Telstra bumps iPhone plans to 6GB!

2010-08-03 Thread Martin Hill

Wa-hey, Telstra is finally getting a clue and giving some pretty good deals on 
larger data packs for the iPhone 4:

• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 1GB data = $58.50
• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 3GB data = $63.50
• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 6GB data = $78.50

I understand they also don't charge extra to enable tethering, so you could use 
the fast speeds of NextG to get excellent wireless internet connectivity for 
your other computers.

This is a lot more tempting than the 500MB plan for $49 (which was 250MB) only 
a short time ago.

-Mart

-

IPHONE 4: Telstra bumping plans to 6GB

Dan Warne
03 August 2010

Telstra is again outgunning the competitors with its iPhone 4 plans, offering 
customers upgrades to 6GB allowance for very little extra cost.

A quirk in Telstra's billing system is allowing people to sign up for cheap 
iPhone 4 plans with massive data allowances -- and Telstra says it is perfectly 
OK with it.

The loophole was brought to the attention of one customer, Michael Tatas, by a 
Telstra salesman.

Tatas told APC he was offered the opportunity to get 6GB of data in his plan 
for just $20 on top of his plan fee.

Officially, Telstra advertises its 6GB plan as costing $129. But the loophole 
allows customers to get 6GB on their plan for as little as half that price.

Tatas told APC that Guy was adamant, as was the manager. Lady who had to 
re-enter my plan into the system also said yes.

The explanation he received was that his $79 iPhone Cap plan is split up in 
Telstra's system as $59 for voice and $20 for data – even thought the $59 
represents $750 of call allowance, and the $20 equates to 1.5GB.

The salesman who sold the phone to Telstra simply swapped the $20/1.5GB 
component of the plan over for a $79/6GB data plan, which was also provided at 
a 50% discount as a promotion for iPhone buyers, bringing its cost down to 
$39.50.

Tatas' final plan ended up costing $98.50 per month, which consisted of a $59 
call component (worth $750 in calls) and a $38.50 data component (worth 6GB in 
data).

Whirlpool users also heard about the plans and were able to get similarly 
amazing deals in Telstra shops.

Whirpool user, SCAT01 was able to sign on to a $49 iPhone plan but got 3GB of 
data instead of 500MB for a total of $63.50.

He said Telstra had confirmed to him via several tweets that if customers took 
the standard data pack off the $49 plan they could add other data packs at 50% 
off, providing the following effective rates:

• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 1GB data = $58.50
• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 3GB data = $63.50
• $49 ($400 call allowance) + 6GB data = $78.50
Telstra Group Manager of Corporate Relations, Peter Taylor, said although these 
were not plans Telstra was advertising, they were available to anyone who 
wanted them.

This isn't a standard cap plan from Telstra but instead a plan that has been 
tailored for the customer who has selected a higher data pack, he told APC.

He said the money allocated to data in a plan was one of the most flexible 
parts of a plan and if anyone who signed up for an iPhone last week wanted to 
tweak their plan to replace their plan included data allowance with a higher 
data pack at 50% off the price, they could go into a Telstra shop and that 
could be arranged.

Although most people wouldn't know they could negotiate with carriers on their 
plans, Taylor said it's a reminder to take the time to talk with Telstra about 
how you will use your mobile so we can find the most appropriate plan.

For high data users – such as people who want to use their iPhone as a tethered 
mobile modem, this makes Telstra the cheapest network by far for data – even 
though it is also the fastest network with the broadest coverage.

Optus, which has traditionally been highly aggressive with its iPhone plan 
pricing, charges $129 for a 6GB plan. Virgin Mobile has 3GB per month as its 
maximum plan at $69, and Vodafone has a maximum of 3GBon its $99 plan. Three is 
offering a maximum of 2GB data on its $79 plan.

Telstra's second wave of iPhone 4s goes on sale at Telstra stores tomorrow – 
Wednesday.



Martin Hill
mailto:mart_h...@mac.com
homepages: http://web.mac.com/mart_hill
Mb: 0401-103-194  hm: (08)9314-5242



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Re: Telstra bumps iPhone plans to 6GB!

2010-08-03 Thread Eugene
Hi Mart,

this appears to be only an introductory offer that expires in 1 November. Shame.

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/phones/iphone/pricing.html

The 6Gb costs $129 per month and includes $1500 of calls
The $49 plan includes 500Mb data and $400 of calls



Regards,
Eugene


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inline: (null) 4.tiff
On 03/08/2010, at 8:15 PM, Martin Hill wrote:

 Wa-hey, Telstra is finally getting a clue and giving some pretty good deals 
 on larger data packs for the iPhone 4:
 
   • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 1GB data = $58.50
   • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 3GB data = $63.50
   • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 6GB data = $78.50
 
 I understand they also don't charge extra to enable tethering, so you could 
 use the fast speeds of NextG to get excellent wireless internet connectivity 
 for your other computers.
 
 This is a lot more tempting than the 500MB plan for $49 (which was 250MB) 
 only a short time ago.
 
 -Mart



Re: Telstra bumps iPhone plans to 6GB!

2010-08-03 Thread Peter Meyer

No, the end of that para in the Telstra conditions states:
…. Bonus data allowance applies for the full term of the customer's eligible 
contract plan. If the customer's eligible contract plan is cancelled, the bonus 
offer will cease to apply.

It seems the _offer_ ceases on the 1st November (unless extended by Telstra)

peter meyer
0408 902349
pmo...@westnet.com.au




On 03/08/2010, at 9:47 PM, Eugene wrote:

 Hi Mart,
 
 this appears to be only an introductory offer that expires in 1 November. 
 Shame.
 
 http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/phones/iphone/pricing.html
 
 The 6Gb costs $129 per month and includes $1500 of calls
 The $49 plan includes 500Mb data and $400 of calls
 
 
 
Regards,
Eugene
 
 
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 (null) 4.tiff
 On 03/08/2010, at 8:15 PM, Martin Hill wrote:
 
 Wa-hey, Telstra is finally getting a clue and giving some pretty good deals 
 on larger data packs for the iPhone 4:
 
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 1GB data = $58.50
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 3GB data = $63.50
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 6GB data = $78.50
 
 I understand they also don't charge extra to enable tethering, so you could 
 use the fast speeds of NextG to get excellent wireless internet connectivity 
 for your other computers.
 
 This is a lot more tempting than the 500MB plan for $49 (which was 250MB) 
 only a short time ago.
 
 -Mart
 



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Re: Telstra bumps iPhone plans to 6GB!

2010-08-03 Thread Martin Hill

Ha! Peter beat me to it,  :-)

But this is what I was going to say:

On the contrary, this is what the fine print on that very sameTelstra page says:

Bonus data allowance applies for the full term of the customer's eligible 
contract plan.

So the only thing that finishes on Nov 1 is the ability to sign-up unless 
extended by Telstra.

So, as long as you sign up before Nov 1, you get to stay on the larger data 
plan till the end of your 2 year contract.

Sweet.

-Mart


Martin Hill
mailto:mart_h...@mac.com
homepages: http://web.mac.com/mart_hill
Mb: 0401-103-194  hm: (08)9314-5242

On 03/08/2010, at 9:47 PM, Eugene wrote:

 Hi Mart,
 
 this appears to be only an introductory offer that expires in 1 November. 
 Shame.
 
 http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/phones/iphone/pricing.html
 
 The 6Gb costs $129 per month and includes $1500 of calls
 The $49 plan includes 500Mb data and $400 of calls
 
 
 
Regards,
Eugene
 
 
 -- 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
 (null) 4.tiff
 On 03/08/2010, at 8:15 PM, Martin Hill wrote:
 
 Wa-hey, Telstra is finally getting a clue and giving some pretty good deals 
 on larger data packs for the iPhone 4:
 
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 1GB data = $58.50
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 3GB data = $63.50
  • $49 ($400 call allowance) + 6GB data = $78.50
 
 I understand they also don't charge extra to enable tethering, so you could 
 use the fast speeds of NextG to get excellent wireless internet connectivity 
 for your other computers.
 
 This is a lot more tempting than the 500MB plan for $49 (which was 250MB) 
 only a short time ago.
 
 -Mart
 



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