When smartphones get down to the $99 level, you often wonder whether what’s on offer is a bunch of compromises, or whether it has the hardware to deliver the goods, even if at a sub-$100 price.

Pre-paid plans are always popular with those who aren’t fans of contracts, with the battle over whose cap at which price point offers the best value and can attract customers, with a $29 cap Virgin Mobile’s temporary price taste tempter.

Telstra’s first $99 Android-powered smartphone might lack the finesse of brand name and more expensive competitors, but when it comes to $999 iPhones, it’s priced to win the wallets of price-sensitive pre-paid consumers.

With smartphone popularity on the rise, Telstra is increasing the included data and credit on some of its most popular Prepaid offers and is launching its cheapest ever Android-powered smartphone.

Optus has begun offering the Huawei Mini WiFi modem for $129 on prepaid data plans.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia has started a loyalty program for its prepaid Vodafone customers.

Optus has upgraded its prepaid mobile plans aimed at heavy text users, adding free calls to any other Australian mobile numbers, and unlimited access to Facebook and Twitter and limited data for other purposes, but at $22 per MB users could quickly blow their credit if they exceed the limit.

Woolworths, Australia's largest retailer, has expanded its Everyday Mobile service with new options aimed at heavier users.

Telstra has boosted the value of its pre-paid mobile broadband packages on its Next G network, giving new customers a 1GB welcome pack and allocating longer expiry periods for data.

Boost Mobile has announced a prepaid BlackBerry Pearl with 12 months unlimited data access included in the price.