Mobile phone service provider

[GTENVY]

Hi all,

I am looking at possibly switching from another network to Optus. the plans pricing is pretty competitive and so are any associated costs of a phone in a plan contract.

How do people find the coverage and customer service that Optus provide?? I have hear from personal friends horror stories about Vodafone and will not go there.

Spill the beans people.

Rich

[creative]

I would have to say the oposite. Terrible experience with Optus and zero issues with Vodafone.

but im in NSW.

[cs123]

What is more important to you? If it's coverage then I'd only go Telstra. Great reception and performance just about everywhere.

As an experiment you could buy a prepaid sim and check reception in your regular spots before committing to a contract. That would be the safest bet.

[hawkgirl]

I have been with optus forever. I work for a Telstra subsiduary & am entitled to staff rates with telstra. I could not get a comparable plan or rate with telstra even with staff discounts, hence still with optus.
If you are likely to be in a semi remote area, then telstra still has a better rural coverage than optus, but only just.

[GasoLane]

Telstra has the best coverage, almost everyone else has better pricing/plans.

[DJM83]

Telstra wins hands down, had voda a cpl years back they needed more energetic mice to run in the wheels to power the interntez/coverage. Never happened, went to telstra never looked back. Had optus aswell wasnt a fan.

[GTENVY]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I am currently with Telstra and live in within the Perth region. As the Optus adverts say there is apparently only around 1% difference in total coverage across Australia between Telstra and Optus. Coverage is one thing, quality coverage is another.

Originally Posted by creative

I would have to say the oposite. Terrible experience with Optus and zero issues with Vodafone.

but im in NSW.

My old flat mate had nothing but trouble with vodafone, this was about 2 years ago though - reception dropping in and out, sometimes for hours at a time. This was in the Perth metro area. How long ago was you're experience with Optus??

Originally Posted by cs123

What is more important to you? If it's coverage then I'd only go Telstra. Great reception and performance just about everywhere.

As an experiment you could buy a prepaid sim and check reception in your regular spots before committing to a contract. That would be the safest bet.

Yep agree that Telstra do have good reception and coverage, pity they are so damn expensive. I got my first mobile phone (Motorola 9690 - remember them) with Telstra back in 1994 and have the same account ever since, not that it matters to them.

Thought about the prepaid thing, probably wortha try.

Originally Posted by hawkgirl

I have been with optus forever. I work for a Telstra subsiduary & am entitled to staff rates with telstra. I could not get a comparable plan or rate with telstra even with staff discounts, hence still with optus.
If you are likely to be in a semi remote area, then telstra still has a better rural coverage than optus, but only just.

That doesn't surprise me at all to be honest. I'm currently on the unlimited plan with Telstra @ $130 a month, Optus are $100 a month for the same thing.

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Telstra has the best coverage, almost everyone else has better pricing/plans.

That's what I've noticed as well.

Rich

[supershifty]

I've been with Optus on mobile since '96 as a private customer, very happy with the service and plan. No coverage issues but I seldom leave the Brisbane metro area. If I was in business and on the move then I would probably switch to Telstra as they tend to cater more for business customers.

Have had friends with Vodafone and 3 - they all echo nothing but complaints about poor reception.

Cheers!

[05_ENFORCER]

Rich, go Boost mate, (Telstra) $40 per month, unlimited texts and unlimited std calls, 3 Gb data included, simlples............


.

[pmacc]

Vodafone has come a long way from that rough patch they had over 2011/12 but i still would not recommend switching to them. Telstra is the best for coverage and quality but you have to fork out a good amount of $$$$ for a decent plan. Optus (who im with) seems to be a good balance between price and coverage. my only gripe with the new Optus plans is the lower data allowance but its still better than the same $ plan on Telstra

[05_ENFORCER]

Best I could get out of Optarse was $60/month unlimited non contract with a 2GB data, which is why I went for the Boost unlimited non contract for $40/mth

Did you get a better deal?



.

[Nic302ef]

Alot of the times brand and type of phone accounts for coverage as well.

I work near where u live rich and I am with optus, works fine but the metal workshop on one side struggles for reception.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Rich, go Boost mate, (Telstra) $40 per month, unlimited texts and unlimited std calls, 3 Gb data included, simlples............

.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Want it a little cheaper, go Aldi mobile.

[05_ENFORCER]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Took the words out of my mouth.

Want it a little cheaper, go Aldi mobile.

Who do Aldi use as the carrier cobber?


EDIT: they say they use part of Telstra's network, I wonder which part?


Cheers


.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Who do Aldi use as the carrier cobber?

EDIT: they say they use part of Telstra's network, I wonder which part?

Cheers

.

I think boost has access to 4g whereas Aldi only accesses up to 3g.

Been a while since I looked into it.

[creative]

boost hasnt 4g according to the sim pack. I have one of those aswell.

vodafone have come along way in terms of signal. they rolled out their upgrades where I live a little over a year ago and its actually on par with telstra now.

Optus signal was one of the worst and with it being work number, being contactable was fairly important! lol

[cs123]

Originally Posted by creative

vodafone have come along way in terms of signal. they rolled out their upgrades where I live a little over a year ago and its actually on par with telstra now.

Vodafone have lousy in building coverage. All my guys who are on it are desperate to get off and onto Telstra.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by creative

boost hasnt 4g according to the sim pack. I have one of those aswell.

Perhaps not 4g it seems but I remember that boost had an edge over Aldi, perhaps a bigger 'part' of the Telstra network.

Must say, been with optus, Vodafone and now Telstra through Aldi and Telstra has been the best by far. Voda had crap coverage where I am, got poor customer service from optus and have been pretty happy with Aldi, even though they have lowered what they offer.

[dragons90]

Originally Posted by GTENVY

Thanks for all the replies guys, I am currently with Telstra and live in within the Perth region. As the Optus adverts say there is apparently only around 1% difference in total coverage across Australia between Telstra and Optus. Coverage is one thing, quality coverage is another.

Rich

Telstra have taken Optus to court over that ad being misleading and deceiving.

[mechanic]

I can't comment on southern areas but if you travel in the northern half of Aus. save yourself a lot of heartache and just stay with Telstra.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Telstra have just announced that roaming charges are jumping between 100 and 500%! Apparently their cut of the increases is marginal....

[GTENVY]

Thanks for the replies guys, interesting that Telstra are taking Optus to court about the coverage and also interesting Telstra are increasing their roaming charges - like they need to charge anymore.

I think the only true way for myself to compare the carriers is to get a prepaid and pop that into my phone and put the Telstra sim in a spare. That way i can compare aplles with apples as I already know how good my coverage is with Telstra with the same phone.

Interesting comments about Optus customer service, was one of the things that used to f^&% me off the most about Telstra. I will admit the last two people (I think they were people lol) I spoke to at Telstra on the 125111 were very good, so good I wasn't sure I was really dealing with Telstra.

I had a look at Boost and I'm not really into prepaid, the deal I was looking at through Optus was their unlimited plan but looking at the option of another contract as I would like the new HTC one aluminium.

I read yesterday on cnet that Telstra are bringing in new plans shortly as well.

Rich

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Best I could get out of Optarse was $60/month unlimited non contract with a 2GB data, which is why I went for the Boost unlimited non contract for $40/mth

Did you get a better deal?.

The funny thing is if you go under contract with Optus on the unlimited plan you get 3gig of data. I looked at both as was leaning to the contract only due to looking at a new phone

Originally Posted by Nic302ef

Alot of the times brand and type of phone accounts for coverage as well.

I work near where u live rich and I am with optus, works fine but the metal workshop on one side struggles for reception.

Cheers for the info Nic, good to know. As I've stated above I might just get a prepaid sim and see what it's like. How have you found their customer service??

Rich

[Lotte]

I'm not surprised Telstra are taking Optus to court over that claim.
I can only get reception in my toilet, sometimes my lounge room. Second house that's happened in. And I'm in Melbourne.

So that's my experience for you

[cmayne77]

AM lucky ot get reception anywhere in my house

Its amazing they can still charge though

Originally Posted by Lotte

I'm not surprised Telstra are taking Optus to court over that claim.
I can only get reception in my toilet, sometimes my lounge room. Second house that's happened in. And I'm in Melbourne.

So that's my experience for you

[Spudz27]

I am with telstra but work for an optus licensed retailer. Optus has better prices, coverage is improving and you get 21 days in which you can hand the handset back if you have coverage issues. Telstra however has unrivaled coverage. If I lived in city I would try optus, but I live in a country city 400km from perth surrounded by small towns etc. Optus is good and even get optus where telstra isn't, but no 4G and beyond a 50km radius reception is nowhere near as good and it is for that reason I could never switch. Vodafone is just pathetic and not even worth mentioning.

[blueoval]

I went to Telstra purely for the better coverage alone. I thought, whats the point of trying to scrimp and save if im not able to receive a phone call properly without being cut off in the first place. I just hope I dont have to deal with phone customer service.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Rich, go Boost mate, (Telstra) $40 per month, unlimited texts and unlimited std calls, 3 Gb data included, simlples............


.

I use the same now, great value coming from Telstra.
There is one change now its 2.5gb of data and the Telstra 3G is plenty quick enough and awesome coverage in Country areas.
$40 a month on Telstra network best deal around atm.

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by cmayne77

AM lucky ot get reception anywhere in my house

Its amazing they can still charge though

My Dad has that problem in our house with Optus. He has to wander around, or go outside to get decent reception. Mum has the same issue with Vodafone pre-paid.
I'm on Telstra (have been since my first sim only contract $10 a month), and I have no such issues.
I think Dad's problem might be more to do with the ancient Nokia he's using, as he refuses to get a smart phone.

I need reliable coverage, as I take bus and coach groups out to some random places, and if something goes wrong with the vehicle I need to let the depot know. Only place I've found no reception so far is Minamurra Falls. Apparently you just need to know where to stand in the carpark...


Interesting that Telstra are upping their roaming fees - the day before I fly out for Finland....
I already have a global SIM, and will be getting a Finnish number as well, for local calls to friends over there.
I was thinking of taking my Telstra mobile with me, just in case the global SIM failed, as I've heard some not so great reports of the Woolworths travel SIM, but that's unlikely now. It'd also be one less thing to have to charge each day.
It's a shame no one in my family is computer literate or I could just use Skype.

[mik]

i was with aldi and they where ok, but i give them the bullet on principle, after kogan went down aldi took a lot of the ex koganians on plan x........... then a very short time later they cut the plan down for the same dollars(they only screw me once and im gone).
im using amaysin on 29 buk plan(4gb) also 3g like aldi, except amaysim uses optus network,
on occasions it seems a little slow, but on the whole its ok, even Telstras 3g network has slow times i have found, probably not quite as often.
i have to say the current mob im with there is no hassle so far, every month they deduct the fee automatically and send the receipt, 4gig is not bad for the price i think,
no idea what they are like in perth though.