seahappy08 Posted December 28, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Our contract mobile phone is very expensive and we want to send texts. We will spend a few days in Singapore then go on to Australia and New Zealand. Would it be best to buy a cheap phone in Singapore or would it be better to buy at the airport in Australia. We need to phone when we arrive to confirm our transport? We would also like to text home to England. Thanks for any help. Lynda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuldalai Posted December 29, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 29, 2013 If you have a GSM phone just go to Telstra Shop on arrival in Australia and buy a small plan, and they will put a new mini SIM card in your phone whilst you are in Australia. Alternatively arrange with your UK provider to get Overseas Roaming on your existing phone as an extension of your existing plan . (GSM mobile phones work worldwide except for the USA, but there is limited GSM coverage in big US cities these days.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgina1 Posted December 29, 2013 #3 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Hi, Do not know which Mobile Network you use but Three have a scheme for their Pay Monthly customers called 'Feel at Home'. This allows you to use your Packaged minutes/texts and data in some countries to call back to the UK, Australia is one of these countries. With data you can use it to SKYPE anywhere, free Skype to Skype or for very little to non Skype numbers. If your landline is with BT then you could download an app; BT SmartTalk to your Smart Phone which allows you over WiFi to use your BT packaged minutes overseas back to UK. If you have the International add on then you could phone to overseas numbers as if you were phoning from your own living room! Failing these options then purchase a Pay as you Go SIM for the countries you are visiting. Hope this helps. Good Luck. Dave Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridatravelersforlife Posted January 1, 2014 #4 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Cell service in AUS is similar to the States, some carriers are better than others in various regions. During our trip last year, I had my LTE/ 4 band ATT Samsung Galaxy II phone with the Intl service plan, which was a waste of money as service was sporadic in areas outside of the big cities. We also had a Telstra sim card in my old HTC Google phone that was unlocked. It worked better in the rural areas. 4 bars where ATT had zero. Reflecting on the experience, I'd find a local cheap plan and discardable flip phone at a shop in the cities -not at the airport. Use a tablet or laptop and hook up to wifi wherever you are for your data needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBSmomof2 Posted January 18, 2014 #5 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Has anyone tried the Vodafone ?We are thinking of buying one in Sydney to use for our 3 week stay,but I can't find reviews to see how well it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karennella Posted January 20, 2014 #6 Share Posted January 20, 2014 We live on the outskirts of Sydney but even here Vodaphone and Optus are not very good. Unfortunately Telstra has the best all round coverage and the highest prices. I have an Aldi sim with Telstra 3G coverage; bought from Aldi of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBSmomof2 Posted January 20, 2014 #7 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Thanks for the info Karennella! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthwolf Posted January 21, 2014 #8 Share Posted January 21, 2014 will Telstra work on the ship while it's cruising the waters of South Australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30thbirthdaygirls Posted February 17, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Best to use wifi hot spots and make calls using skype in Singapore. You can not buy local phones even prepaid in Singapore unless you are a resident of Singapore, after sept 11 they upped the security and restricted this to only people with proof of residence can use local phones in Singapore. In Australia there are many providers that u can use but telstra has the best coverage especially in more remote areas. I'm a Singapore pr and Aussie citizen so I know what I'm talking about. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wastegirl Posted February 17, 2014 #10 Share Posted February 17, 2014 will Telstra work on the ship while it's cruising the waters of South Australia? Depends how close you are to the coast, you should have more luck once entering the gulf heading towards Adelaide itself as the area is more populated and there are towers closer to the shoreline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted February 18, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) Texts are usually cheap to send worldwide. It's phone calls and data that's expensive. If you do buy an Aussie sim you must show photo id. If you are sticking to cities then Optus is fine. Telstra has a better general coverage. As far the cruise goes, it really depends how close to shore you are. Edited February 18, 2014 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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