By: Fedrik

Fedrik — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:33:57 +0000

By: Lesh

Lesh — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:19:01 +0000

Mobile broadband normally tends to be MUCH slower than normal broadband. I use both at different times and mobile, while convenient if you need to use it on train or travel for work, is frustrating and also far more expensive. The lower speed of mobile drives me crazy.
Both Optus and Vodaphone give you the choice of combining home phone and broadband. This gives you no line rental, free local and national calls, free calls to their own mobile numbers 24/7 for optus ( some exceptions if not normal mobiles) and I know with optus you can nominate 3 or 4 other numbers you can ring for free for 5 mins. If you went this road you would have to consider what provider most of your contacts are with.
I know you talk of using separate phone and broadband contracts but there could be significant savings in combining particularly if you are relocating to Melbourne and would be making calls back to the area you are from. I know it saves me money. Our bill is rarely more than a few dollars above base fee. I am on an optus fusion plan, my daughter is with optus as are a lot of my contacts so calls are free. My son is not with optus and my daughter’s work mobile is not with optus either but we can call these mobiles free as they are two of the 3 numbers we have nominated as
numbers to call free for 5minutes.
You have to consider one other problem in using a provider other than Telstra. It seems if you use another provider other than Telstra for your landline and broadband Telstra are still involved in the initial exchange work. They do not hurry. Eg if you get a Telstra phone they will have your home phone up and running almost immediately at worst the next day. But it can take 10 working days or more once you have the right to use the telephone service in the home/unit/apartment you are moving to if changing to another provider. Telstra don’t hurry after all you are not with them. To help you optus seem happy to give you free extra credit on your mobile to tide you over this period but it doesn’t solve the broadband problem. I don’t know what Vodaphone and 3’s attitude is.
Now you haven’t indicated any desire for a Telstra service but they would be the fastest to get up and running. I don’t know what packsges they offer.
Here is an optus info service.
http://www.optus.com.au/bundles Enjoy calls & broadband from just $79/month from Optus.
I’m sure Telstra, Vodaphone and 3 must have sites. If you are near a large shopping centre you could call into a provider’s shopfront to get more details or just ring if you don’t mind talking to machines.
Best of luck.
PS Check what charges if any apply if you exceed your agreed usage limit. Mine is an older plan so I have none but am slowed. Some plans charge 15c a MB for excess usage so 100 MB extra translates to $15, and 1 Gig translates to $150 extra. Nasty nasty. So get a limit you won’t exceed if extra charges apply. 2 year contracts seem the norm with penalties for early termination. Some providers charge little or no fee if you transfer your service during that period,

Comments on: Melbourne(australia) : Mobile Broadband Or Normal Broadband?

By: Fedrik

By: Lesh