Kiss expensive mobile rates in Australia goodbye ?

[Hulkster]

I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper than
what mobile phone companies charge.

A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats fine,
however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
wondering how people would be able to contact me.

Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the pocket
pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me or
do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?

Is there another way to do it ? Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Adam
Adam_Slattery@hotmail.com

[Charlie Wong]

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 13:01:30 GMT, "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:

>I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
>minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper than
>what mobile phone companies charge.

You are wrong about the rate to Australian mobile numbers. See
<http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/all_rates.html?currency=AUD>

[Hulkster]

Australia AUD 0.030 AUD 0.034


Looks like 3 cents to me

"Charlie Wong" <willwasteyou@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:q55lt053r8rejjqio9eotel5hblvcugpmt@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 13:01:30 GMT, "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:
>
> >I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents
a
> >minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
than
> >what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> You are wrong about the rate to Australian mobile numbers. See
> <http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/all_rates.html?currency=AUD>

[Michael]

"Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote in message
news:KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
> minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
than
> what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats
fine,
> however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>
> Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the
pocket
> pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me
or
> do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?

Just convert your postpaid service to a prepaid service. Easy
Keep same number

[Matthew Smith]

In article <KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
"Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:

> I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
> minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper than
> what mobile phone companies charge.

Call rates to Australian mobiles on Skype are more than call rates to
Australian landlines.

> A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats fine,
> however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>
> Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the pocket
> pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me or
> do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?

So you want to buy a Pocket PC phone and then get a prepaid SIM. How
much extra is it going to cost you to have the Pocket PC phone? How many
calls do you have to make until the phone has been covered by the
savings?

[Hulkster]

Well im coming to the end of a 2 year contract for a shitbox nokia camera
phone on a $60 a month plan.
2 years of that is $1440 and then there are extra calls over the $60 a month
to add.
To buy a pocket pc EVDO outright is $1350 (and I get a pc and a phone in 1),
then a cheap pre paid sim so people can ring me, and prob $30 a month for
telstra CDMA coverage (10 hours).
Seems a cheaper option to me...


"Matthew Smith" <matty_d@macxxx.com> wrote in message
news:matty_d-6F2D6C.00254705012005@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> In article <KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
> "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:
>
> > I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents
a
> > minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
than
> > what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> Call rates to Australian mobiles on Skype are more than call rates to
> Australian landlines.
>
> > A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> > i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats
fine,
> > however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> > wondering how people would be able to contact me.
> >
> > Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the
pocket
> > pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me
or
> > do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>
> So you want to buy a Pocket PC phone and then get a prepaid SIM. How
> much extra is it going to cost you to have the Pocket PC phone? How many
> calls do you have to make until the phone has been covered by the
> savings?

[Charlie Wong]

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 13:17:26 GMT, "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:

> Australia AUD 0.030 AUD 0.034
>
>
>Looks like 3 cents to me

Australia AUD 0.030 AUD 0.034
Australia - Mobile AUD 0.288 AUD 0.332

[kubalister]

Hulkster wrote:
> Well im coming to the end of a 2 year contract for a shitbox nokia camera
> phone on a $60 a month plan.
> 2 years of that is $1440 and then there are extra calls over the $60 a month
> to add.
> To buy a pocket pc EVDO outright is $1350 (and I get a pc and a phone in 1),
> then a cheap pre paid sim so people can ring me, and prob $30 a month for
> telstra CDMA coverage (10 hours).
> Seems a cheaper option to me...

I'm assuming you're referring to the iMate PDA2K EVDO handset. That
device is a cdma/1xRTT/EVDO device and as such does NOT use a sim like
GSM network phones.
Additionally you COULD run the device off a Telstra pre-paid service
plan BUT you won't have access to the internet via 1xRTT/EV-DO (only
circuit switched data access at 14.4kbps). The telstra.pcpack and
telstra.datapack domains are only accessible from a post-paid plan.
You'll also discover that even with a post paid plan using 1xRTT or EVDO
from the PDA that the latency of the mobile data network will cause
severe problems with any VoIP connection from the PDA. Telstra's mobile
data network is NOT optimised for minimal latency.

>
>
> "Matthew Smith" <matty_d@macxxx.com> wrote in message
> news:matty_d-6F2D6C.00254705012005@duster.adelaide.on.net...
>
>>In article <KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
>> "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents
>
> a
>
>>>minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
>
> than
>
>>>what mobile phone companies charge.
>>
>>Call rates to Australian mobiles on Skype are more than call rates to
>>Australian landlines.
>>
>>
>>>A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
>>>i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats
>
> fine,
>
>>>however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
>>>wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>>>
>>>Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the
>
> pocket
>
>>>pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me
>
> or
>
>>>do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>>
>>So you want to buy a Pocket PC phone and then get a prepaid SIM. How
>>much extra is it going to cost you to have the Pocket PC phone? How many
>>calls do you have to make until the phone has been covered by the
>>savings?
>
>
>

[kubalister]

Hulkster wrote:
> I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
> minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper than
> what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats fine,
> however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> wondering how people would be able to contact me.

The Skype software for pocket PC is principally designed for use with
high speed low latency networks like WiFi. If you use it with GPRS or
1xRTT you'll have very poor call quality.

> Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the pocket
> pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me or
> do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>
> Is there another way to do it ? Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Adam
> Adam_Slattery@hotmail.com
>
>

[A User]

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 13:01:30 GMT, "Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote:

>I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
>minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper than
>what mobile phone companies charge.
>
>A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
>i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats fine,
>however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
>wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>
>Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the pocket
>pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me or
>do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>
>Is there another way to do it ? Any suggestions would be greatly
>appreciated.
>
>Adam
>Adam_Slattery@hotmail.com
>

Try www.sipphone.com standards compliant VOIP, not like SKYPE and free
to all Australian landlines at the moment.

Just a happy customer.

[Michael]

"Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote in message
news:GHwCd.103480$K7.25702@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Australia AUD 0.030 AUD 0.034
>
> Looks like 3 cents to me

Trying looking at the line under it which says "Australia (mobile)" and its
something like 22c per minute

[Whytoi]

In article <8v1mt09mp3kkk7dqbsaebjcp0emsc5hdfd@4ax.com>, A User
<serge-newnew2715@mailblocks.com> wrote:

> Try www.sipphone.com standards compliant VOIP, not like SKYPE and free
> to all Australian landlines at the moment.

The caveat... With major limits. 5mins/day if you've credited US$20 in
your account. Otherwise it's 1min call for a combined 5mins/day max.
Not practical for most.

--

[A User]

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 01:58:45 GMT, Whytoi <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote:

>In article <8v1mt09mp3kkk7dqbsaebjcp0emsc5hdfd@4ax.com>, A User
><serge-newnew2715@mailblocks.com> wrote:
>
>> Try www.sipphone.com standards compliant VOIP, not like SKYPE and free
>> to all Australian landlines at the moment.
>
>The caveat... With major limits. 5mins/day if you've credited US$20 in
>your account. Otherwise it's 1min call for a combined 5mins/day max.
>Not practical for most.

That would not be worth it if it was 5 minutes.

But it's acutally free http://sipphone.com/5free1/

Been that way for about a month.

"Free calls to Australian landlines

Now use your SIPphone to make free unlimited calls to Australian
landline (PSTN) phones. If you have SIP Minutes dial 051 and then the
Australian number. Like this: 051-61-2-9245-XXXX

* For a limited time
* SIPphone reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any
time"

[Whytoi]

In article <jc6nt0dcf0vr9847gn1jnvsruekj3iojcn@4ax.com>, A User
<serge-newnew2715@mailblocks.com> wrote:

> That would not be worth it if it was 5 minutes.
>
> But it's acutally free http://sipphone.com/5free1/
>
> Been that way for about a month.
>
> "Free calls to Australian landlines
>
> Now use your SIPphone to make free unlimited calls to Australian
> landline (PSTN) phones. If you have SIP Minutes dial 051 and then the
> Australian number. Like this: 051-61-2-9245-XXXX
>
> * For a limited time
> * SIPphone reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any
> time"

There's some confusion on the definition of "unlimited". Their reps in
their forum did not interpret the way you did. So be careful what you
decide.

--

[Daniel Juhn]

you have to pay gprs charges too...
well thats without reading the post carefully at all...

"Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote in message
news:KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
> minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
> than
> what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats
> fine,
> however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>
> Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the
> pocket
> pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me
> or
> do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>
> Is there another way to do it ? Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Adam
> Adam_Slattery@hotmail.com
>
>

[The Family]

Sounds complicated and won't work too well unless you're using broadband.

A further problem: Skype doesn't have servers in Australia and is prone to
considerable latency.

A further problem: Skype charges around 30c/min to call an Aus mobile, not
3c. I do agree, however, that Skype's price to Aus landlines is amongst the
best in the VoIP consumer space. But beware the latency issue.


"Hulkster" <Youwish@home.com> wrote in message
news:KswCd.103466$K7.40771@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I have downloaded and installed the Skype software. It only costs 3cents a
> minute to call a mobile or landline anywhere in Australia. ALOT cheaper
> than
> what mobile phone companies charge.
>
> A question I have though is if I purchase a pocket PC phone (probably
> i-mate) and install the skype software and ring people using it thats
> fine,
> however my 2 year contract is up with telstra mobile shortly and I was
> wondering how people would be able to contact me.
>
> Would it be as simple as buying a pre-paid sim and putting it in the
> pocket
> pc. If it is that easy, am I able to take my mobile phone number with me
> or
> do I get any old number on a pre paid card ?
>
> Is there another way to do it ? Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Adam
> Adam_Slattery@hotmail.com
>
>

[hairydog@despammed.com]

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 02:11:43 +1030, "The Family"
<someone@somewhere.com> wrote:

>A further problem: Skype doesn't have servers in Australia and is prone to
>considerable latency.

I don't think that calls go through servers on Skype. It uses p2p
techniques, with p2p providing distributed servers as "directory
enquiries", AFAIK.



--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!

[A User]

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:00:18 +0000, hairydog@despammed.com wrote:

>On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 02:11:43 +1030, "The Family"
><someone@somewhere.com> wrote:
>
>>A further problem: Skype doesn't have servers in Australia and is prone to
>>considerable latency.
>
>I don't think that calls go through servers on Skype. It uses p2p
>techniques, with p2p providing distributed servers as "directory
>enquiries", AFAIK.

It goes through servers for connection to PSTN. It's P2P for Skype to
Skype calls.

And people mislable it as VOIP, it's not standards based, ir's
proprietary.

[hairydog@despammed.com]

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 06:57:35 +1000, A User
<serge-newnew2715@mailblocks.com > wrote:

>It goes through servers for connection to PSTN. It's P2P for Skype to
>Skype calls.

True, but as 18866 is cheaper than SkypeOut, and SkypeOut is not very
good, I'm not interested. Particularly in the absence of SkypeIn.

I suspect that the Skype gateway is in Holland, so calls to and from
Aus may have a fair bit of latency whatever: that's quite a few
thousand miles.

>And people mislable it as VOIP, it's not standards based, ir's
>proprietary.

It is VOIP. That's not mislabelling. It's just not SIP VOIP. Skype is
wonderful: good quality over low bandwidth, a doddle to install, even
behind a firewall. Even my Mum could do it - if she had a computer.

It seems to be a better protocol than SIP, but as you say, it is not
"standard", and because Skype won't let others use the protocol for
free (if at all), it's a dead end.

The future is VOIP, but SIP, probably using PCN G771

It's a pity, but unless Skype open up their protocol, it's dead in the
long term. Remember Betamax? That was technically better too, but it
became "non-standard" and VHS won.


--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!

[Michael]

"Simon Templar" <usenet@vk3xem.net> wrote in message
news:41dc0c5b$1_3@news.melbourne.pipenetworks.com. ..
> Daniel Juhn wrote:
> > you have to pay gprs charges too...
> > well thats without reading the post carefully at all...
> >
>
> Get a Vodafone pre-paid ($2 at numerous outlets) and hammer GPRS as much
> as you want without any credit!


Hmmm must get one of those.
Big W (Woolies) are much more careful now, there advertising of the product
indicates now that you must buy a recharge with it.

hmmm