Comments on: The shocking cost of international data http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/ We've moved on... Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:30:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Soyajam http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1644 Soyajam Tue, 12 May 2009 00:42:50 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1644 I've always been wary of 3 for their hefty promises and shiny, do-everything phones. I just stick to Optus. Well known, trusted, and not too bad in general. But really it's a case of the lesser evil. Sorry you're out of pocket. I’ve always been wary of 3 for their hefty promises and shiny, do-everything phones.

I just stick to Optus. Well known, trusted, and not too bad in general.

But really it’s a case of the lesser evil.

Sorry you’re out of pocket.

]]> By: Tim Steele http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Tim Steele Wed, 06 May 2009 23:40:42 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1639 I just returned from NZ myself. Leah had roaming on her Optus phone, and still had voicemail enabled for missed calls. She only had 3 missed calls while we were there, which went back to voicemail, but we ended up paying for the call in both directions which I was already aware of. Each call regardless of whether the person got to leave a VM (in fact I don't think there were an VMs left) cost $5.50 each (was a little more than I did expect though). If the phone was turned off even, she would have still copped $5.50 per call. For VM the only way to avoid these charges is to turn VM off, or set an unconditional diversion on incoming calls (meaning you'll never get any incoming calls), leaving you only SMS or making outgoing calls. I think in future on longer stays international, it's best to just get a prepaid SIM from a local carrier in the country you visit then use roaming. The charges are a complete rip off, and the data charges even more a rip off. Good luck getting some of the carges removed, especially when your phone was turned off, that doesn't add up. Tim I just returned from NZ myself. Leah had roaming on her Optus phone, and still had voicemail enabled for missed calls. She only had 3 missed calls while we were there, which went back to voicemail, but we ended up paying for the call in both directions which I was already aware of. Each call regardless of whether the person got to leave a VM (in fact I don’t think there were an VMs left) cost $5.50 each (was a little more than I did expect though). If the phone was turned off even, she would have still copped $5.50 per call. For VM the only way to avoid these charges is to turn VM off, or set an unconditional diversion on incoming calls (meaning you’ll never get any incoming calls), leaving you only SMS or making outgoing calls.

I think in future on longer stays international, it’s best to just get a prepaid SIM from a local carrier in the country you visit then use roaming. The charges are a complete rip off, and the data charges even more a rip off.

Good luck getting some of the carges removed, especially when your phone was turned off, that doesn’t add up.

Tim

]]> By: MaryAnn Sansonetti http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1636 MaryAnn Sansonetti Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:46:51 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1636 OH MY! I am so sorry you had this experience. If I received a cell phone bill for $870 I would just be sick. I hope you learn your present company. They should bend over backward to help you since you have been a valued customer. OH MY! I am so sorry you had this experience. If I received a cell phone bill for $870 I would just be sick. I hope you learn your present company. They should bend over backward to help you since you have been a valued customer.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1633 Mark Walker Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:45:14 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1633 Chris Unbelievable. When I was in the states I bought a card that allowed me to dial a number and then connect to my home phone and speak for some time - It worked for little cost. I agree with using the hotel charge. I ended up paying $60 for a week's connect in a Boston hotel and I emailed etc... I wonder if I could video connect?? Thanks for the outrage - Mark Chris

Unbelievable. When I was in the states I bought a card that allowed me to dial a number and then connect to my home phone and speak for some time – It worked for little cost.

I agree with using the hotel charge. I ended up paying $60 for a week’s connect in a Boston hotel and I emailed etc… I wonder if I could video connect??

Thanks for the outrage – Mark

]]> By: Fictillius http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 Fictillius Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:32:14 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1625 The cost of components for the iPhone can easily be found on the internet but it doesn't represent the true cost of making, selling and supporting an iPhone device for a customer. There are labor costs, distribution, taxes, marketing, r&d (including the iphone OS), support, warranties and also profit. The cost of components for the iPhone can easily be found on the internet but it doesn’t represent the true cost of making, selling and supporting an iPhone device for a customer. There are labor costs, distribution, taxes, marketing, r&d (including the iphone OS), support, warranties and also profit.

]]> By: Darcy Moore http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 Darcy Moore Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:31:14 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1624 Thanks Fictillius and John. I think using hotspots and the wireless in my accommodation is the most sensible answer at this stage of the game but hopefully the competition drives prices down in the not too distant future. Thanks Fictillius and John. I think using hotspots and the wireless in my accommodation is the most sensible answer at this stage of the game but hopefully the competition drives prices down in the not too distant future.

]]> By: John Larkin http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 John Larkin Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:14:34 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1623 Spot on Chris. The costs are a rip off. Sending those data packets costs fractions of cents. It is not unlike the banks charging $2.00 or more for an ATM transaction that costs them next to nothing. Cents. A simple five letter word underlies their governance: greed. Spot on Chris. The costs are a rip off. Sending those data packets costs fractions of cents. It is not unlike the banks charging $2.00 or more for an ATM transaction that costs them next to nothing. Cents. A simple five letter word underlies their governance: greed.

]]> By: John Larkin http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 John Larkin Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:07:19 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1622 I use a prepaid account with Optus. I pay $40.00AUD a month and get all the calls and data that I need. Optus toss in these good deals and goodies when you recharge as well. Roaming was off when overseas. I had heard of similar horror stories to your own Chris. That is mongrel of a bill and you have my sympathy. Actually I have never switched roaming on. I always seek out wireless points and tap into those. They are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. If no wireless point then bad luck for me. I learnt something whilst overseas that will also resonate. The manufacturing cost of the iPhone is $147.00USD. I use a prepaid account with Optus. I pay $40.00AUD a month and get all the calls and data that I need. Optus toss in these good deals and goodies when you recharge as well. Roaming was off when overseas. I had heard of similar horror stories to your own Chris. That is mongrel of a bill and you have my sympathy.

Actually I have never switched roaming on. I always seek out wireless points and tap into those. They are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. If no wireless point then bad luck for me.

I learnt something whilst overseas that will also resonate. The manufacturing cost of the iPhone is $147.00USD.

]]> By: Daniel Felice http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 Daniel Felice Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:32:13 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1621 That is a joke! This is where Australia needs to catch up with the rest of the world. I just had a look at Vodafone Ireland data roaming costs and found out that it is €5/MB anywhere in the world if you are not a "Vodafone Connect Abroad" plan customer. If you are a "Vodafone Connect Abroad" customer then you get 500MB for €60 a month anywhere in Europe and 500mb/€100 if not in Europe! You can use the SIM in either a mobile phone or mobile connect device that plugs into a laptop. It needs to be regulated a lot more - especially now that the internet/data is such a major part is choosing a phone these days. Prices for broadband in the country in general are a joke for what you get in return. Good luck with fighting 3! That is a joke!

This is where Australia needs to catch up with the rest of the world. I just had a look at Vodafone Ireland data roaming costs and found out that it is €5/MB anywhere in the world if you are not a “Vodafone Connect Abroad” plan customer. If you are a “Vodafone Connect Abroad” customer then you get 500MB for €60 a month anywhere in Europe and 500mb/€100 if not in Europe! You can use the SIM in either a mobile phone or mobile connect device that plugs into a laptop.

It needs to be regulated a lot more – especially now that the internet/data is such a major part is choosing a phone these days. Prices for broadband in the country in general are a joke for what you get in return.

Good luck with fighting 3!

]]> By: Chris http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/comment-page-1/#comment-1620 Chris Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:36:20 +0000 http://betch.edublogs.org/2009/04/20/the-shocking-cost-of-international-data/#comment-1620 Yeah I already checked that... 3Mobile assured me that the timestamps are local NZ times. First question I asked when I saw the logs. Simple fact of the matter is that phone was off at the time they said it was on. In fact although it was switched on earlier in the day, I wasn't using it for anything other than taking photos. The log file is wrong, I don't care what they say. Yeah I already checked that… 3Mobile assured me that the timestamps are local NZ times. First question I asked when I saw the logs. Simple fact of the matter is that phone was off at the time they said it was on. In fact although it was switched on earlier in the day, I wasn’t using it for anything other than taking photos. The log file is wrong, I don’t care what they say.

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