atw: Re: mobile phone service

Telstra has provided a very effective and reliable mobile service
for me for many years, since the days of the Motorola flip-brick
with the 4 or 8 hour battery and the extensible antenna.

They have by far the most comprehensive network.

From what I have heard from friends, 3 is rubbish unless all you
want to do is listen to all your missed calls on their message bank.
It's a case of "cute phone - get back to me when you have a network".

I'm on a really simple and, for me, effective Telstra phone plan.
40 bucks a month with 40 bucks of included calls.
(The 40 bucks point is where the standard call rate hits 33cents
for each 30 second block (or 66 cents a minute).
18 cents for each call of up to 5 minutes duration, between 8pm
and 8am weekdays, plus all day Sunday.

My bills rarely exceed 40 bucks due and I usually have up to
140 bucks worth of discounts due to the 5 minutes bit.

The trick - use it mainly for incoming calls.
(it's an incoming business work contacts phone, not a CB radio!)
Remember that it microwaves your head so keep the calls short, unless
you can turn around and go "ding" every minute, so that you know
when your brain is cooked. (Swap to the other ear every now and then!)

Use the landline for calling landlines and the mobile for calling mobiles
or you put yourself at a cost disadvantage.

Beware of "capped" plans, which usually run at a higher than usual
(even more extortionate) call rate.

Funny how we got so upset about timed local landline calls, then all
bought a mobile to be stung for even more.

If you want a long chat with someone go and see them or use a
landline.

Doesn't matter what network you are with, these things boil
your brain, so use them sparingly, rather than finding the
cheapest way to turn your head into a boiled pudding, while
you yack to your mates.

...and turn them off while driving / crossing the road, or the
general health issues will be the least of your worries.

Used to be that talking to yourself was the first sign of
madness - now it's the first sign of Bluetooth.

My 2 cents worth for a Friday.

Cheers,

Micky G.
www.writeideas.com.au
-- 


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