My biggest concern with Telstra’s launch of the HTC Desire was that even though it was free on a $69 plan over 24 months, there wasn’t any included data at all. Telstra’s new cap plans address that a bit, with the phone now available for $0 outright on a $79 cap plan, which includes $750 of standard voice, SMS, MMS and Video Calls plus 500MB of data. Hope you didn’t sign up to the $69 plan…
Other plans worth taking note of are the $49 cap plan which includes $400 worth of call stuff and 200MB of data and the $129 cap which has 1000MB and $1,500 of included calls and messages.
It’s not all good news though – anyone currently on contract won’t be automatically upgraded – you’ll need to see out your contract first. And the Desire isn’t available for $0 up front on the $49 cap plan either…
Still, this is actually pretty competitive with the other telcos. Sure, it’s still a premium, but you do get superior network coverage and reliability…
Cam
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11:47 AMThe telstra browsing packs have been upgraded also. No longer are there those silly $10/150mb and $30/300mb plans, instead $10/200mb, $20/500mb and $30/1gb plans. Still expensive compared to other offerings, but better than before.
Ryan
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11:55 AMIf they keep the same plans for the soon to be released iPhone then I can see alot of people jumping ship to Telstra, I know I will.
Cam
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 1:23 PMI hope so too.
Apart from the fact that there are mobile phone plans, mobile members plans, ultimate ii plans, next g cap plans and casual plans – the current iphone plans are the worst of all the telstra plans ($50 of calls, as opposed to $400 on the next g cap plans).
Ryan
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 2:10 PMIf they do force you to use silly the silly iPhone plans I will be tempted to buy outright, sign up for the HTC Desire(or whatever is the new phone) and sell it to make up some of the costs.
It looks like Telstra is slowly turning the corner…..
mavrick
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 10:48 PMI guess you are referring to phone plans!
Those are not good at all!
However, you dont need to be on a phone plan to get an iphone! U can get it on Cap plans as well!
Telstra is also offering MRO (Monthly Repayments Bonus) on all the Cap Plans so iphone 16gb costs $16.62 and HTC desire $12.62 every month on $49 cap plan!
A similar thing will continue for new iphone as well!
Travis
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 1:29 PM“It’s not all good news though – anyone currently on contract won’t be automatically upgraded – you’ll need to see out your contract first. And the Desire isn’t available for $0 up front on the $49 cap plan either…”
Depending who you get they can “flexiplan” you onto the newer caps though it against “business rules”.
Ben
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11:28 PMOh and travis, this is not true…..as you are unable to flexiplan change it, due to it not being a flexiplan change it is a whole new item not a modification of the existing plans. And it is not considered to be in the same tier as the old plans. So if you were to change it would generate Early termination charges.
Peter Zaharis
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 1:41 PMWow. Relatively competitive plans from Telstra?
Has anyone checked hell recently? I have a feeling it may be a bit cold down there.
I have to admit that $79 plan is very very tempting.
Pity I’m still on conract for my iPhone for about another year.
PhuzZy
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 4:11 PMStill these all SUCK compared to what’s being released for the max iPad………………..
KiLotr
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:37 PMNo voice included in the iPad pricing PhuzZy, so I don’t know how could you compare.
Adam
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 7:51 PMBetter than before, but still not the shiznitz.
I’m on the old $49 cap plan, plus $49 for a 3gig data pack, plus $25 per month to pay off a HTC Desire over 2 years (I put $100 or so upfront).
Grand total – $123 a month.
Good enough for me, but I have to use Telstra cos I work remote…
John Hogan
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:43 PMOK I am amazed. I have no faith in any telco – I think they are about on the same level as banks – but these deals are pretty close to the money for me. The extra coverage is of value to me, the cap allowance is competitive with the one I am on now and a friend of mine just bought one of these and loves it. He is on his third HTC – he had the HD and the HD2 but found the Windows Mobile OS limiting. He reckons the Android 2.1 hoses WinMob and that 2.2 is due out soon with “just-in-time” unpacking (or something similar) which will make the OS even snappier. Like many people I had one too many run ins with Telstra and I dumped them back when I had an 018 number. Now I think I might be heading back… but with open eyes however and knowing that the TIO website is in my bookmarks!
I reckon that this move is to counter the unlimited plans you can get elsewhere and the imminent Iphone g4. I was about to sign up for a 16gb iphone for $99 a month for unlimited everything except OS calls. Now, I am seriously considering losing that freedom but gaining extra coverage and a superior handset. Hmmm.
The one downside is the loss of one handed communication. On my nokia n95 8gig I can dial and sms with one hand. I can sms a message just as quickly with my thumb as my friends can type on an iphone with both hands. And yes, I do it while driving. If anyone reads this and decries me – I take responsibility for my own actions, thanks.
Ben
Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11:24 PMJust also to inform you that anyone who has signed up 2 a desire on one of the previous caps will in the next weeks be called by telstra or contacted by telstra in some way to be converted over to the newer current updated plans. Just thought id add this nugget of info in
Ben L
Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 6:56 PMI was thinking TPG $1 pre paid and 2.75c/Mb but the Optus network sucks 1K/sec download at Friday lunchtime 30min to get an SMS. Telstra costs a bit more but if I’m going to blow $900 on an Iphone 4 then the extra network cost is worth it.