Mobile or Cellular Phones Getting a mobile phone is the best way to communicate with your friends and relatives who live overseas and your new friends in Australia. You can get a pre-paid phone almost everywhere in Australia from AU$49. However, it is important to check the calling rates per minute and the special promotions they have. Some mobile phone companies offer special deals especially for international calls, so ask them about their different plans. It is also important to ask if you will be charged a fee for receiving a call from outside of Australia (most of the companies do not charge anything extra but is good to check).

You can also bring your mobile phone from overseas and just get a SIM card when you arrive in Australia.  In this case, we suggest you check with your home telephone company if your phone will work in Australia.

You can also get a mobile phone on a monthly rental plan. Please be aware that some plans have a minimum contract of 12 months.

We suggest you to check the different options and plans offered by mobile phone companies in Australia. Sometimes it is a little bit overwhelming to research all the plans, but take it easy and try to choose the best option for you. An important thing is to choose a provider and plan that offers you some flexibility just in case you would like to change your provider or plan in the future. 

Some of the popular mobile phone companies are:

• Vodafone,

• Telstra,

• Optus,

• Three,

• Virgin Mobile.

Sometimes you can also purchase a second-hand mobile phone. This is a popular option for international students in Australia. You will find a lot of students trying to sell their phones when they are leaving Australia. Students usually put up advertisements around their campus.

If you want to have a phone ready by the time you arrive in Australia, you can also contact a mobile phone provider in Australia via email and purchase a phone or credit before you arrive in Australia.  

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