EXCLUSIVE | Now you can really dump your home phone: Optus has revealed a range of new unlimited mobile plans.
Optus has launched new mobile plans that include unlimited calls (including video calls) and SMS/MMS plus large data usage allowances.
The plans are called 'yes' Timeless plans and Optus says they have "unlimited value".
The plans will be available to iPhone purchasers too — the documentation specifically notes that iPhone users won't be able to use the MMS, PTT or video calling aspects of the plan since the iPhone does not support them.
Plans are as follows:
$99 'yes' Timeless plan with the $14.95 Mobile Internet pack
- These plans are only available together, which means it is effectively a single plan with a monthly access fee of $113.95.
- Available now
- Standard Local and National Calls
- Calls to GSM mobiles within Australia
- Standard National SMS
- National Video Calls*
- National MMS*
- 200Mb Data usage (35c per MB excess)
$119 'yes' Timeless plan
- Available now
- Standard Local and National Calls
- Calls to GSM mobiles within Australia
- Standard National SMS
- National Video Calls*
- National MMS*
- Internet plans that can be added: Starter Pack: $4.95 for 10MB. Classic Pack: $9.95 for 30MB. (35c per MB excess or 50c per MB for uncontracted customers.)
$129 'yes' Timeless Plan
- Available from 28th July.
- Standard Local and National Calls
- Calls to GSM mobiles within Australia
- Standard National SMS
- National Video Calls*
- National MMS*
- Voicemail Diversions and Retrievals
- 2Gb Data usage
* PTT, Video calling and MMS are not available on the iPhone.
New 'yes' $79 Cap plan with unlimited text
- Available from 28th July.
- Unlimited Standard National SMS
- Cap value: $550
$100 online signup bonus
Optus will give new and recontracting customers who connect online to a 'yes' Timeless plan $100 when they signup online.
What about Blackberry users?
Blackberry users can take the plans as well if they want -- they just pay an additional fee for the Blackberry service on top of it. Unlimited Blackberry email costs $39.95 per month for 24 month contract users, or $49.95 a month for month-to-month users. A cheaper "Executive" plan is available for $25.95 per month or $29.95 for uncontracted users. It's not clear whether the Yes Timeless plans that include 200MB or 2GB of data would need the more expensive Blackberry plans, considering Blackberry plans have traditionally been differentiated by the amount of data included.
Of course, while the inclusions in the plans are impressive, as with any telco product, the exclusions are important to consider. For example, only one of the four plans includes voicemail diversion and retrieval as part of the monthly fee. We're waiting to see full details on the other exclusions on the plans.
So here's the big question: are these plans good enough for you to ditch your home phone?
You can check out the full detail of the plans here.