Our Top 5 Mobile Phones FAQs
This page contains commonly asked questions about mobile phone services, and the answers to those questions.
If we have not answered your mobile phone questions below, please feel free to contact us on 1300 733 565.
Note also that our Telecommunications Glossary may also be of use.
)This page also contains a mini-glossary at the base of the page - provided for your immediate reference.)
1. Can we keep the same mobile phone numbers?
Yes.
In September 2001 the Federal Government introduced Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which means that when changing mobile service providers, you can take your number with you.2. Can we change our mobile service provider if one or more of our mobiles is still under contract?
Yes.
But be aware, any mobiles under contract will likely attract early termination fees or charges (ETC's).
(ETCs : are described in the mini-glossary, below.)3. How do we find out whether our mobiles are under contract?
Call your current mobile provider.
The person calling must be an authorised representative on the account. It is also useful to have a copy of the latest bill on hand.
Note: all mobile service providers must provide the following information immediately upon demand.
For each mobile number, the relevant information is:
1) whether the mobile is under contract, and
2) whether it has a handset repayment contract attached.
For any contract, the Payout figure should be obtained.
(The above terms are described in the mini-glossary, below. For clarity: Aussie refers to a mobile contract as a Connection Contract. Handset repayments contracts are called Hardware Contracts. And Payout figures are the ETCs.)4. How much will it cost to break an existing mobile contract?
The outstanding contract amount (plus any additional termination fees).
Your mobile service provider is obligated to provide you with this information, upon request. However, below Aussie Phone Brokers have outlined the calculation process; to provide you with a better understanding. Basically, charges are applied as the minimum monthly commitment multiplied by the remaining months (or part months). eg. $80 plan x 4 remaining months = $320 payout
(More payout examples are provided below.)
There may also be additional fees from some providers. Every provider is different (and different plans from the same provider can have different rules). It is the responsibility of the customer to ask about each mobile's obligations (as suggested under FAQ 3, above).5. Can I keep my mobile Phonebook contents and my SMSs?
Yes.
Mobile Phone Phonebook and SMS information may be transferred via SIM cards (which usually hold up to 250 numbers) or via PC software and connections.
PC software may also be used to backup SIM card information. This is seen as an essential business practice by Aussie Phone Brokers. Significant damage to operations and client relations may result from the loss of mobile phonebooks and SMS records.
Aussie Phone Brokers provides our clients with access to expert knowledge which would otherwise take months to accumulate.
Mini-Glossary of Terms
Connection Contract:
- The agreed minimum monthly spend amount.
For example, a $60 per month plan is a mobile Connection Contract. This is an agreement between the customer and mobile service providerthat the minimum monthly cost of the phone connection is $60.
Early Termination Charges:
- The Payout Figure for early termination of all contracts on a mobile service.
The early termination charges are the remaining charges of a Connection Contract, the remaining charges of a Hardware Contract, and (in some cases) any cancellation fees. The ETCs for a mobile phone service may be obtained from the service provider upon request by an authorised representative.
Hardware Contract:
- The agreed monthly payment for a mobile handset.
These are used to repay the agreed value of the handset over a period of time. Variously they may be called: Mobile Repayment Options, Monthly Handset Installments, Mobile Repayment Plans, etc.
For example, a handset which costs $600 to buy outright from the provider may instead be repaid, over 24 months, at $25 per month.
Be Aware: Hardware Contracts can sometimes run longer than their associated Connection Contract because a new handset was ordered during the period of the Connection Contract. (This is often the case where a handset has been lost, stolen or damaged, and subsequently replaced with a new handset - on a new Hardware Contract.)
Payout Examples:
- Suppose XYZ company has four mobiles. (Call them: Mobile A, B, C & D)
(Payout figures should always be confirmed with the mobile service provider.)
- Mobile A is out of contract, so moving it to another service provider would not incur any payout or other costs.
- Mobile B has a $40 per month Connection Contract. There are no Hardware Contracts.
To calculate the payout figure for this mobile service, simply multiply the agreed minimum monthly spend (the Connection Contract only, in this case) by the remaining number of months.
If this contract has 5 months left to run, the payout figure would simply be $200.
$40 per month x 5 months = $200 - Mobile C is on a $60 per month contract, with mobile handset repayments of $18 per month. There are 4 months left on both contracts.
To calculate the payout figure, multiply the agreed minimum monthly spends (the Connection Contract and the Hardware Contract amounts) by the their remaining months.
The payout figure for these two contracts would be $312.
$60 per month x 4 months + $18 per month x 4 months = $312 - Mobile D is also on a $60 plan, also with monthly mobile handset repayments of $18. However, the handset was replaced only a few months into the original contract, and so there are 8 months left of mobile repayments, but only 4 months remaining on the hardware contract.
To calculate the payout figure, multiply the agreed minimum monthly spends (the Connection Contract and the Hardware Contract amounts) by each of their remaining months.
The payout figure for both contracts would be $384.
$60 per month x 4 months + $18 per month x 8 months = $384