Current Mobile Deals

[ol' boy]

I just did some research on current mobile deals, thought i'd post some results here, may be useful for others.
Perhaps this could become an ongoing thread as new deals come along?

SIM only
All prices per month.
Unlimited Calls, SMS, MMS and some minutes International calls

Boost (Telstra 4G) $40 3GB+8GB(weekends) for 11GB

Optus 4G (month to month) $50 6GB
Optus 4G (12 months) $50 9GB
Optus 4G (12 months) $40 6GB+2GB
Optus 4G (12 months) $40 10GB (current special)
Optus 4G (12 months) $72 20GB (2 Sim cards, share over 2 devices)

Telstra 4G (12 months) $55 10GB (but some is Telstra Air wifi)

Virgin 4G (month to month) $50 11GB (increase to 12GB via Guvera)


Phone and Plan

Optus 4G (Samsung Galaxy 6) $65pm over 24months with 3.5GB data.
Optus 4G (Samsung Galaxy 7) $75pm over 24months with 3.5GB data.


Possibly the best option for the Phone and Plan, is the Optus Sim for $40 a month with 10GB and buy a new Samsung S7 online for $680.



There is a lot more offers out currently and i haven't really touched on the smaller re-sellers.
But its a pin point start for anyone looking
The Mrs has been out of contract for 2 years and is still paying $70pm for 1GB with Telstra, then gets stung $10 per GB 2 or 3 times per month for going over her 1Gb

[bob_m_54]

Thanks for that OB, where do you think is the best online place to buy a phone, that isn't a refurbished phone?

[ol' boy]

Thanks for that OB, where do you think is the best online place to buy a phone, that isn't a refurbished phone?

It says its new, although i have never purchased from them, looks suss to me.


Or $740 here:


I guess you'd just need to have a good look around bob, read some reviews on the sellers etc
Last time i bought the Mrs a Samsung S5 it was direct from Taiwan vie eBay and it was Unbranded and $100 cheaper than anywhere in Oz.
Has been perfect ever since.

EDIT: One thing i'm interested about, say you close a Telstra Account the Start an Optus plan, the girl in the Optus store gets a bonus for taking a Telstra Customer and also a bonus for signing up a New Optus account.
Much the same as Home Loans and everything else of that nature.

I wonder if there is a way that the customer can gain from that exchange?

[bob_m_54]

Yeah, I'm a bit wary about a couple of sites that offer cheap phones like that because when you go looking for the terms and conditions etc, they state things like "as new in box after renewal" or words to that effect. A couple of sites I looked at (callcom, and becextech) at least will show a conditions box, for renewed/refurbished phones, or will have a note in the description, that it is an ex demo phone and never been used.

The next cheapest I found where the phone is more likely to be a new phone and not renewed or remanufactured, is Kogan/Dick Smith online.

Edit: as for the weaseling a better deal, years ago, with telstra, I had a bit of a problem with a phone I bought, and while I was in seeing about it I also had a bit of a whinge about them doubling the data allocation from 500MB to 1GB a month after I started my plan. The guy I spoke to said no worries, and bumped my allocation up to 1GB to match it. They may be able to do something like that if you ask them, but usually they aren't all that helpful LOL

[ol' boy]

A brief comparison for Like for Like is:

Samsung Galaxy S7 with 10GB a month on Telstra deal, $95pm for 24months (Total $2280)
vs
Samsung Galaxy S7 (bought for $799) + Optus 10GB a month for $40, over 24 months (Total $1759)

[LeroyPatrol]

I have a Nexus 5 that I have bee very happy with. The new model could be a more economical option than the Samdung.


Leroy

[bob_m_54]

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S5 from Kogan for $480 delivered (yes it's an older model, but I don't need anything more fancy). But what they don't tell you is it's a SM-G900F, which is region locked to the European region, and has this warning on the booklet that comes with it. Actually, it seems the same warning is on the box, but Kogan have stuck a security sticker over it to tell you not to accept if the seal is broken.

This product should be activated with a SIM card issued from a mobile operator within Europe. (as defined EU/EEA, Switzerland and the following Non-EEA countries Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.)
To use SIM cards from other regions, a cumulative call over five minutes must first be made with the SIM card from European operators

As yet I can't find out what limitations or restrictions this places on the phone, but Kogan assure you the phone will work with all Australian providers. As yet I haven't tried it with my sim, I just wanted to make sure if there is something other than the 5 min call on a European SIM I can do to remove the region locking. Or if this even presents a problem? Anyone else found the same thing, or have any info?

This may be the same with other "cheap" phone suppliers, that aren't actually selling a "re-manufactured" phone.

[ol' boy]

Yes, i have a long thread on here Bob regarding the Samsung S3 S4 S5 and the different variants
For example, the Kogan sold handset did not have 1 or perhaps 2 Frequencies needed for 4G here in AU!
From memory, there are 7 different Samsung S5 variants

SM-G900F (International)
SM-G900FD (Duos)
SM-G900H (HSPA)
SM-G901F (LTE-A)
SM-G903F (Neo)
SM-G900P (Sprint)
SM-G900V (Verizon)
SM-G900A (AT&T)
SM-G870A (Active)
SM-G800 models (Mini)


Hence, i bought my partners S5 direct from Taiwan for $50 less than Kogan and it was the Full International Model which came with ALL radios.

In saying that, i see Optus have dropped $20 a month off the new Samsung S6 plan now and added more data.

Also, my partner just took up the Optus 10Gb 4G SIM offer $40pm and slipped it in her S5.
No probs at all, she cant even tell she is not on Telstra

[mtv]

I was just discussing pricing with someone considering a DSE S7 purchase about Kogan/DSE Samsung phones not having the new 4GX band (700MHz) band.

Yes, they do work with all Australian providers, but not all bands, so they are limited.

[ol' boy]

Yeah, that was it mtv, i remembered something about 1700Mhz, but is was probably 700Mhz, was a long time ago now.
You really have to do your homework when purchasing an imported handset, especially when its a Samsung, as there are so many different variants

[bob_m_54]

That's true oceanboy, I wish I had of known it was an imported one in the first place though. I just thought it was an Australian model, and don't remember seeing any warnings about it being a euro model on their site though... Although it may have been in the fine print in a link on their pages somewhere. It may not even be a problem really for me anyway. It's just such a pain buying stuff like that though.

And the bit about the 5 minute phone call using a Euro SIM when activating it, what is that about? Kogan don't seem to know or be too worried. Samsung AU just said contact Samsung UK and they may give me a region unlock code, so I've emailed them and will see what they say. I just don't want to connect to an AU network, then find out I should have done something else before doing that.

[mtv]

The DSE phones are a real trap now for unwary buyers, as everything on the website 'looks' the same as before Kogan bought it.... but no longer does DSE sell Australian models.

It's somewhat deceptive in my opinion, as it's not what Kogan/DSE tell you, it's what they 'don't' tell you.

AFAIK, all their products are OS models.

What bands their phones cover are in the specs, but prospective customers often don't understand what they all mean.

There's been a lot of discussion about this in earlier threads, in particular some great info from oceanboy.

[bob_m_54]

yes, I have been doing some more reading of ob's posts especially the one he mentioned in this thread. I should have done a search on here before buying the kogan one eh LOL.

geez I hate buying phones.

[ol' boy]

I remember ringing Kogan at he time and asking them directly.... it was a sheepish answer, but he flat out told me, he could not buy the model i was after, but they had been trying to secure a deal to buy them for some time.....

Strange hey.... who would thinks its so hard????

[loanrangiel]

Have a look at Oukitel phones, a Chinese brand that has good spec'd phones for 1/10th of the big brands.
My brother has the K1000 with its huge 1000mah battery and 5.5" screen, and its built like a tank with a s/steel chassis.
I also bought my wife a K4000 for $120 delivered which i will do a review on once we receive it and give it a run.

[ol' boy]

Have a look at Oukitel phones, a Chinese brand that has good spec'd phones for 1/10th of the big brands.
My brother has the K1000 with its huge 1000mah battery and 5.5" screen, and its built like a tank with a s/steel chassis.
I also bought my wife a K4000 for $120 delivered which i will do a review on once we receive it and give it a run.

Nice looking Phone, thank you
But the networks it covers?? No 900Mhz 3G??

[loanrangiel]

Nice looking Phone, thank you
But the networks it covers?? No 900Mhz 3G??

Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone operate on 2100 as well.

[ol' boy]

Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone operate on 2100 as well.

Ok... i was thinking more the lower Mhz Bands, as that is all we are on here in Regional Areas.
2100 was mostly Metro last time i looked.... maybe thats changed?

[loanrangiel]

Received my wifes phone yesterday, first impressions are that it seems well built and the OS seems quite snappy.

[ol' boy]

Getting this thread back on topic....

Optus just released 15Gb, Unlimited calls and 500mins International for $50pm SIM deal.


Anyone know of a Telstra deal that compares to that?