Friday, Jan 20, 2006 at 13:39
David O,
Ive got a bit more time now, hopefully this makes sense.
If you qualify for the subsidy buying a second hand phone is a waste of time.
You can get a brand new Motorola 9505A Iridium saphone for $1,995 minus $1100 subsidy. This a phone only and no contract.
The 9500 and 9505 use what is called a gem-plus gsm sim card, what is in the majority of gsm mobiles.
The 9505A needs what is called a non gem-plus gsm sim ( telstra lingo not mine ) This sim card is blank where the other has gem-plus written.
If you have a gsm phone, whip out the sim card and in tiny writing it may say gem plus on it.
If you buy a 9505A you will need Telstra to swap it over, as mentioned its free including transferring all your info from your old sim. It took 3 gsm sim cards before my 9505A worked, 2 gem-plus and finally the non gem-plus.
When I mentioned all this to the
young lass in the Telstra
shop she was completely bamboozled. All this info came from Telstra countrywide, call them they know more than the shops.
Finally, you can buy the phone from other retailers, not only Telstra, they will match Telstra's price. I'm in
Adelaide but bought mine in
Melbourne.
Beware, last year ( April ) when I bought mine I had to wait a few weeks as there was a problem with the phones software.
Apparently some
places are still flogging off the buggered ones, then you have to get it fixed under warranty.
Once again Telstra countrywide will give you the dodgy serial numbers too watch out for.
If you decide too buy a phone attached to a contract there are numerous plans etc too choose from.
Hope this is more clear than my other rambling.
Dean
Sorry one other thought. I wouldnt do this but, if you are absolutely 100% sure you only want to dial the emergency number, these things are the same as gsm mobiles, no sim required.
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