U5434122@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (11/23/89)
In Australia the Mobile Telephone service is supplied as a monopoly by Telecom Australia. You can buy a phone unit from anyone, but TA links you to the PSTN. The phone numbers of mobile phones all begin with a pseudo area code 018. The next digit reflects the area code of the home area eg Melbourne is 03, so a mobile phone from Melbourne is 018 3xx xxx. Since TA monopolises the PSTN for the whole of Australia, roaming is no problem, except in remote and rural areas which are not covered by the cellular network. I don't know the rental on the service, but call rates are as follows: All charges are paid by the caller, whether to or from a mobile phone. All calls are charged at the same rate as a normal long distance call, but with a minimum calling distance of 745km ( 465 miles ). Distance 1-745km > 745 km Time 8am-6pm Mon-Fri 39c 57c 6pm-10pm Mon-Fri 26c 38c 10pm-8am Mon-Fri 6pm Sat-8am Mon 15c 23c Like all calls in Australia the charges are made in multiples of $0.21, which is the minimum charge per call. How do these charges compare with those elsewhere in the world, given AUD$1.00= USD$0.77 and AUD$1.00 = 48 pence? Daniel U5434122@ucsvc.melbuni.edu.au (Melbourne University)