Griff Live

The move from an old Westnet Optus Adsl 2 plan to the new plans that require Telstra has been a nightmare. Firstly you have to have the phone line ported back to Telstra. This was organised and finally worked a week after it was scheduled.

The new ADSL 2 application was done on the 5 March and today 13 March Westnet send us a SMS that all is completed, but no we are now without a working phone line and no ADSL 2. To be told the problem has been handballed back to Telstra as its an exchange issue and will be done who knows next week when they can send a tech as no one works weekends is appalling.

They then tell you to ring them if the issue is not resolved. Customer service winners my arse. I will not ring again as I’m at breaking point dealing with both Westnet and Telstra. The phone worked yesterday and now its back to square 1 dealing with OS call centres. The most hillarious part is they have no issue sending you a bill for the service. Dealing with Telco’s and alike here in Australia is a joke.

The question you may ask is why switch plans? Well the new Telstra line plans are $40-$50 per month cheaper.  You would think as a long time client they would not stiff you for the money, connection fees etc and at least inform you that there are better options available.

I wish what I have been through was an isolated incident, but many of my friends have experienced similar situations with their providers.

#Customer service, #fail

Australia’s largest ISP Telstra has ruled out participating in the Federal Government’s controversial Internet filtering trial due to what it calls ‘customer management issues’.

The ISP has released a statement clarifying its position on the impending technical trials.

It is understood the Federal Government has invited some 400-plus ISPs to participate – so Telstra’s decision is undoubtedly a blow to Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy’s proposal.

“Telstra is not in a position to participate in the Government’s Internet filtering trial, primarily due to customer management issues,” a Telstra spokesperson said.

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The iPhone release here in Perth has been dismal at best, very poorly launched and i wish i could say over hyped and under delivered but that would give undue credit where it is not due.

I have been amazed at the lack of advertising here for the iPhone and today i walked into the city center from my office to check first hand what was happening.

[Show as slideshow]

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I have just received a huge amount of email and texts in regards to what Telstra’s data plans will be for the iPhone release here in Australia tomorrow. I had to read the article a few times and honestly still can’t believe it to be true. Are you sitting down?

According to a preliminary report from financial analyst outfit Citi Smith Barney, the telco’s pricing will mirror its existing mobile phone plans (click on table below).

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The Next G iPhone 3G plans start at AU$30 per month with an upfront cost of AU$279 for the 8GB model and AU$399 for the 16GB model, although the 8GB model is free on AU$80 plans and the 16GB model is free on AU$100 plans. All plans require a 24-month contract.

Telstra has confirmed it will make Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone available on its mobile network.

The carrier released a statement today vindicating earlier reports by The Australian that the telco had reached a distribution agreement with Apple for the handset, sub rosa.

The agreement has been finalised in time for Telstra to make the iPhone available for its July 11 launch.

Telstra’s consumer group managing director David Moffatt said the carrier’s Next G network would be able to provide coverage for iPhone handsets to 99 per cent of the population.

“Australians are very excited about iPhone 3G and we’re delighted to bring this product to them on Telstra’s high-speed Next G network,” Mr Moffatt said.

Telstra was the last of Australia’s major three carriers to announce plans to distribute the iPhone. Vodafone and Optus announced their plans to distribute the iPhone in May as part of master agreements covering several international markets in which they operate.

Sources close to Telstra said that Apple and the carrier had taken longer to finalise their agreement due to differences over content services to be provided on the handset.

Also, Telstra’s handset distributor, Vita Group, which distributes under the Fone Zone brand, recently acquired Apple distributor Next Byte.

Source: Australian IT

Telstra will be the third Australian mobile provider to sell the iPhone in Australia, fueling speculation of the imminent launch of a 3G iPhone.

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