Which Network is best for Australia

tech

Ok Im off to Australia for 4-5 weeks in Oct,

Im wondering what's the best network to use while im there, I cant take my current mobile no as its a company phone

should I use a Aus pre pay sim card or an Irish pre pay ?


Probably mainly for texting and the odd few call,

Many Thanks

BuffyBot

Moving to Mobiles/PDA's

I could be wrong on this and others can correct me.
With the three network you can use your minutes on any three network in any country that they operate in as if you were on your home three network.
That would include Australia and would be handy for a 5 or 6 week trip.
If it's the case it is probably a bill pay only option but ring them and see.

Davy

If you would be able to use a 3 monthly sim it would be great value, (if terms to it) but since you said prepay in the op i would suggest vodafone as the cheapest. Call or text on vodafone prepay in Australia for:
Making Calls: 19c per min + 79c once off connection fee.
Recieving Calls: once off 79c connection fee.
Texts: 29c
These rates apply on Vodafone passport. Set it up on 'my vodafone' or:

# Text PASSPORT to 50020
# FreeFone 1800 808 988

To get your roaming rates by text for free just text ‘ROAM’ followed by the country name (e.g. ‘ROAM France’) to 50221, and vodafone text you back the exact rates you’ll be charged based on your own price plan. Text before you go or when you arrive - either way it's free.

o2 is €1.09 per min for calls both way and 39cent to send texts receive is always free.

Davy

Deleted User wrote: »

I could be wrong on this and others can correct me.
With the three network you can use your minutes on any three network in any country that they operate in as if you were on your home three network.
That would include Australia and would be handy for a 5 or 6 week trip.
If it's the case it is probably a bill pay only option but ring them and see.

In Australia its on 3 Monthly only!

dr.bollocko

They have that wonderful prepay cap system over there in Ozland.
Its like 29 bucks for 100 bucks worth of calls or 49 bucks for 200 bucks or something like that.
Its something like that anyway. Really good tariff but u have to top up by the 29 dollars in one pop. I was able to call home for ages without fear of wasting a fortune.
Dunno about data tariffs tho.

juvenal

Vodafone ftw in my experience.

As Dr.Bollocko said, you top up by $29/49 etc, and you get a value of calls in return. I think it's called the MaxiCap if I recall correctly.

While it may sound handy to use your Irish number, the novelty will soon wear off when all your friends at home call you every other day for the price of a local call to them, but it costs you a lot more

You can get a Vodafone Sim for cheap, if not free, and top up as you wish then. No contract, no hassle, and a local Aussie number. Just make sure your phone is network unlocked before you leave Ireland.

Edit: I just saw that you're only going for 4/5 weeks. It may be as easy to use an Irish sim for that length of time, depending on the prices.

Iamhere

Spent 4 months in oz this year, used to work for o2 so looked into all the oz networks before i picked one (which ended up being vodafone), there are 5 networks

Telstra, Three, voda, optus and virgin, Three and virgin dont have there own networks. Its depends on where your going to be and will u being ringing home or oz numbers or both! Telstra is the former state telcom, has by far the best coverage but it will cost u so id stay clear, as far as i know u cant get three aus prepaid sim packs and unless ur planning to buy a three skype phone it wont be worth it. Virgin are cheap for calls and texts within aus but not international usage. As i said i pick voda for $49 u get $310 of usage calls hope are 1.50 a min plus connection free but have a look at optus the include data usage in the plans and give u more usage or what they call caps and optus has better coverage its second behind telstra, if ur only in major cities voda coverage is fine but other than than it can be very poor if i had it back would of went optus but voda did ok...

drunkmonkey

Turn the phone off for 5 weeks, there's a certain calmness that decends on you from week 2 on....just say you lost it in the bush....send a few postcards....make the odd call home with a calling card....

Walkman

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Turn the phone off for 5 weeks, there's a certain calmness that decends on you from week 2 on....just say you lost it in the bush....send a few postcards....make the odd call home with a calling card....

Back to the good old days!! Why did none of us think of that. Thats definately the best solution. No network is best. Enjoy the break!!!

hussey

I am in Oz and I think Optus has probably the best feedback from Australians

also Telstra has probably has the most coverage, Optus 2nd and then Vodafone.

I use vodafone myself and have not troubles, apart from lack of coverage outside big cities.

Definitely use an Aus sim card - if you get the monthly cap's they are very cheap.

Optus prepaid

Telstra prepaid


Vodafone