Query re. Optus

• 

  mrstoo on 09/01/2009 - 00:40

  +1

  I don't have an answer to your question; however there's a thread on whirlpool that discusses the same issue that you may find helps answer your query:

  http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/111…

  Virgin is owned by Optus and also uses the same network.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 09/01/2009 - 09:15

  Other sim card providers that use Optus are

  TPG, Soul, Isim

  Also 3 network here uses different phones - their phones cant be used on other networks so guess their sims cant be used in normal GSM phones.

• 

  Diodorus Siculus on 09/01/2009 - 11:14

  Thanks for those; looks like Virgin is out of the equation then.

  Incidentally, can anyone tell me how easy it is to get a pre-paid sim card in Australia? In Europe they are available in almost any corner shop and here in Philippines and Thailand they are widely available too. Can I just take a walk to my nearest shop and pick one up when I get to Melbourne or do we have to go to a specialised shop?

  Cheers, Dio

• 

  tg786 on 09/01/2009 - 11:50

  +1

  Yeh if your after a particular company ie optus or telstra they have there own shops in most shopping centres, some generic phone stores can sell all brands.

  If not most newsagents and post offices have them yes…

• 

  mrstoo on 09/01/2009 - 12:04

  +1

  You can also pick up a Vodafone prepaid sim from most Woolworths Supermarkets (or Safeway - same supermarket, but different branding in Victoria) for $2. They also offer a 10% discount on the price of the "prepaid cap" top up voucher, so a $29 prepaid voucher (for $150 of call credits - unlike the US/UK which buys you 'minutes') would cost $26.10 and so on.

  http://vodafone.com.au/personal/prepaid-mobile/prepaid-mobil…

• 

  Diodorus Siculus on 09/01/2009 - 12:43

  All very helpful; thank you. Looks like Vodafone have the best options for overseas callings seems that I can no longer use Optus/Virgin.
  Out of interest, Woolworths seems to be going fine over there? It collapsed in the UK over Christmas and most (maybe all) stores are now closed. End of an era in many ways…

  Cheers, Dio

  • 

    scotty on 09/01/2009 - 15:41

    Out of interest, Woolworths seems to be going fine over there? It collapsed in the UK over Christmas and most (maybe all) stores are now closed.

    According to Wikipedia's Woolworths entry:

    Woolworths Group was the owner of the Woolworths chain of high street shops in the UK (originally part of the F.W. Woolworth company, but separate since 1982).

    and

    Woolworths Limited is the largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand. Although named after the F.W. Woolworth Company (above), it has no other connection with its U.S. namesake

    So I guess they are not related…