iPhone-less 3 Australia lifts value of capped plans

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 01 July 2008 02:29

Your IT - Home IT

Australian mobile operator 3, which has gained the dubious distinction of begging Apple for the iPhone (so far unsuccessfully) has turned up the heat on its competitors by significantly increasing the call minutes in its capped plans, claiming they now offer more national call minutes than any of its competitors' plans.

With the most limited network coverage of Australia's four cellular networks, 3 has consistently been the price leader and was the first to introduce cap plans in 2003: these have since been widely adopted by all its competitors. It now claims that its $69 per month capped plan offers the best value on the market: giving 382 two minute national voice calls per month compared to 254 on Telstra's $79 cap, 314 on Optus' $79 cap and 324 on Vodafone's $79 cap plan.

3 has six capped plans available on 24 month contracts: $29, $49, $69, $99, $129 and $149  and has added a $199 per month plan that gives a whopping $2000 worth of calls, SMS etc. The value of included calls on the pre-existing plans has been increased, respectively from $120 to $150; from $300 to $350; from $550 to $650; from $800 to $1000; from $1000 to $1200 and from $1400 to $1600.

In addition the included value of 3 to 3 calls with each plan has  increase, massively on the more expensive plans. The $99, $129 and $149 plans now all come with $1750 worth of free 3 to 3 calls per month, up from $280, $350 and $420 respectively. The new $199 per month plan comes with $2100 worth.

All plans now come with unlimited access to a number of web sites: users can choose between a sports, news and entertainment packages. 3 has also reduced the price of handsets on the plans. For example a Nokia N95 8GB which previously cost $34 per month on a $49 per month plan is now free.

Customers on existing capped plans can move to one of the new plans.