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O2 - should I stay or should I go? |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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I've been with O2 now for a long time - think when I switched contracts I got a Nokia 3200 lol! (Wish I'd got the T610 back then!  ) However I've had a few problems recently with calls disconnecting and am wondering about switching networks and am after some advice really.
I tend to use a fair amount of data checking emails, checking forums, Facebook etc. so a data plan is a must - though I suspect O2's unlimited data for £7.50/month would be hard to beat costwise. I've heard that other networks' 3G/Edge is faster than O2s - is that true? T-Mobile are apparently good for data.
I've heard other people have had dropped calls problems with O2 but others have not - is O2's infrastructure reaching breaking point or is that an exaggeration?
So, am I best staying put or trying another network, and if so, which one? I'm not a big fan though of other network's messing with their phones and putting their nasty and sometimes buggy and limiting firmwares on their phones (which is one reason why I like O2 - minimal branding and they don't lock their contract handsets) which the other networks seem to do sadly but it might have to be a necessary evil! Though do Carphone Warehouse still do sim free phones when you take out contracts with them?
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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To answer your question on the reliability of the O2 network. Yes its getting worse. I was with them for year and a half everything was great until recently. Never getting connections with internet and not getting connections with calls on 3G. I am now on Orange and can tell you service has improved and 3G is so fast and reliable. Very very good. Pages load swiftly and customer service is better these days i even get through quick. Anyway Orange on contract do £8 per month for 250mb of data. Not as much as O2 but still ok. Most people dont use that much. On their higher tariffs its included as a free extra of your choice. T Mobile is good but never rely on signal. I am glad to have left O2 i became so sick of problems i think its straining under the pressure of too many new customers coming in and too many iphone users. Poor. Im sure Daedalus will have his say lol. |
pmerryman
Joined: Jun 02, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Oldham,Uk
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I am pretty sure that all Networks have their faults. Best thing is to try another Network, and see how you get on with it.
I am on o2 now, having been on Vodafone, and both have their issues, but I can deal with it.
One Day, Men Will Look Back And Say I Gave Birth To The 20th Century. You have to have a piss in the sea, its the law. The A-Z of Trusted Traders[img]http://a-zott.com/images/A-Z |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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Indeed, I read your two's little 'discussion in that thread lol! 
It's only been recently I've started having problems with dropped calls, whilst it's not every day this happens it's enough to get annoying. The mobile internet seems fairly reliable though do sometimes have connection errors, and have heard from a few quarters that T-Mobile/Orange are quicker speedwise.
I've been looking at getting the G1 (Google Android) phone on T-Mobile, their Flext 30 tariff for £30, which has the web bolt on for free when ordered online, the phone is free too! Very tempted by this deal - though got a few niggles about T-Mobile's 3G/HSDPA coverage.
Not sure about Orange - they seem a bit slow getting on the mobile internet bandwagon with fairly small allowances on their 'unlimited' tariff.
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"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
[ This Message was edited by: Sammy_boy on 2008-12-28 14:52 ] |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Is the network problems in your area or everywhere? I started having problems in my area then it just spread out everywhere i went. T Mobile 3G coverage does seem better than GSM oddly enough. I was on T Mobile over 2 years ago. I know every network has their issues but whatever time of day it is or busy times i experienced no problems on Vodafone or Orange. The call charges on Orange pre pay are more expensive but hey its like Vodafone you pay extra to get better network in my belief. And two new things i missed on O2 that i got on Orange now are delivery reports though no big deal really and call waiting. Never got them on O2. Anyway good luck in your choice. Oh and yes Carphone still do sim free phones on contract. Their even sim free on pre pay. Good luck.
[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2008-12-28 15:17 ] |
bearcub24
Joined: Aug 11, 2006
Posts: 227
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I'm on O2 personally and with Vodafone through work using a Blackberry Pearl in both cases so 3G's not an option although I get EDGE with O2, I know that O2's 3G coverage is poor in my area but have never experienced dropped calls with either provider. On a downside Vodafone do tend to "customise" there phones more than O2. |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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I've had this happen both at home and at work, and usually when I have a decent signal too. I did think it was a signal problem but it isn't - I wonder if it's when for example you lose the HSDPA signal and it reverts to an EDGE/2G signal? I've noticed a horrible pause when loading web pages when the phone switches from 2G to 3G or vice versa - is that O2 specific or do other networks do that too?
I'm on the verge of accepting that T-Mobile web offer, just got a few slight worries about signal and especially 3/3.5G signal. However, I've got an old Virgin sim card which uses the T-Mob network and have a full 3G signal in my W880i which allays my fears slightly!
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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Miss UK
Joined: Jan 11, 2003
Posts: > 500
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3 offer good data for £5 a Month 1GB. Voda 500MB also for a fiver. Voda are a good network ive never had any issues connecting to 3.5g. O2 had slight probs many times not being able to get onto o2 active, and patchy calls to friends on 0range. |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Yes go with T Mobile if its good where you live. My problems with O2 was the same full signal on GSM and 3G but connections were either none existing or slow. Even 3G was slow and if it ever speeded up it was not for long. After reporting it many times to O2 they kept saying there was no fault. Then all of a sudden it worked again for a few days then nothing again. Joke. Normally with most networks yes we all get times when its not perfect and you can live with the odd blip. But not EVERYDAY. T Mobile are good but obviously not the best with signal. But with most places in towns and cities you visit your more than likely to get a signal. Their 3G is good and thats from experience.
Phone?? What phone?? |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Sammy_Boy the problems you are having regarding calls being dropped. Have you discussed this with O2? if you have not I really advise you to talk to them about this. they may not be aware of this issue in your area. And Its only if customer's tell them about issues in the area etc that they will look into this matter for you. I personally have not had any issues with O2 at all and the broadband service I get with O2 too is amazing. If you have discussed your issues with O2, what have they said about it? Just some facts for you about O2. O2 have the highest numbers of customer's in the UK. They are the best network when it comes to satisfaction, this was highlighted by them winning the mobile readers choice awards recently this year. They have maintained the top position in the CSI (consumer satisfaction index) survey when it comes to networks for the past 3 years running (pretty sure its 3 years). (so they must be doing something right) They have all UK based customer service which is free of charge and no foreign call centres. (O2 likes to keep British company jobs (even though its own by telefoncica - spanish company) in Britain.
However - yes some people might feel that the network when it comes to 3G is not great. However 3.2 MB download speed across the network is being built across the UK. Not quite as high as Vodafones 7.2 (in the London area). One thing you have to remember why the network coverage when it comes to 3G is better elsewhere you might find is that O2 do not share the masts they have, unlike other networks. They only use O2 masts that they have and are making it better.
Let me know how you get on with cust service regarding your issue though, unless you have already spoken to them. I would be interested to hear this.
[ This Message was edited by: Mr Miyagi on 2008-12-28 21:07 ] |
kryptonite
Joined: Sep 20, 2004
Posts: 27
From: London
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Im joining o2. Orange is fine network wise. I have never had any problems until recently. My p990 only received calls from orange users. It managed to sort it self out as orange customer service didn't help. Orange is not the same as it used to be. Im giving up orange wednesdays and missed call texts (very useful) for o2 who I can upgrade on new phones that dont take donkeys years to arrive and the firmware is never tampered with. Additionally, orange are to slow to react to the market. From what I have gathered, o2 lead the market with deals and orange (customers) follow them. |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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kryptonite what you will also find is that O2 brought out the amazing sim only deals first now every other network copied them. They also brought out the first unlimited options (subject to excessive usage/not fair usage like other networks) and everyone else copied them. plus get treats every 3 months, priority ticketing to events at The O2 arena and all sorts. |
kryptonite
Joined: Sep 20, 2004
Posts: 27
From: London
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Yes, orange have orange wednesdays that I dont use anymore. Its good though. The priority tickets will be a big plus. At the end of the day it a about the mobile experience and orange will brand their new phones when they sell them. o2, will simply release them. Im spending too much per month with orange and its giving me nothing in return. I will save with o2 and get the same sort of package. I know there is something similar to magic number. |
Bonovox
Joined: Apr 13, 2008
Posts: > 500
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Yeah yeah O2 lead the market have the most customers blah blah blah. Sometime down the line it will all go tits up like the way Orange did. Now i see Orange getting better like they once were years ago. Thats my experience now. I care nothing for The O2 in London or other offers i just want a reliable service provider. And im sorry to say O2 are biting off more than they can chew. Its not all rosy. |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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On 2008-12-28 23:36:00, Bonovox wrote:
Yeah yeah O2 lead the market have the most customers blah blah blah. Sometime down the line it will all go tits up like the way Orange did. Now i see Orange getting better like they once were years ago. Thats my experience now. I care nothing for The O2 in London or other offers i just want a reliable service provider. And im sorry to say O2 are biting off more than they can chew. Its not all rosy.
Orange went tits up because it got bought by France Telecom. Vodafone went tits up because its too expensive and cust service is a joke. T mobile seems to be doing ok, but has to rely on a joint mast sharing agreement with 3 in order to stay in the market for good 3g coverage. 3 was going to go tits up but it ended up sharing masts with t mobile. How is Orange getting better?? Apart from copy cat campaigns that they copied from O2 how are they getting better?
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Posted: 2008-12-28 12:05
