Newsletter Issue – 52
2012 is barely two weeks old and already Savvytel and Crazy Johns have launched important changes to their prepaid mobile and sim only range.
With school now weeks away, we take a look at some options if you are looking for a good plan for a child’s phone and we conclude this issue with some tips and important reference sites when dealing with cyber-bullying.
SAVVYEXTREME REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
In our last issue for 2011 we covered the range of unlimited prepaid mobile plans on offer. It proved to be a bit of hit with our readers. Savvytel has launched their own unlimited mobile plan. I have classified it as a sim only plan on our site because it doesn’t have the exact features of a prepaid offer (namely you can spend more than the monthly amount). Nevertheless, it comes with no contract so you have the flexibility to stay or go as you please. For $38 per month you receive unlimited mobile and fixed line calls to any network, plus unlimited Txt, MMS and voicemail. With it you also receive a huge 4GB of data. This is a very competitive offer, equal to in many respects the popular Amaysim Unlimited offer. Compare all Unlimited Sim Only plans here.
Savvytel is giving one lucky reader a chance to win a free sim card and one month’s free unlimited Calls and Txt. That’s is right, free unlimited calls for a whole month. To enter, all you need to do is tell me why deserve to win it. Enter here!
CRAZY JOHNS FLAT CHAT
Crazy Johns have started the new year with a bang, extending the credit expiry of its lower recharge FlatChat vouchers to 90 days as well as adding unlimited talk to Crazy Johns mobiles and 500MB bonus data to each of its Flat Chat recharge offers. Crazy Johns Flat Chat offers 10c per minute calls with a 10c flagfall. So a 2 minute call will cost you just 30c. The lower recharge vouchers of $15 and $25 previously offered 30 and 60 days expiry respectively, these have now been extended to 90 days. Data was 3c/MB with no allowance included, it now sports 500MB (GPRS). Finally no free calls where available (it was that cheap to call them anyway), you can now call other Crazy Johns mobile users for free as much as you like.
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIALS
Earlier this week, I received an email from a visitor to our site who was after a phone and prepaid mobile plan for his 12 year old. I am sure there are plenty of people in the same situation wondering which way to go. These are the tips I gave regarding the phone and the plans:
- An unlocked phone will give you access to any prepaid mobile plan, but you will need to find one either online or via a tech retailer. Alternatively buy a prepaid phone from a Telco as well as a prepaid plan to go with it. If from a Telco, you will need to spend a minimum recharge amount (usually up to $100) in order to unlock it.
- If you truly think that your child is only going to make the occasional call or Txt, then head for a prepaid plan with a long expiry, this will ensure that your credit lasts and you aren’t recharging and potentially losing credit or accumulating credit that you will never use. Aim for a minimum of 90 days.
- The trade-off with prepaid is that you can either buy a prepaid plan which has a very low call/Txt costs eg 10c/min or a plan (Prepaid Cap Plan) which gives you quite a bit of call credit for your recharge. Which is better depends on your usage. If you will use the phone a lot and are prepared to recharge $30 (30 days), then a Cap Plan is probably better, if not, go for the cheaper rates. Cheaper rates is where I would suggest you start.
- Obviously network coverage is important. If you live in the metro areas of one of our capital cities then they should all work fine. If you are in a semi rural area then be sure to check the coverage maps on the provider’s website.
- If you are already on a plan (prepaid or not) with a particular provider who offers you free calls to others with the same provider, then this is probably the way to go, particularly if their prepaid plan range also offers this feature eg Virgin, gotalk or Vodafone, these plans offer some free calls to others also with them.
- Lastly, remember that with prepaid you don’t have a contract, so if you don’t like your original choice of plan, you can simply leave and go to another (ensure your phone is unlocked first).
- We have a range of great prepaid mobile plans for kids and their first phone, which you can compare.
STAMP OUT CYBER-BULLYING
Bullying these days has gone far beyond play ground teasing and pushing around. If you suspect your child has found themselves in a difficult situation, speak to them and their friends to get the facts then visit the school to ensure they know and will ACT. Don’t let them pass it off as a high school thing. By staying quiet the bullies will get away with it.
Make sure the children in question and their parents know you are doing something about it.
Here are some websites that might be of help:
- http://www.theline.gov.au/
- http://www.cybersmart.gov.au
- http://au.reachout.com/
- http://www.kidshelp.com.au/
- http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au
- Vodafone Blog also has worthwhile articles
PREPAIDPLANS GIVEAWAYS
A big thank you goes out to gotalk who have been very kind throughout 2011, and I am sure 2012.
gotalk Aussie Extra Giveaway
The winners of our three gotalk (award winning) Aussie Extra sim kits are Carol, Sharon and Helga. Kits should have already arrived to our lucky winners.
gotalk Global Travel Sim Giveaway
Our three gotalk Global Talk Travel Sim prizes where won by James, Jarryd and Glen. Here is a sample of one of the winning entries:
“I will take my gotalk Global Travel Sim with me to my discovery of Europe. I know that I will be covered with great coverage and great rates. This will make life so much better as I know will have money to drink large amounts of European Beer and not have to come home to a large bill or load my life savings onto my pre paid account just to make a phone call or send a text on my trip. The best part is I will be able to call my girl friend every day in France and tell her what stupid things I saw. The Sim will come in very handy.”
ONLINE POLL
This month our online poll looks at how you recharge your prepaid mobile plan, whether it is on your phone, via the provider’s website or some other website. We would love your vote! Vote Now!
Till next time.
Arthur K
