Whirlpool

This spreadsheet compares the plans Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are offering for the iPhone.

You enter your calls per month and average call length (for normal calls and voicemail calls), number of smses and it adds the relevant monthly repayments showing you the total monthly cost for each iPhone plan.

This is different to my other spreadsheet that compares many normal capped plans available. This spreadsheet only compares iPhone plans.

• Get it here **

excellent thanks very much, will put this link in my FAQ as well

Thank you

No cost for extra data – $'s per MB

That is brilliant.

Has anyone ever bothered to put something together with all the carriers to come out with a demystified version of phone contracts.

thnx again

G WiZZ writes...

This spreadsheet compares the plans Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are offering for the iPhone.

Nice work any chance of adding Virgin?

Thanks

.

Added Virgin! go and get the new version

G WiZZ writes...

Added Virgin! go and get the new version

just what i needed thanks :)

Hi, I`m unable to understand all of that since I`m new to mobiles.

Could anyone simply tell me which one is the cheapest contract?

I woul dsimply need to check Gmail and few websites everyday and make a coupl eof phone calls per day.

I don`t need to download music or files.

Thanks!

In preparing to choose an iPhone plan I put my last 3 months of calls into Excel (copy and paste from online billing system) and spent about 30 minutes trying to create a formula to calculate call costs for one of the Optus Cap plans. I finally worked it out so I thought I'd share it.

Here is an example cell for the $19/month cap, where B2 is the call duration (decimal):

=(ROUNDUP(B2*2,0)*0.47)+0.35

Or as a general formula:

=(ROUNDUP(call_duration*2,0)*call_rate)+flag_fall

where call_rate is per 30 seconds.

doesn't anyone know what the internation call rates are for the iphone 3g on the telstra network?

how much to send a overseas SMS??? etc

hi i am new to this forum......... but i got a suggestion..to all u guys......whatever u do " do not sign any contract with telstra" they are the most expensive one if u want to get iphone. the best plan i have found optus "yes timeless" 129...............check it out........thanks

.

Great spreadsheet, you're really clever, thankyou!

Is there any way to re-introduce the "ranking" system that you have on your normal mobile plans spreadsheet? I found that really helpful.

Sorry if I have missed something.

Does anyone know what the difference is, for example, between

Call Rate\min

and

Effective call rate\min ?

Excellent spreadsheet.

Note that Optus has increased its handset repayments recently, when you're next updating.

It's very useful, thanks :)

The spreadsheet in the original post is seriously out of date. Also seems a bit commercialised now, used to be just a link to download a spreadsheet anyone can use, now it asks about creating an account

I'd recommend the Fairfax site as the figures and kept up to date and the interface is far superior, covers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone & Virgin.
Also does phones other than iPhone

http://mobile-phones.smh.com.au/Mobile

i'm just looking at the yes plans on optus and it seems the handset prices have gone up by 1 dollar. not sure what else has changed...

is anyone actively updating the spreadsheet?

I will update the one I downloaded but just be cautious use it as a guide only... please refer to respective carriers for final pricing before make any final decisions.

thanks keg75

KEG75 writes...

just be cautious use it as a guide only..

Absolutely. Happens often with these kinds of things.

Hey, whoever wrote the file, if you update the file could you add a "last updated" note to your file so that we know the age.

Yeah someone goes that would be "cool" to do uploads it then everyone expects them to update it... not sure when the rev2 version I downloaded was last updated.

I went through telstra and optus plans and fixed them. not the rest as i'm not interested in voda, 3 or virgin

There were a few issues on what I edited last night, ie plans no longer appearing to be available, the rate/min actually being the rate/30secs which only gives you only half the call cost. handset costs were duff in some cases.

I don't understand the effective rate/ min or the effective flagfall/ min... i think the guy is trying to show how much time you get from that style cap/ plan but i don't think the calculation is okay.

Any I have update for my purposes so i'm happy.

to the actually creator of the spreadsheet. please update it if you can and as the previous guys said – add a edited on ____ date field right at the top. so people can see if it's old.

cheers keg75

I'm looking at my girlfriends telstra phone bill and just want to clarify something.

She has number of calls and a price. Then below that she has a column saying you have made 'X' number 24/7 calls and that has saved you 'Y' Amount of money.

So for example total calls is 50 and cost is $8.90. The 24/7 was 43 cals and saved $19.00.

I'm trying to work out total cost for her so I can add into the spreadsheet above. So excluding any options such as 24/7, her axample would look something like – 50 calls and a cost of $27.90.

Is that how you approach it?

so after that i divide that number by call rate/ min to get time and then dived that by number of calls for average time per call..

Please confirm or refute what I'm saying as I am going to get an iphone with optus and I think that will kill off her 24/7 freebies.

thanks in advance keg75

why not use Optus business "yes" plan only $39 with cheap calls at 11c per 30s, 500mb data? plus back to business 30c for 10minutes, free 5 minute call to same mobile a/c. go to sign up tomorrow.`

I'm a bit confused my wife wants an iphone, I down loaded the spreadsheet and it has a vodafone plan on it for $49 and 24 month 8g handset repayment of $10.80. But when I went into vodafone I was told it is not available on a $49 plan and that it only comes on $69 plan and above. Did I miss something on the spreadsheet ?

IF YOU READ THE THREADA ABOVE.... you will see that I and others have noted that the spreadsheet is OUT OF DATE.

You will need to modify the spreadsheet based on the latest info available from all the carriers – It is a pain in the bum but if you want the spreadsheet to be usefull then your gonna have to update it.

I did and I sure others have – unfortunately the original creator hasn't.

keg75

You may also want to have a look at my iPhone plan spreadsheet, which as far as I'm aware, is up to date:

http://home.exetel.com.au/cjm/OziPhonePlanComparison.xls

Christopher Moran

I get #Value throughout the spreadsheet – is there a current problem with it?

Rider5 writes...

But when I went into vodafone I was told it is not available on a $49 plan and that it only comes on $69 plan and above. Did I miss something on the spreadsheet ?

From memory, the iPhone plans started at $69.
But some people were buying the iPhone on a regular $49 plan and buying a data pack to go with it.

That may be why you're getting that response from Vodafone?

(Sorry if I'm out of date or just plain wrong!)

ChristopherMoran writes...

You may also want to have a look at my iPhone plan spreadsheet, which as far as I'm aware, is up to date:

http://home.exetel.com.au/cjm/OziPhonePlanComparison.xls

Christopher Moran

Thanks Chris

If this is the most up-to-date spreadsheet available, I'm happy to link to it in the thread title if everyone is happy?

Thoughts, suggestions?

Lunchguy

(Edit – have also amended the thread title to try to reduce the number of 'what plan' threads)

I think I'm missing something here. Why is it that the 16gb and 8gb are exactly the same price ($70 plan 24 months)? Why would anyone pick the 8gb iphone if they can get the 16gb one for the same priced plan?

EDIT: On Virgin

Nvm, I worked it out. It didn't add the handset cost.

Quick and easy reference for best plans to suit different types of iPhone users.

Light usage: Make few calls, don't want a contract, swap carriers when I want

Solution: Optus pre-paid, back in stock!
- 8GB $799
$120 to unlock or recharge with $120
includes $400 credit and 1GB data when activated
-16GB $899
$120 to unlock or recharge with $120
includes $400 credit and 1GB data when activated

personal.optus.com.au/we...mp;site=personal

Medium usage: Moderate level of calls, text and web browsing. Don't mind contract.

Solution: Optus yes cap plans
- 16GB
$0 upfront plus $9/mth handset cost over 24 months
$59/mth for $350 calls & 500MB data
unlocked free on request

personal.optus.com.au/we...mp;site=personal

High Usage: High level of calls, lots of data

Solution: Virgin Mobile
- 16GB
$0 upfront plus $4/mth handset cost on 24 month contract
$70/mth for $520 calls and 1GB data

https://www.virginmobile...e-16-gb-blk.aspx

Best Coverage

Solution: Telstra NextG
With superior network coverage, particularly for regional and rural users using NextG 850Mhz bandwidth, Telstra is the best choice. (Best if you get someone else to try for it, though)
- 16GB
$69 upfront, 24 month contract
$80/mth plan includes $70 worth of calls and $10 worth of data (only 5MB data)
IMPORTANT ADD A BROWSING PACK
$29/mth for 300MB data, excess data 25c/MB

www.telstra.com.au/nextg...ork/ipricing.htm

Telstra was the best for me its hard to bet the free wifi points.

Hi everyone, I am thinking of going on a $19 cap plan with Optus since I have a contract with 3 mobile.

I want to keep both Optus and 3 because:
1. with 3, I get to make international calls and texts without any extra costs.
2. with Optus, I can get mobile insurance with plan. My home and contents insurance doesn't cover phones.

Here is the question,
Would it be possible for me to pay upfront the cost of the phone and pay only for the cap for 24 months?

e.g. Optus $19 Cap, $28 handset / month
so pay $28 x 24 – $672 upfront and pay $19 every month.

thanks

Yes you can pay out handset in advance. Also remember to unlock for free, takes 10 days to take effect, so you can use your 3 sim

VikingBrad writes...

Yes you can pay out handset in advance. Also remember to unlock for free, takes 10 days to take effect, so you can use your 3 sim

thanks for the reply, VikingBrad...
sounds awesome. i will do that when i sign a contract. yea, i won't forget to unlock it!