| The importance of staying in touch through a phone | | | | National calls. The mobile call charge is 42c a minute, |
| network is a top priority for almost all Aussies. The | | | | and the monthly charge is $19.95, with a 12 month |
| landline or fixed line service is the traditional method of | | | | contract. AAPT Anytime Value service charges 19c |
| communication and fixed line service is available | | | | for a local call and 20c a minute for National calls. The |
| throughout the country. A landline is the most popular | | | | mobile calls are 35c per minute and the monthly |
| form of phone service because of the excellent voice | | | | charge is around $34.95, with no monthly contract. |
| quality and an outlet for a landline phone is already | | | | Optus also has the 'yes' Fusion $99- Home Phone + |
| installed in most homes. | | | | 20GB Broadband service. That service requires a 24 |
| The phone networks in Australia offer several | | | | month contract but there's no charge for local, mobile |
| different calling plans. There are four landline phone | | | | or national calls. The landline providers have several |
| services providers and each provider has a different | | | | other plans that vary in price. |
| plans based on family needs and phone use. Optus, | | | | By including mobile phone service in the packages, the |
| AAPT, Dodo and iinet all offer landline phone service | | | | four phone networks in Australia can compete with |
| plans, which include mobile phone service as well. | | | | the other mobile phone providers which include: |
| Landlines in Australia range from $19.95 to $99.00 a | | | | Vodaphone Australia, Telstra, Crazy John's, Fone |
| month, which usually includes broadband service. | | | | Zone, Promus Telecom Australia, Sawytel, Virgin |
| Optus and iinet have several landline packages | | | | Mobile Australia and Southern Cross Telco. Most of |
| available; Dodo and AAPT don't offer as many plans, | | | | these mobile packages include globe talking cards |
| but do offer competitive prices for their services. The | | | | along with other services like Broadband (ADSL& |
| most popular landline service plan is Dodo's Super | | | | ADSL2+,) dial-up Internet, Speedster and Lingo. Mobile |
| Caps service, which requires a four month contract | | | | add-on services like anti-Spam and Anti-Virus filtering, |
| and charges 25c for each local call and $1.95 for 120 | | | | Wireless Hotspot access and Web SMS give the |
| minutes of National calls. This plan also charges $1.95 | | | | mobile companies features which do attract |
| for 10 minutes of mobile phone use and the monthly | | | | consumers in a very competitive Australian market. |
| charge is around $29.90. | | | | The 61 international country code calling Aussie |
| Optus has a similar service called Home Comfort Line. | | | | consumer does have some good phone service |
| Local calls cost 30c and $3.00 for 20 minutes of | | | | provider choices. |