Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

[AIRwin]

Just received a QF email offer for this plan (still has 5 GB roaming data/calls) and a shed load of QFF points.

My original $50 sim only plan is still running for the time being - so obviously not a good enough deal for me to switch.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/member-offers/optus-plans.html

Looks like minimum plan with international roaming is now $79...

 

[SYD]

Looks like minimum plan with international roaming is now $79...

Yep. Although, comes with 60 GB more local data pm and 1 GB Int more per month plus 20k QFF points and then 790 pm thereafter (if I read that correctly) over the original $50 plan.

 

[SYD]

If Optus ever do get around to “enhancing” the $50 plan, I’ll be jumping on the Small Biz plan at post #39 if available.

 

[DeKa]

Just received a QF email offer for this plan (still has 5 GB roaming data/calls) and a shed load of QFF points.

My original $50 sim only plan is still running for the time being - so obviously not a good enough deal for me to switch.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/member-offers/optus-plans.html

In the FAQ it says you need to be a new customer, or if an existing customer, bring a new service to Optus to get this offer.
I think it will be hard to pass up this legacy offer for a while..

 

[SYD]

In the FAQ it says you need to be a new customer, or if an existing customer, bring a new service to Optus to get this offer.
I think it will be hard to pass up this legacy offer for a while..

Quite. Further reading of the Ts&Cs (thanks SYD+1 - retired lawyer) and apparently this plan doesn’t have the same International calls *from* Oz as the legacy $50 plan *nor* the country to country calls when roaming!

It was/is a cracker of a plan. No wonder Optus pulled it!

 

[PDog]

we jumped on this plan pre-covid for a trip to Singapore that never happened.
Happily now we’re driving through Northern Italy & being able to use the map ap via Apple car play is fantastic! Tracking the data usage is super easy, and Optus sent a warning SMS when there was only 2GB left.

 

[SYD]

we jumped on this plan pre-covid for a trip to Singapore that never happened.
Happily now we’re driving through Northern Italy & being able to use the map ap via Apple car play is fantastic! Tracking the data usage is super easy, and Optus sent a warning SMS when there was only 2GB left.

I found the nav apps can use a bit of data. If you preload some over wifi (in hotel etc) before you head out, that can conserve a bit of data. Simply open the app, search you route you’re taking next and zoom, scroll along the route.

I was recently in SIN for a couple days. pretty much left roaming on the whole time because I knew I wouldn’t come close to 4GB based on 6 wks usage pattern in Europe a couple of months ago.

 

[AIRwin]

I was recently in SIN for a couple days. pretty much left roaming on the whole time because I knew I wouldn’t come close to 4GB based on 6 wks usage pattern in Europe a couple of months ago.

Same as what I did given that data roaming didn't work while I was in Europe until I swapped to a spare phone when I arrived in SIN...

 

[PDog]

I found the nav apps can use a bit of data. If you preload some over wifi (in hotel etc) before you head out, that can conserve a bit of data. Simply open the app, search you route you’re taking next and zoom, scroll along the route.

I was recently in SIN for a couple days. pretty much left roaming on the whole time because I knew I wouldn’t come close to 4GB based on 6 wks usage pattern in Europe a couple of months ago.

Interesting - it didn’t for me? I turned off mobile data to everything else so nothing was chewing it up in the background.
We’d previously done the load up on Wi-Fi then follow the blue dot, but the ability to change route cause traffic (M25!!!) or detour cause something looked interesting was fab.

I’ve kept mine on all the time this last week, as I won’t get near 4GB with my phone on low battery mode, as staying charged has been a bigger issue now we aren’t in a car (which is prob the age of my phone).

Love it!

 

[PDog]

Same as what I did given that data roaming didn't work while I was in Europe until I swapped to a spare phone when I arrived in SIN...

Strange - do you know what happened?
I received a SMS telling me about it every time I went near-ish a different country (ie Optus welcomed me to France when I was in Dover )

 

[SYD]

Interesting - it didn’t for me? I turned it mobile data to everything else to nothing was chewing it up in the background.
We’d previously done the load up on Wi-Fi then follow the blue dot, but the ability to change route cause traffic (M25!!!) or detour cause something looked interesting was fab.

I’ve kept mine on all the time this last week, as I won’t get near 4GB with my phone on low battery mode, as staying charged has been a bigger issue now we aren’t in a car (which is prob the age of my phone).

Love it!

Yes, I keep data on while using nav (for the real-time traffic, rerouting etc).

I also have an app that I can download offline maps but use data for the real-time stuff but it’s not as good as Apple or Google maps.

 

[AIRwin]

Strange - do you know what happened?

It must be my phone (which I haven't used overseas before) as I was only able to connect to data roaming once I swapped my Optus SIM card to another phone...

 

[SYD]

It must be my phone (which I haven't used overseas before) as I was able to connect to data roaming when I swapped my Optus SIM card to another phone...

That’s weird.

I assume it worked fine at home with Optus beforehand (and not locked to another carrier)?

Other than “Roaming data On/Off”, I can’t think of another phone setting that would cause that.

Although, as I type this when I was away in Europe a couple of months ago I found the network selection in Germany was whacky. The default network wasn‘t giving me 4G (Edge at best) so I forced it to another network - but that didn’t allow me to make or receive calls! Anyway, I left network selection on “manual” before flying back to the UK. It took some jiggery pokerey to get the phone to connect again in the UK….

 

[AIRwin]

I assume it worked fine at home with Optus beforehand (and not locked to another carrier)?

Yes all good, so I was frustrated when I arrived in Europe and I could only call/text...

 

[SYD]

Yes all good, so I was frustrated when I arrived in Europe and I could only call/text...

That could be a network selection thing but if Roaming Data is turned on I believe it should hunt for the best network - normally….

 

[AIRwin]

That could be a network selection thing but if Roaming Data is turned on I believe it should hunt for the best network - normally….

I tried everything and isolated the issue to my phone when I managed to swap the SIM card to a spare phone I got hold of...

 

[SYD]

If it works at home this should already be set but couldn’t hurt to check:

Settings->Mobile->…->Mobile Network

Mobile data
APN yesinternet
Username
Password

The last two are blank.

 

[AIRwin]

If it works at home this should already be set but couldn’t hurt to check:

Settings->Mobile->…->Mobile Network

Mobile data
APN yesinternet
Username
Password

The last two are blank.

 

[SYD]

View attachment 290707

Oh, is that Android? !!!

 

[AIRwin]

Oh, is that Android? !!!

Yes is it a bad Apple?