Landline numbers look like this: “03 9418 7412“.
Mobiles look like this: “0415 276 127“.

Both 10 digits, but different cadence.  All Melbourne landlines have the area code “03″.  All mobile phones in the country use the “04″ area code.

Incoming calls on mobiles and landlines is free for the phone owner.  Calling out on landlines and mobile phones costs the caller.  Mobile rates are higher than landlines, however all mobile number have the same area code throughout Australia, so there are no long distance charges when calling a mobile number.

Mobile Phones

Australian phones work on the GSM network.  If you own a GSM Phone in Vancouver (Rogers / Fido) than you should be able to use that phone in Australia.  You’ll need to buy a Pre-Paid Sim Card to set up your phone.

Here are the local phone companies:

Vigin Mobile
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/

Telstra
http://www.telstra.com.au/

Vodafone
http://www.vodafone.com.au/

3 Mobile
http://www.three.com.au/

Optus
http://www.optus.com.au/

Telstra (the most expensive, but the best coverage at the fastest speeds), Optus, Vodafone and 3 all offer 3G speeds.

3 has great prices but is primarily local, so if traveling Telstra is the best.