It’s been a pretty dark time for Vodafone over the last few years, the network lost a steady stream of customers over consecutive years, over frustrations experienced with their network coverage. But after investing Billions of dollars over the last four years into their existing 3G and burgeoning 4G network, Vodafones outlook is looking a lot rosier. The outflow of customers appears to be stemmed, and they can proudly claim over 1 million customers are now enjoying the fastest 4G network in Australia. Now Vodafone is looking to invite some of their former customers back to the network and to prove how good it is they’re offering trials on their network with the simple purchase of a $2 SIM card.
Customers purchasing a $2 SIM card from Coles supermarkets and activate it from now until the 13th of May will receive $5 of flexible credit and 50MB of data which can be used to try the network out over a 2 day period.
Speaking to a number of customers who left Vodafone at the peak of the issues, many have said that they had no issues with the carrier beyond their inability to use the network they were paying for. When told of this promotion, the majority were very interested in acquiring a SIM card to try out the coverage with a view to returning to the carrier.
Vodafone is still facing an uphill battle convincing some customers that they have changed, but they are making headway. The first step in getting people to come back is simply getting them to try the network that failed them previously and see the improvements that have been made. With more carriers in the market, there is obviously going to be more competition for business, so it’s in all of our best interests to see a successful third major Australian mobile carrier. If you’re interested to try the Vodafone network out, head into Coles and pick up a $2 pre-paid SIM card now.
Did you have issues with Vodafone over the last few years? Are you interested in trying out the network now?
Folks, the comments here have run their course. This wasn’t an advertorial, and the information didn’t even COME from Vodafone. Dan found this in his Coles catalog, and posted it here because our readers might care.
The comments are now closed.
Voda in WA is great not far off Telstra even (wouldnt surprise me if they have more LTE coverage)
Melbournes pretty average and Tasmania is an absolute joke for voda. I havent been to any other citys since the voda upgrade so I cant comment.
I use the Voda 3G mobile broadband and it is pretty good most of the time. They definitely have solved their network problem or so many customers have left that their network is under utilised.
The only problem I have is that they no longer have clearance sales where you could get a previous year’s high end phone on a 12month contract.
This is a good promotion, I’ll give it a whirl to trial the Voda network, never used them before! Hey Dan, do you know if this is 3G only or 4G as well?
I activated a prepaid Voda sim two weeks ago and found that 4G was activated by default. Interestingly, I received the $5 credit and 50MB bonus, despite no mention of this promotion at the time.
Thanks mate, I’ll give it a spin!
Here’s an opinion from someone who just did this last week (but paired it with the $5 data add-on for 300MB more data). Nexus 5: Optus 4G Postpaid Plan – nearly expired Note 2 LTE: Vodafone tester sim Vodafone has improved a tonne since I last used them early 2012. BUT their 4G coverage does not compare to Optus. The plus side is that they have a reliable 3G network (after pouring so much money into it last year) and so it was usually keeping up with or beating my optus phone. One downside to vodafone at least in Melbourne… Read more »
If they got paid for this then they should say, but if Vodafone is indeed better I assume people would want to know about an offer like this to try it out with virtually zero cost…
to try this “virtually zero cost…” offer we only have 2 options
1) port the number to vodafone and use….but its difficult to change it for two days and revert it back to current carrier
2) Or take a new number but then we need a spare handset and must carry along with the current mobile.
i think they must make this for a week and provide easy top-ups eg $5 or $10
will i loose incoming after 2 days?
No I still get incoming and the number that you activate lasts 60 or 90 days without a recharge from memory.
I’ve found Vodafone’s 3G and 4G networks to be excellent. I was previously with Telstra 4G and Vodafone’s prepaid plans currently suit me better.
r u finding it reliable in suburbs too? its only better in cities as per my experience
I’ve found it to be excellent all over Melbourne, and it was great when I visited Perth, too. Perth seems to have better 4G coverage than Melbourne, but when I drop back to 3G around Melbourne, the coverage is excellent.
2 days to try a network, its a bit like Google’s 15 minutes to return an app, definitely not enough time for evaluation. I used to hate how they didn’t cover shopping centres.
I left Vodafone around 2010/11 due to crap network (mostly because of poor internet speed & call falls) and went to Telstra. Telstra is hands down the best network but when Note 3 came out I thought I’d Vodafone another try. I have to say their network has improved 1000% and had no real issues. Yes 3G data can at times be a bit slow, and sms arriving late, but overall Voda is good value for money. I’ve tried Optus mobile & I wouldn’t bother with their network, Vodafone is a better option if not going to Telstra I feel.
Did Vodafone pay Ausdroid for this full page ad?
I want to know this too? also did HTC pay them as well?
Chris answered that one in the GS5 review. The authors do have the right to write about what they like and Chris was clear about his reasons.
Agreed Jeni, I do not like the fact that every time someone at Vodafone farts there is a story in Ausdroid about it. Time to check the history of who wrote them all and see if there is a pattern forming, maybe someone at Ausdroid works at Voda. I have no problem with them being sponsored by Voda but they should announce this.
Thank you for providing some facts as opposed to unsubstantiated personal opinions. I too agree that there are personal biases at Ausdroid that could be better dealt with if they want to be more professional. However, I haven’t read anything here that has ever made me think they were paid for an opinion.
No one at Ausdroid is employed, or paid, by Vodafone. We’re not even sponsored by them. They (like other carriers, manufacturers, and retailers) occasionally give us prizes to give away, but we get nothing from them that we don’t receive from others too. We posted this because it’s interesting news, in a time where people are looking for increasing value and less cost.
I would be disappointed if they didn’t mention this offer.
Most of the “ad” rags on Vodafone anyway (deservedly)
Seriously guys I’ve been pretty critical of Ausdroid in the past. They even threatened to ban me but I can’t see any hint of paid advert in this article. Those of you who think it is, @berb @Itk @JeniSkunk:disqus could you please provide quotes to the relevant parts of this article that make you claim it is a paid advert?
Joshua, the following points, to me, smelled just like advertiser copy.
1. The article headline
2. Paragraph 1, describing how Voda has the fastest 4G network.
3. Paragraph 1, inviting some ex customers back
4. Paragraph 2, entire
5. Paragraph 3, entire
It was because of these points, I asked the question outright, earlier in the day.
Shouldn’t “Advertorial” content be marked clearly as such. Did a Vodafone PR team member write this copy for you? Sure reads like it.
Ausdroid should be renamed to Ausdroid – the official sponsor of Vodafone and HTC.
Hah. A blog sponsoring multi-million dollar businesses like Vodafone and HTC? That’s almost as laughable as the suggestion that they’d sponsor us. They don’t, and probably never will.
Apparently you don’t want competition in the marketplace:
‘With more carriers in the market, there is obviously going to be more competition for business, so it’s in all of our best interests to see a successful third major Australian mobile carrier’
Let’s not report this news. Let’s have a a duopoly that will be great for consumers, NOT!