Understanding Mobile Phone Plans - Australia
Optus ‘Yes’ Business Smart Plan
Understanding all the different mobile telephone plans on the market can be a difficult task. Choosing the correct plan is an even greater challenge when you are committing to a 12 or even 24 month contract. It is unlikely that any mobile phone company will allow you to downgrade your plan within the contract period, increasing to a higher plan is never a problem!
Today we have decided to look at the ‘Yes’ Business Smart Plan from Optus. I will explain all the different benefits you will receive, look at the rates for calls, SMS, MMS, Voicemail Etc, and also examine any pitfalls.
On this plan whatever your monthly commitment is you will receive ALL of the following:
1) SMART RATE: You pay 10c per 30 seconds to your choice of mobiles or fixed lines, 24hours a day 7 days a week when you opt for a $59 a month plan (Minimum Commitment). If you choose a plan under $59 a month you will receive the same benefit only at 11c per 30 seconds not 10c.
2) SMART FLEET: Free calls, SMS (Text Messages), and MMS (Picture Messages) to ALL other mobiles on the same business account. (This is a huge advantage for business owners, if you had 10 mobiles on the same account mainly calling each other the bills are going to be very low indeed.)
3) BUSINESS TIME: Free 5 Minute calls to 3 numbers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Choose either standard fixed line or any Optus mobile numbers. (Great when combined with smart fleet as the call back to the office or even home can be free.)
4) SMART SHARE: Share the minimum monthly commitments across your business account. (What this means is if you have 10 phones and you commit to $59 a month per phone you are saying that you will pay $590 per month (10 x $59). If 5 mobiles spend $0 and the other 5 spend £118 you will still pay $590 instead of paying 5 x $118 ($590) + 5 X $59($295) (Minimum monthly commitment.
Now you can choose the contract length, obviously the longer the contract the more is available to you.
24 Month contract = New $0 upfront mobile.
12 or 24 Month contract = Bring your own mobile and get a credit on your first bill.
Month - Month = Bring your own mobile or make monthly handset repayments over 12 or 24 months.
Your plan or minimum monthly commitment
This works on a simple sliding scale, they more you commit to the better the rates:
Your Plan 29, 39, 49, 59, 79, 99, 149, 249
Min Monthly $29, $39, $49, $59, $79, $99, $149, $249
Standard Call Rate (Per 30 Secs) 31c, 28c, 27c, 25c, 22c, 20c, 19c, 18c
Flagfall (Call connection) 22c, 22c, 20c, 20c, 20c, 20c, 20c, 20c
National SMS (per message) 25c, 25c, 25c, 25c, 25c, 25c, 25c, 25c
BOLT ONS
Bolt ons are $5 per month each and you can choose as many as you need:
VOICEMAIL: Unlimited voicemail deposits and retrievals 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
SUREPAGE: 20 SurePage messages included, then 50c per message. (SurePage is a service where people who want to leave you a voice message get to speak to a real life operator the operator then forwards it to you as a SMS text message.)
SMS/MMS: $5 worth of SMS/MMS value included then a reduced rate of 10c per SMS/MMS 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
‘YES’ TIME: Free 20 minute calls to Optus Mobiles, 8pm to midnight 7 days a week.
Please note you will receive one free bolt on if you choose a plan $59 or over.
In conclusion this looks like an attractive offer when you combine the Smart Rate, Smart Fleet, Business Time, Smart Share along with good call rates and a free bolt on (Over $59 Plans). However please ensure that you do not over commit to receive the free bolt on and better call rates, this could be costly if opting for a 24 month contract.
As I said at the beginning you will be able to increase your monthly commitment at anytime during the contract but won’t be able to reduce it so ensure that you will use your monthly commitment.
Scott MacLean: A published author, Telecommunications Professional, Sale Trainer, and Public Speaker.
Scott MacLean’s background is with Telewest Broadband (UK) and as a company owner, after moving to Melbourne with his family in 2007 Scott was approached by a company representing, the second largest telecommunication company in Australia and offered a position to provide expert advice to business customers, implement sales training programs and to represent the company at association events.
If you require information regarding wireless broadband internet, mobile telephones, or fixed line systems and infrastructure please email Scott at scottm@obdirect.com