LycaMobile have completed what is a major revamp of their prepaid mobile range. What was once a combination of PAYG plans and unlimited offers, LycaMobile now offer a range of cap style plans with an included allowance for calls, TXT and data. PAYG access still remains where you add credit to your account but don’t allocate it to any prepaid offer.
One important change to the range is the introduction of a $10 prepaid mobile plan. Whilst many prepaid providers allow you to recharge for $1o, most rarely give you a full months worth of access, and certainly no cap value to enjoy. LycaMobile have changed all of that with the MiniTalk 100. This new prepaid mobile plan offers 100 minutes of talk time for $10. That is 50 two minute calls and goes head to head with Aldi Mobiles PAYG $15 plan. Your 24c, 2 minute call with Aldi will buy you 62 calls and last for 365 days.
If you want more than just call value, you can go with the MiniTalk & TXT, which offers 100 call minutes and 50 TXT for your $15. The MiniTalk 100 and MiniTalk & TXT all come with a 30 day credit expiry.
If it is data that you would like combined with your call allowance, try the MiniTalk & Data which for $15 and 30 days access offers 100 minutes and 50MB.
From what I understand to access services outside of your allowance you need to have additional credit on your account. This unallocated credit will be used with the PAYG rates that are on offer eg 15c calls to mobiles. I must say, the detailed offered through the site is quite poor and vague. Lyca to Lyca calls still appear to be free and so does voicemail. I suspect that the Critical Information Summary should clear most of this up once it is published/updated. Maybe they should have released both at the same time to assist customers.
The concept behind these MiniTalk plans is good and targeting the lower end users with good value plans is well over due.
The Saver Plans includes 4 varieties, the S with 150 minutes, 50 TXT and 100MB, this will cost you $25 for 30 days access. $30 buys you 250 call minutes, 50 TXT and 150MB. For $25, there are plenty of prepaid offers out there which give you much better value than this. Same goes for the next two recharge levels. $60 buys you 500 minutes, 200TXT and 300MB and finally you take a major leap to $90 with 1000 minutes, 300 TXT and 500MB. The $60 and $90 recharge levels are way over priced for my liking particularly with only 30 days to use the credit. There are many unlimited offers with much more value.
On the international side of things, the Saver plans come with great discounts on call rates to about 50 countries. These are discounted against the standard rates offered for these destinations by LycaMobile.
In all an interesting move by Lyca. The lower end offers are attractive and I have already fielded several emails regarding what options customers have and how the recharge process works. Lyca should invest some time in better and clearer communication or risk losing customers to the likes of Aldi. BTW the Aldi Mobile sim card I ordered 3 weeks ago is still MIA, no where to be found.