This was posted 8 years 8 months 12 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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2x 100GB of 4G Telstra Mobile Data for $104 (Requires Sending SMSs)

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2x 100GB of 4G Telstra Mobile Data for $104 (Requires Sending SMSs)
Go to Deal
nicois on 08/08/2015 - 17:31 whirlpool.net.au (4489 clicks)
Last edited 21/08/2015 - 10:35 by 1 other user

Edit: looks like transferring of credit from MBB using 1258888 has NOT been disabled but I am leaving the deal marked as expired as some people are reporting trouble.

Want to get some serious 4g data for use in your dual-sim chinese android devices? Want to stop paying landline fees for ADSL? Don't mind expending a bit of elbow grease? Well, this is for you.

Telstra has a very convoluted set of offers and they have made it hard for their customers to understand the best way of using their offers. I have selected just one specific scenario here. There is a lot more information around for other tricks, if this whets your appetite.

OK, here are the steps. This works at the moment, no idea how long it will last:

  1. Buy two telstra SIMs for $2 each and activate them as Mobile Broadband SIMs. (Alternatively, Telstra livechat can switch a starter pack across for you if you prefer, and you will keep the $30 credit I believe)

  2. Purchase a $50 recharge for each SIM. You now have 12 months' validity on 5Gb of data.

  3. Each day for the next four days, do the following ten times from each Mobile Broadband SIM. You can either put the SIMs in a normal phone, or your MBB device may let you send SMSs via its web interface.

- SMS 1258888 with the word 'transfer'
- enter the phone number of the other MBB SIM
- select $1
- press '1' to confirm

After this, you will have an additional 20Gb of data on each SIM, giving you a total of 25Gb on each. The $50 credit on each is now reduced to $40 (as the 40 transfers cost $0.25, or $10 in total, in each direction).

  1. Do the same as step 3, but as you have $40 instead of $50 credit, you will only get 32 transfers in each direction, yielding an additional 16Gb on each SIM, bringing the total to 5+20+16=41Gb.

  2. Rinse and repeat. Eventually you will run out of credit, and each SIM will have a touch over 100Gb credit.

Remember you will only have 12 months to use it up!

Variations:
- use $140 top-up instead of $50, which will give you 280Gb on each SIM, plus a 2 year expiry.
- if you don't need 100Gb on each SIM, use the 1258888 method to transfer excess funds back to your mobile prepaid account and spend the money on the android play store.
- use something like iMacro for Chrome to help automate the SMS sending
- use something like Tasker on android with this to automatically send SMSs back to the other device.

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closed Comments

  • skazclaw on 08/08/2015 - 19:29
    +1

    This will surely get be fixed if it's publicised so much.

  • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 19:30
    +1

    this method is like gambling. If Telstra closes the loophole, you will lose the bets :). i suggest that buy 4$30 starter kits from Harvey Norman for half price and $2 sim and $50 recharge voucher from coles then activate all sims as prepaid mobile sims except the $2 sim with data pass offer. Then transfer all $30 credit from the mobile sims to the data pass sim using m.telstra.com :) you will get more than 52 Gb of data just for less than 1 day.However, The method above takes quite long. Then with the credit in the data pass sim follow the Op's method to gain more Gbs. If you like gambling with telstra, just buy 4$30 starter kíts for $20 from cashrewards or pricepal.

    • Sharp on 08/08/2015 - 20:04

      why 4? Why not 3 or 5 or any other quantity?

      • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 20:27

        if you buy more than 4 prepaid sim starter kits, they will cancel your orders :)

    • sushi-x on 09/08/2015 - 20:23

      apologies in advance but how do I"transfer all $30 credit from the mobile sims to the data pass sim using m.telstra.com is it using CreditMe2U?

      • hihi on 09/08/2015 - 20:44
        +1

        you have to turn off your wifi first then click recharge, you'll see creditme2u option just input your data pass sim number then after you have successfully transfer $1 to your data pass sim, just wait at that page for 2 mins and then refresh the page, it'll take about 48 mins to transfer all $30 credit :). That's way you can do even higher amount

        • sushi-x on 10/08/2015 - 22:26

          damn o well I did 1 sim card, we'll just see if Telstra's limited the data transfer.

    • tighty on 10/08/2015 - 05:43

      Does this method still work?

  • zombie hunter on 08/08/2015 - 19:35
    -1

    200Gb on yum cha phone, me think the radio in it would overheat and expire….

  • umoddbro on 08/08/2015 - 19:49

    Let's see how long it'll take before Telstra addresses this loophole.

    • ash2000 on 08/08/2015 - 20:00
      +5

      Indeed……My guess is before lunch time this Monday.

    • nicois on 08/08/2015 - 20:11

      How many people do you think already take advantage of this offer? And how influential do you think this post will be?

      Sure, the purpose of my posting this here was to help those who are bargain hunters but don't have the interest/patience to trawl through the more technical websites, but are willing to put in a bit of effort.

      Even if everyone who +1ed this post actually went out and followed the instructions, 100-200 additional people using this offer will be insignificant to Telstra. It will only be when fairfax writes an article that Telstra would begin to reconsider their strategy.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2015 - 20:16
        +2

        considering it was posted about 2 hours ago it already has 932 clicks

      • lgacb08 on 08/08/2015 - 20:51
        +2

        well I don't think it's just additional 100-200, maybe in the thousands. Last time someone posted the free AFL/NRL 12month subscription, Telstra complained and mod had to took it down.

        • benbarren on 09/08/2015 - 08:34
          +1

          have really been enjoying my free thx ozb afl live subscription this year and dont mind getting a nab afl email on how my fantasy team is doing. fantasy indeed! free hell yeh! now if they could just make it HD or at least 720p like the international afl stream so it looks better when chromecasted!

      • bonz on 08/08/2015 - 21:48
        +3

        It only takes a few dozen clickers from here to repost this on their facebook, twitter, reddit etc. Just use your imagination, might as well call Telstra and point them to this post.

        • daver on 08/08/2015 - 22:04

          It just contrived gbytes [not a real value \ google dosh] so not as though clients will just uL 20gigs per weekend like a ability with vodka's deal. Besides @$75/megabit is fixed link rplcmt.

        • Charity on 08/08/2015 - 22:07
          +1

          sadly, someone usually does.

    • cdaddy on 08/08/2015 - 23:20

      I'm with him. You've killed this

      • scheps on 08/08/2015 - 23:28
        +3

        It will be interesting to see how many people expect to be able to use the full $50 for bonus mbs then a couple of days in telstra pulls this resulting in a bunch of people with almost 50 dollars left in each sim.

        • HardQuiz on 09/08/2015 - 01:51

          That is why I won't gamble

    • iratepirate on 09/08/2015 - 15:26
      +2

      Why? because Nicois has a Google Play Store app that buys your google credit for half value. If people are using 1258888 to transfer it back out he doesn't make money…

      https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nikkell.pa…

  • devpress on 08/08/2015 - 20:13

    N00b question, but can I use the data through a tethered device?

    • Sharp on 08/08/2015 - 20:22
      +2

      Yes

  • chocohoney on 08/08/2015 - 20:15
    +1

    I have the starter packs… which plan should i activate it with? I'm planning to transfer the credits into the $2 sim card.

    • Sharp on 08/08/2015 - 20:21

      You have to charge the $2 sim with $50 first to get 12 months expiry.

      • chocohoney on 08/08/2015 - 20:33

        Yes, i will recharge the $2 sim with $50 first… and then I want to activate the $30 starter kits, does it matter which plan I choose?

        • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 20:56

          You can transfer all $24+ $6 fee using m.telstra.com otherwise it's $10 limit a day

        • Sharp on 09/08/2015 - 08:07

          No, doesn't matter for this purpose.

    • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 20:32

      as long as it's a prepaid mobile offer it doesn't matter, but i think the freedom should be best with 1.3gb and $220. then transfer all $30 to the $2 sim which you need to activate on data pass offer. every $1 gives 3 days expiry so just keep transferring credit every 3 days or just recharge $50 to get 12 months expiry

      • chocohoney on 08/08/2015 - 20:48

        thanks for your reply, that was helpful. would you also know, as I have another tablet starter kit, if the same would work if i activated it as a data plan?

        • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 20:54

          it would work. i have also a data sim and it would work until now using sms transfer method, so just text "Transfer" to 1258888 :)

  • hamwhisperer on 08/08/2015 - 20:17

    I would love about half this amount of data for half the cost :( I need a SIM chock full of data for a traveller who is visiting me for a month (she's accustomed to ATnT unlimited)
    Being on TLS network would be ideal though, actually good.

    • annarchon on 08/08/2015 - 20:43

      You don't need that much data. 5GB should it.

      ATT's unlimited isn't unlimited. Throttles after 3GB for 3G or 5GB for LTE.

      http://www.att.com/esupport/datausage.jsp?source=IZDUel11600

      • Charity on 08/08/2015 - 22:11

        throttled data is still unlimited.

        • Charity on 08/08/2015 - 22:49

          @garratt torlesse: can't read your link, (just 1st paragraph) i'm not a subscriber … :(

          but the definition of throttled = still can use data, but it will be slower.

          The story does sound similar to our "cap" plans here. Nothing is actually capped. Go over the quota = extra charges. But our "FCC" does nothing… :(

        • Ronnnie on 08/08/2015 - 23:31

          @Son ofa Zombie:

          American telcos are so misleading, they throttle your speed to like old dial up speed. Which is basically unusable for today's internet.

      • hamwhisperer on 09/08/2015 - 00:06

        I agree with you but we're together for a month, travelling around and she's accustomed to using her phone as if data is unlimited. Since I only get 1gb, I wanna piggy back us off a wifi hotspot and then not have to hugely worry.
        I estimate in reality she'll use from 3 to 10gb in 20 days

  • daver on 08/08/2015 - 20:34
    +1

    1. ash reward $5 sim translated to $30 android market may cost them more profit

    2. My belief, voda phone will leave zerorated/flat rate data weekend open to all, that leave just optus the odd lady out.

  • dumdidum on 08/08/2015 - 20:44

    Hey guys I've got 9 $30 starter kits from the $1 deals. 1 I've used by activating on longlife then changing to simplicity.

    Can I use the other 8 packs to take advantage of this deal?

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2015 - 20:47

    Can you transfer the data from one sim to the other once done?
    OR do you end up having to keep one sim safe and switch it out when the first one runs out?

    Would be awesome for my laptop, take it the data can't be used at all overseas?

    • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 21:02

      you have to keep one sim safe. If you just buy a $2 sim and some $30 starter kits. It would be quicker or if you follow the method above it would take months to transfer forth and back :). That's time telstra may stop you from doing this

  • nookular on 08/08/2015 - 20:53

    If there is still lots of data left on a sim and it's nearing the expiry date, by adding another $50 recharge would the expiry date be extended and the unused data rollover for another year?

    • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 20:58
      +1

      yes " ROLL OVER YOUR UNUSED DATA & RECHARGE CREDIT
      When you recharge before your expiry date."

      • nookular on 08/08/2015 - 21:32

        Thanks. I might go with 2x sims plus 4x $50 recharges then, taking advantage of the Coles discount.

        • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 22:47
          +4

          don't buy 4$50 recharge, just buy a $2 sim and 4$30 telstra starter kits half price from harvey norman and a $50 recharge. That's way you save more. just activate all sims then transfer all $30 credit into the $2 sim then you will get 52gb and 146 credit. then transfer the credit to the $30 sim then transfer back to the $2 sim. or if you need 2 data pass sim just buy 2$2 sim and some starter kits, 250 voucher recharge, just transfer all credit to the data pass sims then transfer the credit between those data pass sims back and forth. That's the way to save more and just in case telstra closes this loophole, you still have 52gb.

        • nookular on 08/08/2015 - 23:20
          +1

          @hihi: Appreciate the help …will start the process tomorrow.

        • Phoebus on 09/08/2015 - 00:07
          +1

          @hihi: but.. Transferring credit from starter packs doesn't extend the expiry of the Data does it? So you'll still need to do the $50 recharge if you want 1 year of life.

        • hihi on 09/08/2015 - 01:34
          +1

          @Phoebus: that's why i mentioned to buy a $50 voucher recharge above otherwise keep transferring credit every 3 days

        • Phoebus on 09/08/2015 - 10:48

          I feel it's such a waste activating the $30 starter kits just for the $30 credit.
          The data allowance and calls get wasted unless you can use it somehow.
          Donate the SIM to the poor after you've transferred the credit.

  • chloden on 08/08/2015 - 21:05

    Is there any way to do this and have credit to make phone calls. What I would like to do it have this data and then send $20 or so each month via credit Me2u for phone calls for my daughter

    • Phoebus on 08/08/2015 - 21:12
      +1

      I use VoIP for outgoing calls.
      You can still receive calls on the mobile number associated with the Data Pass SIM, so long as the SIM is in a phone. You can also receive and send SMSs, though I think sending an SMS costs 30 cents credits.

    • sween64 on 09/08/2015 - 09:14

      You could have your daughter on the Simplicty offer and CM2U credit as required.

      • chloden on 09/08/2015 - 09:26

        I didn't write that very well, I meant for my daughter to have this credit and then I can send her money from my sim, so having call credit on the sim with all the data

  • congo on 08/08/2015 - 21:12

    Instead of the message to 1258888, you can use credit me2u for the same effect?

    • nicois on 08/08/2015 - 21:15

      Not from a recently-activated MBB SIM

    • daver on 08/08/2015 - 21:21

      That has cost= $2.5 a GB whereas newer glitch seems at least 2 bucks cheaper.

      And to think a SMS used to cost equal to 1 new and improved [25¢] GB.

      • kima on 10/08/2015 - 03:56

        whereas newer glitch seems at least 2 bucks cheaper.

        how is it cheaper?

        • daver on 10/08/2015 - 06:25

          Just meant the more effective method to stack up Data 500MB

          Restricted cM2U takes a $1.25 each $transfer from mobile, i.e: 8 transfers per $10: allowed ~4GB; $8 left tied to MBB A/C.
          The new method cycling SMSs b/w mbb cards enable 5x more tx per $10: results in 40x500 MB (20GB). This just my reading.

  • idlehunter on 08/08/2015 - 21:30

    Does that mean with $30 prepaid started kit ill only have to recharge further 20 to be able to do this? Apologies for the ignorance but i havent ever used a telstra prepaid kit. Thanks in advance.

    • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 23:54
      +1

      no you need actual $50 voucher, if you just recharge $20 it would give you less than a month to use

  • cretin on 08/08/2015 - 21:32

    So each $1 transfer gives 500mb. But this bonus data is only available for 3 days. With the starter pack deal you 'lock' em in with a long recharge. With this deal you apply the bonus after the long recharge, so do they actually stick around after 3 days from the last credit transfer?

    • sween64 on 09/08/2015 - 09:15

      There is one data bucket with a single expiry date.

  • lolmao on 08/08/2015 - 21:52
    +11

    This is not a deal as intended by Telstra. Perhaps it should be moved to the forums where it won't attract as much attention.

    • giantbike on 08/08/2015 - 22:03
      +3

      +1 Like the "price error" post.

  • pea on 08/08/2015 - 21:53
    +2

    I never understood the glitch until now (even after reading the wiki many times) so thanks for the simple steps.

    • Bargain Seeker on 08/08/2015 - 22:08
      +3

      I agree, thanks, you are brilliant OP. Also I think it should go to forums to attract less interest and also as it is a lifehack rather

      • WatchNerd on 08/08/2015 - 23:19
        +13

        So in other words - because you now know about it, you want it moved so less people see it.

    • philart on 09/08/2015 - 19:27

      If you took this hook line and sinker you still don't. You can score 500MB data via $1 transfers. A $30 kit gives you 24 x $1.25 creditme2u transfers to a data sim and yields 12,000MB so that is 11.718GB. You can't then do creditme2u back from a data sim, only call sims.

  • DEvok on 08/08/2015 - 22:10
    -1

    I'm sure if you ask online chat nicely to do the transfers 100 times automatically on their side they would help, that what they are there for!

    • Charity on 08/08/2015 - 22:16
      +5

      lol… don't do that… that is a good way to get the deal shut down!

      • DEvok on 08/08/2015 - 22:57

        I won't buddy, I was just saying, I will wait for a few more guys to try this out if it really works, then I wouldn't mind throwing in $100, Since I bought like 6 $15 starter packs last week, because $100" is a lot of money if something goes wrong.

        • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 23:51

          if you activate all your 6*$15 starter packs today, transfer all credit into $2 sim, you would have 72 gb to use within 3 days then go to coles and buy a $50 voucher, it would be 77gb in total by tomorrow. Then transfer the credit in the $2 sim follow the method above :)

    • stirlo on 08/08/2015 - 22:24

      It can't be done, Telstra internal systems don't work for transfers like this

  • Splashtash on 08/08/2015 - 22:42

    I thought it wasnt possible to send credits back and forth with 2x data pass prepaid plans? or do u need to recharge the $50 for it to work?

    • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 22:49
      +1

      just need credit on the sims. only way it would work is 1258888 (just send "transfer" to 1258888)

      • Splashtash on 08/08/2015 - 22:50

        thanks will try with my 4x $1 sims i got from previous deal <3 legend

        • hihi on 08/08/2015 - 22:53
          +1

          just remember that data bonuses only lasts 3 days so you need to recharge it with a large credit or keep transferring credit every 3 days.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2015 - 22:48

    Can i try this on a $10 recharge (or whatever minimum is) Just to test & make sure it will work for me?

    Edit: Or use the $30 starter pack credit..

    • sween64 on 09/08/2015 - 09:17

      Yes.

  • konholyoh on 08/08/2015 - 23:05

    Interesting concept, may give it a try.

    I just normally transfer $10 credit from my Freedom prepaid mobile account to my cellular iPad Mini 2 mobile data account every 14 days.

    That way, i get around 1.1GB of data every 14 days on my iPad Mini 2, and it keeps extending (based off my last recharge rate of 0.81c per MB).

    • DEvok on 09/08/2015 - 04:13

      From Op post

      "OK, here are the steps. This works at the moment, no idea how long it will last"

      Meaning in theory it could work doesn't mean that it will work, As Op said, this would work but he doesn't say he has actually tried Any of it, he clearly explains it but better if it's confirmed working to be on the safe side, or your gonna have many raging ozbarginers, anyone willing to toss $100 and try?

      • nicois on 09/08/2015 - 08:37
        -2

        I have seven MBB sims with about 400gb total. Five I have locked in with a 12 month expiry, one with 24 months, and one I am topping up every day so only has a 3 day expiry (but 150gb data).

        I haven't done exactly the process laid out but I have done every component of it, just in different orders.

  • cdaddy on 08/08/2015 - 23:10

    Is there a $10 transfer limit per 24hrs?

    • scheps on 08/08/2015 - 23:22

      yea unless you pay more and do online

  • simmos on 08/08/2015 - 23:29

    Thinking about the long term, as a user of about 25Gb/year, with 2X100GB of credit it will last me 8 years - possible by doing top-ups on both SIMs of $50 prior to expiry. This means ~$100/year for virtually unlimited data even if they block this loophole, the credits will still remain as long as annual 365day validity top-ups are executed. Awesome!

    • scheps on 08/08/2015 - 23:40

      just keep in mind, it will take you a long time to accumulate the 100gb and you might not get there depending on when telstra pulls this.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2015 - 23:53

    Is it a $0.25 fee or standard $0.25 message cost we're paying while doing this method? Wonder if we could get ourselves data for absolutely nothing if we managed to come across some free txt messages…

    • mweston on 08/08/2015 - 23:57

      Nope, it's a $0.25 fee for the CreditMe2U transfer. It applies no matter what method is used to initiate the transfer (except in some instances where the transfer is handled by Telstra support).

    • Mooncakes on 08/08/2015 - 23:57

      the fee is for transferring the credit over not for the actual message.

  • congo on 09/08/2015 - 00:06

    Will this work on two prepaid $30 starter packs?

    • [Deactivated] on 09/08/2015 - 00:38

      Not sure how that'd go, if it did work you'd be stuck with 1 month expiry though; not one year.

      • congo on 09/08/2015 - 08:15
        +1

        You can top each SIM up afterwards to get the long expiry?

        • jdf on 09/08/2015 - 08:28

          yes wondering the same too.

  • auna on 09/08/2015 - 00:58
    +2

    Similar to the famous Greater Union / Event Cinemas "deal" this is a detriment to everyone as a whole. Someone will undoubtedly ask a telstra rep if this is a legit offer, or do something similar to spark attention.

    • kima on 09/08/2015 - 08:26

      Hi auna can you please link to what event cinemas "deal" your referring too.

      • auna on 10/08/2015 - 04:25
        +1

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/87704?page=2#comment

        That deal saved me maybe $50, but costed me hundreds. I go to the movies heaps and am dependent on codes/deals otherwise it gets out of hand in terms of overall expense.

        What's a legitimate deal and what is a hack/exploit is hard to determine. On face value this Telstra deal is simply combining two offers to their maximum potential and was available for months.

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