Mobile Phones
Mobile phones have become an integral part of many Australians life. Although seniors have long been ignored with this technology, things are now changing. Mobile phones are being created specifically to target senior users. Mobile phones can give you a link to anyone no matter where you are. Many mobile phones can now also, take photos, record sound, record videos, play games, watch tv, the list is almost endless.
Also endless are the options for your mobile. Below are some links that will help you understand these options.
- Wikipedia.org. An online encyclopaedia that lists all the common mobile phone terms, amongst other things. A great starter site.
Go there
- phonechoice.com.au. A fatastic website that includes a Bill Calculator that shows the plan that is right for you based on your usages.
Go there
- Reviewcentre. Read reviews about the latest mobile phones.
Go there
- Australian Communications and Media Authority. Lists all Australian mobile telephone companies, and links to their websites.
Go there
Mobile phone plans explained
Choosing the wrong mobile phone plan can be a costly error but working your way through the myriad of information available is almost impossible as About Seniors subscriber, Brian, has found.
Q. Brian
I have an 80 year old friend who has a problem evaluating which mobile telephone company is the best deal for him. He presently has a “use only”
account with Optus which he pays at the end of a month. This industry is a minefield for everybody but especially for the aged as it is so complex. Is there a website in existence that can give clarification in this matter?
Thank you
Your mobile phone plan may come with $100 bonus minutes, but it may amount for less than $20 on another network!
The mobile phone industry in Australia is increasing rapidly with thousands of mobile phone plans on offer, but what do they all mean?
I will detail two different plans for SIM only (you already have your own phone) on offer and compare what they really mean.
Three $29 Cap
Plan Cost per month: $29
Included Monthly Value: $150
SMS (text messages) – $0.25 per message
MMS (multimedia messages) - $0.75 per message
PXT (picture messages) - $0.75 per message
Mobile Phone calls – $0.30 flagfall, $0.40 per 30 seconds
National Phone calls – $0.30 flagfall, $0.40 per 30 seconds
Video Phone calls – $0.30 flagfall, $0.50 per 30 seconds
Vodafone $29 Cap
Plan Cost per month: $29
Included Monthly Value: $150
SMS – $0.25 per message
MMS - $0.75 per message
PXT - $0.50 per message
Mobile Phone calls – $0.35 flagfall, $0.42 per 30 seconds
National Phone calls – $0.35 flagfall, $0.42 per 30 seconds
Video Phone calls – $0.35 flagfall, $0.63 per call
As you can see, Vodafones flagfall fees are $0.05 more per phone call and $0.02 per 30 seconds than the Three deal. SMS and MMS prices are the same. If making phone calls and sending SMS messages are all you need, then the Three $29 cap would be better value for you, though if you make Video phone calls, the Vodafone $29 Cap offers a fixed rate on all Video Phone calls at $0.63 per call which seems quite reasonable, and is a far better price than the Three $29 Cap’s $0.50 per 30 seconds.
You can find a wide range of deals with or without phones included at YouCompare.
Gift of communication
About Seniors subscriber, Ellie, would like to get her mother, who has trouble with technology and limited vision, a mobile phone as a Mother’s Day gift.
There are hundreds of phones available on the market, with a very limited number of phones dedicated to the seniors market. With this in mind, looking on sites such as ebay are a great idea because the old style phones come with large, easy to use buttons such as the Nokia 5110 for example which could set you back anywhere from $5 - $25 depending on condition, quite a steal compared to splashing out on a new phone.
Having worked with someone with vision problems for over three years, I found that flip phones are extremely helpful as the person does not have to click the accept call button, only open the phone to answer the call.
While there are many phones that would suit this situation, there are a few worth taking a look at:
Samsung M300
Nokia 6085
Sony ericsson Z320i
Nokia 5110
Compare and save on Broadband and Phone plans
Have you noticed your phone bill slowly rising over the last couple of months without any explanation? It may be time to look around at the different deals to be snatched up in these tough times!
AboutSeniors have provided you with two options under each category to compare different plans from different service providers!
Home phone plans
You get the best value for money with your home phone plan when you “bundle” your home phone and broadband connection together, so if this is an option, consider it. If you don’t want a bundle package, then choose your landline package carefully and read the fine print, but most importantly, think of how you make your phone calls, as there are many packages which charge for line rental but offer free national and local calls but charge large amounts for call to mobiles.
Phonechoice
Youcompare
Mobile phone plans
There are many different plans out there, so when choosing make sure you look closely at the fine print as there are many caps which offer $300 of credit for a low price of $49.95, compared to a plan which charges $49.95 per month for that amount of credit. The difference between many of these plans are the rates charged for calls and sms messages.
Phonechoice
Youcompare
Broadband internet plans
When choosing a broadband plan, it is best to “over estimate” your internet usage than under estimate as it may cost you A LOT more in the long run. Optus is one of the few companies to offer deals that will not cost you anything more than what you pay if you go over your monthly download limit, instead they reduce your internet speed to that of a dial-up modem, which may be an option that suits you better.
Phonechoice
Youcompare
iPhone
The new 3G iPhone from Apple has had a extremely successful launch in Australia and around the world. When you see men, women and children of all ages, huddled outside a dealer being supplied with only a certain number of phones each day, hoping it is their day (not just the opening day!), then you realise, there must be something special about this iPhone.
Key Features:
· Mapping and Navigation
· Connect to the internet and email
· iPod inside
· 2 mega pixel camera
· Bluetooth enabled
· Louder speakers than previous versions
· Smart contact search feature
The mapping and navigation system of the iPhone are practical and serve the purpose of giving you a general idea of how to get from your current location (the phone knows where you are!) to where you want to be. Unfortunately, it does not show you the exact route and give voice navigation however, it is still a valuable tool.
The two main features of the iPhone, are access to the internet and email, and what we like to call, the “iPod” inside. The iPhone navigates the internet and email fairly efficiently, with not too many dramas in the larger sense and does everything that it has promised, with a little to be desired for the future. The music playing “iPod” section of the phone is quite similar in design to a standard iPod and is quite easy to use.
While the iPhone may look complex, it is fairly easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. We must remember with every new product released on the market, they cannot accommodate everything we (or the critics)may have hoped for. Click the following link to view an article, Top 10 reasons to hate the iPhone 3G, from APCmag.
To view more information on the new iPhone 3G from Apple, and to find the nearest stocking locations, visit Apple.
Senior friendly phone
Finding a senior friendly phone is a huge ask, though it’s the one piece of technology that seniors want – and say they need. Telstra has continued its commitment to making technology more accessible to the seniors’ market and come to the rescue with the Samsung A412, the most senior friendly phone on the market.
The new flip-top Samsung A412 has slightly raised buttons, much larger than other mobile phones. As users look at the screen on the mobile, and dial, the numbers come up in large, easy-to-read font. It’s a simple and straight forward solution for people who are new to technology but includes features such as a camera (for sharing images of grandchildren, for example) and text messaging.
With the Samsung A412 on a Telstra package there’s no need to worry about coverage, as it’s a ‘blue tick’ phone – recommended for rural hand-held reception on the Next G Network. It’s available for $0 upfront on a $20 monthly plan, over 24 months, and is designed for people who need the piece of mind of having a phone for emergencies but don’t make large numbers of calls. The Samsung A412 can also be purchased outright for between $439–$499. Note: minimum cost is $480 plus usage. Find out more
