iPrimus aims to please with affordable plans offering a full range of options.
As the first telco to enter the Aussie market after industry deregulation back in 1997, iPrimus has plenty of history serving Australian communication needs. While it originally focused on Internet and home phone services, the telco also offers SIM-only mobile plans delivered over Optus' 4G network, all of which are available on 12-month contracts.
iPrimus SIM-only plans
iPrimus offers three tiers of post-paid SIM-only plan with varying data caps and extras. Those differences aside, each plan comes loaded with unlimited calls to standard landlines, mobiles and 13/1300 numbers within Australia plus unlimited national SMS.
Dubbed "Plus" plans, here's what iPrimus' SIM-only line-up looks like:
- Basic plan, which includes 18GB of data and 350 international minutes to select countries for $35 a month
- Optimal plan, which includes 30GB of data and 1500 international minutes to select countries for $45 a month
- Premium plan, which includes 40GB of data and 3000 international minutes to select countries for $55 a month
On all three plans, going over your monthly data cap will incur excess data charges of $10 per 1GB, with that charge applied automatically as soon as you exceed your current balance. Bear in mind that, even if you don't use the entire 1GB of extra data, you'll still be charged the full $10.
How does iPrimus compare?
The post-paid SIM-only market is an incredibly competitive one, but iPrimus has a lot to offer.
At the budget end, iPrimus' 18GB plan offers similar value to plans from the likes of Moose Mobile, Southern Phone and Exetel, although it is overshadowed by Optus' similarly-priced 30GB plans:
iPrimus remains competitive at higher price tiers, too. Its 30GB and 40GB plans are among the cheapest currently available, with only a few providers like Optus and Think Mobile undercutting its monthly rates.
Why should you consider iPrimus?
If you're after a SIM-only plan with plenty of data and the freedom of unlimited calls and texts, iPrimus' 12-month plans are top value. While you do have to commit to the full year, the large data caps mean you're getting a lot more bang for your buck than you would with many competing month-to-month plans.
The inclusion of international minutes with all of iPrimus' mobile plans is another compelling feature, one that many cheaper telcos don't offer. If you have friends or family overseas, this can potentially save you quite a bit of money and makes iPrimus well worth considering.
