General consumer advice |
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Frequent mobile users advice
The following information has been compiled in collaboration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Consider flexible month-to-month plans.
If you own your own handset, most mobile phone companies will offer to connect you to a network on a month by month basis (without a fixed term contract). This can offer you flexibility to change monthly plans or mobile phone company more easily. Because more mobile phone companies are offering network access separate from the purchase of a handset it's possible to shop around for the best network access deal. Some companies offer services without charging access fees, only charging for the time you use. This may be an attractive option for you.
Lower your call rate. If you are a high user it is likely to be worth paying a higher access charge so that your actual call costs are lower. There may also be other services included as part of higher priced plans such as free voice mail and a certain number of free calls. Check with your friends and family to see which plan or rate they are on. If this suits their needs, they may have suggestions for you..
Go for the lowest peak rate. Call costs are generally higher during business hours. If most of your calls are made during this period, it is worth the time in checking different mobile phone company plans to see if any offer a cheaper service for peak times.
How to save on longer calls. Mobile call costs can be more expensive than fixed line phone calls. If your calls are mostly of longer duration, then a plan that provides a cheaper call rate for longer calls is important. Plans can get very expensive if calls are longer than a minute. If you are making longer calls, then its also worth asking about plans that offer a number of free calls per month.
Check your billing increment. Calls can be charged to you in several ways. The main two are per second billing and billing per blocks of time (usually 30 or 60 seconds).
Calls can be charged on a per second basis. This means that if you initiate a call that lasts for 13 seconds you will be charged for 13 seconds. If most of your calls are less than a minute, then being charged per second may help to minimise the cost of your calls.
Calls can also be charged to you in blocks of 30 or 60 seconds. This means that if you initiate a call that lasts for 22 seconds, you will be charged for 30 seconds. If you initiate a call that lasts for 38 seconds you will be charged for a minute. The amount you are charged per 30 seconds will vary depending on your mobile phone company and the plan you have chosen.
Check the flagfall. This is an important question because if a flagfall or call connection fee is charged for each call, this can add significantly to your total call costs. Some mobile phone companies charge a flagfall, the cost of which can vary, while others don’t. It is important to factor in this additional cost to ensure you are fully aware of the cost of calls.
Call same-network. If you know the numbers you will usually be calling, it may be possible to get a special deal that allows calls to some numbers to attract a cheaper rate than normal. Some mobile phone companies offer special rates for same network connections, so if your friends or business colleagues are with a particular mobile phone company, you can save on call costs by using that same company.
Boost your coverage in the car. To ensure that you obtain the best coverage possible, always choose a mobile phone that can be connected to an external antenna. If you do this, then when driving a vehicle, you can utilise an in-car kit or patch cord that is connected to an external antenna. This provides significantly greater coverage than just a portable handset itself. Note: You cannot charge your mobile phone battery while using a patch cord.
The use of an in-car kit has two significant benefits for users. Firstly, using an in-car kit is the only safe option while driving. There's one place where it's never okay to use your hand held mobile phone, and that's when you're driving. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it is also illegal in some areas. If you do need to stay in touch on the road, purchase an in-car kit. Even when using such a device, common sense should prevail. If you are having a particularly difficult conversation, or if driving conditions are difficult, pull over. It could save your life. Secondly, with the phone connected to an external antenna the coverage of the mobile service is optimised.
Check network coverage maps. Each mobile network has a different coverage area, depending on the number of mobile towers in use, the local terrain and type of technology used (GSM or CDMA). It is important to check that the service you are considering has good coverage where you expect to use it most. This could be not just where you live or work but also where you travel etc. Each mobile carrier has coverage maps available for viewing.
Calling outback. Although both GSM and CDMA coverage is extensive, the only way to obtain mobile coverage in most outback areas is by satellite mobile phone. Although this option is dearer than land based mobile networks, the satellite mobile networks offer 100% geographic coverage of Australia. Note: coverage may be reduced by poor weather conditions and large structures. Satellite phones do not provide coverage indoors.
Overseas Travel. Mobile phone handsets can be used in overseas countries where carriers have established international roaming agreements. Carriers have established agreements in many overseas countries. Keep in mind however, that using your phone overseas can be very expensive. Ask your mobile phone company before leaving Australia about call costs and ways to minimise expensive call charges.
Mobile internet. With the right mobile phone you can connect your laptop and access the internet or send emails. The phone you select must have data handling capability and phones that can use the Internet are usually associated with high handset costs.
Voicemail. Voicemail is available with most mobile phone services. Some mobile phone companies may offer voicemail at little or no cost, depending on the particular plan. Others may charge when someone leaves a message or when you call to pick up the message.
Consider a paging service for small businesses. Paging services provide a more interactive user friendly message service. They are particularly useful for small business users who must ensure that all calls are answered and followed up.
Security. There are two ways you can protect your mobile phone. The first is to lock the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) to your handset (GSM phones only). This is protected by a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which you create. Once locked, the mobile phone cannot be used with another SIM without the PIN being entered. This means the handset can't be used if it is stolen and another SIM card is inserted.
The second way to increase the security of your handset is to set a PIN on the phone itself (GSM and CDMA). Each time the phone is switched on, the PIN number must be entered before the phone can be used.
