New O2 pricing??

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Does anyone know if O2 have changed their txt pricing?

I noticed the last couple days my credit went very quickly. I checked my credit a few times and worked out that it was costing me 25c to send a txt abroad and 11c to receive a txt.

I've been send/rec from abroad for about 5 years. Send as normal 11c / rec FREE. Until now.

I rang support and they said that nothing has changed? anyone else notice this?

ambrose

sirlinux

yep they have changed from enn:

http://www.enn.ie/news.html?code=9368418

The Irish Independent reports that O2 Ireland has increased the cost of once-off text messages and has introduced a reduced cost service targeting regular users of SMS services. This new bundled text service costs EUR7.50 for 100 texts, or EUR15 for 200. The cost of a once-off text to a customer on a competing network has increased by EUR0.02 to EUR0.13, while the cost of sending a text message on the O2 network remains at EUR0.11. The company placed advertisements in the national press on Monday informing customers of the changes.

carrotcake

11c to _receive_? that's obscene

the choices plans have also had the prices upped to 25c, but i don't see anything about a cost for receiving

and they've upped the prices on the select plans, which they haven't been offering to new customers for the last few months, so i would have thought that they wouldn't change it

just checked my bill there, and the new pricing kicked in on either the 13th or 14th. on a slightly-related note, i've also noticed that my texts sent while roaming in the us (on cingular) have gone uncharged, and texts sent while roaming in the uk are being noticed now - i had been getting them for free for months!

Winters

Damn them!

Was getting used to the fun cheaper text prices

Looks like i will be sending more text messages from the web now and less from my phone

jesus_thats_gre

I couldnt be arsed reading the article, but I doubt you are charged to receive, very much doubt so!

carrotcake

just as well, because the article has nothing to do with this topic!

jesus_thats_gre

Just as well i didnt read it then.

dahamsta

http://www.enn.ie/news.html?code=9369053

The [Irish Independent] also reports that the cost of sending an international text message has doubled and as a result using the phone to call might be better value. Mobile network giants O2 and Vodafone have both upped their charges for texting another country from Ireland from EUR0.11 and EUR0.13 respectively to EUR0.25. Consumer groups and phone users were angered that the only publicity given to the massive rise were a few advertisements in national newspapers. Customers did not receive direct messages informing them of the change, which took effect at the start of the peak summer holiday period.

It's good to talk - and it might well be a lot cheaper than texting

IT'S good to talk - and now that the cost of sending an international text message has doubled, phone users are finding it is also better value.

Mobile network giants O2 and Vodafone have both hiked up their charges for texting another country from Ireland from 11c and 13c respectively to 25c.

Consumer groups and phone users were angered that the sole publicity given to the massive rise were a handful of advertisements in national newspapers.

No messages were sent directly to customers informing them of the change, brought in at the start of the peak summer holiday period. [...]

Unless there's been a dramatic increase in costs - and there had better be, otherwise this stinks of price fixing - there's no way operators should be allowed increase prices at levels like this, and there's /certainly/ no way they should be allowed do it without proper notification. More regulation in the mobile marketplace please.

[EDIT: I'm inclined to complain about this, because, as I said, it stinks of price fixing. Before I do though, is there any valid reason for both operators to raise their prices at the same time and by so much?]

adam

The Corinthian

The move towards SMS internetworking charges amongst networks was first brought up in 2000, if I remember correctly. As such, it’s been on the cards for a while.

Having said this, most other networks have been applying much smaller internetworking charges of in and around 6 euro cents for the most part, compared to over 10 euro cent here and giving us pause once more to consider that mobile networks in Ireland have the highest ARPU in Europe.

sceptre

Originally posted by dahamsta
Unless there's been a dramatic increase in costs - and there had better be, otherwise this stinks of price fixing

Oftel (think it was Oftel) took long enough to recognise that the UK operators were operating as a cartel. given that there's been no move from the Irish regulators and given that both of our main operators are subsidiaries of the cartel-running UK operators, there's enough circumstantial evidence in my mind, tied with this increase, to make me believe firmly that there's a cartel operating in the Irish market as well.

There's no reason for the increase - unless you believe that there's a general agreement between the two operators that they'll start increasing the interconnect charges to benefit them both. That's a cartel in action. Both companies announcing the increase at the same time can only be interpreted as a cartel in action. There's no other interpretation to place on the action.

Conclusion: dirty rotten cartel. Odds on the competition authority or Comreg doing anything about it? Zilch. I'm going to complain to both places myself

(dammit, I'm turning into a Meldrew. I wouldn't have to do this if the two authorities would just do their damn job. Frankly I'm sick of having to complain about Eircom adverts, Esat adverts, Vodafone/O2 cartels, the ignoring of price-display regulations by Irish supermarkets, non-compliance of local litter regulations with regard to fliers on cars, statements by government ministers that don't even make sense in wackyland, lack of any economics knowledge in the department of finance AND having a life to lead, GF to keep reasonably happy, college course to complete and rent to pay (I'd rather limit myself to everything after the "AND"). Sometimes you can just totally understand people who drive small boats into oil tankers, climb on top of church roofs and shoot everyone in sight and people who burn themselves in protest at a lack of anyone who gives a shite. Christ, I sound frustrated. I'll shut up now)

carrotcake

voda have been charging 25c for international texts for a good few months, maybe over a year, so i'd relax with the price-fixing talk

Ste-

I only discovered this today and rang o2 to enquire and they (the girl on the fone) said it was to include the new cost off texting to abroad networks and then went on to tell me of the new "service"

What I was wondering was how can they afford this new service of low cost texts and charge regular users the new price ?

I switched to o2 after Vodafone done the same bloody thing.
And I don't think they even took out a paper ad.

I then proceeded to tell the girl that I don't read the paper and wasn't aware of any advertising and that maybe a text explaining about the increase and then drop the words of their new "service" at the end.

I don't think it's right for a company to double their prices with a measly ad in a paper not even a proper campaign for the new service. I think something is up as both companies charging the same €0.25 for texts to the uk.

As it happens I text the uk more than I do Ireland why should o2 in the uk be more expensive than o2 in Ireland afterall aren't they both o2 ?

Final words

IT STINKS!!!

deepspeed

How is all this going to be affected when the number portability happens????

i.e. how the F are you supposed to know what network the number you are dialing/texting is, so how do you know if you are gonna be charged the extra for connnecting to a different network???

Thats boll*cks.

Villain

I know this is of no benefit to most people but anyway just said I'd make people aware that you can send 500 text messages free ever month off O2.ie (you have to be registered) but THIS INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL NUMBERS.

I was texting scotland a lot at €0.25 a go now is send them for free off O2.ie.

jesus_thats_gre

When calling a customer that has taken advantage of FMNP, there will be a vert distinct tone before you hear the dial tone.

sceptre

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
When calling a customer that has taken advantage of FMNP, there will be a vert distinct tone before you hear the dial tone.

Ah, now that's interesting. And useful info.

jesus_thats_gre

I dont know what they are going to do about text messages. With Vodafone it makes no difference as text messages are 13 cents regardless of what Irish number you are sending too.

Cork

Just checked with Meteor - "If you are sending an SMS to an international number it is 15c". Thats not as expensive as the 25c already mentioned.

jesus_thats_gre

Meteor tend to be cheaper, makes up for the limited coverage and services.

Ste-

Who's to say Meteor won't follow suit ?
Knowing my luck I'd switch to them and then they'd up the prices. :rolleyes:

jesus_thats_gre

As Meteor become more popular you will find that there charges will come more into line with Vodafone and O2

deepspeed

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
When calling a customer that has taken advantage of FMNP, there will be a vert distinct tone before you hear the dial tone.

Just saw this on the O2 website....

A customer may have an 086 prefix but be on another network which means that offnet rates will apply. To give all of our customers clarity on this a recorded announcement will alert customers when an 086 number is not an O2 customer.