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Australia
For all Australian PAYG sim cards, you will first need to show some ID (drivers licence, passport) and fill in a form with your address. See the ACMA website for a full list of acceptable documentation.
Lifehacker has a good summary of current plans available at http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/07/planhacker-complete-australian-byo-prepaid-cap-guide/
Lifehacker also has a summary of PAYG data plans available at http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/06/planhacker-complete-australian-prepaid-3g-broadband-deals-guide/
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Optus
Edit
Optus is the second oldest telco in Australia, and as such has fairly extensive coverage and availability.
However theortetical transfer speeds don't match Telstra and Optus also sell their service through MVNOs.
Default data rateEdit
iPhone - $40 for a month, includes lots of calls, sms, and 150mb for 1 month. iPad - $20 for 2 gig
Optus as offers a $2 a day with unlimited data (Used November 2011 to Jan 2012). Can load additional credit over the phone. You will need an austrailian address to activate sim. You will also need to log on to Optus website to activate sim. See http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/10/optus-dollar-days-are-like-a-prepaid-per-day-cap/
Fair use policyEdit
Unknown.
AvailabilityEdit
Regular size pre-paid SIM cards should be available from most Optus outlets, as well as some Australia Post stores.
PAYG micro-SIMs are not yet available from Optus in Perth (as at July 31, 2010). Some news reports suggest this is a problem across Australia and won't be resolved until the end of September 2010.[1]
SIM sizesEdit
Mini SIMs as standard. Micro SIMs may be available on request, (mini SIMs are able to be cut down to micro SIM size).
TetheringEdit
$10 fee with iPhone 3G or 3GS, comes included with iPhone 4
TelstraEdit
Telstra is the former government telco and as such has the most extensive coverage, but also has the most expensive default call rates.
While historically the cost is higher than average If you are looking to connect from remote areas this is usually the only network available and or reliable. Furthermore Telstra's NextG network has much higher transfer rate than the other telcos.
Mobile Phone Data Rates
AUD$30 SIM starter pack includes AUD$30 with a 30 day expiry period. For more information, see Telstra Prepaid Plus Getting Started.
- PAYG
- GPRS: 2.2Ac per KB or part thereof ($22.53 per MB); or
- 3G: 0.2c per KB or part therof ($2.00 per MB)
- For more information, see Telstra Prepaid Plus PAYG Browsing Charges
- Plus Packs
- AUD$5: 30MB
- AUD$10: 200MB
- AUD$20: 700MB
- AUD$39: 1GB
- AUD$49: 3GB
- AUD$59: 4GB
- Unused data expires in 30 days. Usage excludes content and international roaming charges. Browse Plus Pack credits are used before your chosen mobile offer. If you don't select a Browse Plus Pack, the Pay As You Go rate will apply. For more information, see Telstra Prepaid Plus Browse Plus Packs.
Apple iPad Data Rates
A$30 Micro-SIM starter pack includes 1GB with a 30 day expiry period. The following recharge denomniations are available
- AUD$20: 1GB (AUD$0.02 per MB)
- AUD$30: 3GB (AUD$0.01 per MB)
- AUD$60: 6GB (AUD$0.01 per MB)
- AUD$80: 9GB (AUD$0.0089 per MB)
- AUD$100: 12GB (AUD$0.0083 per MB)
Each data recharge is valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. Note that data is charged against the account balance at the per-MB rate of the most recent data recharge, so you never want to "top up" your account balance at a lower rate than your current balance. For more information, see Telstra's website here.
Fair use policyEdit
Unknown.
AvailabilityEdit
In Telstra T-Life stores.
Note however, not all T-Life stores are run by Telstra, some are franchises.
SIM sizesEdit
MicroSim for iPads available.
TetheringEdit
Free.
VodafoneEdit
Vodafone is the third largest national provider in Australia. Recently, Vodafone merged with Three (Hutchison), and integration has been proceeding steadily.
Data feature packsEdit
[TBC]
Ipad Prepay - You can pick up a microsim in any vodafone store for nothing (Or order online for 50cents postage and handling)
Recharge rates:
$9.95 gets you 250MB, credit lasts 30 DAYS
$14.95 gets you 1GB, credit lasts 30 DAYS
$29.95 gets you 4GB, credit lasts 30 DAYS
$49.95 gets you UNLIMITED for 30 DAYS.
$100 gets you 6GB, credit lasts 180 DAYS
$150 gets you 12GB, credit lasts 365 DAYS
Fair use policyEdit
Unknown.
AvailabilityEdit
Unknown.
SIM sizesEdit
mini-SIM
micro-SIM
TetheringEdit
Free.
3Edit
Three was the first to provide 3G services in Australia, although this has been largely eliminated as a point of difference. 3 only covers the major population centres of the state capitals and a few regional centres - the remainder of the country is Roaming on Telstra, for which data is charged at AU$2 / MB. Recently 3 merged with Vodafone, with integration steadily proceeding this promises to replace the roaming agreement and provide Australia-wide non-roaming coverage.
Data feature packsEdit
[TBC]
Data Only Packages (as of 3 Aug 2010)
Prepaid (Lasts for 1 Month)
$5 Starter - 50MB (50c/MB if quota exceeded)
$8 Classic - 250MB (50c/MB if quota exceeded)
Fair use policyEdit
Unknown.
AvailabilityEdit
Find a 3 Store by clicking HERE
SIM sizesEdit
mini-SIM
TetheringEdit
Free.
VirginEdit
Virgin is an MVNO - a mobile service reseller. The underlying network is Optus, though Virgin will sometimes offer competitive rates, especially for customers on the same network.
Data feature packsEdit
[TBC]
Prepaid plans can be viewed at the Virgin Mobile Plans.
The $19 'Pre-Paid Your Cap 19' will get you 1GB of Data.
AvailabilityEdit
Sims are available at Virgin Mobile Stores or online at the Virgin Mobile site
SIM sizesEdit
Mini SIMs as standard. Micro SIMs may be available on request, (mini SIMs are able to be cut down to micro SIM size).
TetheringEdit
Only available with a post paid plan. Doesn't cost any extra as uses data from your plan. Virgin Tethering Faq.
TPGEdit
TPG have a PAYG plan called the Budget Plan. Their underlying network is Optus. You pay 2 upfront costs. $20 for the sim and delivery. You also pay another $20, which gets debited from your bank account and is used for up to $20 worth of text, calls, data, etc. There is no minimum time in which you are to use the $20. Once the $20 balance drops below $5, you will be debited an amount to bring your balance up to $20.
You pay a monthly access fee of $1, and there is no contract.
Default data rateEdit
The $1 access fee provides you with 50mb of data.TPG ADSL customers recieve 150mb of data. After that, the charge is $0.0275 MB billed per 100KB. (Quote from a TPG rep on Whirlpool forums...
" If a phone remains connected to the Mobile network, it will be charged as a single session until it is disconnected. Idle time behaviour differs from phone to phone. Some phones check for email but do not shut down the 3G or GPRS data session, keeping the session alive, avoids the customer being charged for the minimum 100KB block as there is no need to reconnect. If phone disconnects the session during idle time, then the minimum 100KB block charge will occur each time you need to reconnect." )
All other rates here
Fair Use PolicyEdit
Unknown
AvailabilityEdit
The SIM card can only be purchased online at TPG's website
SIM SizesEdit
Mini Sim, Micro Sim
TetheringEdit
Free. Uses data from your plan.
Global GossipEdit
Data RateEdit
5ct / MB http://globalgossip.com/mobile/
AvailabilityEdit
SIM SizesEdit
Mini Sim
LebaraEdit
Sim $10 with a $10 credit available in the usual places
1mb a day included for free the $0.05 per mb.
Day is a calendar day
amaysimEdit
SIM $2
Data: $10 for 1Gb used over 30 days
Calls: $0.15 per min
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