TELEPHONE AND EMAIL FOR TRAVELLERS

MOBILE PHONE

Telephone companies claim that ‘96% of the Australian population’ have mobile coverage, but unfortunately that is sometimes misinterpreted to mean 96% of Australia. It is not. Mobile phone service is available in heavily populated areas and country towns, but in only about 5% of the outback. Travellers planning to travel in remote areas off the main highways should consider a satellite telephone or HF radio, however the costs are considerable.

A phone fitted into a vehicle with an outside antenna can achieve a range up to 32km for GSM phones and up to 60km for CDMA, Next G and 3G but a hand-held unit is limited to less than half of those distances. Many travellers have been using CDMA because of its wide-spread coverage in country areas, but it will be closing down early in 2008. CDMA phone users will have to ‘migrate’ to another network, and unfortunately, for most people this means ‘buy another phone’.

Which phone company? – Telstra has wider coverage in country areas, but if you are going to use your phone in the main towns and main highways on the eastern seaboard, compare prices offered by all phone companies. Ask each company for a map showing areas where their network operates. Consider where you want to use the phone, how many calls you will make and the cost.

Choosing a phone plan – Most important: how many calls are you likely to make. If it is only occasionally, consider either pre-paid or a plan with a low monthly access fee.

Phone plans have a monthly access fee and charges for every call, usually as a connection fee plus a timed call rate. Generally, if the access fee is low, the calls are expensive. Once again, consider how many calls you are likely to make. If you will want to phone a few friends and family, maybe a plan with a ‘free hour’ or free calls to nominated phone numbers will suit you.

You can either buy the phone outright (from under $100 to over $1000) or take a more expensive phone plan that includes paying for the handset over a 24 month period. If you pay off the phone, note down the date that your contract will end. At that time you can change to a much cheaper monthly access fee and pay by the month. If you do not contact your phone company and change to the cheaper plan, they will be happy to keep accepting the higher rate as long as you keep paying.

Which handset - There are many different phones available and you should consider what features you need. Is a camera a priority or do you usually have a proper camera with you? See how convenient the phone is to use. Some have buttons so tiny that they are difficult to press.

Telstra
Next G - Telstra is replacing its CDMA network with an enhanced system known as ‘Next G’ (short for generation) that came into operation in September 2006. Next G has greatly increased speed, particularly important if you use the system for internet connection. It is also claimed that Next G will cover 98% of the Australian population with less ‘black-spots’. CDMA, and now Next G, have a much more extensive network than the GSM network.

CDMA - Early in 2008 when the CDMA network closes, customers will need a Next G handset to access the new network, although they can keep their present phone number. Customers who are currently on a phone contract signed before 9th October 2006 can change to a Next G phone with no ‘exit fees’ and with outstanding fees cancelled.

GSM phones have limited use outside the main centres of population and main highways on the eastern seaboard. It is planned that the GSM network will close in 2012.

Phone Plans – Telstra has several mobile phone plans available, and there is one that could suit heavy phone users. For $40 per month (if you own the phone) or $55 per month (if you pay off the phone) customers pay only 35 cents for untimed calls to a land line anywhere in Australia or another Telstra mobile. If you travel only periodically, sign up on the $12 per month plan ($23 including paying off a phone). This plan has higher call charges, but to get cheaper calls when you are travelling you can switch temporarily to the ‘higher spend’ $40 plan ($55 if you are paying off the phone). If you sign up on the $40 plan you cannot reduce it to the cheaper plan until the contract has expired. Note – Not all phones are available on the cheapest plan.

Telstra Pre-paid – If you buy a phone included in the pre-paid scheme you will receive a sim card, 6 months access to the network and $10 credit for calls. If you have your own handset, you will need a $25 ‘pre-paid starter kit’ that includes a sim card, 6 months access to the network and $25 call credit. You must top-up your account ($20 per month or $50 for three months) to keep the phone number.

Other phone companies
Currently, other telephone companies operate CDMA services using the Telstra Australia-wide network, however this will cease early in 2008.

Optus is constantly implementing new base stations on its GSM network around the country and it currently reaches more than 96% of the Australian population.

The Optus 3G (Third Generation) network is available in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth to complement the existing GSM coverage. 3G is much faster than GSM, and gives a wider range of services. A 3G phone is required to use these services, however when travelling outside the 3G network, the phone will access and use the normal Optus GSM network.

Optus pre-paid is available on both the 3G and GSM networks. Optus pre-paid phone plans are very well priced and include free calls to five selected Optus mobiles or landlines. Plans are available that expire in 60 or 186 days (great for occasional use of the phone).

AAPT, Vodafone and 3 operate GSM and 3G networks.

Emergency phone calls – In an emergency, dial 000. If you use a phone company that does not have service where you are located, a 000 call will be handled by Telstra. 000 will operate on prepaid mobiles, even if the account has a nil balance.

EMAIL –

Without a computer:

• Use email facilities at libraries (often free of charge) or at ‘internet cafes’.

• Using a Telstra Next G handset you can receive emails and text your outgoing emails but you cannot send or receive attachments such as document files or print incoming messages. A Data Pack (details below) will make the system even more economical. This is only practical for short messages because using a phone keypad to type messages is rather tedious.

• Pocketmail is an easy and very economical way to send and receive emails via an 1800 number on either a private or public phone. The device is held against the phone handset, but most GSM mobiles and some landline cordless phones are physically too small to match up with the Pocketmail ‘machine’. It does not work with CDMA, Next G or 3G technology. Messages are typed on a small keyboard and displayed on a screen, but typing the message would not be as easy as on a computer keyboard. You cannot send or receive attachments such as document files and images. Set-up cost is $79 plus a fee of $179 (for 12 months). Shorter contracts are also available.

With a computer:

• Connect your computer to a mobile phone, and use the full range of email and internet services. This has been an expensive option using GSM or CDMA networks because the download speed is very slow and the call is charged at timed mobile phone rates. It is claimed that CDMA has a speed of 76 kilobytes per second (kbps), but we have not found it anywhere near that fast. Telstra claims that the Next G High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) will have a speed between 550 kbps and 3,600 kbps, depending on the device and coverage in the area.

• Telstra Wireless Hotspot will enable you to use your laptop at Telstra Wireless Hotspot locations by using a Telstra Mobile Broadband PC Pack. Using WiFi laptop or PC technology, you can send and receive emails, access documents and files. Telstra Wireless Hotspots are located in many McDonald’s restaurants and many caravan parks. You are not locked into a contract and there are several methods of payment including credit card, Telstra PhoneAway card or Telstra mobile phone or BigPond account.

• Optus has Wireless Hotspots where you can access the internet using a laptop with Wifi. Refer to the Optus website (www.optus.com.au) for a list of sites.

• A Telstra Big Pond Wireless Broadband card slots into the laptop USB port. It has a sim card and operates as a phone for the purposes of email and will work anywhere there is mobile phone service. There is a choice of plans available with fees ranging from $29.95 to $199.95 per month on a 12 month contract. Only available for Big Pond customers.

• Telstra wireless modem system operates through a PC only so would not usually be practical if you are travelling.

• Satellite technology can be used to access broadband Australia wide, however the equipment is very expensive.

Hints to keep your email costs very low –

• Use a computer and mobile phone on a Telstra Next G ‘untimed call’ phone plan (see above) and buy a Data Pack on your mobile phone account (monthly fee of $5 for one megabyte, $8 for 3 megabyte or $29 for 70 megabyte). This will allow you to access the internet without paying a connection fee every time you dial up. Note – We have changed from CDMA to Next G and when travelling use this system. We have found Next G to be much faster than CDMA (230.4 kbps compared with 14.4 kbps) and it costs much less.

• If you are on a timed phone system, prepare your messages before you go on line. Dial up, send your prepared emails and down-load your new messages. Emails that require a detailed response can wait until you go on line next time.

• Unless you are on an ‘untimed’ mobile plan, ask friends not to send big files of jokes or photos!

For additional practical information relating to motorhomes and campervans as well as travelling in general, refer to 'The Ultimate Travelling Companion'.