Thread: Buying a new 'phone ? A warning....

A word of warning to all out there that use iCloud, Windows Live Etc.

Lots of cloud based services are based in the US, which has a law called the Patriot Act. This allows any US police agency without warrant to access your data. It doesn't matter if you're Australian, if your data resides in the US, then it's fair game.

I stopped buying Nokia phones for good.
Last purchase was a E71, you've no choice to look what is in the box unless you first BUY it.
When at home I wanted to connect the phone to computer with the supplied data cable.

Surprise! Nokia thought to save some money by supplying a data cable which length is only less than 10 cm.
I called Nokia Australia (lazy idiot people there) and gave my feedback as a customer, the dude replayed and told me to buy another data cable from their catalog!

Nonetheless I hate their stupid protection, you cannot install software, you must go to their web site and they only have crap free software so you must buy from them.

The best decision I made when buying a smart phone was to buy a phone with an Android operating system. By keeping all my contacts in Gmail it automatically transfers them all into my phone as I type them into Gmail. After losing them all after a firmware upgrade Gmail just automatically installed them all back into my phone.

I use Google Calendar to keep all my appointments and it automatically puts those into my phone also and gives me a reminder when they are due.

I also have an Xoom Tablet which runs Android and Gmail duplicates all the information in the Tablet at the same time.

I bought an E71 aswell. Hopeless. It does everything, it just does it all so badly it's useless.

I have installed jokuspot (sp?) which turns it into a wifi hotspot. This function is great as I can surf with my laptop off the 3G, but otherwise it's very hard to use, unintuitive and lousy performance.

The cube 10.1 tablets are just under $300 and are wicked devices. I know a couple of people with them and may buy one soon, torn between that and a monster laptop.

Originally Posted by Barry_White

The best decision I made when buying a smart phone was to buy a phone with an Android operating system. By keeping all my contacts in Gmail it automatically transfers them all into my phone as I type them into Gmail. After losing them all after a firmware upgrade Gmail just automatically installed them all back into my phone.

I use Google Calendar to keep all my appointments and it automatically puts those into my phone also and gives me a reminder when they are due.

I also have an Xoom Tablet which runs Android and Gmail duplicates all the information in the Tablet at the same time.

Barry, I also bought an Android smart phone, an LG Optimus. Only bought it because the kids kept bugging me to get"with it"! Was a bit reluctant as I had a Nokia hands-free kit in the car.

I used to have a Nokia on a "cheap" Optus plan but hardly ever used it as the calls were anything but cheap.

Coles recently had one of these LG Optimus phones for $49.50, locked to Telstra, so went for the $30 pre-paid Telstra plan, which gives you $220 of bonus credit over and above the $30, plus 400Mb data.

I can now actually use my mobile at home, where Optus coverage was such that I had to stand in a pre-defined spot, it works in the shed, I can use it as a mobile hot-spot.
Haven't used the landline since I have had this phone, so the $30 plan actually saves me money overall.

Best of all, as you pointed out, it links in with my GMail and Google Calendar. Should have done this a long time ago. I can also actually text as well and reply to the kids and grandkids, can use an actual on-screen keyboard in either portrait or landscape mode.

Put a Bluetooth radio in the 4WD so have hands-free again as well.

I didn't understand a word of that.

I got plenty in good working state phones, carriers want you get one anyways.
Look at the contracts, if you bring your own, they only waive $10 per month meaning you do a quick calculation on a 24 month contract you save $240 but hey the phone that came with the contract has greater value.

I LOVE the Telstra prepaid plan, it offers very good value BUT you cannot use the credit for international calls!

Originally Posted by allfix

I LOVE the Telstra prepaid plan, it offers very good value BUT you cannot use the credit for international calls!

Sorry, have to disagree.

Called my sister in Europe last week, talked for 12 mins and my credit reduced by about $40, "expensive" but I always have plenty left at the end of the month, so didn't really cost anything.

I rang a mate in Hong Kong on my Telstra plan- all included

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Sorry, have to disagree.
Called my sister in Europe last week, talked for 12 mins and my credit reduced by about $40, "expensive" but I always have plenty left at the end of the month, so didn't really cost anything.

You're right, I was totally confused about Telstra plans!
I just had a chatting and they confirmed you can call internationally though the rates are a killing!
I looked at the prepaid Cap Encore bring your phone $40 recharge.
You get $550 credit calling to France mobile $3 per minute.

Originally Posted by allfix

You're right, I was totally confused about Telstra plans!

Join the club!

All mobile phone plans are totally confusing, which is one of the reasons it took me so long to change because every time I looked them, I walked away, shaking my head in disgust.

Having said that, Telstra has really changed their customer service, they are now very customer oriented, in fact far more so than Optus.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Join the club!

All mobile phone plans are totally confusing, which is one of the reasons it took me so long to change because every time I looked them, I walked away, shaking my head in disgust.

What made me even more confused is Virgin because they say you can use the credit for international calls!
However, I think with Telstra "postpaid" plans you cannot use the credit for international calls.

Having said that, Telstra has really changed their customer service, they are now very customer oriented, in fact far more so than Optus.

Yes they realised they lost too many customers who joined the competitors so what Telstra is doing now is to make their prepaid offers just "a bit" more competitive plus everyone knows their network is still the best.
Right now I'm spending $40-50 per month on Lyca phone cards to call France mobile and only talk about 1hour per $10 card (I can buy for $9) while the Telstra $50 recharge $1,000 credit will allow me to talk 333 minutes = 5.5 hours.

But the Telstra pre-paid plan also gives free calls within Australia after 6pm, so I can catch up with friends and family at night.

Like I said, haven't used the landline since I got this phone/plan. If I could get naked ADSL here I would do away with the landline altogether.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

But the Telstra pre-paid plan also gives free calls within Australia after 6pm, so I can catch up with friends and family at night.

For a limited time