Introducing Tribe®: All your friends now in one place
Filed under: apps, customers, Facebook, gadgets and gizmos, innovation, lifestyle, mobile internet, mobile phone, social media, trends, Tribe, Twitter
Hi everyone,
We’ve been working on a new mobile social networking service that we hope you’ll like. It’s called Tribe® and it’s exclusive to Telstra Next G™ customers.
Tribe brings together your Facebook, Twitter and MySpace into a single location on your compatible Next G™ mobile, so you can access, and update your status, comments, pictures and more, all in one place. Tribe also lets you update your status or upload photos to multiple sites, simultaneously.
Best of all, Tribe is FREE to browse within Australia, on all of our mobile plans, which means it doesn’t count towards your mobile data allowance or get charged at your pay-as-you go data rate. If you’re on pre-paid, you’ll need to have a minimum recharge of $20 in the last 30 days.
We’re inviting you to be the first to check it out ahead of an official launch next week.
You can access it right now by entering the following URL into your Next G™ mobile browser: http://tribe.telstra.com.
If you have our mobile code reader on your phone you can also scan this code:
The first time you enter Tribe you need to enter your Facebook, Twitter or MySpace username and password. Then each time you access Tribe you’ll see a summary of your social networks and can click through to comment, look at photos, view your friends’ profiles, read messages and more. And all without the data used in Australia counting towards your data allowance.
Tribe makes it easy and affordable to connect with your friends.
@ Jenny To Stop the sms’s just reply with “stop” back to 87423 (TRIBE). Or go onto the site (go to BigPond > Web tab > Tribe) then go down to Edit Settings at the bottom of the page, then “Alerts for SMS Notifications” and click “Disable”, then “Save”.
@ Mal:) If you are happy to provide some details via a secure link http://bit.ly/CUSTID I can have a look into why you are bing charged unmetered usage when using Tribe. More details about my team and what we do can be found via:
http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2010/03/04/we-are-the-telstra-bigpond-twitter-team/
Other that that, glad to hear you enjoy Tribe and look forward to your reply
Steve@Telstra
hi
i want to use this service but my internet to access tribe would work it says i have not set the internet up. help i been to the stall and call the help center.
kkkk
Hi
I am also having trouble unsubscribing.
I have followed the instructions per above comments, but have been unsuccessful.
I think the ‘stop’ SMS has worked, but I am unable to get into the settings section described above.
Help?
Thank you!!
The only part of Tribe that is unmetered is the notification page. Once you click on a link, you are leaving the unmetered site. Hardly seems worth having because of this.
The only part of Tribe that is free is the notification page. Once you click on a link you are leaving the unmetered site and you will be charged. Hardly seems worth having if that’s the case.
@aisling Glad to hear “stop” worked. Where are you getting to? If you can’t get to Tribe from BigPond, try going directly to http://tribe.telstra.com.
@Sarah All pages with the “green dot” and the word “unmetered” at the top are zero-rated. You will see a page “Leaving Tribe?” if you are being directed to a link that leaves the site. Today that is only Events, Pokes, and responding to Friend requests. If you believe you are still being incorrectly charged, please contact the Telstra team on Facebook or Twitter (facebook.com/Telstra or @Telstra) who can investigate your case further.
Hi Team,
I have a client that has sent the word ‘stop’ to 87423 in aim to disable Tribe but it hasn’t worked for him.
I have read that some basic steps to deactivate tribe online but I would like to know if the user has to do this from his Mobile or PC browser?
I think I will appreciate being able to keep in touch with my family when on holiday, from my phone, using Tribe and Facebook.
I have mastered updating my status, but after many tries, I am still unable to upload a photo. I’m told its not possible from some phones, so perhaps you can tell me if I should be able to upload photos, using Tribe from my LG XENON GR500f
I sent a ‘stop’ message over a week ago. I’m still getting SMS messages. I try to go to the portal but I just get “this is what Tribe is” page, with no links to ‘log in’ or ‘settings’ or anything useful. The SMS messages are driving me nuts. They’re always things I know – I have four friend requests, I’ve had four friend requests for weeks; I have two messages, I’ve had two messages for months.
Please tell me how to stop this nonsense.
Hi Susan,
Happy to address this on our end so that you no longer receive the SMS notfication, sorry that this hasn’t been resolved as yet.
If I can just grab your mobile phone details via:
http://bit.ly/CUSTID
I will gladly look into this:)
Steve@Telstra
I’m also getting charged for using Tribe. I updated a photo, and was charged for doing so, even though it specifically says it is free on the Telstra website:
Q. Can I upload photos for free using Tribe?
A. Uploading photos using the ‘Upload Photo’ button is free.
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/services/socialnetworking/tribe.html
I also read somewhere that you need to recharge at least $20 per month for it to be free, which I do, so I don’t have a clue what the problem is. I’ve called Telstra about this issue but they kept saying I was not using the portal (WAP) but using the internet (Telstra Internet). Not happy.
Hi Andrew, I wasn’t aware of the $20 per month, thank you for sharing that with us.
I’m finding it impossible to get help from here, so I went into my local Telstra shop and he had no idea on how to help me either.
Eve and Andrew, I’ve asked the product manager to answer your questions. He’s off sick today. Will get back to you asap.
I find that Tribe does not update. All the info is a day old.
I’ve also noticed the updates being old, I often get notification for non-existent messages and comments. I’d rather use the paid, fast and accurate version than Tribe which is late, slow and charges me money when it should be free…
hello i have a samsung preston and are wondering how to make the pictures bigger so i can see them at perfect size
Im not too sure what social networking sites you are all using Tribe for, but a free Facebook site is: 0.facebook.com
which is also provided free through Telstra
Yes, I’ve also used the 0.facebook.com, but was getting charged for that too! I rang up Telstra but they said they had no knowledge of the website.
Hi Andrew. We apologise for your charge. We will refund any incorrect data charges. Apparently there was a short issue with the zero-rating system for a small number of customers which we believe has resulted in random small charges. If you can send me a contact number, I’ll get someone to call you. Cheers, Brendan
Ohh, well I’m not too sure then. 0.facebook.com has always worked free of charge for me, and I’m positive it’s provided both through Facebook and Telstra in conjuction with each other? That’s what Facebook advertise’s anyways haha.
Hi, ive been using 0.facebook and its costing me and sometimes to the point where its using $2 of my credit at a time. I havent been browsing other sites or looking at photos! I dont know whats happening?
Hi Emily, I tried emailing you this morning and it bounced. If you can send me a contact number and account number, I’ll get someone to call you. Cheers, Brendan
i want tribe cancelled on my phone have tried and it wont work am sick of it, its taken $40 of my credit in one day not happy at all please do something
Hi Nicole. Sorry to hear you’ve had problems with your Tribe and billing. If you can send me a contact number and account number, I’ll get someone to call you. Cheers, Brendan
Hi, I used the free facebook link (0.facebook.com) and it was fine, until it started charging me, then I tried tribe, and it charged me also. I know of people who have been having this problem and its eating up my credit. I want to unsubscribe from the tribe application, and I want to do it from my computer as so far it has used up all my credit, how can I do this? Will I be able to get my credit back because it says the content was free, but I have been charged.
Hi,
My sister went onto tribe and few months ago. Ever since she went onto it on my mobie phone i have been getting messages saying stuff like ‘you have no activiti:.,…………..’
How do i stop getting messages?
@Hi Please see previous comment by George T on how to Stop SMS.
RE: George Tsigounis says:
20 Jul 2010 at 9:50 am
@ Jenny To Stop the sms’s just reply with “stop” back to 87423 (TRIBE). Or go onto the site (go to BigPond > Web tab > Tribe) then go down to Edit Settings at the bottom of the page, then “Alerts for SMS Notifications” and click “Disable”, then “Save”.
is it just me or are there NO “Edit Settings” at the bottom of the page ?
all sorted , thank you .
I used to be able to use 0.facebook but now have trouble getting on, it says my 0.facebook is not supported by my mobile carrier? , so I went to tribe to get onto free facebook, got on with success once but can’t get back, also while I was in the process of trying these free sites my credit went down abt. $15.00 I have my WiFi turned off so why can’t I access facebook via either of these sites
Hi Cheryl, If you can send me a contact number and account number, I’ll get someone to call you. Thank you, Brendan
great free app for a infrequent user…just one complaint. it won’t let me upload photos to twitter from my nokia 6220. keeps saying i need to login to a social network, but i already have, with my twitter account. any ideas…? thanks.
Tribe only supports the twitter site which doesn’t support photos at all.
Only Facebook and MySpace are supported for photo uploading.
Independent 3rd party sites like twitpic, posterous, and yfrog support photos but we have not integrated these with Tribe at this point.
Hi, just a quick question, I bought a new phone on the 4th, updated my sim to next g and my credit seems to have disappeared awfully quickly over that time, so was wondering if I am being charged somehow for using tribe, or is there something else I am missing?
can anyone tell me how i can get rid of the tribe application and make it log out of my facebook?
why is tribe not available on wireless iPod at home? facebook could be available using home Internet. bigpond unmetred is not available using an iPod with wireless which is unfair.
How come it doesn’t show you when you have notifications on Facebook?
My cousin used tribe for the first time on my phone, now it automatically comes up with her fb account how do i get rid of her fb account on my phone and put mine on it?
Hi Lea, have a look at the FAQ and video for Tribe here
I am also getting charged for using Tribe. I’ve tried using it on 4 different prepaid phones and sim cards in my family and we are all getting charged for using it. I rang Telstra who gave me a one-off free $10 courtesy payment but they could not rectify the problem. It’s disappointing to see this advertised as “Free” yet it sneakily charges you despite displaying “Unmetered” in the top right hand corner.
For two days now I have been unable to access Tribe. The message I get is
“Tribe is currently unavailable. We’re working to bring it back as soon as we can. We apologise for any inconvenience. You can access your social networkds directly through the BigPond Web tab.”
How long will it be until its working again?
My daughter is in the next room crying, she put $10 on her pre-paid phone to keep in touch with friends; used what was advertised as “FREE” facebook access, only to have all of her credit taken. What sort of scam is this Telstra?
Hi Matt, Sorry to hear your daughter’s credit appears to have been taken. If you can send me a contact number and her mobile number I’ll get someone to look into it and call you.
This is rubbish, I have an iphone 4 and when I use my facebook app I GET CHARGED!!! why? Same site? all other cell providers let you access facebook app for free. I have to go through that stupid tribe site, once again Telstra you are hopeless.
I was planning to use Tribe, being Free and unmetered. I got to use one status update, and now it just will not load. I got one text msg that said that my session had run out, and since then i can not access the tribe site to relog in. have tried the link from the big pond home site, and the tribe.telstra.com url. neither works.
I have not been overcharged and have not tried the 0.facebook.com site.
but am disappointed that the call centers dont have a clue how to help. or are able to say the site is experiencing issues.
I live in a rural area. I dont have a choice. Telstra is the only carrier that works where i live. my Next G phone works perfectly samsung preston, but i would like to be able to use all the features. The phone is a prepaid, but is using my post paid sim (i sat on and killed my nokia so this is the replacement till the contract ends)
I’ve been using 0.facebook.com and its been costing me, and i rang telstra and they wouldnt compensate my credit.
why?
Tribe is not a free service. Whenever it retrieves pictures it charges standard data rates on prepaid telstra phones.
I found out about this after sending photos to facebook through Tribe while on holiday. I will NEVER use Tribe again.
This is bull. It’s charging me.
I had 5 dollars. Now I have nothing.
Hi Tamikha, Can you get back to me using the online form a contact and account number so we can investigate this. Brendan.
The site o.facebook has ‘Free Access By Telstra’ on the top of the page. this has proven not to be true, it costs anywhere from 3-9 cents everytime i use the site. So much for being free! and then with that Tribe rubbish, it still costs the same amount to access it, and its rubbish site, yet it has unmetered plastered above it, and in the terms and conditions it also states that it doesnt cost anything. they both are meant to be free, yet they both cost.
Hi James could you please use the online form to send me your contact number so we can have someone look into this for you.
Brendan
i was never charged to use the 0.facebook.com site until a week ago. i went into my local telstra dealer shop and they told me that it is not an actual site and will continue to take my credit away from me. i have gone through $40 dollars of pre paid in the past 2 weeks, when $20 lasts me a month.
tribe is also starting to cost me money as well.
i am thinking of signing up with optus.
Hi Manda,
I can certainly appreciate your circumstance, as you may already be aware, we are currently investigating the 0.facebook facility.
Can I ask for your details, mobile phone number and full name, via the below link:
http://bit.ly/custreq
Let’s see what we can do to help you.
Hope to hear from you:)
Steve
I used 0.facebook but now when i try to use it, it re-directs me to tribe..honestly tribe sucks! Status updates are slow, no notification system, tells me i have inbox messages when i dont, takes too long to view someones facebook wall and status updates and msgs can only be 300 characters..its practically useless.
Hi John,
Thanks for your patience.
Can I please ask for more information on how you were directed to Tribe; ie: was this an automatic or did you click on a link? If you did click on a link, could you let us know which one.
Thanks in advance:)
Steve
Hi , how do you sign out of tribe because people say the log out button but i can find one
thanks
@Jessmi There is no logout button.
The only way you can logout is to remove your social networks using
“Add/Remove Social Networks” under “Edit Settings”. You can then sign back in again if you wish.
I got shown 0.FB back in Oct and used it with no charge. My latest bill shows $16 AND rising. Not impressed that i am getting charged for “unmetered/free access to Telstra users”.
My son who has a pre paid and is out of credit CAN get on with no charge!!!.
I would appreciate a refund AND this situation sorted so that it wont happen again.
Hi Bruce, We are aware of a 0.FB glitch in December. I have asked a CSR to call you and discuss the changes. Brendan.
I am very angry with Telstra. I only signed up to your company last month but I am sick of somehow getting automatically signed up to all the extra ‘freebies’ that I do not want. I should not have to waste my time trying to contact Telstra to disable services I never asked for such as Tribe. If I didn’t ask for it, I don’t want it. Why did Tribe start randomly messaging me? Shame on you. I haven’t replied STOP yet because I assume it will cost me money to stop something I never asked for in the first place. Is this the case?
Hi James, I sent you an email. Please reply so we can investigate.
Hello James. Sorry you’ve had such a negative experience with Telstra lately. I’d like to change that and offer you some assistance dealing with your issues. Please reply to the email I sent or use the online form to send me a contact number and account number, I’ll get someone to call you. Cheers, Brendan
What’s the deal with it not showing status updates on FB ? I missed an important status update(seriously) that I would have seen if I didn’t rely on Tribe and viewed it directly. And the updates showing as of now are 4 days old.
Hi Sluggo. Thanks for the feedback on Tribe. I’ve asked for someone to look into this. Brendan.
Apologies again for the problem missing status updates caused you, Sluggo.
We’ve now addressed this issue and you should be seeing the 5 most recent status updates on the Tribe Home page. Note the “See all” link at the bottom will let you browse the 60 most recent updates.