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Telephones for Aussie Backpackers
Let's face it. The phone is still the easiest way to keep in touch and having your own phone number means that people can call you (which will save you a fortune in phone calls). Your own phone number is also essential if you're looking for work.
MOBILE PHONES
Virtually every backpacker travels with a mobile phone. If your mobile phone works with the GSM system (most European phones do) and is unlocked (not locked into your home network) then you can simply buy an Australian SIM card and put it in your phone. If you don't already have a compatible phone, then you will need to buy a prepaid starter pack including a phone and SIM card. These can be brought from places like Big W and Coles Supermarkets quite reasonably.
Most Australian mobile phone companies charge a connection fee of 20-30c on each call and their advertised call charges are usually quoted per 30 seconds.
WHICH NETWORK?
There are four mobile phone network operators in Australia, plus several virtual networks (companies that sell their own branded mobile phone service using someone else's network).
The main networks are Optus (website www.optus.com.au), Telstra (website www.telstra.com.au), Three (website www.three.com.au) and Vodafone (website www.vodafone.com.au). With the exception of Virgin Mobile, most of the virtual network operators are small little-known companies, but they are usually much cheaper than the big ones.
Optus
Australia's second largest mobile network has excellent coverage in most parts of Australia, especially along the east coast; but there are some large holes where their network doesn't work such as Kununurra, WA and both the east and west coasts of Tasmania. Over all, Optus is good value and a good compromise between coverage and price.
Telstra
Telstra is Australia's most expensive mobile network but it also has the best coverage and there is almost nowhere their service doesn't work.
Three
Three is good value and they have some great extra services (like the ability to make free Skype calls from your mobile and free calls to other Three customers) but their network is limited to just a handful of the bigger Australian cities.
Three is a good option if you are are going to spend most of your time in capital cities like Melbourne or Sydney, but if you're planning on picking fruit or spending months travelling the outback then you should look at one of the other networks.
Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the more popular mobile networks for many backpackers even though their coverage is pretty limited compared with Optus and Telstra. Vodafone SIM cards only cost $2, so it is cheap to get set up and they have some of the better value pre-paid plans.
VIRTUAL PHONE NETWORKS
There are several other mobile companies in Australia that offer their own branded service using the network infrastructure of one of the larger companies. They are generally the cheapest for prepaid services.
Dodo
Dodo (website www.dodo.com.au) are a cheap mobile service that includes free calls to Vodafone and other Dodo customers.
Just Mobile
Just Prepaid Mobile is the only Australian mobile phone company we could find that has no connection charge. No connection charge makes their rates easy to understand and coupled with low call rates makes them a good deal if you make lots of short calls. They also have capped plans that are very good value if you make a lot of calls. Just Mobile use the Vodafone network.
Revolution Telecom
Revolution Telecom (website www.revtel.com.au) have cheap call rates and use the Vodafone network.
Savvytel
Savvytel (website www.savvytel.com.au) is one of the best value mobile phone companies in Australia with capped pre-paid plans, credits that never expire and cheap call rates. They are one of the cheapest prepaid mobile deals in Australia. Savvytel uses the Vodafone network.
Virgin Mobile
Virgin (website www.virginmobile.com.au) is one of the biggest of the virtual networks with good value call rates. Virgin use the Optus network, which gives you better coverage than Just Mobile or Savvytel (unless you're going to spend all your time in Kununurra).
CALLING CARDS
Despite the popularity of mobile phones, calling cards are still the cheapest way to call home. Virtually every service station, newsagent and corner store sell a huge range of calling cards.
Rates are generally cheapest if you call a local access number rather than the toll-free number on the back of the card but this means that you may have to pay for a local call on a payphone in addition to the calling card rate.
