"Lila Duncan" <LilaDuncan@XSPAMhotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2tk8u21rc0mmaosv79h1i5sfeuq8as6q3u@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:58:58 GMT, "Benedict Addis" <news@theale.uk> wrote:
>
>>> Hi
>>> my daughter is going to Australia for a year and I want to get her a new
>>> phone and contract that will provide for economical communication
>>> between
>>> the UK and Down-Under. A non-flashy phone with email capabilities is the
>>> basis I'm searching on at the moment. Please can anyone offer some
>>> advice?
>>>
>>> Kind regards,
>>>
>>> --
>>> Lila Duncan
>>
>>I've recently returned from a month in Oz and, due to the enormous size of
>>the place, the advice I'd give is different than for other countries.
>>Elsewhere, I'd suggest taking a normal (GSM) phone - remembering to get it
>>unlocked first - and buy a local SIM card to put in it; there's no sense
>>in
>>your daughter using a UK contract abroad, because of the unbelievably
>>expensive roaming rates *.
>>
>>But in Australia, a standard GSM phone will not work outside the major
>>towns
>>and tourist destinations. She will be effectively out of touch whilst
>>travelling by road, or if she goes beyond the east coast tourist trail to
>>visit the outback, the Northern Territory, or Western Australia.
>>
>>I drove up the west coast, and had practically no GSM signal once I left
>>Perth. On the way back down, I picked up some hitchhikers who were
>>delighted
>>when their phones started beeping with text messages - they hadn't had any
>>signal for four months!
>>
>>The good news is that the national operator Telstra have an old-fashioned
>>CDMA network that covers almost every small town and settlement in
>>Australia. This was upgraded last October to a brand new 3G network they
>>call NextG (for the techies, it's HSDPA on 850MHz W-CDMA). Coverage maps
>>are
>>here:
>>http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/net...erage/maps.cfm
>>
>>There are several phones available that work on this NextG network,
>>there's
>>a list here:
>>www.telstra.com.au/nextgnetwork/mobiles.cfm
>>
>>I used the Imate Jasjam which worked well, especially for email. This
>>phone
>>is widely available in the UK as the Orange m3100, the HTC Tytn, the
>>T-mobile Vario 2 etc - they're all the same thing. You can buy one at
>>Expansys or on eBay, they're not cheap but it's the only way to stay in
>>contact in more remote destinations.
>>
>>The only snag is that Telstra may want to credit check her before handing
>>out a NextG SIM card. I was able to get credit checked at my hostel
>>address,
>>and got a one-month rolling 'contract' with no ties. I've emailed them to
>>find out if they can supply NextG SIM cards on a pay as you go basis, and
>>I'll let the group know what they say.
>>
>>Hope this helps!
>>
>>Benedict.
>>
>>*
>>Two exceptions are Vodafone and Three, who have deals with their
>>Australian
>>sister networks - links below. However, the coverage - especially for
>>Three - is limited to larger towns and cities.
>>
>>Vodafone Passport:
>>http://www.abroad.vodafone.co.uk/ind...=cost.passport
>>
>>Three Like Home:
>>http://three.co.uk/personal/coverage...me_details.omp
>>
>
> That's tremendously helpful information. It's certainly narrowed the field
> significantly. I'm off to ebay now, looking for an Imate Jasjam or
> equivalent, since NextG seems the obvious choice for our circumstances.
>
> Thanks a lot,
> --
> Lila Duncan

Hi Lila,

Thanks for your kind words. If the Jasjam / Tytn / m3100 or whatever is
locked, it can now be unlocked for free. Info here:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...ame=HTC_Hermes

Also, I've just found my own NextG SIM card which I'm unlikely to use in the
near future. If I can get it reactivated, would you be interested in it?
Email me off-group: news at theale dot co dot uk.

Yours,
Benedict.