Unlocked Cellphone
Hello,I will be travelling Australia and New Zealand for six months starting from January, 2013.
I have a unlocked cellphone (Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800 International version). Will I be able to use it as a local cellphone in Australia and New Zealand by inserting a local SIM card? What would the monthly cost be like?
Thanks in advance,
Elson
2
Optus long life sim, $30 can last max 6 months. Good for city/suburban areas, I use this one, have take it interstate with me, and it works out in Broadmeadows! Which is outer suburban Melbourne, 18 kms out from the CBD. Data will suck up credit very fast, on the long life plan. Have this one just for the talk time in the prepaid part.You could front up to a Woolworths (Aust) store and buy an Everyday Rewards mobile sim, this one is for $29/10% discount ($26.10) last you 45 days, but has a whopping 5 gb data included. Good for metro areas. Maybe not so for further in the bush areas. Also used this one too. I use this one for surfing on phone. Have to join Everyday Rewards though, no fee.
Vodafone/Virgin has $20 sim, last a year, but you can buy data packs, which will keep your talk time credit up, and will not suck up that. Reception in bush might not be too flash.
Telstra has a sim for $30 for 30 days, $1 a day. Don't have a Telstra one, so can't say, but their phone receiption in supposedly good in the bush too. Not cheap is indeed right.
Depends on which part of Aust you will be spending the 3 months in/at?/!
3
Unless you get roaming sim, the sim for Aust tends not to be useable in NZ.5
Nothing wrong with Vodafone here in NZ for prepaid. Worth considering.2Degrees though where they dont have their own coverage, they piggyback off Vodafone.Skinny but dont know anything about them.
If you fly into Auckland, theres a coupon for a free sim card in Arrival magazine (available as you're coming off the plane) but doesnt say what network.
6
I should have added, my advice re avoiding Vodaphone was for Australia.7
2degrees is your best bet in NZ - you'll find our pay as you go plans are much more expensive than Auz, but you can still get pretty good value plans.9
As pointed out above, pre-pay is the best way to go. In New Zealand there are 3 mobile providers:- Telecom,
- Vodafone,
- 2 Degrees.
Check their websites to see which suites you best.
Note that 'Skinny' is a Telecom brand aimed at teenagers.
10
Hi guys,I will be going to NZ in February. However I have an old iPhone which I never upgraded. I was wondering if it was worth buying a phone in the UK before I leave, and then buying a sim card in NZ. Or is it easier to buy both a mobile and a pay as you deal when I arrive in NZ?
11
Phones can be really cheap but then you have to add the cost of a sim card. Theres a free guide you can get at the airport when you arrive that has a giveaway sim card thing inside but doesnt say what network. If I get time in the next week or so I'll go into the city and get one to see whats involved.12
Westwood, I am flying into Christchurch, not Auckland, will the guide be available there as well?
