Ok - I'm on using Oputs for:
1) Cable the old 12/24GB Unlimited Cable Plan @ 10mbs/256kbs (but I only ever used a max of about 6gb)
2) Phone - Two phone lines = about $30 per month

On top I also use VOIP for all out calls so call costs are say another say $30pm (but the WAF is still no good due to the quality difference!)

Anyway....the deal I just signed up to (but I have a 10-Day cooling off period) is:

$89.95 Bundle on a 24mth Plan for:
1) Cable 12GB @ 30mbs/1024 mbs, free wifi modem, install etc
2) Free local calls, 75c STD Calls
3) $180 "Welcome Credit"
+ The second phone line will cost me $29.95 in the first month then dropping to $6pm after that but with another $200 credit for calls on this line in the first two months.
4) LNP: The recon they will also port the phone #'s so no change there.

I know I'm dropping the total volume on my broadband and getting hit for up and down but it looks pretty good overall but any comments???
Thanks
Nathan

Edit - got my optus plan #'s wrong

12 months ago id've said you were cracked to take this deal. Telstra counts uploads, have poor reliability and are evil.

Today it looks quite competitive when compared to Optus' current plans.

sounds really good to me how long was the contract. dont mean to put a downer on things but quite often when telstra comes out with a good deal the rest of the market kills them with better deals. it happened to me twice with telstra and each time i had just committed to 12 month contracts.

cheers mate

just saw that you said 24 month plan sorry

If I wasn't on a grandfathered plan....

:)

- Anthony.

goodluck with Telstra, looks like you'll need it!

Sounds like a very good deal for your needs.
I would suggest you to have another read of the contract and the fine prints, to make sure you are indeed getting everything for the price you have indicated while the cooling off period is still active.

Actually looks like a fairly good deal.

vdo writes...

goodluck with Telstra, looks like you'll need it!

Why? My Sister has Bigpond Cable and it performs considerably better than Optus Cable (i.e international speeds were a lot better on Bigpond).

sounds sus, $180 welcome credit? $200 credit for calls on second line? $29.95 for the first month then $6 per month after? why not $6 per month? telstra's 12gb is $69.95 by itself, nothing on there website about it, post back here when you get your first bill would love to know how many hundreds it totals to.

inthemixgotti writes...

telstra's 12gb is $69.95 by itself

Homeline Together which is the plan which offers free local calls and 75c STD is also $69.90. That means they are reducing this to $20 per month and giving you another line for $6 a month in the bundle. Does the second line have the same rates?

That is quite an amazing deal they are offering you. If you are correct - I'd imagine you'd be very happy with it!

inthemixgotti writes...

sounds sus, $180 welcome credit? $200 credit for calls on second line? $29.95 for the first month then $6 per month after?

What gets me is what would you need $200 credit for? he has free local calls and 75cent std calls. Unless you make over 200 std calls a month your not going to need the $200 credit.. or is that 75 cents a minute. hope it all works out for you mate but as a previous post said ... check the fine print in your contract before the end of the cool off period. 24 months is a long time to be locked in if you dont have what you think you have.
Keep us all posted we are all keen to see how you go

Cheers

rapidheart writes...

What gets me is what would you need $200 credit for

unfortunately Telstra charges 35 cents for 1800 numbers abd 13 numbers and as I've spent a lot of time on the phone to Telstra in the last 4 months they do mount up

After the speal, the door knocker put me through to the Telstra Customer Service centre who went through it again (and recorded it) + I have it all on their "Applicaiton Form and Agreement". I think it is 100% legit - the door knocker even looked boored out of his brain, the only think I'm not sure about is that they both claimed to be able to port my Optus Tel #'s (on Cable) to Telstra and when I last checked a couple of years ago this was not possbile.
Thanks
Nathan

Nathan
I hope it goes more smoothly for you than it has for me
:-)

Telstra counts uploads... check the contract

dereksmalls writes...

Telstra counts uploads

O.P. seems aware of that.

Nathan writes...

the only think I'm not sure about is that they both claimed to be able to port my Optus Tel #'s (on Cable) to Telstra and when I last checked a couple of years ago this was not possbile.

This was possible for me. Over the many past years, we have went from Telstra to Optus to Telstra to Optus to Telstra and back to Optus again, keeping the same number each time. I think it depends on if they can connect you to the same exchange, or something like that. (Perhaps a more knowledgeable person may be able to give more information on this one.) :)

dereksmalls writes...

Telstra counts uploads... check the contract

So does Optus these days :P

Vode writes...

So does Optus these days :P

Sure, but the OP states that he's on an 'old' plan, which I imagine does not count uploads in the montly allowance :)

May I ask what you were paying at Optus, compared to the $97 at Telstra?

Pazu writes...

Over the many past years, we have went from Telstra to Optus to Telstra to Optus to Telstra and back to Optus again, keeping the same number each time.

I think you're talking about a Telstra PSTN line re-sold by Optus, not Optus' own cable phone line/network.

SheikYerbouti writes...

I think you're talking about a Telstra PSTN line re-sold by Optus, not Optus' own cable phone line/network.

I'm on Optus cable at the moment, with $19 phone rental, so I don't think it's a resold Telstra line. We have two sets of phone lines in the house. One is from Telstra, and one is from Optus (and obviously, only one of them are active at any one time).

I spoke to Optus about the offer and what response / offer they had:
1) They know all about it, Telstra has been pushing it for the last couple of weeks
2) They offered me $30 per month for 6 months off the $89 7gb Fusion Plan (eg the same $180 credit as Telstra). The only part of this plan better than Telstra's offer is the free STD.

FYI the following would be my comparison (roughly) based on the 20GB Fusion Plan (I have gone over 7gb on occasion but not over 12gb).

Fixed Costs Now Telsta Optus
Broadband 43.30 incl incl
Line 1 19.95 incl incl
Line 2 9.95 6.00 9.95
VOIP M'Ship 5.00
Package - 89.95 99.00
Sub Total 78.20 95.95 108.95
Credits - 7.50 7.50 ($180 over 24months)
Nett Costs 78.20 88.45 101.45

Details
BB Speed 10m/256k 30m/1m 20m/512k
BB Limit 12/24m 12m 20m
Local Calls 1c/pm incl incl
STD Calls 1c/pm 75c flat incl

Telstra still looks good Nathan.

Does it still work out when you add your estimated call costs in?

If it does, given that you think you will always remain within 12gb for downloads and uploads - I would think the $10 extra for the speed is worth it.

I wouldn't consider the new optus offer.

Woodhead - I think your right but I've forgot to add in that at present I get a free? Dial Up account which I use regular as I travel but apparantly the Telsta version costs $3.95 per hour!!!!

Well Telstra (phone) have just arrived to start the conversion job but as others have mentioned their certainly seems to be a gap between the outsourced "saleforce" pitch and what Telstra thought but we will see how it all works out.

A guy came to my place with exactly the same deal. It sounded good on first impression and I even considered it but it worked out too expensive.

Currently I have the Business Advantage (10+20g off peak) ADSL2+ for 59.95 and telephone for 18 (incl 100 free calls), total of 77.95.

Telstra also wanted to charge me 9.95 for a static IP...so, after a long chat, I sent him on his way.

see
whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?t...ond_Bundle_Offer

Good Luck Nathan..

I loath Telstra and will never use any of their service ever again no matter how appealing at the time as I know these scumbags never change their spots and will find a way to maul their customers further down the track.

Hey, but as I said...Good Luck and best of wishes!

Take it and run, optus have become a joke.

Wow - that sucks.
Just how many hits of acid did you have before signing with Telstra?
Remember - if you're spending less / more / the same with any other provider, you're doing the country a favor.

OK - Here is where I am at:

1) PHONE: The phone install took the techs (who were profesional) a few hours as they had to pull new cable from the street. Converted two lines from Optus Cable to Telstra Copper and kept both numbers. The switch over was about 1 hour for the main line but I had to ring faults as the second one was dead but they fixed that (after 2 calls) in about 1 minute. So far so good. The quality is certainly much better than the VOIP solution I was using so WAF has gone up already! (priceless!!!)

2) CABLE: The install took about 20-mins (but much less professional) and it is all up and going. Couple of "cost extras" I've found so far compared to Optus is that each additional e-mail address costs you $1pm and the costing for a "Dial-In" add-on (for while you are travelling) is very expensive. Speed seems OK (always get 1mb up which is nice) but see /forum-replies.cfm?t=609368&p=32#r628 regarding downspeeds.

3) COSTS: Can't wait to see what is really on the first bill - will post when I see it!

See
/forum-replies.cfm?t=863536&p=2#r22
My post for my first bill experience
R

12GB is nothing. Considering people use around 5GB of upload data each month without even directly uploading content it's a joke. So you basically get 7GB of download data and you can't even get near that in case you go over and face serious financial consequences!

Why must all the ISPs lower the quota every year? It only makes sense that it should IMPROVE each year. It's such a joke. Especially with speeds of 30MBit. I'd use 6GB up in one week.

Axeral writes...

12GB is nothing.

I'm one of these weird pple who never use up my quota
:-)

Me either - I've only gone over 12GB with combined Upload/Download on Optus once and with these Telstra plans you get capped not charged OR I can pay other $10 and go to the 20GB plan. That being said I can understand that for many 12GB would not be enough...

they came knocking here too - I told them to fk off! LOL

Were they able to port your number? Because I don't believe it's possible from optus

BBHPguy writes...

Were they able to port your number? Because I don't believe it's possible from optus

Both numbers were ported just fine from Optus Cable to Telstra Copper....No idead when Local Number Portability started but it is a reality now.

Now days even my 60GB with optus isn't enough :( and thats without uploads.

Its really going to be hard to find a better deal if optus ever kick us off the grandfathered plans.

Rikki's writes...

unfortunately Telstra charges 35 cents for 1800 numbers

That makes 1800 a bit of a mockery. Free means no charge at all

Justin writes...

Now days even my 60GB with optus isn't enough :( and thats without uploads.

Its really going to be hard to find a better deal if optus ever kick us off the grandfathered plans.

Amen to that... I will never leave the 60GB until we get MORE usage. It's only logical that with time the usage increases right? 60GB just isn't enough in 2008 where Hi-Def content is everywhere.

I got the same offer from bigpond, approx a month before now, and i rejected the offer.

I was told i cant get any broadband (tried to apply 6-24months before, reason: out of network coverage) while my neighbour (next to me) able to get broadband since 2 years ago?? Calling them for a couple times, but the explanation from them was unacceptable.

out of topic:

I'm an oversea student, from Malaysia. Australian ISPs is a joke to australian resident (sorry for offense). I only paid approx AUD22-25/month for 1MB broadband (sounds slow? maybe.) and unlimited usage. Use roughly 60-100GB/month (I'm the main user at home).

The ISP in malaysia (mainly have only 1-3 companies monopoly the market) by offering better and better deal every year, which means, lower the price or higher speed broadband.

Quality - It is awesome. Beside disconnected once or twice a month (reset modem will do), i have no complain at all.

I'm sorry i cant agree with you there. I am from Malaysia too. For residential users no problems. For business, Malaysian ISP's are an absolute joke.

Building manager was upset because we didnt use the 'building's preferred ISP. Went with another ISP and suprise suprise the service disconnected. Spoke to the manager who said no problems we get it fixed but you might need to change companies.

Dodgy and corrupt. Just the same with the police and any political figure over there.

Rikki's writes...

unfortunately Telstra charges 35 cents for 1800 numbers abd 13 numbers and as I've spent a lot of time on the phone to Telstra in the last 4 months they do mount up

WHAT?

1800 Numbers are a free call from Telstra phones.

Calls to 125 numbers are 25c.

Calls to 13 numbers are 27.5c, including 1300 and 1345 numbers.

Please get your facts straight before you give the wrong information to people and mislead them. The full terms & conditions for a Telstra telephone service can be found here:

http://www.telstra.com.au/customerterms/docs/fixed_othercalltypes.pdf