The previous Optus iPhone Discussion thread was far too large for anyone to comprehend, so here's a new thread for you all to post in.

So far, Optus is the only telco to give out full info on it's pricing:

iPhone 3G Pre-Paid Pricing

iPhone 3G Post-Paid (contract) Pricing

Here's a snazzy table NeoRicen whacked up to try and untangle the plan complexity:



These other threads also related to Optus:

Optus iPhone - Stores Participating in Early Opening

Optus Business plans to be announced July 28th

Optus switches on 3G in Darwin!

Optus non-deposit hopefuls

I had another thought. I could buy the cheap $19 plan and put the sim in my wife's Nokia n-gage and thus switch her to Optus. Then I could take my iPhone to Virgin.

Would the sim work in the n-gage? I remember when I changed to the n-gage I had to get a new sim because the old sim's voltage was wrong or something.

If it wouldn't work, would it work in a cheap pre-paid phone?

If these options work it gives me another option to think about.

Can anyone clarify for me.... When it says that on the Optus 'Yes' Cap plan, you get "Free 20 minute voice calls to other Optus GSM mobiles in Australia", does that not include 3G phones?

I would have thought most people are using 3G mobiles now aren't they? It's not much use to me anyway as I'd mainly want the free calls to my wife and I'm barely ever away from 8pm-midnight anyway, but I just wanted to clarify.

Is the N-Gage 3G? I don't think it is, correct me if I am wrong.

So I was planing on going with telstra but if those are the actual plans I'm thinking optic is a far better choice! But where I live we don't have 3g coverage, apart from slower speeds is there anything else that I will be missing out on?

I think that's carry-over from old terms and conditions. I would *guess* that it means any Optus Mobile to Optus Mobile call is free for 20 min. Looks like someone should call Optus and ask for clarification, haha

"What if I'm connected to the UMTS network and I want to talk to someone on a GSM phone, does it still count as a free 20 min call?"

Nope, that's it. You'll just get slower data access where you live. If you travel into the city, you'll get 3G speed

awesome thanks for that! , optus here I come

"don't think it is"

I'm sure it wouldn't be. Can't a 3G sim work for GSM too?

Are there el-cheapo 3G pre-paid phones?

same question for me.

But since Optus clearly declare this in TC "Applies to calls from one Optus Mobile Digital customer to another (on the Optus GSM network)", I will think it is 3G exclusive. The same thing applies to the Free 5 mins call to same account as well.

its the network, i think its just an old NON updated bit of legal text, the network offers the calls to and from both layers. its from an optus mobile to an optus mobile. on the optus network.

This is a good question if you need it I would turn your phone to "2G" mode as optus uses UTMS 1900/2100 which is W-CDMA not GSM good point mate. I was going to make the iphone 2G permantly anyway just because of coverage and I wont use the data that often.
cheers

The N-gage is not 3G.. but a 3G sim card will work in it. (obviously data will still be GPRS)

You shouldn't need to do that - the iPhone will simply connect to whatever network is has signal to. The only reason I can think of to put it in 2G mode is to save battery. (as well as turning off BT, Wi-Fi & GPS)

why? the network works as 1, it seamlessly moves between the layers, based on where you are and what you are doing,

no need to lock it to 2g only, it will move to 2g if it needs to, for a number of reasons.

No I am happy with all that and I know it moves from one network to another but if I make it 2G only not only am I saving battery life but also trying to limit my data use and all that after the first month of free data use on the cap plan