobile plan offerings will be when thier current invitation plan expires on the 31st of march?

while i am at it though, anyone here connected to the plan? how does the it work out for you? are the free minutes but no text plans better, or this one which includes text but no minutes better?

Jason

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#196444 18-Feb-2009 08:14

Whether or not the plan if for you really depends on how you use your phone. It suits me, in that I normally only text (well under 500 per month), but if I do need to make a few calls now and then, most will cost me just 29 cents. And if I get stuck on the phone for 10 mins, it won't break the bank.

Plus I get a free MP3 player, and GPS, which has changed the way I get lost...

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jasonwaiheke

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#196632 19-Feb-2009 06:44

how long does the battery last you if your using it as an mp3 player? and are there costs involved in using the GPS?

toprob

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#196658 19-Feb-2009 09:44

I actually got this phone to replace my very old Nokia 1100 brick, suddenly the battery was only lasting four days rather than eight, so it's taken some getting used to having to recharge the 6275 every few days. The research I did before I decided on Telstra's deal did make me aware that using the extra features can chew through the battery, and I wouldn't buy it if battery life was the main consideration, especially compared to a good dedicated MP3 player. The MP3 player battery usage seems good, whereas bluetooth, GPS and even phone calls can drain it pretty quick.

It is easy to drain the battery is a day, if you go overboard using the phone/camera/GPS/music player heavily.

Still, I tend to only use the extras when I'm driving -- pretty much only ever use the music player when I'm driving out of town and lose radio reception, so a car charger helps a lot. The same goes for the GPS, since it is mainly of use in the car, the phone could live on the charger when the GPS is active.

The cost of GPS really depends on how you use it. It is certainly possible to use it without any costs, that's pretty much what I aim for -- I've installed Mobile GMaps, and used their online tool to build my own maps (uses about 500MB of my 2GB micro-SD), but sometimes it is worthwhile going online to search etc. Last month I think I paid about 60 cents for data, and I'd be surprised if I used any this month. You could use online maps, which would increase the data usage a lot.

I've been happy with the phone and plan. Cons for me are the fiddly navigation buttons (other buttons are ok), and the inability to access txt messages via the PC (PC access is very good, otherwise),

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BurningBeard

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#197521 23-Feb-2009 18:34

while i am at it though, anyone here connected to the plan? how does the it work out for you? are the free minutes but no text plans better, or this one which includes text but no minutes better?

It suits my situation perfectly. I txt more than call, and it's good to have the re-assurance that when I do call, I'm not likely to run out of credit - it's all billed with my landline/internet/tv. Nice & easy. It's down to how you use it and what works out for you. Personally the txt w/no minutes is great, because the minutes cost sod-all.
Downside... heaps of my mates are on 021 deals and can't afford to txt me sometimes.
___

As for the battery things I've heard... the "extra" stuff I've used doesn't go much farther than the camera and bluetooth... yes, bluetooh rinses the battery 2-3 days earlier (in my experience) but only if you leave it on permanently. Doesn't take much to flick it on briefly.
I signed up right at the start and had mega-delays in actually receiving the package, but since it was a free phone I wasn't gonna grumble. When it arrived I got a phone-call from a very friendly and knowledgable staff member who talked me through it... oh, and she was a Kiwi... Ha!
Decent if limited phone. Sturdy as hell. Simple and cost-effective plan for my requirements. Thumbs up.

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paradoxsm

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#197555 23-Feb-2009 20:11

It's a superb plan and I would love to purchase it standalone.
The $20 plan charge is easily recouped with as few as 40 minutes of daytime calling and that's not even taking the free sms into account.
Plus you only have a minimum of $20 to commit to.

DjShadow

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#197557 23-Feb-2009 20:17

I'd be happy to switch to this plan if it was offered as "Standalone", $20 is a pretty good deal for what you get

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BurningBeard

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#197684 24-Feb-2009 10:14

Yeah I was already spending $20 on Vodagroan so it wasn't a big deal to move over for the same cost.

It was more about sticking it to Vodafone than saving money, to be honest.

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jasonwaiheke

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#197825 24-Feb-2009 20:00

**********************************************************************************
As for the battery things I've heard... the "extra" stuff I've used doesn't go much farther than the camera and bluetooth... yes, bluetooh rinses the battery 2-3 days earlier (in my experience) but only if you leave it on permanently. Doesn't take much to flick it on briefly.
*****************************************************************
'extra' stuff?? and what do you mean by doesnt go much farther?? what are the costs to use the GPS and how does this impact the battery?

jasonwaiheke

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#197826 24-Feb-2009 20:01

paradoxsm: It's a superb plan and I would love to purchase it standalone.
The $20 plan charge is easily recouped with as few as 40 minutes of daytime calling and that's not even taking the free sms into account.
Plus you only have a minimum of $20 to commit to.

i do not understand how 40 minutes of daytime calling recoups the $20 plan charge? what do you mean?

richms

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#197872 24-Feb-2009 22:42

Dont like it because of the inflexibility with respect to the included texts - I seldom send enough to make the 50 to get the other 450 free on telecom most months, so paying $20 for 500 texts just to get a decent per min rate would take careful consideration, particually being on the verge of 2 more viable providers, and a site partucually vauge in the costs to buy out of the plan.

That and the handset non-selection with telstraclear.

Richard rich.ms

paradoxsm

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#197892 25-Feb-2009 01:54

Compared to what other daytime (and even off-peak) rates are out there in the market, paying the $20 and using just 1 call a day will make the "extra" $20 charge negligible.

GPS uses data only if another application is installed and triesto connect, or you can use MGMAPS = Cache free of charge.

the contract "buyout" is $20 for each month remaining on the 24 month term, I've asked about keeping the mobile if you disconect homeline and nope.. bugger, i'd happily pay the terminations if I could keep the phone standalone.

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zocster

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#197897 25-Feb-2009 06:30

I have this as a backup to the blackberry, just in case there is no GPRS coverage where I go, but at $20.00 a month, it is not breaking the bank. Plus I am on cable as well so 2 bills really one from Vodafone and from TelstraClear for the rest.

toprob

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#198035 25-Feb-2009 17:21

My bill arrived in the mail today, and although last month was far from average (I was on holiday for most of it, and tend to keep away from the phone:) the results are quite interesting. It cost me $26 for the Telstra mobile, and I worked out that using my old prepay would have cost me around $19. A 'normal' month would certainly save me money.

However my calling habits have changed a bit -- whereas in the past I'd only make toll calls from my home phone, now it makes more sense to use the mobile, which is a lot handier. I have also called my son in London a couple of times, which I didn't do much before I had the mobile.

Regarding the cost of GPS, I used Mobile GMaps 8 times, loading the route from Google Earth (As a KML file) before I left home, so the cost of that was zip. However, I did try out GMap-Track once, which uploads my position to the web when I'm running M-GMaps. From the results I got, it didn't work for long, because I think I was out of range for most of the test, but I was pretty surprised to find that data charges for last month were 2 cents:)

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jasonwaiheke

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#198071 25-Feb-2009 20:18

richms: Dont like it because of the inflexibility with respect to the included texts - I seldom send enough to make the 50 to get the other 450 free on telecom most months, so paying $20 for 500 texts just to get a decent per min rate would take careful consideration, particually being on the verge of 2 more viable providers, and a site partucually vauge in the costs to buy out of the plan.

That and the handset non-selection with telstraclear.

like most plans out there for $20 you either get free minutes or free texts, then you pay for other stuff.

like telecoms freetime, you get free minutes but no text, and i would struggle to use 25 of the 125 minutes but i would without doubt spend the extra $10 on text every month, thus costing me $30. on this plan for $22.90 i can send 500 texts, make it part of my one monthly phone bill and talk for 10 minutes. not really a loss. and in regards to the choice of phone, it's an invitation offer, one plan, one phone expires march 31 sure there will be more choice for you then.

jasonwaiheke

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#198074 25-Feb-2009 20:21

paradoxsm: Compared? to what other daytime (and even off-peak) rates are out there in the market, paying the $20 and using just 1 call a day will make the "extra" $20 charge negligible.

GPS uses data only if another application is installed and triesto connect, or you can use MGMAPS = Cache free of charge.

the contract "buyout" is $20 for each month remaining on the 24 month term, I've asked about keeping the mobile if you disconect homeline and nope.. bugger, i'd happily pay the terminations if I could keep the phone standalone.

i think you would still get to keep the handset if you buy out the contract, but you would just loose access to the plan.

i understand what you mean about the cost.

$20 on telecom gets you free miuntes (125) but the same amount of texts cost you $10 making it $30
here you get 500 texts and you can talk for upto 30mins and still pay less, and i would stuggle to talk for 20.

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