Changing phone carriers

[DUK13Y]

Hey guys and gals. I want to upgrade my phone and get the LG KU990 Viewty on Virgins $20 plan.

I'm currently with optus and linked into my parents business plan which means we get a slightly lower price or something, so if I switch we all have to switch.

This shouldn't be a problem as long as we can keep our existing numbers for business reasons. I've read up a bit on porting your number but not 100% on the matter.

Is it possible to switch carriers to a different plan and keep the same number? If so how can I go about it?

[andyman]

why not leave your parents with optus and you change yours to virgin, im sure not having your phone on the plan would that much more expensive

[DUK13Y]

That's what I want to do but my parents are adamant about me staying with optus because we get free calls and texts to each other too. Having said that, if we do call each other it's for less than 2mins a call and the virgin $20 plan comes with $50 a month which I will never fully use anyway.

Parents are being very stubborn atm. All I need to know right now is if I can keep the numbers.

[andyman]

so just get the lg phone on optus?

[OzJD]

Yes, MNP (Mobile Number Porting) is available to all carriers, i'm pretty sure it's a requirement now.

You might want to note, that since Virgin runs under optus, that sometimes optus screws up on the porting (it may take longer than 24 hours)... but yes it's possible to do MNP

You'll be asked when you sign up if you want to port an existing number by the way, make sure you say yes. Later on it might not be possible! oh, and ask about if they have any special offers, such as credit / discounts if you port over to them
Don't tell them you want to join and get that phone, go in to a store, and get them to do the talking... let them try and push you into it (that way you're more likely to get special offers)

[DUK13Y]

so just get the lg phone on optus?

Looked into that. The plan they have with it is the $49 plan so that's not an option.

Yes, MNP (Mobile Number Porting) is available to all carriers, i'm pretty sure it's a requirement now.

You might want to note, that since Virgin runs under optus, that sometimes optus screws up on the porting (it may take longer than 24 hours)... but yes it's possible to do MNP

You'll be asked when you sign up if you want to port an existing number by the way, make sure you say yes. Later on it might not be possible! oh, and ask about if they have any special offers, such as credit / discounts if you port over to them
Don't tell them you want to join and get that phone, go in to a store, and get them to do the talking... let them try and push you into it (that way you're more likely to get special offers)

Thanks for that. Very helpful. So i just say that i'm looking to get a new phone and sorta lean them into the phone i want and then try to get some deals?

After that I should just ask to keep my existing number and it shouldn't be a problem? Just take up to a day to get it swapped?

[OzJD]

Sorry for the late reply.
A lot of companies will REWARD you for bringing your number to them, but you just summed up what you should do perfectly.

[danja]

I know 3 used to offer free call from any 3 mobile to another, and as far as I know they still offer it.

Question is though, why do you want to switch from Optus? Do you just want to save some money? If so what is your current monthly spend, and how much do you use the phone? You might already be getting a good deal as it is - no point switching just for the sake of it, unless you're going to save some money.

[nick3110]

firstly i'd like to point out the viewty has some issues, my mum and sister have one and no matter where they are it drops out.. very dodgy phone.. (also not a fan of touch screen)

but yeh u can switch your number..

and how do u not spend $50 a month? lol..

[DUK13Y]

Well i did the switch a while ago and find the phone pretty good so far. No complaints so far. The reason I swtiched was because my contract with optus had been paid out so I thought I might as well get a new phone rather than just renewing my plan.

Numbers swapped over after about a week as the optus and telechoice guys kept passing the buck on who's meant to do it. We got a bluetooth kit and some cases with the deal after some haggling too.

So overall pretty happy with it. So far at least.

[Calaber]

I had a Viewty until I lost it recently. It was a good phone except for the stupid method of scrolling down, where you had to use the control on the reverse side of the handset. It took some getting used to.

If you haven't already done it, make sure you have a screen protector on it - that big screen can get scratched pretty easily.

[andyman]

i swapped from pre paid to a LG Renoir on optus 49 cap,


holy shit this phone is unreal, i am totally amazed,

[DUK13Y]

I had a Viewty until I lost it recently. It was a good phone except for the stupid method of scrolling down, where you had to use the control on the reverse side of the handset. It took some getting used to.

If you haven't already done it, make sure you have a screen protector on it - that big screen can get scratched pretty easily.

You can scroll by just dragging your finger down like the iPhone but is no where near as intuitive. Screen protector came with it and seems to do the job.

[DUK13Y]

i swapped from pre paid to a LG Renoir on optus 49 cap,


holy shit this phone is unreal, i am totally amazed,

I wanted that but i'm pretty tight so I just stuck with my $20 plan. Phone looked so good though. The camera on that is better than my compact digital camera.

[Calaber]

You can scroll by just dragging your finger down like the iPhone but is no where near as intuitive. Screen protector came with it and seems to do the job.

With my fat fingers, screen scrolling never worked well. I have to say that I replaced the Viewty with another Viewty, replaced that one after four days with a third Viewty as the replacement was faulty, then replaced that one after three days because it was faulty too. The replacement was a Samsung, which went back after two weeks as it died.

Talk about shit phones! Neither Viewty would hold a charge past about ten hours despite being fully charged. (The one I lost was fine in that regard) The Samsung was a tradey's phone, (B2700) shock/dirt/dust resistant, but it died anyway.

No more LG or Samsung phones for me.

[andyman]

I wanted that but i'm pretty tight so I just stuck with my $20 plan. Phone looked so good though. The camera on that is better than my compact digital camera.

camera is v. good

heres a couple

[DUK13Y]

wow. that's a mile better than my sony camera. Should be getting a DSLR soon though