They use the Vodafone network so coverage is the same as Vodafone.

Thanks fishmonkey. Good info!

+1 for Aldi,

Just be careful as the Telstra coverage on ALDI mobile & other virtual carriers that use the Telstra network as it's not the same as going direct with Telstra as they are going through Telstra Wholesale not Telstra Retail.

Coverage for Telstra Wholesale:
www.telstrawholesale.com.au/products/mobiles/coverage.html

Telstra Retail Coverage:
www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage

I just signed up with a Telstra Mx Sim Only Plan 39mth 15gb data & unlimited calls & txt not bad for Telstra considering I used to pay 60 bucks for much less.

Not to say ALDI is not a good offering but I do a lot of regional travel and you don't get the same highway coverage for example.

I was not clear enough in my first post.
I am not looking for a provider, l am thinking of purchasing a new phone from Kogan.
I use optus in town and telstra mobile wifi on the boat. I am happy with them.

My old phone needs replacement and Kogan is offering the same phone - A7 galaxy - for half price than anyone else.

I was wondering, what is the catch in this deal. Are the phones the same or the offer is a crooked one with hidden agendas or faults.
Some say the phones are European! What does that mean. Aren't all phones the same. I am a child as far as modern electronics are concerned.

Could someone enlighten me, please?

One of the problems with an overseas phone (if that is what Kogan are offering) is that the phone's bootloader MAY be locked to a particular overseas telco, in which case you might not be able to update the firmware or the OS.

To answer your question, no, not all phones around the world are the same even if they have the same nomenclature.

sirgallivant said..
I was not clear enough in my first post.
I am not looking for a provider, l am thinking of purchasing a new phone from Kogan.
I use optus in town and telstra mobile wifi on the boat. I am happy with them.

My old phone needs replacement and Kogan is offering the same phone - A7 galaxy - for half price than anyone else.

I was wondering, what is the catch in this deal. Are the phones the same or the offer is a crooked one with hidden agendas or faults.
Some say the phones are European! What does that mean. Aren't all phones the same. I am a child as far as modern electronics are concerned.

Could someone enlighten me, please?

I just bought a new Samsung from them & couldn't be happier.

I just slipped my Telstra sim card in & all works great. I did get a Kogan pre paid sim as part of the deal but have no need for it ....... yet!!

sirgallivant said..
Now that is good info and advise!
Thank you.
Looks like Kogan is selling unlocked phones.

How could one learn what frequencies Optus or Telstra are using ? I wonder if that is googleable?

As per our conversation earlier today I use mine with Optus and it also worked with vinniphone in Vietnam.

sirgallivant said..
Now that is good info and advise!
Thank you.
Looks like Kogan is selling unlocked phones.

How could one learn what frequencies Optus or Telstra are using ? I wonder if that is googleable?

Hi SirG,
if you own a Aus compatible mobile phone, the short answer is you don't care. All mobiles can receive the same frequency bands, the "lock" is purely a service provider issue, not the handset.
see the link below for the Aus carrier frequency bands;

www.mobilenetworkguide.com.au/australian_mobile_phone_frequencies.html