Telstra gives data users more megabytes for same dollars
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 3rd 2008 9:34AM
posted Aug 3rd 2008 9:34AM
Oh sure, Telstra's Next G HSDPA network is pretty swank, but what's the use in having a potent high-speed infrastructure if it's too expensive for anyone to use? Thankfully, said carrier is finally loosening up a bit on its data pricing by giving Aussies more megabytes for the same price that they're currently paying. Starting now, $10 mobile data packages include 150MB per month (up from 20MB), while the $29 pack includes 300MB per month (up from 80MB). Additionally, excess data rates have been "reduced" on both packs, though dollars and cents weren't mentioned on that. Best of all, customers already subscribed to one of the aforesaid plans won't have to do a thing in order to see their capacities bumped.
Excess data charges are available from the website;
$10 pack = 0.50c charge per MB
$29 pack = 0.25c charge per MB
Both were $1 previously.
Still a major ripoff. Im surprised they dont charge you money to charge your battery.
USA data is very cheap
ATT MEdia Net is $15 with voice plan; $20 30 days prepaid
T-Mobile total internet is $20 with voice plan, tethering and data card supported
both are unlimited, with HSDPA support (where available)
And we now have the interesting situation where a 'consumer' $29 data pack gets you 300MB while the 'high-end' (for the mobile-as-modem and business data card crowd) $59 pack only gets you 200MB.
Depending on who you ask the reduction is the result of either improved technology (such as direct tunnel) or Optus's domination of iPhone sales - remember that, free Wi-Fi and the option of paying a partial outright fee for lower voice plans aside, an iPhone plan on Telstra is no different to an ordinary phone plan on Telstra (while both Optus and Vodafone have special iPhone plans with included data) with data being covered by a seperate pack. Both are probably true, although many iScenies - and their Singtel Fanboy brethren - will probably shout the latter.
Oh, and nice to see the return of the PoS ZTE F850 image to these screens - no doubt you'll get a cease-and-desist-and-post-a-Samsung-U900-instead order sometime soonish.
all the carrier in the US have a 5gb cap, so not "unlimited" and those cheap data plan they won't let you use with a smartphone like Windows Mobile or Blackberry (although savy user can get around that restriction, still its a major hassle)