Basic question

Dear aus.comms.mobile,

How're things?

I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.

I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is all
it really needs to do).

I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account fee,
no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use pre-paid.

I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a cheap, basic handset that would do the
job?

Regards, Stuart Palmer.

---

› See More: Basic question

"Stuart Palmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:44c58841$1@earth...

> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
> all it really needs to do).

Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to use and
reliable. Other cheap ones tend to have illogical menus etc.

> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account
> fee, no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use
> pre-paid.

I'd use the Telstra plan.

> > I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
> > all it really needs to do).
> Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to use and
> reliable.

I agree - cheap Nokia is the way to go for a new user.

Vodafone has dropped the price of the Nokia 1600 to $79. It's
network-locked (so only Vodafone SIM cards will work), but Vodafone
will supply you with the unlock code free of charge.
http://store.vodafone.com.au/mobile_detail.cfm?mobID=7

There are a few $59 Nokia handsets around, but those have an $80 charge
to unlock the handsets for use with other providers.
Nokia 1100
https://www.virginmobile.com.au/self...hone=nokia1100
Nokia 1110
http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/...extfmt=default

There are third-party unlock services that you can use to avoid this
$80 charge, but for a new user, the $79 Nokia 1600 is probably the
easiest way to go.

Handsets that are sold without a network lock generally start at about
$180
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st.../product/E2827

"Giles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> > I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
>> > all it really needs to do).
>> Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to use
>> and
>> reliable.
>
> I agree - cheap Nokia is the way to go for a new user.
>
> Vodafone has dropped the price of the Nokia 1600 to $79. It's
> network-locked (so only Vodafone SIM cards will work), but Vodafone
> will supply you with the unlock code free of charge.
> http://store.vodafone.com.au/mobile_detail.cfm?mobID=7

Nice one. Also I heard there is 15% off storewide this Thursday at Kmart.

Might pick one up for myself to replace the 8210 (sob).

Stuart Palmer wrote:
> Dear aus.comms.mobile,
>
> How're things?
>
> I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
> phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
> jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.
>
> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is all
> it really needs to do).
>
> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account fee,
> no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use pre-paid.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a cheap, basic handset that would do the
> job?
>
> Regards, Stuart Palmer.

I would recommend the cheapest pre-paid deal you can get with Vigin
Mobile, which you can obtain either through a Virgin store or an Optus
store. You will probably have to get a Nokia, but if possible buy
something associated with Siemens, even if it is not the cheapest. I
have a Siemens phone, with Virgin, but I don't think that you can get
them anymore. Virgin generally caters for the youth market, so that
they tend to cater for the frugal or low-income.

"Stuart Palmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:44c58841$1@earth...
> Dear aus.comms.mobile,
>
> How're things?
>
> I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
> phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
> jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.
>
> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
all
> it really needs to do).
>
> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account
fee,
> no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use pre-paid.

Either get the handset through the Corp. plan, else get a sim through the
corp plan and a $49 telstra prepaid handset, and pop the two together

"Giles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > > I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls
is
> > > all it really needs to do).
> > Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to use
and
> > reliable.
>
> I agree - cheap Nokia is the way to go for a new user.
>
> Vodafone has dropped the price of the Nokia 1600 to $79. It's

Nokia 1600?!?!

Wasnt that released in 1997?

[email protected] wrote:

> but if possible buy
> something associated with Siemens, even if it is not the cheapest. I
> have a Siemens phone, with Virgin, but I don't think that you can get
> them anymore.

I believe Siemens sold their mobile division to Benq. Pity, now we'll
end up with menus designed for the Chinese instead of German ones... oh
well such is the corporate world.

Albinus wrote:

> I believe Siemens sold their mobile division to Benq. Pity,
> now we'll end up with menus designed for the Chinese instead
> of German ones... oh well such is the corporate world.

The Benq-Siemens phone design team is still in Germany (for the
next few years at least, I believe). For anyone that's
interested, phones and accessories can be purchased from
http://www.club-siemens.com/shop/ at reasonable prices.

John

John Henderson wrote:
>
> The Benq-Siemens phone design team is still in Germany (for the
> next few years at least, I believe). For anyone that's
> interested, phones and accessories can be purchased from
> http://www.club-siemens.com/shop/ at reasonable prices.


Good to hear! At least Siemens have some idea on how to make software
(unlike some other vendors who shall remain nameless...)

"Stuart Palmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:44c58841$1@earth...
> Dear aus.comms.mobile,
>
> How're things?
>
> I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
> phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
> jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.
>
> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
> all it really needs to do).
>
> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account
> fee, no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use
> pre-paid.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a cheap, basic handset that would do
> the job?
>
Go to your local supermarkets and find a cheap Telstra pre-paid package and
then junk the SIM card and put the work one in.
Get a Nokia; EVERYONE has a charger/car-kit/headset etc etc.
--
Knob

Knobdoodle wrote:
> "Stuart Palmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:44c58841$1@earth...
>> Dear aus.comms.mobile,
>>
>> How're things?
>>
>> I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
>> phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
>> jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.
>>
>> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
>> all it really needs to do).
>>
>> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account
>> fee, no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use
>> pre-paid.
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a cheap, basic handset that would do
>> the job?
>>
> Go to your local supermarkets and find a cheap Telstra pre-paid package and
> then junk the SIM card and put the work one in.
> Get a Nokia; EVERYONE has a charger/car-kit/headset etc etc.

I agree, Nokia is the way to go. Easy to find someone with a charger if
you get caught out with a flat battery and they are by far the EASIEST
phones to use.

Like other's have suggested buy a Tel$tra pre-paid Nokia and don't worry
about the pre-paid SIM that comes with it seeing you can get a Corporate
deal through your work.


--
The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/cl...IENT_NO=157452

"Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Giles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> > > I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls
> is
>> > > all it really needs to do).
>> > Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to use
> and
>> > reliable.
>>
>> I agree - cheap Nokia is the way to go for a new user.
>>
>> Vodafone has dropped the price of the Nokia 1600 to $79. It's
>
> Nokia 1600?!?!
>
> Wasnt that released in 1997?

You're thinking of the 1610, and 1996. It's sales as part of the Optus
Freestyle bundle were unprecedented.

"Simon Templar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Knobdoodle wrote:
>> "Stuart Palmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:44c58841$1@earth...
>>> Dear aus.comms.mobile,
>>>
>>> How're things?
>>>
>>> I've never had a mobile - I have enough people chasing me on my 'real'
>>> phone - but, recently, my wife has missed out on some relieving teaching
>>> jobs because she was not contactable when on the go.
>>>
>>> I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice calls is
>>> all it really needs to do).
>>>
>>> I can get it onto my employers corporate plan with Telstra - no account
>>> fee, no flagfall, 16 cents per minute, otherwise, would probably use
>>> pre-paid.
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a cheap, basic handset that would do
>>> the job?
>>>
>> Go to your local supermarkets and find a cheap Telstra pre-paid package
>> and then junk the SIM card and put the work one in.
>> Get a Nokia; EVERYONE has a charger/car-kit/headset etc etc.
>
> I agree, Nokia is the way to go. Easy to find someone with a charger if
> you get caught out with a flat battery and they are by far the EASIEST
> phones to use.
>
> Like other's have suggested buy a Tel$tra pre-paid Nokia and don't worry
> about the pre-paid SIM that comes with it seeing you can get a Corporate
> deal through your work.
>
>
> --
> The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
> belong to.
>
> 73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
> http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/cl...IENT_NO=157452

Thanks to everyone that replied.

Went to K-Mart, got a 15% off Vodaphone pre-paid handset for 60-something
dollars, went to the Vodaphone website and requested a free unlock, and, now
arranging for it to go on the company cheap-o plan.

"Lohn J. Deister" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Giles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> > > I'd like to get a basic mobile handset (send and receive voice
calls
> > is
> >> > > all it really needs to do).
> >> > Just get the cheapest Nokia you can find. They're generally easy to
use
> > and
> >> > reliable.
> >>
> >> I agree - cheap Nokia is the way to go for a new user.
> >>
> >> Vodafone has dropped the price of the Nokia 1600 to $79. It's
> >
> > Nokia 1600?!?!
> >
> > Wasnt that released in 1997?
>
> You're thinking of the 1610, and 1996. It's sales as part of the Optus
> Freestyle bundle were unprecedented.

I remember the 1610 and the 1630. Thought there was also a 1600, obviously
not.

Whilst Optuses sales might have been "unprecedented", they dwarfed far
behind Telstra's Pocket Price Promotion for years.
>
>