Optus Product Usage Guides
This guide is to help you determine which Post Paid Mobile Service may best suit your needs. Please note this is a guide only and you should read the full details and terms and conditions of any plan you are considering to purchase.
Voice Usage
The below calculations are based on 2 minute standard national calls to any mobile within Australia, on a postpaid mobile plan which has an amount of included voice minutes.
| How many 2 minute calls do you make to any Australian mobile within Australia? | How many Voice minutes do I need in a plan |
| One call every couple of days | At least 30 minutes per month |
| One call every day | At least 60 minutes per month |
| 2 to 5 calls every day | Between 120 and 300 minutes per month |
| 6 to 10 calls every day | Between 360 and 600 minutes per month |
Data Usage
The tables below provide a guide to how much data you may need, depending on what you do on your mobile service. You should also keep in mind how you've previously used data services.
Web Page Browsing and/or Accessing Email (Without Attachments)
Please note that web page browsing will vary depending on the web page you visit. More text and/or pictures on a page means more data is being used to view that page. Email size will change depending on the amount of content or attachments in the email.
| How often would you do this? | Data Estimation |
| Once every few days at most | About 50MB |
| Every day, but only a few web pages or email | About 50MB |
| I spend a lot of the time on the web each day | About 100MB |
Downloading Apps
Before downloading applications you should always check the size of the app to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit.
| How often would you download apps? | Data Estimation |
| Less than 5 per month | About 100MB |
| 5-15 per month | About 300MB |
| More than 15 per month (though will depend on total number of apps) | About 400MB |
Video Clips
Before viewing video clips you should always check the size of the clip to make sure you don't exceed your included data limit. The longer the video clip, the larger it will be in size.
| How often would you view video clips? | Data Estimation |
| Once every week at most | About 100MB |
| Once every few days | About 200MB |
| A couple of clips each day | About 1GB |
| A lot of online video | About 2GB |
This guide may help you determine which Prepaid Mobile Service may best suit your needs. The great thing about a Prepaid Mobile service is that you can enjoy life free from long-term contracts and monthly bills, but with the flexibility to get exactly what you want at a price you can afford.
Voice and SMS Usage
To determine your needs for voice calls and SMS you could start by considering how you use your service.
| How I use or will use my Prepaid Mobile Phone | You could look for: |
| I make a lot of calls to friends and family on Optus Mobiles |
A plan with unlimited voice calls to Optus mobiles, like Optus Prepaid Social or $2 Days. |
| I make a lot of calls to friends and family on another network |
A plan with unlimited standard national voice calls to Australian mobiles, like $2 Days. |
| I only make a few short calls a week (each 2 minutes or less) to either Optus or non-Optus Mobiles | A plan with included MyCredit and MyBonus to be used on standard national voice calls to any Australian mobile, like Crew Cap and Long Expiry Cap. |
| I make a lot of international calls |
A plan with low call rates to international destinations, like Connect 4 Less. |
| I send a lot of texts to either Optus or non-Optus Mobiles | A plan with unlimited standard national SMS, like Optus Prepaid Social and $2 Days. |
| I only send texts to my friends and family on the Optus Network |
A plan with unlimited standard national SMS to Optus mobiles, like Crew Cap. |
| I only send a text every now and then to either Optus or non-Optus Mobiles | A plan with included MyCredit and MyBonus to be used on standard national SMS to any Australian mobile, like Crew Cap and Long Expiry Cap. |
Optus Mobile Fair GoTM policy applies to all unlimited offers. All of the above plans and inclusions are for use within Australia.
Data Usage
Each table provides a guide as to how much data you may need depending on what you do on your mobile service. This is a guide only. Please ensure you read the full details on any plan you are considering to confirm it? correct for your needs. You should also keep in mind how you?e previously used data services.
Web Page Browsing and/or Accessing Email (Without Attachments)
Please note that web page browsing will vary depending on the web page you visit. Email size will change depending on the amount of content and attachments in the email.
| How often would you browse and/or access email? | Data Estimation |
| Once every few days at most | About 50MB |
| Every day, but only a few web pages or email | About 50MB |
| I spend a lot of the time on the web each day | About 100MB |
Downloading Apps
Before downloading applications you should always check the size of the app to make sure you don? exceed your included data limit.
| How often would you download apps? | Data Estimation |
| Less than 5 per month | About 100MB |
| 5-15 per month | About 300MB |
| More than 15 per month (though will depend on total number of apps) | About 400MB |
Video Clips
Before viewing video clips you should always check the size of the clip to make sure you don? exceed your included data limit. The longer the video clip is the larger it will be in size.
| How often would you download video clips? | Data Estimation |
| Once every week at most | About 100MB |
| Once every few days | About 200MB |
| A couple of clips each day | About 2GB |
How much broadband data do I need per month?
Knowing which broadband plan to choose really depends on how you use the internet. It's not always easy to know how much data you might use every month – and all the talk of bits and bytes can get a bit confusing.
You could be spending too much on a plan with a data allowance that you simply don't need. Or you could be on a plan with too little monthly data, where your speed may be limited to 256Kbps - that's much slower than normal - if you go over your limit.
So, to help you stick within your budget, have enough data and get the best online experience, we've provided a rough guide below. We hope it helps you to better understand your needs and choose the right Optus broadband plan for you.
Check out our broadband internet plans
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500GB |
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Legend
The data above has been sourced from whistleout.com.au. Correct as of 4/11/2013. And is to be used as a guide only.
How do I keep track of my broadband data usage?
We've got a handy usage meter in My Account to help you keep an eye on your usage. Take a look now. Log in or register for My Account.
Plus, we provide usage notifications in My Account and SMS usage alerts when you've reached 50%, 85% and 100% of your monthly data allowance.
What's the difference between the broadband data in my plan and broadband speed?
This is probably the biggest source of confusion when talking about data and usage.
You could think of the broadband data in your monthly plan - measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB) - like a bucket of water.
And broadband speed - measured in Kilobits per second (Kbps) or Megabits per second (Mbps) - as the rate at which that water passes through a hose.
Lastly, Bits and Bytes aren't the same thing: 8 Bits = 1 Byte. You don't necessarily need to memorise this equation, but it helps to remember there is a difference between the two.
There are many things that can affect the internet speeds you experience, from location, network to the number of users and your equipment.
This guide may help you determine what sort of Home Phone plan you need. Before you decide on your Home Phone plan, you should decide if you require internet with your Home Phone, as this will make a difference to the Home Phone plans available to you.
Optus Plans
| Do you use the Internet? | How you use the Home Phone | Plans you may want to consider |
| Yes | I make very few calls, mainly using the phone for incoming calls or emergencies | My Basics Bundle for $80 per month with Unlimited data and standard local calls included. |
| I make a moderate number of local calls, national calls and calls to mobiles | My Entertainment Bundle for $110 per month with unlimited data and unlimited standard calls to local, national, mobile numbers. | |
| I make a lot of calls including international calls | My Entertainment Plus Bundle for $140 per month with unlimited data and unlimited standard calls to local, national and mobile numbers as well as World Saver Ultimate rates for international calls and unlimited calls to landlines in 25 countries and mobiles in 7 countries. | |
| No |
Home Phone plan for $22 per month with pay as you go calling for all call types |