You can often pick up a discounted mobile phone from the supermarkets, but it is usually locked to a network. How much then is the unlock fee?
Telstra
From the Telstra site.
You can unlock your Telstra Pre-Paid mobile, iPhone or mobile broadband devices, so it works on another network - but if you’ve had it activated on the Telstra network for less than two years, we charge:
$80 for devices never activated or only active for six months or less
$25 for devices activated for six months to 2 years.
Good to know
After two years, we don’t charge an unlocking fee.
Optus
From the Optus site
Have you recharged your service to a minimum / accumulated amount of $80.00?
Yes: There is no fee to network unlock your handset
No: How long has your service been active?
Less than 6 months: There is an $80 fee
More than 6 months: There is a $25 fee
Vodafone
From the Vodafone site.
If you purchased your device outright to use with a prepaid service, there'll be a fee to unlock it from the Vodafone network.
If you’ve had your device for less than 6 months there’s a $50 unlocking fee.
If you’ve had your device for over 6 months there’s a $25 unlocking fee.
Other information
The above assumes the mobile is purchased for use on a prepaid plan. If you purchase a mobile on a plan from a telco, it may or may not be locked.
In my experience I've purchased a Optus USB/Wi-Fi on prepaid but the device was not locked. I've had two devices unlocked from Telstra, but a third was too old and they didn't have the unlock information available. They were going to get the information and send it to me but the information never arrived. The lessons here are test your device to see if it is locked, and if it is locked, don't wait too long before unlocking the device.
Overall I feel Vodafone's devices are the worst as you always have to pay an unlocking fee. With Optus and Telstra after two years, you can get the device unlocked. With Optus, if you spend more than $80, you can get the device unlocked earlier.
Overall this would mean the Optus approach is best, Telstra next and Vodafone last.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
Telstra
From the Telstra site.
You can unlock your Telstra Pre-Paid mobile, iPhone or mobile broadband devices, so it works on another network - but if you’ve had it activated on the Telstra network for less than two years, we charge:
$80 for devices never activated or only active for six months or less
$25 for devices activated for six months to 2 years.
Good to know
After two years, we don’t charge an unlocking fee.
Optus
From the Optus site
Have you recharged your service to a minimum / accumulated amount of $80.00?
Yes: There is no fee to network unlock your handset
No: How long has your service been active?
Less than 6 months: There is an $80 fee
More than 6 months: There is a $25 fee
Vodafone
From the Vodafone site.
If you purchased your device outright to use with a prepaid service, there'll be a fee to unlock it from the Vodafone network.
If you’ve had your device for less than 6 months there’s a $50 unlocking fee.
If you’ve had your device for over 6 months there’s a $25 unlocking fee.
Other information
The above assumes the mobile is purchased for use on a prepaid plan. If you purchase a mobile on a plan from a telco, it may or may not be locked.
In my experience I've purchased a Optus USB/Wi-Fi on prepaid but the device was not locked. I've had two devices unlocked from Telstra, but a third was too old and they didn't have the unlock information available. They were going to get the information and send it to me but the information never arrived. The lessons here are test your device to see if it is locked, and if it is locked, don't wait too long before unlocking the device.
Overall I feel Vodafone's devices are the worst as you always have to pay an unlocking fee. With Optus and Telstra after two years, you can get the device unlocked. With Optus, if you spend more than $80, you can get the device unlocked earlier.
Overall this would mean the Optus approach is best, Telstra next and Vodafone last.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
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