With the view of going to RMIT next year (I've officially become a number there a few days), plus continuing work, I'm going to be spending a fair amount of time in transit. So I can fit everything in, and bypass RMIT's crappy internet rules (no non-RMIT email access allowed - WTF), I've been looking at getting a mobile broadband service.
The two types of mobile broadband available here are either 3G/HSDPA based, or wireless based (e.g. WiMAX). Wireless based ones are potentially faster, however they have a more limited service area. 3G based ones on the other hand, can connect to GSM networks when out of a 3G service area, providing GPRS speed access and hence greater coverage.
Some key questions:
- monthly cost and data limit (excess charges or shaping)
- contract length
- modem cost, ownership and locking after contract length (applicable to 3G-based networks, as these modems can be used across 3G-based networks)
- data limit includes uploads as well as downloads?
- additional cost for roaming on to GPRS network?
- coverage; however as I'm generally using it in metro areas, I'm not going to delve into this much, as all of them generally cover the general metro area.
Here's a rundown of what I found:
Telstra
Telstra has both 3G based and wireless based services, being their Next G Mobile Broadband service and their BigPond Wireless Broadband service respectively. The main advantage Telstra has over their competitors is that their Next G network has the capability to reach peak speeds of 7.2 MBps now, with a view of being able to reach 14.4 MBps in the future (though others are planning this as well). Their coverage is also a fair bit greater when using their Next G network (important in outer suburbs and country areas).
One look at the pricing however, and I knew both of these options were out.
For mobile broadband, $59 bucks gets you 200MB per month on their Next G network, plus more for a network locked modem, with excess charged at 25c per MB (or $250 per GB). You can get cheaper plans with less data, or more expensive ones with more data, up to a 3GB plan for $119 a month.
BigPond wireless broadband has slightly more favourable pricing but is slower and has less coverage, with $49.95 getting you 400MB per month, contracted to 12 months, with excess data charged at 15c per MB). Again, you can go up and down in cost for different speed and data allowance combinations.
The staff at the local Telstra shop were fairly useless too - they sat me down, browsed to a webpage, and just pointed. That's it. Ask a question, and they'll point somewhere else on the webpage, even if it doesn't answer my question at all. I can use a web browser perfectly fine too, useless idiots.
Optus
Optus has a 3G based service only, which they call wireless broadband (their crappy website doesn't deal well with links - on their home page, click Personal, Internet, Wireless broadband). It has a max speed of 3MBps at the moment, generally it has speeds of 512 KBps to 1.5 MBps.
Optus kicked off the mobile broadband discount war last month, with an offer of 2GB of data a month (upload and download) at $39.99 per month for 24 months ($49.99 unbundled). Excess data is charged at 15c per MB (or $150 per GB). They also throw in a USB modem for no extra cost if you bundle it and join for 24 months (otherwise it's about $5 more a month). There's a cheaper offer too, but with a data limit of 400MB, it isn't worth it. Other modems are available too, including a wireless router modem and a laptop ExpressCard one.
The catch here however, is that if you get one of their modems, it remains their property, seemingly even after the 24 month contract. I assume it is also network locked.
Roaming from their 3G/HSDPA network to their GSM network does not cost extra, and data used on that network is counted towards your monthly limit. You can check your data usage on their website, which is nice.
They have a 30-day coverage satisfaction guarantee too.
UPDATE (22/12/2007): Optus has released a plan to counter the Vodafone attack - the 'yes' Everyday plan. It's $49.99 per month for 5 GB per month, excess charged at 15c per MB. Modem rental is still from $5 a month. The contract period can be 12 or 24 months.
If you bundle it with a home phone/mobile, the above deal becomes $39.99 per month instead and the USB modem rental is free while in the contract period, everything else the same. However, to get this price, you have to be contracted for 24 months, otherwise you're not eligible.
These plans are available until the 15 Jan 2008.
It is also worth noting that the updated website now confirms you do not own the modem, even after your contractual period. The modem is rented from Optus, and you need to continue to pay that modem rental fee after you complete your contract. If it was free while in the contract (i.e. bundled for 24 months), then a $5 monthly rental fee applies once the contract finishes.
Vodafone
This is where it starts getting interesting. They have a 3G-based service called Vodafone Mobile Broadband, with speeds between 600 KBps and 1.5 MBps, peaking at 3.6 MBps, but as it is on their HSDPA network, it has the potential for faster speeds, pending network upgrades. Their coverage is traditionally less than Optus, Telstra and 3, but for metro areas it shouldn't be an issue.
Until 31st December 2007, they're running an offer where for $39.99 a month, contracted to 24 months, you get 5GB per month (upload and download), plus a free modem/data card which you own at the end (unsure if its network locked). Excess data is charged at 10c per MB (or $100 per GB), and you can track your usage in their app (although this is Windows only, and per computer - there is no central website to log into and check).
When you're out of the 3G network, roaming on to their GPRS network is seamless and costs no more. They also do international roaming to a variety of countries, but for 1c per KB (i.e. $10 per MB), it's a bit expensive, especially given many overseas countries have free wireless hotspots located everywhere.
Whirlpool feedback is good so far.
My impression of their retail stores was pretty good - they know what they're talking about (which surprised me), and were keen to show me the modem, and find out more info for me.
Their general enquires line is an entirely different matter. I called up their general enquires line (they didn't seem to have a personal sales number), 1300 650 410, and got greeted by their computer phone chick, Lara (yes it has a name). "Tell me in a few words what you're looking for..." I wasn't surprised at the voice recognition system, Telstra and Optus both have it too (And I thought the number systems were bad...). So I played along and said "mobile broadband".
Lara decided I needed mobile technical support, and despite my protests, insisted I punch in a mobile number. I punched in a random one, and got placed in a queue. But thinking that talking to Lara was better than talking to some incomprehensible Indian call centre guy located on the street (judging from the background noise), I thought I'd give Lara another shot.
So I hung up and redialed. This time I said "sales". Lara couldn't understand me. So I tried again. Lara thought I was an idiot and decided to coach me in communication. Getting quite annoyed, I tried using a range of expletives in hope it would transfer me to a person, but nope, that rumour was wrong.
In the end, according to Lara, Vodafone has no sales team. This is pre-sales! This is when you're supposed to be courting me with everything, not screwing me over - you can only do that after you've suckered me into an abusive contractual relationship!
Three
3, as it name suggests, offers a 3G based mobile broadband service, with download speeds up to 3.6MBps, but generally between 600KBps to 1.5MBps. Upload speeds are around 384 KBps.
To counter Vodafone's offer, 3 have halved the price of all their mobile broadband plans if you sign up for 24 months. The offer is valid until 15th Jan 2008.
Just picking one of their plans for comparison (you can go higher or lower for different cost and data usage combinations), for $34.50 you get 3 GB per month (upload and download) for 24 months, with a free modem thrown in (unsure about ownership, but knowing 3, it's probably locked), and excess data charged at 10c per MB (or $100 per GB).
The odd thing about 3's mobile broadband plans is that it seems that as soon as you drop out of 3's Broadband zone (aka their 3G/HSDPA coverage), you start being slugged $1.65 per MB extra (or $1650 per GB, though you have to be pretty patient to download that much on GPRS). This is a pretty important point, one that they've conveniently hidden in the T & Cs. I guess the reason behind this is because 3 don't actually own a GSM (2G) network, so when you drop out of their 3G network, you have to pay roaming fees to roam on to another network (Telstra?). You can apparently disable roaming though.
Whirlpool feedback is mixed, most weary of the excess GPRS charges.
I decided to give 3's sales line a try too, 131 683. Surprisingly, they're still on the automated number system, and not crappy voice recognition. That's a thumbs up in my book, but as soon as I got put in the queue, it was thumbs down. In most phone queues, you get a 15 sec sales burst, then classical or pop music. Not so with 3. You get at least 3 minutes' worth of brainwashing, courtesy of the crappy 3 signature tunes (3's a magic number..., and the shitty 3 times table song - I know my times tables damn it!). The worst thing is that the magic number song is actually catchy...
Unwired
These guys offer a wireless broadband service, based on their own network, therefore it's worth checking out the coverage first. Unfortunately, their plans aren't very competitive.
For $49.95, you get a 512/128 KBps (download/upload) speed connection, with a 1 GB data allowance per month. They do however, shape your connection once you reach that data allowance to 32KBps (upload and download), so no excess charges, just an effectively unusable connection. You can purchase additional usage though at $14.95 per GB. It has no contractual period (until 25th Dec 2007). You do have to pay an extra 129 bucks for the modem (+6 bucks for delivery).
Again, for more money you can get a faster connection with greater data allowance, and vice-versa.
Their modem is fairly specialised, so I think it would be unlikely to be usable on other networks, so effectively, it's network locked.
iBurst
iBurst operates in a similar fashion to unwired, with a wireless broadband service on their own network. Unlike unwired though, you can only subscribe to their service via resellers, who all set different prices.
For $49 at the Fat Free Fone Company, you get a 1024/384 KBps (download/upload) speed connection, with 1GB data allowance (download and upload). As with unwired, you get shaped after you reach the allowance, but this time down to a 64 KBps connection, which is slightly more usable. Alternatively, you can choose to be charged 15c per MB for data over the allowance.
There is a connection fee, as well as a cost for your modem, both of which depend on your contractual length - e.g. for 12 months, connection fee is 49 bucks, and the modem is 239 bucks.
For more money you can get more data per month (or vice-versa), but the max speed is 1024/384 KBps.
Again, the modem is fairly specialised, so again, effectively network locked.
So which one?
I'm leaning towards the Vodafone plan, because it offers the best value in my opinion. The 2 GB 3 plan for $24.50 a month is still up for consideration though, because I'm still not sure how much data I'll need, although the roaming fee is a bit of a turn off.
The thing that bugs me most is the contract period - 2 years is a long time in the mobile world, especially with 3 and Vodafone pushing the pricing boundaries, and with Optus and Telstra (but unlikely) playing catchup.
Signing up for one now locks me in for 24 months (unless I break the contract), until 2010 effectively - who knows what the pricing will be like then? Not to mention speeds, which are on the rise already, with clear plans to go faster and faster.
The Vodafone offer is still rather tempting though...
But regardless, hopefully this has been useful to others who are looking around at mobile/wireless broadband around now. Keep an eye on the whirlpool wireless ISPs forum for more info and feedback.
UPDATE (22/12/2007): Optus has released a catch-up plan, see above. But when compared to the Vodafone deal, it really is not very competitive - the excess charges are 5c higher per MB, bundling is required to get the Vodafone price (actually $1 more per month), and the modem is rented. Apart from arguments about Optus' 3G and GPRS coverage, it really isn't worth it. Nice try Optus, better luck next time.