CDMA dilemma

Submitted: Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:03
ThreadID: 30261 Views:1942 Replies:7 FollowUps:17
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Up for a new phone but i have a dilemma.
I am changing to CDMA but as yet can't find a call cap plan.
Anyone know of any great plans for CDMA?
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Reply By: rolande- Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:10

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:10
G'Day Brew,

No such thing as a good plan on CDMA - captive market.

I think some of the $40+ plans on Optus are better than Telstra, although I was on a $69 cap plan on Telstra with the previous phone, calls still cost around $1 per minute - almost getting cheaper to use a Satphone.

We always take a GSM and CDMA and only use CDMA to receive calls or make them when there is no GSM signal

Hope this helps

Rolande

P.S. Signed up to $40 plan for new 6255 and printer free
AnswerID: 151892

Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:21

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:21
Scumbags they are. Guess i was hoping there was something i hadn't found. What a joke. A network with a use by date and still no good deals.
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Follow Up By: rolande- Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:32

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:32
G'Day Brew,

Would pre-paid 2112 and low cost GSM be a better option?? SWMBO is on a $49 GSM cap from Vodafone, and she used to spend $150+ per month on her CDMA

Only a thought

Rolande
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:25

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:25
Brew,

How about no plan at all?
Bare in mind that CDMA will be replaced by the 3G standard in the not too distant future. (Or whatever the technology is called)

I bought a Nokia 2112 CDMA phone on a pre-paid basis.
Just top up over the internet whenever you feel like it. (or need to)

If you are replacing an existing phone (GSM or whatever) I believe you can transfer
your existing number rather than use the one issued. The CDMA doesn't use a Sim Card.

Telstra have two options for CDMA pre-paid at present.

A Nokia 2125 for $89 outright with $10 of calls included.
A Nokia 6225 for $179 outright with $10 of calls included.

If you forget to check your balance, you will be reminded with an SMS message when the balance reaches a certain minimum.

I find this facility really good, although I still have a GSM mobile as well.
Buggered if I know why though because the CDMA does everything the GSM and I use it whenever I venture out of the metro area.
Bill


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AnswerID: 151897

Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:32

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:32
Yes Bill we have looked at all options . The reason for wanting a call cap plan is to do away with using the home phone and save $ that way. I may end up getting a cheapy CDMA on pre paid and get a digital phone on a good plan as well. Just means 2 numbers. Whats the 2112 like? We have seen them at Woolworths for $69 with $10 credit.
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Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:36

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:36
Sand Man ,
After I put my 6225 through the washing machine on the weekend I went down to Retavision today and they quoted me $399 to buy another one outright with no plan ( pre-paid ).
Are you pretty sure about that price , because if you are , I had better cancel my order and shoot up to a Telstra shop.
Thanks Willie .
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Follow Up By: Member - John C (WA) - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:21

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:21
Hi all,
We have a pre-paid telstra Nokia 2112 CDMA and full car kit and find it works well. Saw the Australia Post the other week offering 2 of them for $99.
John
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 08:27

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 08:27
Brew,

Have no problems with the 2112 at all.

The main reason I chose it some 8 months ago was that it fitted in the same car cradle as my 6110i GSM mobile.
Bill


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Follow Up By: Utemad - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 11:20

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 11:20
Willie,

Better cancel that order.

Telsta $179

Thay have been this price for a long time. Retravision would have quoted you the full price for an unlocked phone and then put you on a prepaid plan. No need to go to the expense of an unlocked phone if you just want to use it on Testra anyway.

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Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 11:32

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 11:32
Sand Man ,
Went up to the Telstra shop this am and got one for $179 and cancelled the order with Retravision - they were a bit embarrassed .
Thanks - you saved me a bundle .
Willie .
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Follow Up By: ellmcg - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 18:01

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 18:01
The Telstra Pre-paid CDMA's can't be changed to your old number. That's why I bought a cheap & almost antique phone off eBay to put on pre-paid.

I did look at Orange, but their call credits run out in half the time that Telstra's do, which didn't suit at the time since I was trying to cut down the cost as much as possible, so barely use it.
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Follow Up By: Utemad - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 18:40

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 18:40
You can take your number to Telstra CDMA prepaid. However it is not a straight swap. You can buy the kit but not activate the new card. Then you use your new phone on a telstra CDMA plan (no contract) which you transfer your old number to. Then after one month you have your new plan converted to a prepaid account.

This is assuming your old number is digital. If it is CDMA then I assume you can just have your account converted to prepaid straight away.

This is straight from a Telstra shop who are going to do this for me.
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Follow Up By: LisaH - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:36

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:36
I had a dealere tell me we couldn't put my old number on a CDMA prepaid. Bunch of crap. Went to the telstra shop, no problem at all.

Lisa
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Reply By: Ron173 - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:37

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 20:37
Agree with Sandman above,

cdma is going to go, with the roll out of GGG, dont know how good it will be, as once out of major towns, cdma is best coverage, GGG is basically digital.

Just wouldnt go spending too much on a new phone now.

Rgds

Ron
AnswerID: 151902

Follow Up By: Axle - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:21

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:21
Hi Brew.
I have a nokia 6255 CDMA on telstra business plan, wont go there but my thing with CDMA is the constant drop out with calls. It picks up well and receives ok , but drop outs , HOPELESS GIVING ME THE CHITS!!. Agree with guys above might pay to wait a bit?

Cheers Axle
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Reply By: Member - Marquis - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:46

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:46
Use voip callback $0.22 a minute mobile to landline.
AnswerID: 151937

Reply By: myfourby - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:50

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:50
Probably not going to help you too much Brew - however - for the benefit of those living in Melbourne and Sydney - Orange is by far the most cost effective CDMA network available. It used to be in Adelaide as well - but was bought out.

I bought the 6225 for $200 outright - and am now on a pre-paid plan - call rates are 9c per 30sec - you can't beat it! - The coverage is good around the city - and in the country it roams on the Telstra CDMA network (you pay an extra 14cents per 30secs - but even at this rate - its still cheaper than going through Telstra!) - I love it!

-myfourby
AnswerID: 151939

Follow Up By: Member - Marquis - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:11

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:11
Orange Business plan $0.30/minute
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Follow Up By: rolande- Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:21

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:21
To sign up to Orange you need proof that you live in an Orange coverage area

Rolande
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:55

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 21:55
Hahahaha Telstra is stuck with me on a $10 plan.

Every time I buy a new phone I pay for it outright and transfer my phone number and plan.

If you are going beyond Adelaide and environs you can buy a Satphone with GSM Sim Card and global roaming.

AnswerID: 151943

Follow Up By: rolande- Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:24

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:24
G'Day Willem,

How did you find the whole satphone process. According to the info I MAY be eligible for the subsidy but it still looks to cost around $500. Did they make you sign up for a plan initially?

Regards

Rolande
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FollowupID: 405534

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:37

Monday, Jan 30, 2006 at 22:37
G'day Rolande

I managed to get the subsidy but that would have meant at that stage, that I was to go through Globalstar, and I did not like their initial costing. Also at that stage I had difficulty getting a 9505 Motorola Satphone at the right price.

I bought a second hand one for $650 off a mate here on EO and joined up with Telstra Iridium on a 24month contract. I think that that contract has expired by now. I pay $30pm access fee and I get $10 worth of calls free. So I use the phone once or twice a month to ring a friend to use up my $10 worth.

My Satphone is also GSM sim card enabled but I don't need that facility. I have a CDMA for use in towns and so on.

I love having a satphone as I can ring up from anywhere. I also used the same Satphone when in overseas last year. Works a treat!.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: rolande- Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:12

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 21:12
G'Day Willem,

Thanks for that, thought it was not as good as it sounded intially.

Will keep looking for a second hand one

Regards

Rolande
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Reply By: GoThe80! - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 17:37

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 at 17:37
Hey There All!
Just thought id let you know about my plan.

I walked into the Telstra shop and bought the prepaid Nokia 6225 for $179 and then signed straight up for the $79 cap plan. I think its $550/free calls. I worked it out vs a few of the others plans and it comes in with the most minutes of call time / mothly access fee.

They were nto that keen to sign me straight up on the plan as it is designed for existing telstra customers only, but I was able to convince them that having just bought the pre paid phone i was now a telstra customer.

They will try and sell you the Nokia 6225 outright for $379, but if you are not planning to leave the telstra network then just buy the prepaid version (networked locked - big deal!) for $200 less.

Cheers!
AnswerID: 152093

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