ALDI MOBILE cuts data allowance on $35 'Unlimited Plan' from 5GB to 2.5GB.

[Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 14:11
Last edited 24/10/2013 - 22:11

Yep, they've cut the data allowance in half…

After the ispONE / Kogan debacle, the new 'interim' agreement formed between Aldi and Telstra boded poorly, but this is brutal for those signed up to Aldi Mobile.

No indications at all that people already signed on will be spared the change. 2.5GB only from the end of your current month's expiry.

The appearance of a strategic 2.5GB, $35 'Unlimited' 'post-interim agreement' outcome for Aldi, relative to the Boost / Telstra(NextG) 3GB, $39 alternative, is difficult to deny…

$10 international call credit has also been chopped - not by half, but completely.

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Comments

  • chartparker on 22/10/2013 - 14:17
    +10

    All major Telcos have been steadily cutting off data to MVNOs recently and making the customer pay more for less. Started with Telstra, Optus followed shortly after and then Virgin.

    Smacks of anti-competitive behavior to me. Eliminate lower cost alternatives, or make them look less attractive price-wise so that customers have no choice but to "upgrade" to a lower amount of data while paying more for it.

    • _Bruce_ on 22/10/2013 - 15:07
      +2

      … Optus followed shortly after and then Virgin.

      Virgin is Optus in red paint. Owned by optus and does not have it's own network.

      • hashtagbargain on 22/10/2013 - 23:38

        When did this happen? Optus bought Virgin mobile?!

        • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2013 - 01:43
          +2

          Several years ago - at least.
          I remember that at the time it happened, all of the long-running phone-inclusive print advertising superficially looked identical, but the fine print certainly changed, making all of the deals much, much, worse.
          Similar things have ultimately happened to just about every Virgin business that Richard Branson has sold-off around the world.

        • _Bruce_ on 23/10/2013 - 07:06

          I didn't think Virgin Mobile Australia were ever owned by RB, could be wrong though. Optus just licence the name.

        • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 09:41

          About 2004 I believe.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2013 - 10:46

          Could easily be that long ago. I certainly can't remember any of the phone-inclusive deals I mentioned being anything other than feature-phones.

          Bruce, Virgin Mobile was Branson's first personal venture here. Only association with Optus at the time, and for a least a few years, was as carrier.
          Hoopla and stunts at launch were pretty restrained - at least as when compared to Branson's recent cross-dressing exploits…

        • [Deactivated] on 24/10/2013 - 13:55
          +1

          Correct, they were owned/setup by Mr Bransan's Virgin company, then sold it to Optus.

        • macrocephalic on 25/10/2013 - 16:57

          It started off as a 50/50 between Virgin and Optus, then Virgin bought up 75% for a couple of years, before selling it entirely to Optus in 2006.

    • Thaal Sinestro on 23/10/2013 - 13:33
      +3

      Solution: Socialize Telstra, socialize Optus. They are all thieves ripping us off. Create a monoploy government telco. Governments should wholly own infrastructure. Whenever infrastructure is sold off, you end up paying more for less, and the private owners don't bother to do any maintainance. They don't care about the community, all they care about is making more money for their evil, greedy shareholders. People boast about how wonderfully efficient private enterprise is, but if they were so great we should be paying less not more.

  • cameldownunder on 22/10/2013 - 15:00
    +1

    I pay almost the same for 1GB data only, as for my 1.5 GB and 500$ talk + SMS package. Does not make sense.

  • rekabkram on 22/10/2013 - 15:38

    Shit. I literally need to renew my plan tomorrow and now they've switched from 5gb to 2.5. I use every scrap of that 5gb too.

    Now I'm up shit creek without a paddle. Going to have to work out what to do very quickly.

    • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 09:57
      -1

      Try Pennytel.

      I believe they use the Voda network. In QLD thats actually quite good since they tower share 850mhz with Telstra Wholesale AFAIK. I cant speak for the other states.

      https://www.pennytel.com.au/penny-sim/plans/endless-lite

      • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2013 - 10:52
        +1

        Pennytel are in BIG legal strife. Likely to to under altogether unless someone buys-up/picks-up, the pieces.

        • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 10:55
          +1

          As someone who worked for a competing telco for a while, they've never NOT been in legal strife. I was worried. then I stopped caring.
          They'll struggle on. They always have. Their overhead is SO tiny, they're able to offer amazing deals.
          Just dont expect any support…..

          another alternative then is RedBull
          http://www.redbullmobile.com.au/prepaid-postpaid/postpaid/po…

        • rekabkram on 23/10/2013 - 11:01
          +1

          In red on the link provided -

          ALL PLANS ARE CLOSED TO NEW CUSTOMERS

          As of the 1st of September 2013, customers will no longer be able to recharge their account. Red Bull MOBILE will continue to service existing customers until the customer’s current recharge or contract expires. This includes your ‘Ticket to the World of Red Bull’.

          Still haven't figured out what I'm going to do. I'm weighing up between going to boost and suffering through 3gb a month instead of 5gb, or going back on a 24 month contract but I really don't need a phone.
          It doesn't help that I don't have home internet to prop up my phone with wifi internet, but I'd prefer to spend $30 extra a month on a phone plan if it means not having to spend $70 a month to have home internet (if that makes sense).

        • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2013 - 11:16

          I was with RedBull. They've gone to the MVNO abattoir.

          At least - unlike others in recent events - they arranged matters in such a way as to honour plans, even for those early into a 365-dayer.

          Pennytel - very likely to be completely melted down (actually being melted-down now), and likely to stay that way… unless re-minted.

        • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 11:26
          +1

          I'll stay with virgin then.

          I managed a sweet deal.
          The old 'BIG CAP' $29.
          $10 off for BYO.
          and when they offered a 'bonus 2 Gb for new post paid plans' I ported my number away (no contract on BYO), and rejoined.

          So I pay $19 a month, for $550 cap, and 2.25GB. works for me.

          If I ever have to change, it'll be LiveConnected's RapidM.

        • _Bruce_ on 23/10/2013 - 11:48

          This is what I have, it's pretty hard to beat. Virgin aren't likely to go anywhere either, so as long as they don't force us on to a new plan, all is good.

        • mily on 23/10/2013 - 12:36

          Pennytel stopped to take new customer and port in, I tried to port in but failed, then an email came this morning to advise me such.

        • Drphods on 24/10/2013 - 18:53

          @rekabkram how do you get by with just mobile internet? I use VAYA and have 1.5GB/mth on my plan, but it is soooo slow it drives me nuts. If I use my Android phone as a wi-fi hotspot, it is virtually useless.

        • rekabkram on 24/10/2013 - 22:05
          +1

          It's a cost saving measure pure and simple, it's not ideal but we make do.

          In a couple of years my daughter will be at school age and we won't have a choice, for now we can save around $600 a year by not having it.

      • philart on 24/10/2013 - 14:50

        Outside of main centres it's 900mhz, not only that they're not sending out simcards from what I'm reading on whirlpool forums. I rely on PT for data, but am now looking for an alternative with the company in all sorts of problems.

        It seems that Optus/Virgin well n truly oversold their 3G and with 4G slowwwly coming on tap have decided to cut out cheap third party providers in order to ease congestion on their towers. Telstra hadn't done this until wholesaler ispONE did deals with Kogan and Aldi. ispONE went to the wall and Telstra are obviously not letting Aldi continue to significantly undercut their own plans. Aldi had the choice to either stick a tenner on their unlimited calls/5GB $35 plans or shave the data which they've done.

        Too many people especially transient renting types have foregone ADSL and line rental to use mobile broadband either tethered or simcard in usb modem as their primary source for internet. This is a relatively new technology and the demand has overwhelmed them. In ten years time when things have settled down and resources and speeds are much greater than now, this will imo become the low end users choice for internet. That's not to say it'll be everyone's, as I'm sure gamers, businesses, educational institutions and those that want 100GB or more data p/month will stick with cabled. The NBN could become a white elephant.

      • c64 on 24/10/2013 - 16:02
        +1

        it is reported in the news that pennytel is in liquidation

        there goes my $10 call credit :(

        • itsfree on 24/10/2013 - 20:05

          Yep you're right! I would never have known – better port away quickly! :\

  • AirJordan6s on 22/10/2013 - 16:03

    Woolworths Mobile FTW - 5GB of data!

  • Waffles on 22/10/2013 - 16:20

    I'm thinking about vaya power 18 + 7$ for a gig of data. I've found optus 3g pretty average though, not sure if 4g is gonna be much better.

    • Drphods on 24/10/2013 - 18:55

      I'm on Vaya, 3G (for me) is ridiculously slow, barely useable.

  • kenni_33 on 22/10/2013 - 16:28

    my partner and I are with Amaysim…4g of data and unlimited sms and chat to any number and 1300 and 1800 numbers also included for $39.90 per month and we use all our data and never had a problem…cheers ozbargainers.

    • cloudy on 22/10/2013 - 16:36
      +10

      I'm too cheap to pay $40 for a month of mobile.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 16:56

    For those with decent Optus reception and tolerable data speed, the extra gig relative to Boost has seen, oddly, Amaysim come back into the frame as 'value', especially given the recent 'new-signup' demise of Woolies…

    …and, um, fine, cloudy, I pay $100 a month for all my mobile phone and data services. Lucky you, and others.

  • cameldownunder on 22/10/2013 - 18:42

    noticed that Amasym charges by the MB …. not really happy about it, will keep the data usage in eye.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 18:57
      +2

      Most of the prepaids round up 'sessions' in 1MB increments - including Aldi.

      Biggest issue for most people may arise if they have data enabled while driving. Every connection dropout, be it tunnel or tower related will make for a rounding increment.

      Dropouts are not exactly uncommon even at the best of times on Optus, but despite lots of conjecture on the subject, I have otherwise come to believe that a 'session' constitutes the normal dropping-out of the 'handshake' data connection between your phone and the tower you are in the vicinity of (when not driving).
      In my experience that happens about 10 minutes after last download. Background data updates can keep that 'session' open, or if your paranoid about keeping a session open, you can download and setup a ping program on your phone.

      I did that back a couple of years ago when I was briefly on an Optus plan that had truly appalling 10MB increments in play. Since then, couldn't really be stuffed.

    • retiredfeline on 22/10/2013 - 19:32
      +2

      I found this roundup to be less of an issue than people think. As mentioned, this is a session roundup, but sessions are more long-lived than people think and certainly has nothing to do with a single web page, or mail item. This is from experience with leaving mobile data on all the time while travelling around. At the end of a couple hours I find that I've only used a few MB of data, this with a few mail accounts syncing, checking webmail, message apps and of course checking OzBargain.

      Perversely, turning mobile data on and off in an attempt to save usage may result in lots of sessions.

      But it all depends on your phone, the signal, the coverage and other factors.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 19:55

        Yep, my experience too. The pointer to people driving (and maybe contemplating turning data off), as you say, very much depends on personal circumstance, location etc.

  • PresidentClinton on 22/10/2013 - 19:04
    +2

    If anyone here moves to Boost, we will come after you.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 19:24
    +2

    For people who use a lot of data, but make very few calls and text, you can get 5GB of data for $25 per month from Yatango. From memory, I think that if you add just a small amount of phone/text, you will be able to save relative to the Amaysim 4GB offer.
    You can also choose a 10GB monthly data component for $40, if you're keen.

  • Steptoe on 22/10/2013 - 21:01
    +2

    BUGGER!

  • cosjav on 22/10/2013 - 21:04

    Does anyone know if they have a port out fee (couldn't see any mention of porting out - only porting in)? They shouldn't be allowed to charge a port out fee when they make a change like this.

    Cutting the data in half is crazy… I mainly switched to Aldi mobile for the data and the Telstra network.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2013 - 21:14
      +1

      There won't be a port-out fee.

    • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2013 - 10:17

      The ALDI Telstra access is actually quite limited once you get away from the big smoke. I have recently been travelling frequently by road between Sydney & the mid north of South Australia. The ALDI mobile would generally only have reception in major towns and villages and drop out very quickly away from them. My full on Telstra work supplied mobile seems never out of range, even coming across the Hay Plain.

      But then, most of you here are prolly City Slickers, so it shoudn't be an issue <wink>.

      • _Bruce_ on 25/10/2013 - 15:35

        This is strange. There is only a very small difference in the number of towers used. Were you using different types of phones?

      • killergreely on 29/10/2013 - 18:35
        +1

        That shouldn't really be the case. If you can get 3G reception on a Telstra sim, you'd also expect to get it on an Aldi one, with all bar a very few exceptions. Perhaps your Telstra mobile is 4G? Now that would definitely account for the discrepancy.

        We just completed a driving holiday from the Gold Coast, down the coast through Sydney, then the Hume Hwy to Melbourne. From there we went to Tassie on the Ferry and did a huge figure-8 around the island. After returning, we went via the Great Ocean Road and Mt Gambier to Adelaide. Then went via Mildura, Broken Hill, Cobar, Bourke and home.

        Had two 3G modems, one sharing a Telstra and Aldi sim, the other had an Amaysim one. All I can say is that unless you're in a major town, the Optus network is useless. Even in some major centres, we had decent reception on the Optus network, but throughput was lousy. The only places it worked with any reliability was along the major towns along the major highways. In many parts of Tasmania, there was zero Optus reception, particularly up and down the east and west coasts. On the other hand, the other modem chugged along pretty well in most places, with either the Telstra or the Aldi sim in it.

        Certain areas of outback South Australia and that whole area around Broken Hill are bad for any network, Telstra included, as we discovered.

  • abacus on 23/10/2013 - 01:00
    +4

    Went from 2 weeks of Kogan to 2 months of Aldi to ……….

  • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 09:44

    I know it doesnt help with data (since this is only 1.5GB) but the RAPID-M is still the best plan ive seen; anywhere.
    http://www.liveconnected.com.au/mobile-plans-4g

    • Soybeanus on 23/10/2013 - 12:57

      I think that's what I'm on. It's pretty decent.

  • wako on 23/10/2013 - 12:59
    +1

    I really wish a telco would do a UNLIMITED deal in 7, 14, 21 days, ESP. 21 days.

    If they did and was on telstra network, Would be mighty popular with FIFO workers…

    So how much cash you need to Open and run a telco?!

    • MasterScythe on 23/10/2013 - 13:14

      Its called prepaid. Your service remains active for a year even if you empty it.
      So just recharge on a 30 day voucher and you're good to go.
      If you're only there for 7 days, probably go with Virgin and opt for the 365day expiry.

  • Geekomatic on 23/10/2013 - 15:28

    @kenni_33—> where are you located & how would you rate the reception quality for phone & data?

    Is anyone here from the south of Mandurah area in WA & on Amaysim?

    I'm on Voda contract until next month. Used to be okay, but where I've moved to the coverage is spotty. I do use data- probably in the 2GB range…Any recommends?

    Ta! :)

  • movieman on 24/10/2013 - 09:01

    That's really sad news…

    Finally Aldi brought good competition to the market, and now the data (which is what I NEED), is halved.

    Thanks Telstra! (sarcastic thanks)!

  • MementoMori on 24/10/2013 - 09:03

    This is obviously an anti-competitive dodgy from Telstra!

    How can we, as professionals, fight this?

    ACCC? Telecoms ombudsman?

    I have already driven around town to buy two sims but have not even activated.

    • MasterScythe on 24/10/2013 - 09:22
      +3

      See the excuse is sound, but the proof isn't there.
      We're slightly to blame. I lived fine without data when I was about 5 years younger. And up until recently, my 250mb was more than enough to check a price, or get directions.

      If I wanted movies, or I wanted music, I'd encode it at home and put it on my SD card. Youtube wasn't even an option (and a HUGE waste of data for a video, if all you want is audio).

      Suddenly every man and his dog are consuming multi-GB a month on their phone, because they didnt prepare offline media before leaving (or you know, cant read a book).

      The claim is we're out of bandwidth.

      Dont misunderstand, I'm a total geek and love the idea of 'Anything, Anytime' but for the same reason we're behind 15 years on our wired internet speed is why prices for data are rising.

      Assuming the bandwidth claim to be true;
      More people, more phones, more media, BUT no more capacity.
      While lowering data doesn't relieve congestion on a theoretical level, in practice, people get a lot more 'careful' about when they use data.
      Basically if people are worried about having data charges, usage drops by about 1/3 (i calculated that long ago from seeing how limited broadband caps affected people in a few mates share houses).

      My plan is with Virgin (optus) and I'd love if the congestion was less, so when I look up a basic price comparison, or need to know if that spider was poisonous; I don't have to wait up to 1 minute for a 200kb page to load; while some kid streams a stationary 'video' with music to it.

      But we consume more, and we don't have enough new towers going up, nor enough backbone to support them all. The NBN will change this, but we have a few years to wait yet.

      But that's the logical side talking…. in reality….
      Give me data, give me cheap, I'm a huge geek and proud of it.
      Keep sharing good plans! :D

      • rekabkram on 24/10/2013 - 12:03
        +1

        I really wish that this was the case, congestion in the market causing a backlog that is making the networks to drive up costs so that they can control the congestion and upgrade infrastructure.

        However if this were the case then I have a couple of points:

        • Wouldn't heavy congestion be a driving force behind lower speeds rather than the higher speeds that we've been seeing? You could argue that upgraded infrastructure is behind the speed bumps (with next g and LTE that is certainly the case) but not only do we have great speed but we are getting consistent speed with fewer drop outs then ever before.

        • If the rising cost of data was attributed to upgrading infrastructure then it would be heavily advertised as is all of the telcos missions. I'm not referring to new tech because Aldi doesn't use new tech, I'm referring to increasing the capacity of the old tech and why would they invest heavily in old tech when they are merely on selling it?

        Telstra is the best Telco in Australia for almost all Australians. They have been providing far too good a service at an exceptional cost for around a year now and they are taking customers from all other networks but also loosing a lot from their own. If you go through Telstra's plans and try to get a comparable deal then you will need to pay $100 a month (without a phone, $130 a month with one both cases are locked in to a 24 month contract) and your only advantage is faster network speed.

        To sum up what may seem like a rant that is flying in circles; Telstra has the best service and can charge for it. They have demonstrated that they have the means to offer over 5gb of data a month to over 200,000 people without a hitch that's a petabyte of data per month on outdated tech not counting what their own customers used. There isn't the congestion that is perceived or being reported as the problem, it's a company that has seen a way to make bigger profits while offering less service (people having to pay for extra data packets or moving back on to Telstra's own network).

        It won't be getting better when the NBN comes out, either Telstra will be cashing in twice with the govenment renting their tech and Telstra being able to charge customers for the privelidge. Hopefully what we will see is sell off of its old tech to another company that wants to break in to Australian Telco….. Ozbargain group buy?

    • onlyletters on 24/10/2013 - 12:58

      Return them.

  • onlyletters on 24/10/2013 - 09:52

    And I was just about to switch LOL! They have next to no customer service, boost is worth the extra $5

    • Steptoe on 24/10/2013 - 19:53

      Looks like the $10 credit got axed too :(

      • [Deactivated] on 24/10/2013 - 22:08

        Yes, the $10 international call credit is gone too. An extra blow for some. Half the data cake and the icing as well…

    • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2013 - 10:21

      … and how long before Boost scales back?

  • mooreshady on 25/10/2013 - 10:38

    if they can't half the price of this, then there will still be woohoo! instead of boohoo now.

  • punk on 25/10/2013 - 19:41
    +3

    on a side note, this is why Telstra shouldn't go anywhere near the NBN

  • MementoMori on 26/10/2013 - 17:03

    Why don't the just shape the data??

    2.5gb super fast, then Vodaphone speed after that.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/10/2013 - 17:27

      Interesting idea, but I suspect the technical challenges and expense involved in implementing it would 'interesting'. A dynamic - or even a static - 3G apn connection to a network is rather different to a physical fixed-line one.

      Oh, and where I live, I'm actually getting faster speeds on Vodafone than I was during my (brief) Kogan/Telstra experience!

      • MementoMori on 26/10/2013 - 23:12

        If anyone can implement it they'd be a winner.

        Facebook/email/web/iM it's all pretty low bandwidth stuff and would still work OK for that important message. All the video/music/app downloaders kinda stuff it up for the rest of us.

        Might make people aware of their usage.

        • MasterScythe on 28/10/2013 - 12:40

          Hell, I've got a mate who uses his remaining monthly data to torrent. lol
          Talk about abuse!

        • _Bruce_ on 28/10/2013 - 12:43

          Talk about abuse!

          Why is this abuse? If you get a quota, how is using it abuse?

          Unless you are implying that the content being torrented is the issue, but what does this have to do with the phone plan?

        • MasterScythe on 28/10/2013 - 12:55
          +1

          I use it in the context of 'abusing the situation'.
          Especially on optus, we have pretty bad oversaturation. without adding torrenting to the mix.

          Is that "Damn everyone else, I'll use it how I want" attitude.
          We all have it a bit, but sometimes its purely unnecessary.

        • _Bruce_ on 28/10/2013 - 17:48
          +1

          Still don't follow you. You are paying for an amount of data. If the network can't handle it that is the telco's problem, not yours.

  • MementoMori on 14/05/2015 - 13:43

    Re-visiting this thread 1.5 years later… $35 for unlimited calls/texts and 2.5GB data is now not bad… sadly!

    Does anyone know if Aldi allow personal hotspot?

    • MementoMori on 28/05/2015 - 18:54
      +1

      For everyone else's benefit I called them today and the answer is yes

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