Analogue Still Has Its Strengths
THE SUNDAY AGE
Saturday August 31, 1996
WHILE analogue shutdown is only four years away, the cellular phone is still a viable proposition, particularly for people who want a mobile for emergencies, to feel more secure when driving alone, or to stay in touch with family and friends.
Analogue phones are much cheaper than the smaller, more versatile digitals, although the price of the latter is coming down. But it's not so much the cost of the handset as the cost of running the phone.
All mobile phone calls are charged on a time basis, so it's important to select a price plan that is appropriate for your type of use.
Telstra and Optus both offer access charges as low as $10 a month but you need to be careful: the lower the access fee the higher the call charge.
You need to work out which one is best for you. You can switch from one plan to another with just a phone call. Sometimes the service provider will even ring you to say that you'd be better off on the higher access rate.
But you really need to do your own homework. A tip worth keeping in mind if you want to keep those mobile bills as low as possible - and most people do - is to try and restrict your calls to offpeak times. That's between 7pm and 7am and at weekends.
Sunday rates are the same as night rates. You'd be surprised at what a difference it makes to your bill.
© 1996 THE SUNDAY AGE
