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Vodafone Cuts Mobile Broadband Pricing
Posted by Nick Broughall at 10:00 AM on October 8, 2008
It looks like the mobile data wars are starting to heat up, with Vodafone today dropping the price of their mobile broadband offerings.
For 20 bucks (or $19.95 for the pedantic among us) over 24 months, you get 1GB of data over Voda's 3G network, plus it will cost you $5 per month for the USB Internet stick. That price is $10 a month less than the previous offering.
If you're a data hound, you can get 5GB for $39.95 a month, with the USB modem included for free over 24 months. That's down $10 on previous pricing as well.
Considering Vodafone pops you on their 2.5G network when you run out of 3G (rather than charge you roaming fees on Telstra's network, a la 3), this is a pretty solid deal, and potentially the best offering on the market at the moment.
[Vodafone]
Comments
Dean
Posted October 8, 2008 11:24 AM
Exetel are offering Optus's HSPA service for $5 per month plus 1.5 cents per MB for the first 1Gb and then 2.5 cents per MB after that.
http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hspa-information.php
Matt
Posted October 8, 2008 11:25 AM
Actually any data over the 1GB or 5GB is charged at 0.12c per Megabyte. Still, better than telstra. I think they charge 0.25c per Megabyte
chris
Posted October 8, 2008 11:49 AM
virgin has offered 5gb for $39 for months now. vodafone used to offer 5gb for $39 flat, too. even virgin prepaid at $15 for 1gb is better. or you can wait until 3 finish the nextg negotiations with telstra and offer nextg coverage at 3 prices.
Joe
Posted October 8, 2008 1:44 PM
5GB for $39.95 a month, with the USB modem included for free over 24 months has been around since November 2007 - thats when I got one..
Dean
Posted October 8, 2008 2:02 PM
Funny how they can do these prices via a USB stick, but try getting 3G internet through a Prepaid Vodafone account for a mobile handset and it is about $10/meg.
iPhone3G
Posted October 8, 2008 4:17 PM
Vodafone doesn't even have 2.5G a.k.a EDGE. Only GPRS. EEEVVVEEENNN SSLLOOOWWEEERRRR
kieran
Posted October 8, 2008 4:42 PM
Virgin/Optus 3G download sucks big time! Ever tried using it seriously? It's a joke. Virgin get a 30% return rate on their 3G broadband plans, and that is from people working there.
Eisbaer
Posted October 8, 2008 8:09 PM
$39/5GB has been around for a long time on Vodafone (the price went up to $49 for a little while, now it's back down), but I have to say the coverage is really disappointing.
Where I live (close to Brisbane city) the coverage is fine, I get great speed (can download files at almost 350KB/sec sometimes). However, as I type this from my hotel room in Bundaberg, I'm stuck on GRPS (and even that went down for 30 mins earlier today, both phone and data). Hervey Bay and Maryborough were also strictly GPRS only, which is PAINFULLY slow, and don't even think about getting coverage anywhere in between. I also noticed that when I search for networks, Optus 3G shows up in all three of the aforementioned places!
The other big gripe I have is that the usage meter isn't updated regularly, and isn't always accurate. It'd be really nice to be able to keep an eye on usage, considering they charge for excess data.