Comments on: ExpressCard for data + Virgin postpaid for the cheapest mobile data option? http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option A permanent record for what's interesting today - this is my live journal Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:06:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: wired http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128698 wired Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128698 don't forget - 3's roaming charge is $1.65/MB. If you're not in a 3 coverage area, you hop onto telstra. If you don't notice that you're roaming or if there's an ungraceful handoff, you'll be slugged. Virgin's plans are meant for use with your phone only - the T&Cs state that you're not allowed to hook it up to a computer. 300MB for $5 is an absolute bargain if you use it the way you're meant to - with your phone! BTW if you pretend you own a supported (not all are supported) phone, you can get 3 to bolt on an X-Series plan to your account. $20/500MB, $30 for 1GB, $40 for 2GB. It also comes with Skype minutes. Of course, watch those roaming charges! don’t forget - 3’s roaming charge is $1.65/MB. If you’re not in a 3 coverage area, you hop onto telstra. If you don’t notice that you’re roaming or if there’s an ungraceful handoff, you’ll be slugged.

Virgin’s plans are meant for use with your phone only - the T&Cs state that you’re not allowed to hook it up to a computer. 300MB for $5 is an absolute bargain if you use it the way you’re meant to - with your phone!

BTW if you pretend you own a supported (not all are supported) phone, you can get 3 to bolt on an X-Series plan to your account. $20/500MB, $30 for 1GB, $40 for 2GB. It also comes with Skype minutes.

Of course, watch those roaming charges!

]]> By: byte http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128556 byte Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:13:42 +0000 http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128556 Aha, thanks for that. No usage meter would be a real bummer. Its hard to keep track of data use then. Looking at further research, it seems 3's 1GB plan might actually work out to be the cheapest option. $49/month, with excess charges by the megabyte not kilobyte. Vodafone is charging $59 for the same deal. So, I can't get 300mb/$10/month with just a SIM deal. Darn. No virgin for me then. (ironic, and unrelated. Virgin Mobile prepaid was my first ever foray into a mobile phone...) Aha, thanks for that. No usage meter would be a real bummer. Its hard to keep track of data use then.

Looking at further research, it seems 3’s 1GB plan might actually work out to be the cheapest option. $49/month, with excess charges by the megabyte not kilobyte. Vodafone is charging $59 for the same deal.

So, I can’t get 300mb/$10/month with just a SIM deal. Darn. No virgin for me then.

(ironic, and unrelated. Virgin Mobile prepaid was my first ever foray into a mobile phone…)

]]> By: Simon Rumble http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128555 Simon Rumble Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:54:27 +0000 http://www.bytebot.net/blog/archives/2007/06/09/expresscard-for-data-virgin-postpaid-for-the-cheapest-mobile-data-option#comment-128555 Two things you need to know: the pre-paid offer doesn't allow GPRS Internet access. They don't actually SAY this anywhere on their site. You can only get to their walled garden's crap. Second thing is their excess data rates are incredibly extortionate. This is specifically to stop people doing what you're proposing. There's no usage meter so this could really sting you! Two things you need to know: the pre-paid offer doesn’t allow GPRS Internet access. They don’t actually SAY this anywhere on their site. You can only get to their walled garden’s crap.

Second thing is their excess data rates are incredibly extortionate. This is specifically to stop people doing what you’re proposing. There’s no usage meter so this could really sting you!

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