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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