February 2020: Telstra launches upfront postpaid plans

[carnachpace]

Another significant change which has been taking place among Australian phone plan buying is the concept of ‘peak smartphone‘. We’re all holding on to our phones longer than we used to. To Telstra, that means acknowledging that a 2-year contract might be right for some, but won’t be right for everyone. Separating the plan cost and phone cost, making their product structure ‘modular’ – providing service elements that people can choose or change as they want to – recognizes the shift and simplifies the choices they are making. Although you can add a device to your separate month-to-month mobile phone plan, you’d have to stay connected for 36 months to keep your monthly device payments low, but they offer 24-month plans as well.

[donaldrsimonn]

Less than 2 years ago, Telstra revamped its entire postpaid plan range, introducing month-to-month no lock-in SIM only plans. However, Telstra has now dumped those normal postpaid plans for upfront postpaid SIM only plans.

Telstra’s new upfront postpaid plans will require you to pay first before your plan becomes active. You will need to have a debit / credit card, or bank on file, because upfront plans require automatic charges by AutoPay on the same date of each month.

That is, unlike previous postpaid plans that sent you a bill at the end of your billing cycle and then gave you 2 weeks to pay, these new upfront postpaid plans will debit your card or bank automatically.

[foyerscraper]

Other than the fact that the new postpaid plans are upfront, Telstra hasn’t changed much. You still get the same data inclusions at the same price points, as well as no excess data charges (overage charges) (which we think is one of the fairest treatment of data in Australia).

However, Telstra have added some inclusions and removed some features temporarily, while some features have been removed permanently.

[jordanemu]

Other than the fact that the new postpaid plans are upfront, Telstra hasn’t changed much. You still get the same data inclusions at the same price points, as well as no excess data charges (overage charges) (which we think is one of the fairest treatment of data in Australia).

However, Telstra have added some inclusions and removed some features temporarily, while some features have been removed permanently.

Vodafone launched this scheme for their postpaid plans around a year ago, in recognition of a number of changes in the market. People are holding on to their phones longer and hate to be slugged with extra data charges at $10 per month. Telstra has followed suit and now provides very similar features to Vodafone. Telstra postpaid plans are now month-to-month plans with no lock-in contracts, and you can add a device as well on a lengthy contract while still keeping your mobile plan as month-to-month. This is a big change for Telstra who used to only offer 12-month contracts in the SIM Only space.

[donaldrsimonn]

Overage charges (when you get slugged with another $10 on your bill for exceeding your included data allowance) really annoy customers. Telstra’s new plan range continues their alternative approach, limiting speeds to 1.5mbps when you reach your limit, and you stay connected at that speed for free until your next billing cycle kicks in. Most users find that speed perfectly OK for what they want to do – and preferable to the charged ($10 / GB) alternative.

[carnachpace]

Telstra’s entertainment options are now provided free of charge (included in the price) of their postpaid plans. Users get access to AFL, NRL, and a growing range of women’s sports video content, including some live games.