Australia

For all Australian PAYG sim cards, you will first need to show some ID (drivers licence, passport) and fill in a form with your address. See the ACMA website for a full list of acceptable documentation.

Lifehacker has a good summary of current plans available at http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/07/planhacker-complete-australian-byo-prepaid-cap-guide/#more-364711

Optus
Optus is the second oldest telco in Australia, and as such has fairly extensive coverage and availability.

However transfer speed is not as fast as Telstra and drop outs can be annoying.

Default data rate
iPhone - $40 for a month, includes lots of calls, sms, and 150mb for 1 month. iPad - $20 for 2 gig

Fair use policy
Unknown.

Availability
Regular size pre-paid SIM cards should be available from most Optus outlets, as well as some Australia Post stores.

PAYG micro-SIMs are not yet available from Optus in Perth (as at July 31, 2010). Some news reports suggest this is a problem across Australia and won't be resolved until the end of September 2010.

SIM sizes
Mini SIMs as standard. Micro SIMs may be available on request, (mini SIMs are able to be cut down to micro SIM size).

Tethering
$10 fee with iPhone 3G or 3GS, comes included with iPhone 4

Telstra
Telstra is the former government telco and as such has the most extensive coverage, but also has the most expensive default call rates.

While historically the cost is higher than average If you are looking to connect from remote areas this is usually the only network available and or reliable. Furthermore Telstra's NextG network has much higher transfer rate than the other telcos.

Default data rate
[TBC]

iPad: A$30 for the pre-paid micro SIM including 1GB of data over the first 30 days, after which the account can be recharged in the following amounts: Each data recharge is valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. Note that data is charged against the account balance at the per-MB rate of the most recent data recharge, so you never want to "top up" your account balance at a lower rate than your current balance. For more information, see Telstra's website here.
 * A$20: 1GB (A$0.02 per MB)
 * A$30: 3GB (A$0.01 per MB)
 * A$60: 6GB (A$0.01 per MB)
 * A$80: 9GB (A$0.0089 per MB)
 * A$100: 12GB (A$0.0083 per MB)

Fair use policy
Unknown.

Availability
In Telstra T-Life stores.

Note however, not all T-Life stores are run by Telstra, some are franchises.

SIM sizes
MicroSim for iPads available.

Tethering
Free.

Vodafone
Need more information about this provider, otherwise it will be removed after a few weeks. 2010-08-01 Vodafone is the third largest national provider in Australia. Recently, Vodafone merged with Three (Hutchison), and integration has been proceeding steadily.

Default data rate
[TBC]

Ipad Prepay - You can pick up a microsim in any vodafone store for nothing (Or order online for 50cents postage and handling)

Recharge rates:

$9.95 gets you 250MB, credit lasts 30 DAYS

$14.95 gets you 1GB, credit lasts 30 DAYS

$29.95 gets you 4GB, credit lasts 30 DAYS

$49.95 gets you UNLIMITED for 30 DAYS.

$100 gets you 6GB, credit lasts 180 DAYS

$150 gets you 12GB, credit lasts 365 DAYS

Fair use policy
Unknown.

Availability
Unknown.

SIM sizes
mini-SIM

micro-SIM

Tethering
Free.

3
Need more information about this provider, otherwise it will be removed after a few weeks. 2010-08-01 Three was the first to provide 3G services in Australia, although this has been largely eliminated as a point of difference. 3 only covers the major population centres of the state capitals and a few regional centres - the remainder of the country is Roaming on Telstra, for which data is charged at AU$2 / MB. Recently 3 merged with Vodafone, with integration steadily proceeding this promises to replace the roaming agreement and provide Australia-wide non-roaming coverage.

Default data rate
[TBC]

Data Only Packages (as of 3 Aug 2010)

Prepaid (Lasts for 1 Month)

$5 Starter - 50MB (50c/MB if quota exceeded)

$8 Classic - 250MB (50c/MB if quota exceeded)

Fair use policy
Unknown.

Availability
Find a 3 Store by clicking HERE

SIM sizes
mini-SIM

Tethering
Free.

Virgin
Need more information about this provider, otherwise it will be removed after a few weeks. 2010-08-01 Virgin is an MVNO - a mobile service reseller. The underlying network is Optus, though Virgin will sometimes offer competitive rates, especially for customers on the same network.

Default data rate
[TBC]

Prepaid plans can be viewed at the Virgin Mobile Plans.

The $19 'Pre-Paid Your Cap 19' will get you 1GB of Data.

Fair use policy
Fair use doesn't apply as all plans are covered by data limits.

Availability
Sims are available at Virgin Mobile Stores or online at the Virgin Mobile site

SIM sizes
Mini SIMs as standard. Micro SIMs may be available on request, (mini SIMs are able to be cut down to micro SIM size).

Tethering
Only available with a post paid plan. Doesn't cost any extra as uses data from your plan. Virgin Tethering Faq.

TPG
TPG have a PAYG plan called the Budget Plan. Their underlying network is Optus. You pay 2 upfront costs. $20 for the sim and delivery. You also pay another $20, which gets debited from your bank account and is used for up to $20 worth of text, calls, data, etc. Once the $20 balance drops below $5, you will be debited an amount to bring your balance up to $20.

You pay a monthly access fee of $1.

Default data rate
The $1 access fee provides you with 50mb of data.TPG ADSL customers recieve 150mb of data. After that, the charge is $0.0275 MB billed per 100KB. (Quote from a TPG rep on Whirlpool forums...

" If a phone remains connected to the Mobile network, it will be charged as a single session until it is disconnected. Idle time behaviour differs from phone to phone. Some phones check for email but do not shut down the 3G or GPRS data session, keeping the session alive, avoids the customer being charged for the minimum 100KB block as there is no need to reconnect. If phone disconnects the session during idle time, then the minimum 100KB block charge will occur each time you need to reconnect." )

Fair Use Policy
Unknown

Availability
The SIM card can only be purchased online at TPG's website

SIM Sizes
Mini Sim

Tethering
Free. Uses data from your plan.