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Telstra postpaid customers will soon have access to their mobile data usage “within seconds”, with the telco today announcing it is rolling out real-time mobile data usage alerts.Telstra states the service will dispatch real-time alerts to eligible customers within seconds of when they have used 50 per cent, 85 per cent and 100 per cent of their included monthly data allowance.
The rollout is expected to be completed by the end of November, with Telstra stating plans are in development to extend a similar service to business customers.
Mobile data usage alerts from operators in Australia can be delayed by up to 48 hours, creating a window for excess allowance usage and potentially causing bill shock.
The move has been welcomed by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), which states it is a win for consumers.
“Consumers not realising there can be a two-day delay in the data usage notifications could easily use a gigabyte or two of data, which would set them back between $50-$100,” commented ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin.
“We’d like to see real-time alerts being offered by all of the Australian telcos, so all consumers can reap the benefits.
“Forty eight hours is too large a gap to inform consumers they have reached their limit. We encourage the other telcos to follow suit and implement real-time alerts as soon as possible.”
Scott McGibbony, Telstra director of mobile, stated the alerts will deliver customers “the information they need about their mobile data use when they need it”.
“It will allow people to grab a data pack or switch to Wi-Fi if they are nearing the end of their monthly data allowance,” McGibbony commented.
Throughout November and December, Telstra will also roll out changes that will see improved timeliness of data usage information available via its Telstra 24×7 app (iOS and Android), Telstra One app, My Plan Manager and My Account tools, with data usage to be updated every 15 minutes.
Telstra will also introduce a new mobile data alert for customers incurring excess data charges, with customers to be alerted for every $50 of excess data charges incurred.
