KEEPING IN TOUCH
It is increasingly easy to keep in touch with the world. Mobile phones, voicemail and VOIP services such as Skype make it easy for people to call you and most hostels offer internet access, which is supplemented by internet cafes and wireless hotspots.
Let's face it. The phone is still the easiest way to keep in touch and having your own number means that people can call you (which will save you a fortune in phone calls). Your own local phone number is also essential if you're looking for work.
MOBILE PHONES
Virtually every backpacker travels with a mobile phone. If your mobile phone works with the GSM system (most European phones do) and is unlocked (not locked into your home network) then you can simply buy an Australian SIM card and stick in your phone. If you don't already have a compatible phone, then you will need to buy a prepaid starter pack including a phone and SIM card for around $70-100.
Most Australian mobile phone companies charge a connection fee of 20-30c on each call and their advertised call charges are usually quoted per 30 seconds (not per minute as you would expect).
Which network
There are four mobile phone network operators in Australia, plus lots of virtual network operators (companies that sell their own branded mobile phone service using someone else's network) so there is plenty of choice and enough competition to keep prices reasonable.
The main networks are Optus www.optus.com.au, Telstra www.telstra.com.au, Three www.three.com.au and Vodafone www.vodafone.com.au. With the exception of Virgin Mobile, most of the virtual network operators are small little-known companies, but they are usually much cheaper than the big guys.
While the bigger phone companies offer some very good deals for customers on long term contracts, their prepaid deals aren't so great, but the smaller virtual networks offer some good value prepaid deals.
Buying a SIM card before you travel
There are several companies that sell SIM cards on the internet. They charge US$49 or £29 for a SIM card but you can buy a SIM for around $5 in Australia. Buying an Australian SIM card over the internet from most companies in the US or the UK is a complete rip-off!
Alternatives to roaming
Roaming (leaving your home SIM card in your phone when you travel abroad) is the most expensive way to make calls. Not only are you charged exhorbitant rates for your calls but you are also charged for an international call everytime you answer your phone. Usually roaming is something you use in isolated cases, such as a one-day stopover when it doesn't make sense to buy a local SIM card.
Roaming does give you the advantage of having a single number (usually in your home country) that people can contact you on regardless of what country you are travelling in. There are many cases when you need to offer a single point of contact so you can receive important calls, this is especially the case if you do freelance work and you don't want your clients to know that you are travelling down under.
One of the easiest and cheapest options is to use a SkypeIn number (or another VoIP service) that is diverted to your mobile in Australia. You still have to pay for the incoming call but it is a lot cheaper than roaming and you don't need to update everyone with your new number everytime you visit a new country. To save on call costs give your Australian mobile number to people who call you frequently so they can call you directly.
Another option is to use an international SIM. This is a SIM from a small country (they usually come from Estonia, Liechtenstein, Iceland or the Isle of Man). It is free to receive calls in most countries (Australia is almost always on the list countries with free incoming calls) and making a call is also reasonably priced. However the quality is dire and many travellers give up on the service (or lack thereof) after they realise that it is almost impossible for people to contact them.
The best option. Simply buy a local SIM in every country where you spend a week or longer and use a SkypeIn number so you don't miss those really important calls.
CALLING CARDS
Despite the popularity of mobile phones, calling cards are still the cheapest way to call home. Virtually every service station, newsagent and corner store sell a huge range of calling cards. Rates are generally cheapest if you call a local access number rather than the toll-free number on the back of the card but this means that you may have to pay for a local call on a payphone in addition to the calling card rate.
SKYPE & OTHER VoIP SERVICES
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is one of the cheapest ways to make a phone call but the quality isn't so great if you have a bad internet connection. Generally VoIP lets you call other customers of the same VoIP service for free, which gives the biggest VoIP services the advantage of more people you can talk to for nothing.
Skype is the biggest of the internet-based phone services and Skype software (and webcams for video calling) is installed in most internet cafes and in many hostels, which makes choosing Skype a no-brainer even though many of Skype's competitors are cheaper.
Although many travellers just sign up for the free Skype account so they can talk to other Skype users for free, it is worth the money to go for a fully fledged account with a SkypeIn number (a proper number that anyone with a phone can call) and even opt for the Skype Pro that gives you free calls to Australian landlines.
Of course you still have to pay to use the computers at the internet cafe so it's a better deal if you're staying at a hostel with free internet access or if you have your own notebook computer and a free Wi-Fi connection.
INTERNET
It's easy to get online virtually everywhere you travel in Australia, but it is cheaper in the bigger cities and more popular tourist destinations.
Internet cafés
It is easy to find internet cafés in big cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and popular tourist destinations like Airlie Beach, Byron Bay and Cairns. You can get online cheaply - as little as $2 an hour - in Sydney but more remote places - like Ayers Rock - are a lot more expensive and in small towns and less touristy areas you may have to use slow and expensive coin-operated terminals.
Many internet cafés, including big chains like Global Gossip www.globalgossip.com, are now fitted with webcams and headsets to make Skype calls and many also let you download photos from your digital camera.
Using your own computer
More and more travellers are chosing to travel with their own notebook computer.
Wi-Fi hotspot access
Australia isn't as well set up with wireless hotspots as you would expect and when you do find them they tend to be expensive. However free hotspots are slowly starting to catch on.
Most backpackers use the Global Gossip Connect hotspots that are in many backpackers' hostels around Australia (and in New Zealand). They're not cheap but they are an affordable option if you can't find a free hotspot and you can use any remaining credit and other Global Gossip Connect hotspots. If you're really desperate to get online and can't find anywhere to connect you can use the expensive Telstra hotspots at McDonalds and Starbucks.
Fortunately free hotspots are starting to catch on, although they are still a bit thin on the ground in some parts of the country. Adelaide and Melbourne are the most connected cities although there are a few free hotspots around Brisbane and Sydney. Check the Free Wireless Internet directory www.freewifi.com.au to find free Wi-Fi hotspots around Australia.
Mobile HSDPA & WiMAX broadband access
All Australia's mobile phone networks operate their own wireless broadband service using HSDPA technology, which gives you internet access whereever there is mobile phone coverage. This isn't such a popular option with backpackers but it is an affordable option with medium to high usage plans for around $40 a month. It is worth considering if you're on a working holiday and will be travelling for a while.
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