I have some questions about mobile phones in the region we're discussing. Can anyone enlighten me please?
I noticed that a large number of phones were confiscated from the AB/EB residence, and there have been 2 (that I know of) phone numbers investigated that belonged, or seemed to belong, to EB.
– How practical and affordable is it to have multiple mobile phones and accounts?
Not always practical but sometimes necessary, I've carried both a plan phone and pre-paid phone because when traveling one provided coverage to an area the other phone received no signal.
– Do numbers/accounts require a plan?
No, a plan is a contract (usually two years) detailing the type of services one agrees to. One can also add phones to a plan for family members or friends for an additional fee.
Pre-paid is just that, you pay in advance for minutes. If you don't top off or pay, service is discontinued, no foul, no credit check. One may need to register the phone for activation and to purchase additional minutes, obtain a phone number etc. Additional minutes can be purchased in stores in the local areas. Run out of minutes, you run out of service.
– Can you buy prepaid SIM cards for a phone?
Complex answer, you can buy the phone from the service provider or retail outlets, department stores. Most come with sim cards in the phone but the phone is generally locked for use by that service provider only. Some phones can be unlocked, some sims are built in hardware. Sims can be purchased on Ebay. If I can unlock a phone, I can use most service providers network by inserting their sim card.
– What information is required to obtain a legal phone/plan/pre-paid SIM?
On a plan, everything you stated. On a prepaid, well your key word is legal here. No credit info required, no pay, no service.
Is there a big business in black market mobiles or SIM cards?
Hmm, they are sold on Ebay regularly.
Reasons I ask:
In Australia we have the following:
– Mobile phones supplied with a plan - eg 18 months or 24 months plan @ $xxx per month which includes the phone. If you lose phone in that time you still have to pay the $xxx per month (or whatever agreed to amount which is often $300-ish/month). Most individuals choose this system.
Yes, plans require a time contract. Pre-paids do not.
– Plan for existing phone. You are just given the SIM card. Costs exactly the same as a plan with new phone, so everyone chooses to accept the offer of an updated phone. If you lose the SIM card you pay out the plan until the duration is up. Generally people give the old phone to someone with an older model phone who's still stuck on an older plan, or hand in for metal/plastic recycling.[/quote]
Yes, so someone has agreed to a term of 18-24 months.
– Pre-paid SIM card which you pay a monthly fee for. Typically approx $30 a month for total calls and SMS, after which you can only receive calls and SMS but not send. This is available either with a new phone (cheaper model so usually a couple of hundred dollars outlay at the start). You can also use an older phone that you already own. A monthly top-up payment is required. This system is used by parents of children who don't want to risk the child amassing hundreds of $ in calls over their plan limit, and by adults on a very strict budget.
While they may send you a sims card, I believe you pay for the minutes. Here it is not required to top up. If you don't top up, it's no service. ( no foul) No yearly contract required, no credit checks.
All these plans and SIM cards require you to present a range of forms of ID: for example
– driver's license
– banking info (for auto debits)
– name/address/landline or other mobile # for cross referencing your payment history, etc
– employment details
– etc.
They will do a credit check on you before agreeing to the plan/pre-paid.
If you are a minor then the adult in charge is responsible for this information at purchase.
Pre-paid, some of this info is requested when activating the new phone.
So, in Australia there are strict procedures in place to supply a mobile phone/SIM card on either a plan or pre-paid. You cannot walk in and walk out without providing such information. This way everything is traceable regarding primary ownership of the phone/plan.
Check Oz Ebay for sims cards, most are already pre-registered. Curious if they are sold on Ebay there.
I have no idea how the system works in the region where EB and AB lived. It may explain what I consider to be an unusual number of operational phones in EB's possession. I gather she had a Blackberry in addition to the two phones? Or was this one of the numbers?
Yes, the blackberry was a plan phone she used with an assigned phone number. I think a couple phones they found were expired phones with no service.
Thanks!!!
Welcome, hope that helps our friends in Oz.
I hope you all realise that this case is constantly front page stuff in our Australian newspapers, and has caused great grief here. Australians, fwiw, tend to read many international newspapers so we're up-to-date with international news and views. Zahra was what we call "the little Aussie battler" or "the underdog". These are terms of endearment that are used to describe people who we have great affection for who struggle, who don't have life easy, and in spite of this live with dignity and a smile on their faces. Culturally we love these characters – they are national treasures. By contrast those "born with a silver spoon in their mouth" are subject to the "tall poppy syndrome" and get little sympathy and admiration – as soon as they do anything amiss they are unceremoniously flung, kicking and screaming, off their pedestal. Strange culture I realise 
