Why I won't be getting "Naked"

Internode have recently launched their "Naked" ADSL2+ plans, and I have to say, I'm unimpressed. They're pitching it saying that you don't have to deal with Telstra anymore, and that it's cheaper. So, let's look at the numbers.

If you're on Telstra Homeline Budget, on the "Extreme" 40GB plan, you'd pay $19.95 line rental + $74.95 to Internode; coming to a total of $94.90.

If you'd gotten Naked on their 40GB plan, you'd be paying Internode $89.95. A total saving of $4.95.

But what compromises do you make?

The major pitfall of Internode's "Naked" plans: It only comes packaged with Nodephone 1. That means outbound calls only. If you want inbound calls, that'll set you back another $10 per month.

So, to get an equivalent service on a "Naked" plan, you'd need to shell out $99.95: $5.00 per month more than the equivalent "standard" service.

When you have a Telstra phoneline, Telstra's responsible for ensuring you have a dialtone to the first phone point in your house. A dialtone usually means your ADSL connection will work. Who ensures this when you're no longer dealing with Telstra? Internode??

We all hate Telstra -- I'll be the first to agree. But I get some degree of comfort knowing that I can call them and abuse them when my Internet doesn't work.

Comments

Submitted by sideshow on Tue 22/04/2008 - 18:07

If you're on Telstra Homeline Budget, on the "Extreme" 40GB plan, you'd pay $19.95 line rental

Note that Telstra will refuse to let you use Homeline Budget with ADSL2 from anyone other than Bigpond (and will whinge and then relent if you use someone other than them for ADSL1), so you're up for at least $24.95/month.

It only comes packaged with Nodephone 1. That means outbound calls only. If you want inbound calls, that'll set you back another $10 per month.

There are lots of voip carriers out there - e.g. PennyTel charges a refundable $10 "deposit" for a DID, so that is at worst a $10 one time fee. Saving $10/month by using naked DSL seems like a no brainer - $10 with Pennytel gets you 125 untimed STD calls. Internode is not coercing you in any way to use NodePhone, so choose whoever you want.

Who ensures this when you're no longer dealing with Telstra? Internode??

Internode pays Telstra to make it work...of course, one can easily imagine Telstra being completely useless, but that's what we reap for not splitting their retail arm from Australia's telecommunications infrastructure. Time will tell if it turns out to be a serious issue or not.

Submitted by nemesis on Wed 23/04/2008 - 12:01

Note that Telstra will refuse to let you use Homeline Budget with ADSL2 from anyone other than Bigpond [...], so you're up for at least $24.95/month.

Getting on Homeline Budget is easy. Tell Telstra the line's for "emergency use only", and you don't plan to make many calls (which isn't entirely inaccurate). When they ask about "Internet" or "ADSL", either ask "what's ADSL?", or tell them you have no plans to get the Internet.

Submitted by sideshow on Wed 23/04/2008 - 12:07

Getting on Homeline Budget is easy. Tell Telstra the line's for "emergency use only", and you don't plan to make many calls (which isn't entirely inaccurate). When they ask about "Internet" or "ADSL", either ask "what's ADSL?", or tell them you have no plans to get the Internet.

I'm almost certain they won't let you do that unless you sign up for Budget before hand (ie you can't change once you have ADSL2). I will try threats shortly!