Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

2009-07-02 Thread Gordon Campbell
I've been looking at the different carriers myself and I think what
I'm going to do is to buy the phone outright and go onto Telstra
pre-paid. The pre-paid options for Telstra are not outstanding value,
but they're certainly not bad value either. That way I can get access
to the NextG network, have the option of switching providers and using
overseas SIMs while travelling, and not be paying through the nose for
Telstra's plans.
So, I'd suggest checking out the pre-paid option for Telstra. :)

Gordon


2009/6/29 Rob Findlay :
> I have an iPhone with Optus. I do call out support and rack up a few hundred
> K's a week around the metro.
> The only drop-outs I experience are in underground carparks. Never anywhere
> else.
> I often get reception in areas where my wire's Vodafone mobile doesn't work.
> No complaints at all about Optus here.
>
> On 29/06/2009, at 1:30 PM, Toby Oldham wrote:
>
>>
>> I think you're right Daniel - only problem is I'm not sure which _is_
>> more important to me, having not experienced poor network performance*.
>>
>> I tend to infer from conversations with non-Telstra friends that Optus
>> coverage can drop out in strange places all throughout the Perth CBD. I
>> think that would have the potential to bug the hell out of me... I
>> commute via rail every day, 'anyone know if the Midland+Freo line is
>> generally well covered?
>>
>> I'd be using the phone for light websurfing, podcasts and e-mail.
>> Tethering, visual voicemail... Not something I'm currently concerned
>> about. As for speed... I've only used a mobile for web surfing once, so
>> I have low/ almost no expectations with regards to performance; although
>> I think I'd get annoyed by a lack of consistency (above some arbitrary
>> base level).
>>
>> Cheers,
>> T.
>>
>> *Call dropouts and other ye olde-school telecommunications issues. ; )
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: WAMUG Mailing List [mailto:wa...@wamug.org.au] On Behalf Of Daniel
>> Forsdyke
>> Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 1:01 PM
>> To: WAMUG Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?
>>
>> Hi Toby
>>
>> I think it mainly comes down to what is most important to you, the
>> network coverage or the cost.
>>
>> Telstra do have the best mobile coverage area - but how often do you go
>> to areas outside of the other carriers coverage area? Is that worth the
>> extra cost?
>>
>> Also, how do you want to use the iPhone?
>> Telstra do not offer tethering or visual voicemail.
>> Optus don't offer visual voicemail, but do offer tethering at a cost of
>> $9.95 per month.
>> Vodafone offer both visual voicemail and tethering (no surcharge).
>>
>> Do you use the Internet and email functions much? How important is speed
>> for these? Telstra seem to have more consistent speeds.
>>
>> I would love to leave Telstra at the moment as I am paying a premium for
>> which I get little benefit, but besides the $400 early exit fee, I know
>> that vodafone doesn't work in my house, and that optus won't work in the
>> middle of the house.
>>
>> Personally, if I could get vodafone working at home then I would
>> probably go with them as they seem to have the better packages overall.
>>
>> Food for thought...
>>
>> Regards
>> Daniel Forsdyke
>> --
>> An Apple iPhone creation
>>
>> On 29/06/2009, at 12:17, Toby Oldham
>>  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> There's around $500 worth of difference (in total, after factoring
>>> various bits in) between a Telstra and Virgin(/Optus) 24 month-cap
>>> plan.
>>>
>>> If I get an iPhone via a cap plan, do I choose to save $500 and risk
>>> the
>>> anecdotal accounts of call-dropouts on the Optus network, or do I
>>> cough
>>> up the extra dough for Telstra coverage that I'm used to, being a
>>> long-time Telstra mobile user (I think mainly because I've been too
>>> lazy
>>> to properly investigate my options in the past).
>>>
>>> The Virgin plan offers vastly more call value and download volume, but
>>> if I never use more than $200 worth of calls or 300meg a month (on the
>>> Telstra plan)... Should I care about benefits that are never going
>>> to be
>>> realised?
>>>
>>> 'Think I'll let this conundrum vex me for another hour, then get on
>>> with
>>> my l

Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

2009-06-29 Thread Rob Findlay
I have an iPhone with Optus. I do call out support and rack up a few  
hundred K's a week around the metro.
The only drop-outs I experience are in underground carparks. Never  
anywhere else.
I often get reception in areas where my wire's Vodafone mobile doesn't  
work.

No complaints at all about Optus here.

On 29/06/2009, at 1:30 PM, Toby Oldham wrote:



I think you're right Daniel - only problem is I'm not sure which _is_
more important to me, having not experienced poor network  
performance*.


I tend to infer from conversations with non-Telstra friends that Optus
coverage can drop out in strange places all throughout the Perth  
CBD. I

think that would have the potential to bug the hell out of me... I
commute via rail every day, 'anyone know if the Midland+Freo line is
generally well covered?

I'd be using the phone for light websurfing, podcasts and e-mail.
Tethering, visual voicemail... Not something I'm currently concerned
about. As for speed... I've only used a mobile for web surfing once,  
so
I have low/ almost no expectations with regards to performance;  
although

I think I'd get annoyed by a lack of consistency (above some arbitrary
base level).

Cheers,
T.

*Call dropouts and other ye olde-school telecommunications issues. ; )





-Original Message-
From: WAMUG Mailing List [mailto:wa...@wamug.org.au] On Behalf Of  
Daniel

Forsdyke
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 1:01 PM
To: WAMUG Mailing List
Subject: Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

Hi Toby

I think it mainly comes down to what is most important to you, the
network coverage or the cost.

Telstra do have the best mobile coverage area - but how often do you  
go
to areas outside of the other carriers coverage area? Is that worth  
the

extra cost?

Also, how do you want to use the iPhone?
Telstra do not offer tethering or visual voicemail.
Optus don't offer visual voicemail, but do offer tethering at a cost  
of

$9.95 per month.
Vodafone offer both visual voicemail and tethering (no surcharge).

Do you use the Internet and email functions much? How important is  
speed

for these? Telstra seem to have more consistent speeds.

I would love to leave Telstra at the moment as I am paying a premium  
for
which I get little benefit, but besides the $400 early exit fee, I  
know
that vodafone doesn't work in my house, and that optus won't work in  
the

middle of the house.

Personally, if I could get vodafone working at home then I would
probably go with them as they seem to have the better packages  
overall.


Food for thought...

Regards
Daniel Forsdyke
--
An Apple iPhone creation

On 29/06/2009, at 12:17, Toby Oldham
 wrote:



There's around $500 worth of difference (in total, after factoring
various bits in) between a Telstra and Virgin(/Optus) 24 month-cap
plan.

If I get an iPhone via a cap plan, do I choose to save $500 and risk
the
anecdotal accounts of call-dropouts on the Optus network, or do I
cough
up the extra dough for Telstra coverage that I'm used to, being a
long-time Telstra mobile user (I think mainly because I've been too
lazy
to properly investigate my options in the past).

The Virgin plan offers vastly more call value and download volume,  
but
if I never use more than $200 worth of calls or 300meg a month (on  
the

Telstra plan)... Should I care about benefits that are never going
to be
realised?

'Think I'll let this conundrum vex me for another hour, then get on
with
my life. ; )

Cheers,
T.

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Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

2009-06-28 Thread Toby Oldham

I think you're right Daniel - only problem is I'm not sure which _is_
more important to me, having not experienced poor network performance*.

I tend to infer from conversations with non-Telstra friends that Optus
coverage can drop out in strange places all throughout the Perth CBD. I
think that would have the potential to bug the hell out of me... I
commute via rail every day, 'anyone know if the Midland+Freo line is
generally well covered?

I'd be using the phone for light websurfing, podcasts and e-mail.
Tethering, visual voicemail... Not something I'm currently concerned
about. As for speed... I've only used a mobile for web surfing once, so
I have low/ almost no expectations with regards to performance; although
I think I'd get annoyed by a lack of consistency (above some arbitrary
base level).

Cheers,
T.

*Call dropouts and other ye olde-school telecommunications issues. ; )



 

-Original Message-
From: WAMUG Mailing List [mailto:wa...@wamug.org.au] On Behalf Of Daniel
Forsdyke
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 1:01 PM
To: WAMUG Mailing List
Subject: Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

Hi Toby

I think it mainly comes down to what is most important to you, the
network coverage or the cost.

Telstra do have the best mobile coverage area - but how often do you go
to areas outside of the other carriers coverage area? Is that worth the
extra cost?

Also, how do you want to use the iPhone?
Telstra do not offer tethering or visual voicemail.
Optus don't offer visual voicemail, but do offer tethering at a cost of
$9.95 per month.
Vodafone offer both visual voicemail and tethering (no surcharge).

Do you use the Internet and email functions much? How important is speed
for these? Telstra seem to have more consistent speeds.

I would love to leave Telstra at the moment as I am paying a premium for
which I get little benefit, but besides the $400 early exit fee, I know
that vodafone doesn't work in my house, and that optus won't work in the
middle of the house.

Personally, if I could get vodafone working at home then I would
probably go with them as they seem to have the better packages overall.

Food for thought...

Regards
Daniel Forsdyke
--
An Apple iPhone creation

On 29/06/2009, at 12:17, Toby Oldham
 wrote:

>
> There's around $500 worth of difference (in total, after factoring
> various bits in) between a Telstra and Virgin(/Optus) 24 month-cap  
> plan.
>
> If I get an iPhone via a cap plan, do I choose to save $500 and risk  
> the
> anecdotal accounts of call-dropouts on the Optus network, or do I  
> cough
> up the extra dough for Telstra coverage that I'm used to, being a
> long-time Telstra mobile user (I think mainly because I've been too  
> lazy
> to properly investigate my options in the past).
>
> The Virgin plan offers vastly more call value and download volume, but
> if I never use more than $200 worth of calls or 300meg a month (on the
> Telstra plan)... Should I care about benefits that are never going  
> to be
> realised?
>
> 'Think I'll let this conundrum vex me for another hour, then get on  
> with
> my life. ; )
>
> Cheers,
> T.
>
> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml>
> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml>
> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>

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Re: Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

2009-06-28 Thread Daniel Forsdyke

Hi Toby

I think it mainly comes down to what is most important to you, the  
network coverage or the cost.


Telstra do have the best mobile coverage area - but how often do you  
go to areas outside of the other carriers coverage area? Is that worth  
the extra cost?


Also, how do you want to use the iPhone?
Telstra do not offer tethering or visual voicemail.
Optus don't offer visual voicemail, but do offer tethering at a cost  
of $9.95 per month.

Vodafone offer both visual voicemail and tethering (no surcharge).

Do you use the Internet and email functions much? How important is  
speed for these? Telstra seem to have more consistent speeds.


I would love to leave Telstra at the moment as I am paying a premium  
for which I get little benefit, but besides the $400 early exit fee, I  
know that vodafone doesn't work in my house, and that optus won't work  
in the middle of the house.


Personally, if I could get vodafone working at home then I would  
probably go with them as they seem to have the better packages overall.


Food for thought...

Regards
Daniel Forsdyke
--
An Apple iPhone creation

On 29/06/2009, at 12:17, Toby Oldham  
 wrote:




There's around $500 worth of difference (in total, after factoring
various bits in) between a Telstra and Virgin(/Optus) 24 month-cap  
plan.


If I get an iPhone via a cap plan, do I choose to save $500 and risk  
the
anecdotal accounts of call-dropouts on the Optus network, or do I  
cough

up the extra dough for Telstra coverage that I'm used to, being a
long-time Telstra mobile user (I think mainly because I've been too  
lazy

to properly investigate my options in the past).

The Virgin plan offers vastly more call value and download volume, but
if I never use more than $200 worth of calls or 300meg a month (on the
Telstra plan)... Should I care about benefits that are never going  
to be

realised?

'Think I'll let this conundrum vex me for another hour, then get on  
with

my life. ; )

Cheers,
T.

-- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
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Guidelines - 
Unsubscribe - 


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Slightly OT musing - iPhone: Optus or Telstra Network ?

2009-06-28 Thread Toby Oldham

There's around $500 worth of difference (in total, after factoring
various bits in) between a Telstra and Virgin(/Optus) 24 month-cap plan.

If I get an iPhone via a cap plan, do I choose to save $500 and risk the
anecdotal accounts of call-dropouts on the Optus network, or do I cough
up the extra dough for Telstra coverage that I'm used to, being a
long-time Telstra mobile user (I think mainly because I've been too lazy
to properly investigate my options in the past).

The Virgin plan offers vastly more call value and download volume, but
if I never use more than $200 worth of calls or 300meg a month (on the
Telstra plan)... Should I care about benefits that are never going to be
realised?

'Think I'll let this conundrum vex me for another hour, then get on with
my life. ; )

Cheers,
T.

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