On Fri, 28 May 2004 19:58:03 -0700, "4000 psi"
wrote:

Different carriers have different policies for subscribers whose credits
have expired. With Vodafone you can no longer dial out or sms - but you
continue to receive calls and sms messages for a time!!

don't you get billed for both outgoing and incoming calls on a mobile ... if
you can still get calls for a time after charges have expired are these
incoming calls free?

do the mobile contracts include long distance service?


In Australia all incoming calls, mobile or fixed, are free. That is, as
long as you've paid for the basic service, there is no extra charge for
receiving calls.

It was quite a surprise (an unpleasant one) to find that wasn't the case
overseas.

On mobiles, it varies, but there is usually no difference between long
distance and local. It is more expensive to call overseas.

As I said earlier, it's complex. Check out the sites I mentioned. It
also depends on where you intend to go. There are some country areas
where GSM will not give coverage but CDMA does. There are vast areas
where the only coverage possible is satellite. So it also depends on how
critical instant communications are to you. If you intend wandering the
outback, sometimes a combination of CDMA and CB radio may be the more
inexpensive option, which is the way my mum does it in her motorhome. We
sometimes spent a week or two out of range in the caravan, then answered
a load of message bank queries on the mobile as soon as we got back to
civilization.

If you intend staying around Brisbane, GSM is fine but it will depend on
how long you intend being here and how much you will use the phone - for
outgoing only, incoming don't matter for cost. Some of the "cheap"
contracts are commitments for twelve or 24 months.

If you are only here for a short time, a pre-paid recharge card may be
best.

Cheers, Alan
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