There was a time – not too long ago – when the most important feature on a phone plan was how many texts you could send each month. These days, it’s all about mobile data – but how much data do you really need?

It’s a simple question that could help you avoid excess monthly charges or – on the other end of the spectrum – stop you from paying for too much data that you’ll never use.

Can you believe it’s been nearly fifty years since the invention of the mobile phone? It’s true! A prototype mobile handset developed by Motorola was used to make the world’s first mobile phone call in 1973 – they called one of their competitors to let them know the good news.

However, while mobile phones existed way back in the 70s, it would be a long time before the average person owned one! In Australia, the earliest mobile network wasn’t built until 1981 with just three 500MHz base stations operating out of Melbourne, and 2G mobile networks didn’t roll out in capital cities until 1993. It’s fair to say that mobiles have gotten pretty popular in the decades that followed, with 75.8% of Aussies owning a smartphone as of 2017.

Let’s take a walk down mobile memory lane and find out how our handsets got to be the way they are today.

Mobiles have become an essential part of our lives, with our device doubling as a calendar, bank card, email, notepad, camera, newspaper, personal trainer… you name it. So, when it comes to selecting the right plan to power your phone, the pressure is on.

From data to coverage, there’s a lot to consider – but the Internode team are here to help. We’ve compiled a list of key things to consider when choosing your next mobile phone plan. (more…)