Optus Mobile Usage

Keep track of your call and data usage throughout your monthly billing cycle for Optus iPhone cap plans using Mobile Usage!

UPDATE 31/08/2010: I have submitted v2.0.3 to Apple for review. This version is a backwards compatible release of v2.0.2 that works with both iOS 4.0 and iOS 3.1.3 as many users have contacted me stating that they are unable to upgrade to iOS 4.0 for performance reasons. Once this update is approved by Apple, it will be available on the App Store.

UPDATE 25/08/2010: Version 2.0.2 has been released and addresses a critical issue with compatibility with the Optus website and is updated for iOS 4.0 and the retina display. All users on iOS 4.0 are recommended to update to this version via the App Store!

UPDATE 24/08/2010: I have submitted v2.0.2 to Apple for review. This version fixes issues relating to the "incorrect phone number for account" error message. As soon as Apple approve the update, it will be available to download free via the App Store. Hang tight!

UPDATE 24/08/2010 (12am): The Optus website has subtly changed its structure and this is causing some users to experience the "incorrect phone number for account" issue. I am currently working on an update to the app to work around this issue.

UPDATE 23/08/2010 (12am): It appears that Optus Mobile Usage is reporting an incorrect phone number for the account for some users. I am investigating this issue and will post up more information as it comes to hand.

Show older updates...

UPDATE 23/08/2009 (2:30pm): Version 2.0.1 has been released and addresses a critical issue with compatibility with the Optus website. All users are recommended to update to this version via the App Store!

UPDATE 22/08/2009 (3:30pm): Version 2.0.1 of Optus Mobile Usage has been submitted to Apple for approval. This version includes a minor but critical fix required to ensure the app is compatible with the new Optus website format. Please bookmark this page as all news/updates on the matter will be posted here. Note that I've also updated the App Store description but it takes time for Apple to push through the updated description to the App Store so please visit this website for the latest info.

UPDATE 22/08/2009 (1pm): Unfortunately Optus have changed their website in a way that breaks compatibility with all versions of Optus Mobile Usage. I am currently investigating this problem and will post updated information here. Thanks to all the people that swiftly reported this problem via email - it was first identified on Saturday 22/08/09 at 8:13am.

UPDATE 16/08/2009: Version 2.0 has been released! includes support for monitoring mobiles on non-primary accounts and sports a new screen that displays your usage information exactly as it appears on the Optus site. Check it out now on the App Store!.

UPDATE 6/08/2009: SALE! Optus Mobile Usage has been put on sale for a limited time! Grab it before the 2.0 update hits the App Store!!

UPDATE 5/08/2009: Version 2.0 has been submitted to Apple for review.

UPDATE 26/06/2009: Version 1.4 is now available on the App Store!

UPDATE 20/06/2009: Version 1.4 has been submitted to Apple for review and allows for MMS monitoring :)

UPDATE 23/05/2009: Version 1.3 of Optus Mobile Usage is now available on the App Store! This update fixes a minor bug as well and gives the app a new icon :)

The FAQ has also been updated to please check it out.

UPDATE 17/05/2009: Version 1.3 has been submitted to Apple for review and contains the fix for the KB/MB issue.

UPDATE 11/05/2009: The FAQ has been updated to relay answers to some common questions users have been asking.

UPDATE 5/05/2009: If you have used less than 1MB of data in your current billing cycle then your KB usage will incorrectly appear as MB usage. As soon as you use more than 1MB of data, Mobile Usage will work as expected. This minor bug will be fixed in the next update.

UPDATE 2/05/2009 (7 pm): VERSION 1.2
Version 1.2 of Mobile Usage has been released. It includes the critical update to resolve the parsing issue caused by Optus changing their website on the 25/04/2009.

This version includes the following improvements:

It's about twice as fast as the previous version.
If you use a lot of data it doesn't display "unknown" anymore.
You can investigate your usage in detail by clicking on Call/Data/Cycle in the main screen (these values include GST).
You can configure your call cap to be the sum of your local calls, and optionally your local SMS, international SMS, international calls and other calls (like voicemail)

It's available for download now, so please check it out!

Also thanks for being patient while Apple reviewed the update. The review process took them 6 days, which is on par with how long they usually take. Please keep in mind that if Optus do change their website format significantly again, I will have to code an update and this process will have to be repeated.

This website and the FAQ have also been updated with documentation relevant to v1.2.

Thanks to all the people that have supported me via kind emails and reviews throughout the update process.

UPDATE 26/04/2009 (3 am): Optus Mobile Usage v1.2 has been submitted to Apple for review. It will appear on the App Store as soon as Apple approves the update. This update will provide the critical fix required to handle the new format of the Optus website.

UPDATE 25/04/2009 (1 pm): It appears that Optus have significantly changed their layout for the "My Account" website and therefore I will need to issue an update (v1.2) for Optus Mobile Usage to parse their new format. I will post new information on this website to keep you up to date with the progress. I won't let you guys down! The Optus website is out of my control (I don't work for Optus) and the disclaimer has always warned that this might happen. But the good news is I'm working on a fix, so please bear with me and the Apple review process until v1.2 hits the App Store.

UPDATE 22/04/2009: Version 1.1 is now available on the App Store. Grab it!

UPDATE 15/04/2009: Version 1.1 has been submitted to Apple and is currently under review. It will include SMS tracking, fine-grained cap calculation and improved account support and stability.

UPDATE 12/04/2009: Please take some time to read the new FAQ for answers to common questions about Mobile Usage (Optus).

UPDATE 10/04/2009: The first update for the Optus Mobile Usage will contain an SMS counter to display the total number of text messages sent and will also include the ability to disable SMS from being added to the total call spend for plans with unlimited SMS. Stay tuned!

UPDATE 7/04/2009: The Optus website has been upgraded and some users may see their plan name appear in the 'Plan' box and also in the 'Account' box. Don't worry if this happens for your account - this isn't a major issue and Mobile Usage (Optus) v1.0 still works! However, if Optus do change their website significantly in the future, I may need to issue an update. Please bookmark and revisit this page for up-to-date information.

What is Mobile Usage?

Mobile Usage is a family of applications that help users better guage mobile spending. If you are interested in the Optus version of Mobile Usage, then you are at the right place! If you are looking for information on the Virgin Mobile version, check it out here.

Mobile Usage Meter (Optus) is a native iPhone application that queries the Optus (www.my.optus.com.au) servers for your call usage and data usage information on your behalf. This data is analysed/summarised and then displayed in a concise format that allows you to easily monitor spending on your Optus iPhone post-paid plan.

IMPORTANT: if you cannot log in to the Optus website and view your call/data usage then this app will not work for you. You may need to get in touch with Optus to link your accounts and enable access to my.optus.com.au. Please read the FAQ for detailed information regarding whether Optus Mobile Usage will work for your account.

Why use Mobile Usage?

Buying an expensive cap plan and not knowing how much you have left can be frustrating. Optus have solved this problem by allowing you to log in to their website and view your current usage, but you need to enter your phone number and shuffle around to get to the useful information every single time. Enter Mobile Usage: fast and simple access to the information you want!

Why not simply use the website?

This application is for people that don't like using the website directly. Here are some of my reasons:

Mobile Safari (iPhone's web browser) requires zooming in, or excessive squinting, to view the Optus web site clearly.
Loading the website takes a long time as images, javascript, etc need to be downloaded from the server to render the web page.
You need to perform the same steps every time to view your usage: go to the website, log in, click view call usage, click view data usage.
All you really want is a quick way to access a summary of your call usage information.

If you like using the website directly, then this app is probably not for you :)

Why not simply use a proxy?

Free proxies exist that can do the job of Mobile Usage. It's actually a pretty good solution to the problem. A proxy downloads the call usage information on your behalf and parses the useful information for you to see. The only downside to a proxy is that it requires your PIN to be made available for them. This PIN can get stored in HTTP access logs and in caches, meaning that the people that run the proxy know your PIN. If you are not security concious and don't want to pony up the $2.49 for this application, I would recommend this solution.

On the other hand, the Mobile Usage application does not act as a proxy and does not require the mobile Safari browser. Mobile Usage is a thick client that is able to make the requests directly to the Optus servers on your behalf. Your PIN never gets sent to us. Ever. Nothing gets sent to us! Not even your phone number. All requests are made directly to the Optus servers. All analysis/summary results are displayed on your iPhone screen. No middle-man.

Ok, so I want Mobile Usage, how do I use it?

When you load up the application for the first time, you will be presented with this screen:

You will need to fill out the following details:

Username	The username you use to log in to my.optus.com.au to view your mobile usage.
Password	The password you use to log in to my.optus.com.au to view your mobile usage.
Mobile Number	Your phone number that you want to monitor. This is most likely your iPhone mobile number.
Acct Number	The Optus account number your mobile number is on. If you only have one account number with Optus, you can leave this field blank.
Cycle Day	The day of the month (a number between 1 and 31) that represents the date that your billing cycle restarts. For example, if your billing cycle starts on 20/08/2009 for your August bill, then you will use the slider to enter 20 as your cycle restart day.
Cap $	The amount of included calls/SMS in your iPhone plan. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you could enter 300 as you get $300 worth of calls/SMS included in your cap.
Cap MB	The amount of data included in your iPhone plan. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you could enter 250 as you get 250MB worth of data included in your cap.
Add Local SMS to cap	Switch ON if you want to add your SMS usage dollar value to your call cap usage dollar value. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you set this ON because SMS is included as part of your cap. If you are on an unlimited SMS plan (eg. $79 unlimited text plan), then you will want to switch this OFF because SMS is free for your cap and you don't need to include SMS costs to call costs. *If you are unsure, leave this ON.*
Add MMS to cap	Switch ON if you want to add your MMS usage dollar value to your call cap usage dollar value. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you set this ON because MMS is included as part of your cap. Most cap plans include MMS, but the option is here if you want to switch it off if your cap includes unlimited free MMS. *If you are unsure, leave this ON.*
Add Intl' SMS to cap	Switch ON if you want to add your international SMS usage dollar value to your call cap usage dollar value. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you set this ON because international SMS is included as part of your cap. Most cap plans include international SMS, but the option is here if you want to switch it off. *If you are unsure, leave this ON.*
Add Intl' Calls to cap	Switch ON if you want to add your international call usage dollar value to your call cap usage dollar value. For example, if you are on a $49 cap plan, you set this OFF because international calls are not included as part of your cap. Most cap plans do not include international calls, but the option is here if you want to switch it on. *If you are unsure, leave this OFF.*

If you are having trouble getting rid of the keyboard, click any black space on the screen and it should go away. Once you fill out all the details, click done to flip over the screen and download your mobile usage information. That's all there is to it!

How do I interpret Mobile Usage's summary?

Mobile Usage displays a very minamilist summary of your monthly mobile spending to provide quick access to the information you want the most. Here's a more detailed explanation of what you can see:

Calls	This is the total call and SMS spend you have accumulated in your billing cycle so far. This value includes GST. The progress bar shows depicts the percentage of your allowed call spend you have used for the billing cycle. Depending on the options you have set on the configuration screen, your call usage could be composed of national calls, national SMS, international SMS, MMS, international calls, voice mail/other calls and GST. The call usage value is NOT the same as the account service total usage value shown by Optus on their website - it only includes the components you have selected in the configuration screen. You can go to the Usage Details screen (by pressing the blue arrow) to view the exact usage as reported by the Optus servers for comparison purposes.
Data	The number of MB you have downloaded/uploaded in your billing cycle so far. The progress bar shows depicts the percentage of your allowed data spend you have used for the billing cycle.
Cycle	The number of days since your billing cycle started. The progress bar shows depicts the proportion of the days that have elapsed from the start of the billing cycle to the end of the cycle.
SMS Count	The number of national, international SMS and MMS you have made in your billing cycle. If you are not charged for you MMS, then your MMS count will be zero.
Mobile Plan	The name of your Optus plan as defined on the Optus website. If this does not appear correctly then there is a good chance that Optus have changed their website format. Please email me if this occurs.

You can also tap on the Call / Data / Cycle sections on the main screen to get a better idea of your call usage break-down and an estimate of how much usage per day you have remaining.

As of v2.0, you can go to the Usage Details screen by tapping the blue arrow to see your usage exactly as it appears on the Optus servers. This will show you the exact amounts without GST and includes all billable quantities (like data, international roaming, etc) even though these charges may be included or not a part of your cap plan.

Please keep in mind that all values include GST, whereas the values on the Optus website do not include GST.

If you are seeing inaccurate results, first compare the values to the Optus website (and add 10% GST) and if there is a major discrepency, please contact me via email.

What do the messages on the status bar mean?

You may encounter any of the following messages:

Connecting to My Optus servers	Initialising a connection to my.optus.com.au.
Authenticating with Optus servers	Logging you in to the Optus servers using the username and password you supplied.
Downloading mobile usage data	Retrieving and parsing your mobile usage information from the Optus website.
Incorrect login details provided	The application tried to log you in to the Optus servers but failed authentication. You need to click the "Info" button and make sure the username and password you entered is correct.
Incorrect phone number for account	The phone number you entered does not exist on the account that you provided the username and password for OR you have not set up your Optus account for online billing. You need to click the "Info" button and make sure the phone number you entered is correct. If you have left the account number field blank, then you must fill it in.
Could not connect to Optus servers	The application could not make a connection to the Optus servers. Try again when you have better reception/internet connectivity or when the Optus servers are responsive. There is a good chance that the Optus server is undergoing maintenance.
Connection to Optus servers failed	The application made a connection to the Optus servers but it dropped out. Try again when you have better reception/internet connectivity or when the Optus servers are responsive. There is a good chance that the Optus server is undergoing maintenance.
Optus Server Error	There is a good chance that the Optus server is undergoing maintenance.
Last Updated	The date and time at which the application successfully received call and data usage information from the Optus servers. This does not reflect the date and time at which Optus updated your call usage information on their website, ie. there can be a lag for Optus to update your usage information on their website. Please keep this in mind if you are approaching the limits of your cap.

How long is it supposed to take?

The time taken to refresh your mobile usage can range from 15 seconds to a few minutes depending on your internet connection (wifi, 3G, 2G) and the response rate of the Optus servers.

Please be mindful that the Optus servers do undergo maintenance and experience downtime so if the app is not working, check that the Optus website is actually working for your account before reporting a bug via email.

Why does it cost $2.49?

Don't you love free things? I do. But the reality is that things usually take time, money and effort to make and maintain.

For the price of a 600mL bottle of soft drink, you get an application that monitors your call usage as best it can given your data from the Optus servers. I think this is pretty reasonable.

Contact

Found a bug? Got suggestions for new features? Have a specific question about the application?

Feel free to email me at: iphone [AT] shihab.com.au

Also, please take some time to read the FAQ for answers to common questions about Mobile Usage (Optus).

COMING SOON: Vodafone Mobile Usage has been submitted to Apple for review. Stay tuned!

Disclaimer

The following disclaimer is in addition to the standard EULA for iPhone applications. The EULA prevails to the extent of any inconsistency.

The seller and the Mobile Usage application are not affiliated/endorsed by Optus.

Mobile Usage makes requests DIRECTLY to the Optus servers (my.optus.com.au) to obtain your mobile usage data on your behalf. It does not monitor your call usage as you go on your phone. In simple, technical terms, it is a thick HTTP client that analyses your data to produce a summary.

The seller DOES NOT warrant or represent that the mobile usage information the Mobile Usage application displays is correct or accurate. If you need strict monitoring of your call spending then please DO NOT use this application. Rather, use the Optus website or contact Optus directly. This application is a means of convenience, so DO NOT critically rely on it for accurate information. If you notice that Mobile Usage is producing incorrect results, please contact us regarding the bug and we will attempt to resolve it in a future version of Mobile Usage.

Mobile Usage will CEASE TO FUNCTION properly if Optus change the structure of the HTML documents produced by it's web servers or if their servers are down. We have no control over the Optus servers. If you notice that Mobile Usage is producing incorrect results, please contact us regarding the bug and we will attempt to resolve it in a future version of Mobile Usage.