3 Mobile tempts consumers with Christmas/Summer deals

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 18 December 2008 09:08

IT Industry - Strategy

Keen to sign up new customers as always, 3 Mobile is offering a range of special deals on phones, mobile broadband and pre-paid recharges. They’re not the only telco with last minute Christmas merriment, and more articles will come, but for the latest from 3 Mobile, please read on.

It’s Christmas and summer sales time at 3 Mobile, eager to capture consumers who are looking for value and a better deal – especially in these economically troubled times.

Of course the big problem with trying to sign up new customers is weaning them off their existing plans, something that might be difficult if they are already signed up to a contract which hasn’t yet expired, because exit fees generally aren’t free, or cheap.

That said, there are lots of pre-paid customers out there, as well as people who are on expired plans, so it’s no big surprise to see a telco take Christmas as an opportunity to have a sale, do a deal and try to increase their subscriber numbers – and hopefully their ARPU, too.

And for those wondering, ARPU isn’t the Indian Kwik-E-Mart guy from The Simpson, but “average revenue per user”.

So, what’s on offer from 3 Mobile? And don’t worry – Vodafone have announced some deals, too – we’ll look at those in an upcoming later sometime later today.

3 Mobile says it is “slashing the price of new 24 month plans by half for Christmas as part of its hot Super Summer Sale available to new customers,” although the “catch”, if you can call it that, is the “half price” deal on its mobile broadband packages is for the “first six months of surfing”.

That’s not bad, given that Foxtel usually only offers the first month free, although Telstra usually offers its half price deals for the first 12 months of a 24 month contract. That’s at much higher prices, but at faster speeds and a much greater broadband footprint.

Still, as 3 Mobile only offers its services in major cities where its network is available, and the “catch” of $1.65 per MB when roaming in 2G areas is well known (although supposedly dramatically lower from mid-2009 when 3’s new roaming deal with Telstra kicks in), a half price deal for 6 months is still a good saving.

So, what does the mobile broadband “half price for 6 months” deal entail?

Well, it’s all pretty simple. If you want to take up the 3GB per month plan, it’s $14.50 per month for the first six months, $29 per month thereafter, and new customers are charged a $5 per month instalment for the USB Internet Key, with existing customers having that $5 fee waived.

Those wanting 6GB per month will pay only $19.50 per month for the first six months, and $39 per month thereafter, with no USB Internet Key instalments to pay (whether you’re a new or existing customer).

The 7GB per month plan costs $24.50 per month for the first six months, and $49 per month thereafter.

The “half price” offer is not available for the $15/1GB package, and the deal is available up until January 31, 2009.

So, what are 3 Mobile’s other Christmas and Summer sale offers? Please read on to page 2.