Talk is cheap – data is where the real value lies

EVERY mobile phone customer should expect unlimited talk and text when they sign up to any deal and no longer view it as a perk.

Long gone are the days where customers had to monitor how many calls or texts they were making or sending; instead, the telco battleground is all about data.

New analysis by comparison website Finder. com. au found that of more than 1000 plans available, 95 per cent have both unlimited calls and texts as part of the deal.

The site’s spokesman, Angus Kidman, said if you’re paying more than $ 20 a month and not getting these basic inclusions, it’s time to switch plans.

“Don’t think of free calls and texts as perks; they have become a standard inclusion for phone plans,” he said.

“Consumers should be comparing plans based on how much data is included and other extras, such as unmetered Netflix streaming and international minutes.”

With so much choice on the market, customers looking for either prepaid or postpaid deals have plenty of options that can help them reduce their monthly costs to stay connected.

Finder. com. au’s database shows there are multiple providers in the telco market that include unlimited calls and texts, including Boost, Kogan and Woolworths mobile. And some providers even extend this to include a certain amount of free international calls.

But Boost Mobile’s general manager, Jason Haynes, said more people are stepping away from making traditional calls and instead using data to contact each other.

“People are using WhatsApp and Messenger, especially in the youth market, so the need for calls isn’t there as much,” he said.

“But some people still need to call home and they’re not going to be able to do it on an app if they are calling their grandparents.” Mr Haynes said when signing up to any phone deal, having a reliable network is critical to ensure you can use your phone without any issues. Boost runs off Telstra’s 4G network.

Just last month it was revealed telco giant Vodafone was likely to merge with TPG.

This has increased speculation phone deal costs will fall even further for Australian customers.

Kogan Mobile founder Ruslan Kogan believes now is a “wonderful time to be a mobile phone user”. “Prices are cheaper than they have ever been; you get unlimited talk and text on a lot of plans,” he said. “The main thing that differentiates providers is how much data you get.”