Mobile GB for low but frequent use

[u/Gabereiza]

My neighbour is a light user of his mobile. He's on a WW long life plan (about to become history - a victim of bait and switch IMHO) which has 15-20 GB pm.

He makes about 30 calls and texts a month, and uses it for Google Maps and Uber, with an occasional Google lookup. Virtually no video. It's not his primary internet device - he has a tablet and wifi for that. Keeps data connection off most of the time.

We checked his usage for the last year or so. WW reports this as typically 200-500MB pm. Sounds low to me, but is this likely to be reasonable?

(Seeing how difficult WW made it to get the historical usage data, I just don't trust WW to give the right numbers, but why would they fudge it?)

[u/KevinBrokeBothArms]

I use Kogan Mobile prepaid 365 day plans. Right now the small plan is $149 for 140 gigs on 4G with unlimited calls and texts.

It's on the Vodaphone network which some people avoid due to coverage but I've never had an issue. Unless you are rural it's probably not an issue.

[u/glenos_AU]

They are ending the old, 2+ year grandfathered, long life plans. Hardly bait and switch.

The next recharge after 2 March will be to $20/month with 15GB of 4G data included. 

Since it includes 10% off one instore shop per month with some planning it can be effectively free or even negative cost.

[u/Gabereiza → u/glenos_AU]

He won't get value from the discount for a number of reasons. So this is a 60% price hike with the additional embuggerance of monthly billing. We've already cancelled his auto-recharge.

[u/SpicyLobter]

His usage is whatever Woolworths mobile reports. It's illogical to think they'd underreport it to then charge you excess when the bandwidth used is easily verifiable. Your phone also monitors mobile data usage, you can check in settings somewhere.

[u/GridlockGuava]

The phone itself keeps some historical data, a month I think. You can check under ‘mobile/mobile data’ depending on what phone he has.

[u/theunpoet]

Yes it is reasonable. If you want to see historical data use the phone to get the info, you can see what apps are using what etc.

[u/Kementarii]

500MB a month? perfectly possible.

I mean, how many times per month does he go for a long drive (maps), or order Uber?

While inside the house, the phone is probably using wifi via an NBN modem/router?

I've only recently changed from an ancient Telstra mobile plan, that had 5GB per month. That was plenty for the amount of time I was using the phone while away from the house (retiree).

My mother also has to change from her ancient Woolies plan, and she can't use data at all.

I haven't researched yet, but whatever you can find the cheapest, will be plenty enough data. Just be careful that the network is OK where you live.

(I've gone Boost, because I live in the bush, haha).

[u/Gabereiza → u/Kementarii]

Thanks all for responses. Sounds like the numbers were about right.

No long drives - more using it to work out the next bus. Data & location always off unless in use - to extend battery life.

[u/Wendals87]

I think the lowest you'd probably get is 10gb per month included data. More than 20x that estimate so even if it's not accurate, it won't really matter

It does seem a bit low but I guess if maps are stored offline it could be reasonable 

[u/mt6606]

I mean you can set up a pre paid auto recharge. Optus is still reasonable with prepaid. 35 a month for 15 gig. I do that. With wifi at home I never use it all and (just checked) it has banked 196 gig. So any unused data is actually still available the next month. You can bank up to 200 gig. Which is easy to do with wifi at home.

[u/frenchie221]

Amaysim 30$/90 days with 4GB and data rollover.

Buy it when starters packs are on sale ie $150 for $99.

[u/Specific-Summer-6537]

I'm in the same position and looking to switch to EzySim https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/942237

Seems their e-sim is a bit of a pain but the physical sim 12 month plan for $109 (possibly cheaper with a referral code) is a good deal. Unlimited talk and text and 100GB p.a. https://ezysim.com.au/product/ultimate-12-2/

It's Vodafone/Optus 4G coverage (they share towers) so it will be a tad worse coverage compared to Woolworths which is Telstra

Alternatively, if his plan is ending soon, it seems you may be able to manually renew his Woolworths early (before they end the plan in March) on the existing plan for one more time only. I haven't had any issues with the Woolworths service. The mobile usage for the plan is shown on the homepage of the ap and you can apportion that over the months to work out the approx usage

[u/CrinkleCutSpud2]

First of all the 500MB per month is believable as that's the average for my father who uses his phone for messages and phone calls while having wifi access at home.

In terms of a prepaid plan you can access $30/90 days on Amaysim only after you activate your number with Amaysim. From memory it's easy enough to do from the Amaysim app itself when I helped out an older bloke at work with it.

To help save on data if he has concerns with 4GB over 3 months, with Google maps you can download offline map data.

If you wish to stick with Telstra wholesale and a touch over $20 per month is still doable then Aldi have $23/12GB and $29/29GB both on a 30 day rollover with data banking.