Ragnor: Even if you don't have XT with non stop text still active or whatever it was called you can still gets a $299 phone for around $89ish because of the Telecom TXT Anyone 2500 addon, which is currently doubled ("double joy") for December.
So 10000 txt's for an IDEOS
$5 for 2degrees SIM
+ $30 for Telecom SIM #1
+ $12 for TXT Anyone 2500 #1 (5000 txts due to "double joy" promo)
+ $30 for Telecom SIM #2
+ $12 for TXT Anyone 2500 #2 (5000 txts due to "double joy" promo)
Then automate sending the txt's via PC Suite software for your phone or an app with a huge text area that breaks down the txt into loads of xyz character sms messages.
Enjoy your $299 phone for $89
.. and then rinse and repeat
Anyway while this promo seems pretty low brow, it's probably a mistake to not take advantage of a mobile industry cat fight.
It's lower since the SIMs come preloaded with credit.
$20 credit (after registration) for the Telecom SIMs means that it's only $64.90 for an IDEOS (counting SIMs at $29.95 RRP)