Mobile phone in Aus for year?

LisaMarie

Hi all!

I'm a newbie to this forum (lured in by the attraction to iPhone 4 reviews/opinions)

but what I wondered is, my contract with T-Mobile is up in August (thank goodness!) and the end of that month I'm heading out to Australia to live for a year.

Obviously I'll need a phone out there so any recs on my best option, I'm guessing taking a UK mobile is just throwing money away so is it wiser to get a Pay as you Go sim when I get there? I really want the iPhone but guessing unless I buy sim free there's no chance getting it out there unless its a longer term contract?

Thanks for any advice,

Lisa :-)

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

You do have a problem, in that out in Aus you will have no credit history. That may make it more difficult to get a new iPhone on contract.

I think that the sim free is the only real option for you. If you are going to be out there for a year, however, that covers the whole period of your warranty. Apple do not migrate their warranty from country to country so you may find yourself having to ship the phone back to the UK if there are any issues with it.

Apple are usually very good about this, but it may be worth popping in to an Apple Store and speaking to someone first.

seaniboy

Telstra Prepaid Talk and Text is the best value, if you want a UK sim to use also roaming get the cheapest Vodafone contract for Voda Passport, 75p per incoming call for up to 60 mins, outgoing to UK or AU is 75p connection then your minutes/standard rate per minute after allowance used

https://www.secure-mobiles.com/checkout/checkout.php?buy=YTo3OntzOjg6InByaWNlX2lkIjtzOjc6IjU4NzgzMDMiO3M6Njoid2xjb2RlIjtzOjM6Ind3dyI7czo5OiJpcGFkZHJlc3MiO3M6MTQ6Ijk1LjE0Ni4xMDIuMTU5IjtzOjE1OiJhZmZpbGlhdGVzb3VyY2UiO3M6NzoiYXczODQ0OSI7czo4OiJlMnVuaXF1ZSI7czoyNjoiNm43cHJkcThoN3Rucmc5anIwbzUwczQzZDAiO3M6NjoiYWJUZXN0IjtzOjk6Ik5FV19QUEFHRSI7czo2OiJyYW5kb20iO2k6MTI3ODE3NDA5Njt9
Cheapest Voda is 99p for 18 months line rental on cashback

You can also use Voda payg Freedom minutes with Vodafone passport

LisaMarie

Thanks for the advice guys,

good point with the iPhone warranty, I hadn't thought of that being a problem so thanks for bringing that up, I may go for a sim free 3gs and get a sim out there.

I'll probably use skype for uk calling, but will need to call Aussie numbers while out there so a pay as you go sim card when I get out there seems the best option, The offer you sent through Seaniboy is a really good deal, although I doubt I'll be there 18 months.

Cheers,

Lisa :-)

balt

Vodafone PAYG is good for oz, sim costs A$2 in Woolworths plus some other places, Woolworths also give you 10% off topups. There are a few optioons when registering the sim so check which suits you best. Coverage may be a problem depending where you go.

seaniboy

Voda AU is good in built up areas, travelling you need Telstra Next G ( signal & speed is almost 4G) you can get a NextG handset for $49 new.

Voda prepaid do $3 for 10 mins to the UK.

For unlimited (3000 mins) AU mobile callling check out Optus for $79 a month prepaid. Signal is between Telstra & Voda.