Woolworths Australia launches prepaid mobile services

Woolworths has become a discounter in Australia after creating a deal with Optus. I use discounter and not MVNOhere as I think that Optus will be providing billing to Woolworths and only the marketing in store is what Woolworths will manage.

Tariffs
Everyday Mobile - standard calls 15 cents per 30 seconds.

Text messages 15 cents or 35 cents internationally.

GPRS 1.32 per 60KB (international data is the same).

One prepaid SIM costs AUS 2.

What we think?
Interesting. The financial crisis is showing that there is demand and need for cheaper mobile and mobile to replace the fixed line. It seems that more often that not, fixed line is pushed as cheaper but the flexibility of mobile is making it the winner in the fixed vs mobile race.

These ultra-simple low cost tariffs are simple and easy and at 2 dollars a no brainer for anyone that wants instant cost control. But on the negative billing per 30 seconds is a scandal. It makes the tariff sound cheaper than it is and if you need a fixed line replacement it is because you want to call for more and not less.