🚀 go-pugleaf

mick_patrick@my-deja.com wrote:
> 
> I'm moving to Australia for a year in a few weeks. I'll need a mobile
> there as soon as I arrive, but would like to get one that I could then
> continue to use in the UK on my return.
> 
> Since I need one immediately, with no credit background / bank account
> in Oz, I guess a pre-pay system is the way to go.

I presume you don`t want to use global roaming? Because of the expence.

> 
> Looking around, it seems that a lot of pre-pay phones these days are
> sim-locked (eg I can't take my current Cellnet Easylife Philips Diga
> out there - I'm giving it to my parents).
> 
> Can anyone advise me what the best option is:
> 1) What the technical requirements would be for such a dual country
> phone (ie do I need a 'dual-band GSM' unit)?

You don`t need a dual band GSM 900 / 1800 unit over here. We use GSM 900
over here, Which is the same as BT Cellnet and Voda UK. 

> 2) How I could get a phone that could be used both in the UK and there?
> I see that Optus pre-pay includes a sim-only package - could I put that
> sim into a suitable phone bought in the UK? If so, what would be the
> best way to buy a phone here to do that? Orange do a pre-pay system
> with no time limit on the vouchers, but they tell me that all their
> phones are sim-locked.


Most Pre-paid phones are simlocked. If you got a non-locked mobile from
the uk, you could use a pre-paid sim in it while you are over here.

> 3) Or should I just buy a pre-pay phone in Australia. Can I get one
> there that I could then use with a new UK pre-pay sim when I return to
> the UK?

Well after 1 year you are ment to be able to get sim lock removed for
free on the pre-paid handsets.

> 4) Are mobile phones cheaper in Australia or in the UK?

UK are slighly cheaper.

> 5) What is the cheapest way to just buy a mobile phone that is not
> committed to any particular network or call payment plan, in the UK or
> in Australia?

Buy it out right.. or go on a chep plan in the uk with eigher Voda UK or
BT Cellnet.

> 
> Any advice much appreciated - I'm loathe to end up with another junk
> mobile phone after my year abroad, and want to know if I should buy one
> before I go, or get one out there.

Well you could get one (non-simlocked) before you go.. and use a
pre-paid sim in it when you get here.

Tim


-- 
Tim Merrell (mrvfone@fan.net.au)
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