Getting new phone, Virgin Mobile, Any good?

[MikesVT]

Ok. So I saw this phone I really want, so, I'm getting it haha.
Its the Samsung D900, 3mp camera and a whole heap of other crap I'll never use but really really want!
There are three ways I can get this phone, and I'm really undecided and need some help.

(In reference to the caps below, I always make the most use out of them, last bill was $450)

1. $79 cap ($500 worth of calls/msgs) from optus, plus $27 per month for the phone. Phone ends up costing $600 ontop of what I pay for usage.

2. Buy phone from e-bay. The one I'm thinking of is $460 (?) and just stick my current sim (which is on the $79 cap with optus) into it. If I do this, I can get another new phone on the same plan I'm on at the moment for free (in effect getting another phone for free).

3. $65 cap ($350 worth of calls/msgs) from Virgin Mobile, plus $15 per month for the phone. Phone works out to cost $360 ontop of usage.

I'm just wondering... good idea to get a phone of e-bay or stay away?
Also, is Virgin Mobile any good? Coverage wise... I don't want to be getting cut out and poor reception.
And last but not least, which of the three otpions would you choose.

Hoping to get this phone before Christmas or Immediatly after.

[Mr_Slim]

I'm with Vodafone ($79 cap - $500 calls) and on that deal i got my phone for free (Sony Erricson W800i with 3.2mp camera, 512mb memory) and it is pretty great. Vodafone is a good network.

Previously i was on Optus and it was shit. My dad was on Telstra and it was the best of them all, but we got a better deal with Vodafone so he switched.

Whatever you do, don't go on 3. My girlfriend is on 3 and it is the worst service of all time. No joke, i am lucky if a call even goes through, and she lives in Metro Sydney. It is deadset terrible. msg's don't go through, calls can't connect etc. Despite what Richie Benaud says, this summer it's NOT good to be 3!

My advice - head down to your local Vodafone or Telstra Shop. They will usually offer a bundle with a $79 cap inc. a phone. Much better than eBay cuz you get a warranty, and phones f\_/ck up all the time and you don't wanna lose your money that easy

[bezz]

if you're already with optus go to an optus shop and say you're thinking of moving to a different carrier with your new plan, unless they offer you a phone for free on said cap. Trust me it works!

[Mr_Slim]

Hey Bezz i love your avatar.

I'll be honest, i stole the picture and emailed it to my friends. Unfortunately none of them got the joke and i was very disappointed. I thought it was hell funny

[mattman]

Yep optus will do deals to keep you on.

My old phone "broke" (basically I kept dropping it til it wouldnt stay on any longer than 5 seconds)... I think I had about 7 months left on contract and it would have cost me $360 to break the contract, but they just waived it if i signed up with them for another 24 months and yep, got a new phone too..

So definitely ask

[MikesVT]

A lady from optus called me up today and I said I'm with optus and would love to stay but the phone I want is 27 ontop of the lpan, is there anything you can do, she had a look at some stuff and said she couldnt.

The way it stands now.
Buying phone off ebay for $457, brand new in box with 1 year warrenty on Friday (very exciting).
Then I'll wait till the current contract i'm on runs out, Sign up with optus again, exact same contract and with the same number and get another free phone which I can just give to someone else or sell or keep as a back up.

Virgin mobile plan would only work out to $12 a month cheaper if I don't go over the cap which I would, so I guess thats out of the question. Also at vodafone they don't have the phone I want. I think it just came out or something because only a few stores have it.

[andyman]

coverage wise with virgin you wouldn't have a problem as it runs off the optus network, virgin mobile is 25 or 30% owned by optus if you didnt know

[MikesVT]

I got the phone tonight
Its so cool.
I'm still on my old optus plan, will renew the contract in feb and get another free phone

[TheForgotten]

I wouldn't bother getting another contract, in june next year, all phone providers other than telstra will cease to function. i had a convo with an "accosiate" and telstra aren't letting any other provider use the 3g network, so when they switch CDMA and GSM networks off, everyone will come running to telstra. total monopoly

[jacko]

I wouldn't bother getting another contract, in june next year, all phone providers other than telstra will cease to function. i had a convo with an "accosiate" and telstra aren't letting any other provider use the 3g network, so when they switch CDMA and GSM networks off, everyone will come running to telstra. total monopoly

I highly doubt this is true... not every mobile service provider runs off telstra's network. maybe some of the smaller companies that use telstra, but definitely not every network.

[Thomas1]

I wouldn't bother getting another contract, in june next year, all phone providers other than telstra will cease to function. i had a convo with an "accosiate" and telstra aren't letting any other provider use the 3g network, so when they switch CDMA and GSM networks off, everyone will come running to telstra. total monopoly

Hmmm........you sure you got your facts right? Sounds a bit suss to me

[R0d]

Hmmm........you sure you got your facts right? Sounds a bit suss to me

dont you just enjoy reading post by people claiming to know 'top secret' information....

[TheForgotten]

dont you just enjoy reading post by people claiming to know 'top secret' information....

if it was top secret information, why would I be told??? he wasn't my mate, barely knew the guy and he babbled this info

[Infus10n]

if it was top secret information, why would I be told??? he wasn't my mate, barely knew the guy and he babbled this info

exactly. babbled bullshit

[R Photon]

i work at telstra and they are not switching the gsm network off.

also telstra aren't switching off the cdma network in june 07 either its going to be feb 08.

telstra doesn't completely own the 3g network they have a joint 50/50 partnership with 3

by the way the 3 g network is run off the gsm network!

haha you are really gullible

[TheForgotten]

thanks for that... but you know what? I don't have a teltra phone, and it was one of your co-workers who spread this. it may well be BS, but I only passed on info given to me

[MikesVT]

Meh... I suppose I have to get my MMS and WAP services set up by optus??

I cant send or recieve MMS but instead of telling me I cant it just says 'retrieving' and then stops. Now I have the little G at the top (you know when you're recieving an MMS). I've stopped and deleted the messages but the G is still there. I've turned the phone on and off as well. How do I get that G to go away (for anyone with my phone, or any Samsung)

[R Photon]

to get rid of that g...try turning it off taking the battery and sim card out and turning it back on...if that doesn't work call optus....

but i can't see why your mms wouldn't be working...i got a N73 yesterday through optus after upgrading from pre to post 49 cap and got a new 3g sim n shit and my mms works..

[Bax]

If your Sim has never been setup for it it probably won't be there, but most phones seem to have it built in these days I thought.

I came in I was going to advise you not to get a samsung, I just hope the menu and layout is better then the d600 - was a very disappointing choice on my behalf.

I'd say buy it outright, try and stay away from contracts, get on a prepaid plan or a non fixed contract and go from there.

eBay is pretty good for buying phones too buy the way

[andyman]

the little g means u r connected to gprs (internet) if u didnt know, have you registered with optus zoo? register with that on the net than you can go to a set up phone options and they can send you all of the settings, just ask if u need a hand

[MikesVT]

Theres my phone
Sorry bout the pic, its pretty crappy, I tried to cover the flash with a cloth that was kinda yellow so thats whats with the colour. I tried my finger but it turned out red (kinda cool, but freaky at the same time) haha

[DavidPartay]

Ahh, don't go with Virgin

My fiance signed up for their cap plan, they screwed her over by charging her for calls as though it was a normal plan (and overcharged her at that) and then refused to fix things, saying 'we're right, you're wrong, keep giving us your money'.

So we ditched them and she's now running the $49 maxi-cap with Vodafone, gets you $230 credit each month. Same as me.