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Orange Vs O2 |
Andy-rew
Joined: Jun 13, 2005
Posts: 37
PM |
I've always been on vodafone - but now that i'm getting a k750i, i'm avoiding them due to the excessive branding.
So it's a choice between Orange and O2.
Cost is not really an issue - they both offer the exact same monthly deal i would want. (£30, 200mins, 500texts)
I've read that with the new firmware update, the branding can almost be entirely removed from Orange phones, so i guess in terms of usability and appearance, the Orange and O2 phones will be identical. (or am i wrong?)
So what are people's opinions on the two networks?
... Preferably from people who have changed from one to the other, and found a change in service - be that in the network reception, or customer service.
By the way, i do know about the delivery report issue with O2 - this is something i'm holding in Orange's favour.
[ This Message was edited by: Andy-rew on 2005-06-14 02:20 ] |
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Rieley
Joined: May 27, 2005
Posts: 27
PM |
Well one thing about the K750i on orange that i find far better than the o2 version is the layout of the menu. All of the more commonly used icons are at the top whereas there is an o2 one at the top on o2. Small as it sounds its something i would put in Oranges favour.
As for the phone itself branding is minimal...Icons are now gone after the update and once you change to a differnt them (other than the orange one) then you could'nt tell that it is orange branded.
Technically my orange handset has not had a problem yet and my friend who is on o2 has to turn his phone of a night to stop it crashing. I have not yet lost a signal and i am very very happy with the K750i and Orange |
eeperman
Joined: Jun 06, 2005
Posts: 44
PM |
I have been with Orange for over five years and can not recommend them highly enough.This year I had a look at my running costs and found that O2 have a much cheaper roaming package. I therefore signed up with O2, got a new K750i and spent about a week with them before sending the phone back and renewing with Orange.
If you pop along to www.moneysavingexpert.com you can see some of the deals that networks offer to retain loyal customers. I now get 500 cross-network minutes plus 60 texts for £25 per month and I have a new K750i that I have updated to remove the nasty Orange icons. The customer service is free and open for 24 hours (contrast that to O2 who charge 0870 rates and are only open 9am-9pm. I get 2 for 1 admission to the cinema on Wednesdays (so, if you go once a month knock about £6 off your bill). And I have never had any problem with reception.
My only gripe with Orange is that their customer support, although free and very good, is buried beneath layers and layers of automated menus. But, hey, its a free phone call so who cares?
Also, my K750 did suffer from the dreaded standby screen crash so Orange is not immune to the handset problems plaguing O2. When I rang Orange technical support they told me that the crash was a feature of the phone (!) and there was nothing wrong with it. Fortunately there is an excellent community of SE experts online here who helped me through the firmware update which has hopefully cured the problem (14 hours and no crash).
Hope this helps. |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
I would go with orange any day, The cusotmer care is so much better the 02. I know i was with o2 for 2 years and god Orange are like a breath of fresh air.
I had no complaints with 02 customer service, just that i dont like to be on hold for 1 and a half hour and been charged for it. Also i work strange hours so to ring Orange at 4am in the morning and to be answered is nice. Im not saying Orange are perfect there not, but at least there always there 24hours a day
You can go online and obtain a K750i with 500 sms and 200 mins x network for the same price as o2, other best thing tho. customer care isnt 50p per min and you dont have to email if you want help. You still get your bill delivered to your door and look online. Internation calls and general cheaper even tho extras bundels do cost more. |
max99
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Manchester (@ Uni)
PM |
yea i love orange
[addsig] |
majoha
Joined: Nov 12, 2003
Posts: 15
PM |
I got my 02 K750 from CPW - so no branding at all as the just gave me a sim free phone with O2 sim.
I was with Orange for years but left about 18months ago as I never seemd to get best phones first and I hated all the branding. Went to t-mobile, and have to say their customer service really seems to have improved particularly in the last 6months, so did not want to leave, but wanted the K750 in black so off to O2 I went. Too early have a view on O2, but if worse come to worse I'll just leave at the end of 12 months and get a payg sim from orange or whoever for my unlocked k750 (which by the way is sooooooo cool...) |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
PM |
orange also plays better customer service music, when you are on hold. you also get to try free services per month with orange, like wap/gprs, picture messaging, video calling etc, without having to pay. |
goldenface
Joined: Dec 17, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Liverpool City Centre
PM |
I am torn between the 2. Really. imo Orange have better service but O2 phones are more customer friendly with less branding. I have both at the moment. But will be choosing one next contract. Decisions decisions. . .
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alexho
Joined: Dec 17, 2004
Posts: 453
From: Bristol
PM |
Don't forget O2 do not lock their phone so u could put any sim card in to use it and u have to give Orange £30 to get the phone unlock and the phone from O2 is without the Orange sticker delow the keypad too! |
Dj Boyi
Joined: Oct 05, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Liberty City
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Its £20 for Orange to unlock yer phone,NOT £30!
This message was posted from a K700i |
darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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I like my orange sticker. It sets the phone from the rest and its looks posh !!
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Andy-rew
Joined: Jun 13, 2005
Posts: 37
PM |
Hmmm. The verdict does seem to be swaying towards Orange - which has surprised me somewhat.
At the end of the day, i get 14 days to change my mind, so if i go with one and find reception round here to be sh1t (i'm in between hills!), then i'll switch to the other. Vodafone always used to be the only provider to get service round here, but i'm hoping the others have improved their reception over the last few years. |
SCORPIONKING1982
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Leeswood
PM, WWW
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Its interesting that everyones focusing on branding/customer service etc but the most important thing of course is COVERAGE!!
Don't go with either of them without first investigating what the coverage is like around your area! No point having a nice unbranded phone or smashing customer service if you can't bloody use the phone 
myspace.com/scorpionking1982 |
Andy-rew
Joined: Jun 13, 2005
Posts: 37
PM |
Coverage is my main issue.
I'm starting a new job soon which will require a lot of moving around the country, so i'm hoping to get some kind of insight into which provider has the best coverage around the country.
I understand that voda is generally the best, but you pay more because of that. So where do O2 and Orange come?
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darrengf
Joined: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM |
I think they are about the same. No network is perfect and every one of them have black spots.
I always say chose the phone that works best in your home, youldd be supprised how much you use the phone there. |
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Posted: 2005-06-14 03:16
