FYI - the $10 casual plan is still available from Telstra

Submitted: Monday, Mar 23, 2015 at 20:58
ThreadID: 117199 Views:3530 Replies:6 FollowUps:14
This Thread has been Archived
Hi all,

I got sick of swapping the SIM card from my iPhone and putting it in the Irridium phone with a SIM adapter every time I wanted to use it. So I printed off a brochure from Telstra that mentions the $10 casulal plan (good old Google search) walked into a Telstra Shop in East Doncaster (The Pines) and asked the salesman " can I please have a SIM on this plan ? ".

They struggled to find it at first but 10 minutes later I was back in my car with a new SIM. This was added to my home phone/broadband account.

I contacted Telstra after the SIM was activated and enabled International Roaming, tested it and it works perfectly.

Just an FYI
Phil P
Back Expand Un-Read 3 Moderator

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Mar 23, 2015 at 23:04

Monday, Mar 23, 2015 at 23:04
Do you have a link for this brochure?
PeterD
Retired radio and electronics technician

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 551511

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 00:04

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 00:04
Well done Phil. Was this the brochure? Telstra Casual Plan

This on is dated 10 September 2014.

Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 551512

Follow Up By: Phil P - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 07:24

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 07:24
Yes, that was the brochure.
1
FollowupID: 836971

Reply By: Zippo - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 14:12

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 14:12
Half an hour ago I was in a local Telstra store in a large metro shopping centre asking about that deal. After some deliberation/consulation the droid said it was not available and their cheapest no-plan post-paid was $25 per month.

Wouldn't it be nice if they all used the same hymn sheet.
AnswerID: 551538

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 22:23

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 22:23
While on the previous thread (sorry I can't find it but it was only a couple of weeks or so ago) some also were able to get the deal from a shop, Telstra told me it was only available by phone, so if your Telstra shop won't oblige;

"lower fees can be obtained by phoning 1800 303 302 for a below the line plan".

Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 837011

Follow Up By: Zippo - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 22:51

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 22:51
Don't know about lower fees, but I rang 132200 and waded through their voice-command system. The first CSR was not very helpful or obliging but eventually passed me to one who was the exact opposite. Signed up and SIM in the mail.

Will post a follow-up once I have it in the phone, activated international roaming and tested out.

BTW, was told that the $10 plan was not really for any long-term use but for transitional use between other deals/plans/offers.
0
FollowupID: 837014

Follow Up By: Zippo - Friday, Mar 27, 2015 at 20:56

Friday, Mar 27, 2015 at 20:56
OK, SIM received already activated. Stuck it in my olde iPhone and got voicemail sorted via Telstra Chat. The default is NOT how I'd operate, for me NO voicemailbox functionality whatsoever is the go. (Now if off or out-of-service-area the caller gets the RVA which says just that and "try again later", and when it rings out unanswered they get a busy signal).

Then rang their IR desk (125 109) and the CSR activated int'l roaming. She said she'd send me an SMS giving me a direct entry point to avoid the two minutes of sales talk and warning speeches etc, so I waited till that arrived before transferring the SIM to the Iridium 9505A.

Test calls (NOT answered) both ways with my regular mobile worked fine, using standard domestic dialling (i.e. NO +61). Only thing noticed was when calling TO the satphone wthere was an initial RVA saying "there will be a short delay while your call is connected".

Sweet as.

This is all on the All-Bran principle aka Applied Murphology. Now to hope we never need it.
0
FollowupID: 837180

Reply By: Member - Ross N (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 15:18

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 15:18
Thank you for that info.
I had been looking on the Telstra website for it to no avail.
assumed they had stopped offering it.
Ross N

Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 551541

Reply By: garrycol - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 16:33

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 16:33
If you are actuallly going to make calls while away it is certainly not the cheapest plan around but if for just receiving calls from family etc then is a good option.
AnswerID: 551545

Follow Up By: dean ( SA ) - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 17:35

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 17:35
To receive calls costs the same as making calls....$ 4 per min.
0
FollowupID: 836992

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 17:42

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 17:42
Hi

I think the main benefit of the $10 plan is for people who only use their phone for emergencies (i.e. almost never)...and travel a fair bit. You only get slugged $10/month if you dont use the phone.

If you use the phone even just a little bit per month (or let people ring/sms you) then a "proper" sat phone plan (included calls/cheaper rates) may work out more economical.

Cheers
Greg

I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 836993

Follow Up By: garrycol - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:34

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:34
Sorry Dean - don't follow. Since when does the mobile network charge you to receive calls - also when making a call the Plan has 99c a minute not $4 per min.

Or have I missed something - I just skimmed the plan in the link.

Garry
0
FollowupID: 836999

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:47

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:47
Hi

With satphone (well at least when using Telstra GSM sim on $10 plan in an Iridium - my only experience) all charges go to the satphone user i.e if someone rings you - you pay, if someone sms's you - you pay. I think its the same as when you are using international roaming in another country on a normal phone (except maybe sms which sender pays).

And for satphone its definitely $4/min in 30 sec blocks i.e 1 sec cost $2.

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 837002

Follow Up By: Zippo - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:58

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 19:58
Yep, when using ANY Telstra post-paid SIM in an Iridium satphone, that Telstra account is validated for account purposes, and all Iridium system charges lob back on the Telstra account. (Telstra have an arrangement with Iridium). And calls etc are billed whether in or out, similar to cellphone services in USA.

The $10 plan is simply the cheapest standing cost option to get a post-paid Telstra SIM.

If you do what Phil P did - swapping your cellphone post-paid Telstra SIM into your Iridium phone when up bush, what you lose is the prospect of any cellphone cover. The $10 option simply allows you to have both operational simultaneously - if you happen to have cellphone coverage somewhere you use that for $$ reasons.
0
FollowupID: 837003

Follow Up By: George_M - Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 20:06

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015 at 20:06
Hi Garry.

When a person calls your mobile number where your sim is in your Iridium sat phone this is what happens: the system knows that your sim is not registered on the local network, but is registered instead on the Iridium network. So the incoming call hits the Telstra gateway and the caller is charged the normal mobile phone call to you. When the incoming call hits the Telstra gateway however it "diverts" the call from the Telstra network to the Iridium network. This diversion costs about $4 per minute. On my last bill it was about $3.77 per minute.

George_M
Come any closer and I'll rip your throat out!

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 837004

Reply By: Helen S2 - Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 19:22

Saturday, Mar 28, 2015 at 19:22
Thanks for that info, Phil. I've been thinking for a while about going down that path, so went into a Telstra Shop and got one. The guy had to phone up for it, but did organise it for me.

Then I contacted Telstra by phone last night to have International Roaming enabled. Today tried it out in the Iridium (Iridium Extreme) and get the message "Sim card error. Please insert a valid sim card."

The SIM definitely works as I tested it in my phone, but I keep getting the error message with the Iridium. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Helen

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 551714

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Sunday, Mar 29, 2015 at 02:30

Sunday, Mar 29, 2015 at 02:30
Hi

International roaming activation can take a while (i.e a day) ...plus they don’t like new customers sometimes (no credit rating). If not activated in next day or two ring again and threaten to change to another carrier (but - don’t mention word sat-phone, could confuse them).

Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 837238

Follow Up By: Helen S2 - Sunday, Mar 29, 2015 at 10:37

Sunday, Mar 29, 2015 at 10:37
Thanks Greg

I'll wait another day or two and try again. I have been avoiding the mention of sat-phone all along as not sure what the reaction would be... Will post a follow up later.

Helen

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 837243

Follow Up By: Helen S2 - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2015 at 15:03

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2015 at 15:03
At last, it is FINALLY working! :-)

They are dead serious when they say two business days...

Thanks again
Helen

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 837438

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Wednesday, Apr 01, 2015 at 15:22

Wednesday, Apr 01, 2015 at 15:22
Good stuff

Happy Easter


Cheers
Greg
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 837439

Sponsored Links