Lets face it, mobile networks aren’t going to charge less until some kind of alternative appears. However, I get unlimited internet usage (2GB fair usage, but only enforced if you go over 2GB twice in two consecutive months). Internet is the main thing I use my phone for, either on the phone or using the phone to connect to the internet on my MacBook over Bluetooth (you’re supposed to pay for a more expensive web ‘n’ walk plan in order to use the service as a modem, but, ssh). When I have a wi-fi signal I use the SIP client (through sipgate.co.uk) on my Nokia E90 to make calls at BT rates, or to call most other SIP users for free (of which I only have one in my contact list so far).

Roaming still costs a bomb, though. 2.8MB of internet usage in Australia cost me £24. That was used by just connecting to IRC once and checking email on Optus — strangely I’ve also got usage via Telstra logged on the T-Mobile website but 0MB worth, phew. It’s really outrageously expensive to roam currently.

I get the feeling that from a business standpoint, unlimited internet plans only exist currently on T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3 due to the threat of Wi-Fi. If more access points appear it could be feasable to have a Wi-Fi connection pretty much anywhere in a city, and for the phone networks it’s not internet that they’re worried about people using, it’s making phone calls over SIP instead of their own super expensive tarrifs.

SIP would work over the 3G HSDPA connection on my phone, but T-Mobile purposefully block it to force you to make calls on the T-Mobile tarrif.