Prepaid mobile internet in Australia
July 11, 2010 4:47 AM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend a good prepaid SIM card for Australia for mobile data?
More specifically, I'd need to use it for data (maps, mail, &c.) on the go on an iPhone. I may be making calls and/or sending texts with it as well. Ideally, I'd want something with either a decent data allowance per top-up or reasonably priced add-ons which give "xMB of data over 30 days" or similar.
More specifically, I'd need to use it for data (maps, mail, &c.) on the go on an iPhone. I may be making calls and/or sending texts with it as well. Ideally, I'd want something with either a decent data allowance per top-up or reasonably priced add-ons which give "xMB of data over 30 days" or similar.
I'm an American in Australia with a software-unlocked iPhone.
Telstra is supposed to be the best, but I can't justify paying what they charge.
I have an Optus pre-paid SIM... each $50 recharge includes 500MB of data, which was the best deal that I found back in January when I moved over here. Coverage is decent (but not great, by any means) in cities, and spotty on the road.
I drove from Melbourne over to Perth and then up to Broome... some days I'd have no coverage, and other days I'd only have little bursts of non-3G signal while driving through the larger small towns. Without 3G I was still able to use email, Facebook and Maps pretty well, but general web browsing was a major pain in the ass.
While I can't give Optus a glowing endorsement, but it works and seems to be good value.
posted by adamk at 5:35 AM on July 11, 2010
Telstra is supposed to be the best, but I can't justify paying what they charge.
I have an Optus pre-paid SIM... each $50 recharge includes 500MB of data, which was the best deal that I found back in January when I moved over here. Coverage is decent (but not great, by any means) in cities, and spotty on the road.
I drove from Melbourne over to Perth and then up to Broome... some days I'd have no coverage, and other days I'd only have little bursts of non-3G signal while driving through the larger small towns. Without 3G I was still able to use email, Facebook and Maps pretty well, but general web browsing was a major pain in the ass.
While I can't give Optus a glowing endorsement, but it works and seems to be good value.
posted by adamk at 5:35 AM on July 11, 2010
I heartily recommend 3 Mobile because you can use as much of the included credit for data as you like. Also when you reach the boundaries of the 3 network, it roams onto the (widest coverage) Telstra network. Anecdotally, I often seem to be the only one with a signal when traveling with friends who are on Optus, etc. Another thing to consider if you're traveling is that 3 also have better international call rates than Optus (last time I checked anyway).
posted by birch effect at 4:36 PM on July 11, 2010
posted by birch effect at 4:36 PM on July 11, 2010
Best answer: First, prepare to get ripped off. Wireless anything is absurdly expensive here.
Like others are saying, if you're travelling, you have to get telstra or someone that uses the telstra network, everybody else will only give you coverages in the cities. In the hot interior, you wont' get any signal from anybody. Take a look at the coverage maps, links are on the sites:
The major carriers
http://www.three.com.au/
http://www.telstra.com.au/
http://www.optus.com.au
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/
posted by defcom1 at 6:25 PM on July 11, 2010
Like others are saying, if you're travelling, you have to get telstra or someone that uses the telstra network, everybody else will only give you coverages in the cities. In the hot interior, you wont' get any signal from anybody. Take a look at the coverage maps, links are on the sites:
The major carriers
http://www.three.com.au/
http://www.telstra.com.au/
http://www.optus.com.au
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/
posted by defcom1 at 6:25 PM on July 11, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for your help. In the end, I kept my Telstra pay-monthly deal ($10/month, no calls/texts included; i.e., just good enough to keep my number on ice for when I next return) and bought a package which gave me about 500Mb of data over 30 days for $20; it worked rather well. Telstra even swapped my ancient (pre-3G) SIM card for a new 3G micro-SIM for free.
posted by acb at 2:58 PM on August 10, 2010
posted by acb at 2:58 PM on August 10, 2010
« Older How to teach the great dust heap of history? | How do we control the excessive taking of food in... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pompomtom at 5:18 AM on July 11, 2010