There are some things you should know about mobile plans in Melbourne. The first thing you need to know is which companies offer the best deals. That is easy to do if you are prepared to do some research. You should be able to find the phone plan that will best suit you in terms of features, affordability and ease of use.
Telstra
Telstra is the country’s largest mobile service provider. They provide 18 million retail mobile services. Compared to other providers, it offers the best coverage and data speeds.
Telstra also provides a wide variety of phone plans. Those interested in mobile phone contracts can choose from plans with various features, such as unlimited calls and texts. These are available on both month-to-month and 12-month terms, with the latter offering more flexibility.
Telstra has introduced a range of new postpaid plans. Some of them offer up to 5G access. While not everywhere, it’s likely you’ll find it in major urban areas.
Another great feature is the ability to listen to your favourite music on your phone. This is provided by the mobile network, but it’s something you’ll only want to take advantage of if you’re in an area where it’s available. The equivalent facility offered by Optus, for example, provides unmetered access to Spotify and Google Play.
If you’re looking for a cheap prepaid plan, you can’t go wrong with a Telstra SIM-only plan. These plans are bundled with smartphones and offer generous amounts of fast data.
Telstra is also known for its customer support. If you’re having trouble with your plan, you can call or chat to a representative at any time of day or night. There are also self-service online tools that allow you to search for answers on your own.
However, it’s worth noting that Telstra’s coverage isn’t the most reliable. It also has its share of network outages.
On the plus side, Telstra’s postpaid plans come with a range of entertainment features. If you’re an AFL fan, you’ll be happy to know that Telstra provides access to live games.
Optus
Optus is a ‘big three’ telco that offers a range of mobile plans to suit every budget. It operates a robust and reliable network that covers 98.5% of the Australian population.
For the past few years, Optus has been investing in its network. With more than 2,200 new towers in more than 1,000 regional towns, Optus is improving service in rural areas.
The company also operates a range of prepaid and postpaid plans. These include family plans that have parental control features. You can also choose to pay for your phone in full upfront, which can be a more cost-effective option.
Optus mobile plans are available in store and online. Plans can include extras such as roaming. Some plans are also bundled with a new smartphone. A number of plans offer a monthly high-speed data allowance.
Optus also offers some great rates for texting and talk. This includes unlimited national text and standard national calls in Australia. In fact, Optus won the Mobile Plan Provider of the Year at the recent 5G Awards.
There are also a number of prepaid plans that can be purchased on a month-to-month basis. All of these come with great value data inclusions and are easy to manage. Unlike other providers, Optus separates the repayments for your phone from the costs of your plan.
Currently, Optus’s cheapest prepaid phone plan includes 30GB of fast data. Users can buy additional GBs through a daily recharge. Alternatively, a larger monthly data allowance can be purchased through a longer-term contract.
Optus prepaid plans are available in nine different variants. Each of the plans is priced at a different price. They also offer a variety of T&Cs, including the ability to add extras, expiration extensions, and more.
Kogan Mobile
Kogan is a discount online retailer specializing in electronics. It has since branched out into the competitive mobile phone plan market. The company’s distribution methods are innovative, bringing significant competition to the industry.
Currently, Kogan Mobile has two prepay options. A monthly recharge, or a 365-day plan. In addition, Kogan offers a variety of add-ons, which can be added to any prepaid mobile plan.
Kogan offers a range of affordable prepay deals, including unlimited standard national calls. Kogan customers can also purchase a data pack and add on roaming packs. There are no excess usage charges.
While the network is not as robust as Vodafone’s, Kogan has a large coverage area. This should be adequate for most metropolitan areas. However, Kogan does not offer data-free streaming and online chat features.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive range of plans, then you should consider Vodafone. Kogan’s 365-day plans are similar to long-term prepaid plans, but they do include all the data inclusions upfront.
For example, the 365-day Flex plan includes an unlimited standard national call, a monthly data block at a lower rate, and a free Kogan SIM card. Those who need to ration their data over the course of a year will appreciate the flexibility of Kogan’s 365-day plans.
Kogan’s 5G free trial is available for a limited time. Until October 26, customers can try out 5G for free, including a Large 365-day recharge. They can also earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points with eligible recharges.
Customers can find an answer to most questions in the Kogan Mobile Help Centre, where they can find a search bar and self-paced, interactive online help. Customer service is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
TPG Prepaid Heavy Use
TPG prepaid mobile plans have been designed to offer decent data allowances for the value of the dollar. They also offer good coverage. However, they are lacking in extra features, such as free internet and entertainment options.
The TPG Small plan, for example, provides 12GB of data, plus unlimited standard national calls. That’s a good deal, but if you want more, you’ll have to pay extra.
Other TPG mobile plans include the option to pay as you go. This can save you money if you only use data a few times each month. Alternatively, you can pair a plan with another one for savings.
Another feature of TPG’s mobile plans is access to 4G networks. These are powered by Vodafone’s network, which covers almost 96% of the population. It is also available in more than 22 million Australian homes.
However, the TPG Mobile app has a poor rating. It’s only rated a 1.3 on the Apple Store.
TPG’s early termination fees are not as bad as some of the other providers. For $10, you can get two extra gigabytes if you hit the data limit. However, if you are planning to travel overseas, TPG recommends you disable your mobile data ahead of time.
In order to access the TPG app, you’ll need to sign up for a TPG Mobile account. You can find more information on their website, or you can call or email their customer service team.
Finally, TPG’s plans come with a few bonuses. One of them is a special niche plan for seniors. If you’re looking for an affordable plan with a lot of included data, then TPG is the best option.
WhistleOut Experts Choice Award-winning plans
WhistleOut is Australia’s dedicated phone comparison service. With a mission to clear up the murky water between telcos, it offers comparison tools to help you find the best deal for you. The site claims to have around two million monthly users.
The site is also known for its guides to the best coverage, coverage to get you through the winter and phones for teens. You can compare hundreds of thousands of scenarios to find the right plan for you. In addition, the site specializes in international calls, which can be a huge savings. Whether you are looking for a new SIM card, or you’re a current customer, the WhistleOut mobile comparison site can help you save money.
The award of the day is the WhistleOut Award. This competition, which takes place annually, honours the best cell phone plans of the year. It is a cross section of providers, with awards going to those with the highest combined points in each category.
For this year’s awards, the team at WhistleOut has uncovered the most impressive mobile telecommunications products. Among other gizmos, the company is able to compare the prices of five unlimited lines to determine the costliest and most affordable options. Using this service, you’ll be able to compare the best deals on iPhones from the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC, as well as SIM cards from the likes of iiNet, Vodafone and Optus. Aside from telecommunications, the site also boasts a range of other useful information including reviews of the best internet service providers, the cheapest international calls, and the most reliable phone numbers in Australia.
The mobile industry is a confusing one. However, the WhistleOut Award is designed to help you find the right plan for you.
