Help me save money please :)

cormie

Hi,
I'm currently reviewing my options and would appreciate any advice on which would be best for me. Here are my details:

Currently with: 02 Speakeasy Flat Rate 20c p/m anytime/any network. 5c texts with bundle.

Since Nov 7, 2007 (162 days/5 months and 10 days ago), I've spent €836, which works out at about €155 per month.

I don't text much from my phone but generally use up quite a lot of my 250 webtexts each month (can you get the 250 webtexts with a billpay account with o2?) and I do text international numbers too. I make calls at random times to random networks.

I'd like to be able to use my phone as a modem to connect to the internet with my laptop and I'd like if this could replace my 3 broadband which I pay €20 a month for. I'd be wanting to connect both in Ireland and abroad (mainly the UK).

I don't send picture messages, download ringtones or any of that stuff so don't use data on the phone ever really, although I'll probably get Sam Vines java texter for my texts in future.

I also have my own business with company reg number, vat number etc so I could sign up to a business package as far as I know.

Would have no problem switching provider if the service was just as good and I wasn't losing anything (webtexts etc).

Would appreciate any help with this

green123

why are web text so important to you ?
at only 5c per text, 200 text would only cost a tenner.
you should concentrate on getting the best deal on calls and forget about the text i think

cormie

I don't like texting on my phone, takes ages compared to typing on the keyboard, which I use cabbage for, which just makes everything so much easier but yes, texting isn't too important, but do all providers not have free webtexts anyway?

green123

vodafone have 300 free webtext per month, i dont know about the rest.

this site could be useful to compare prices :

http://www.callcosts.ie/home/default.asp

cormie

I've checked that site all right but it's a bit vague considering all the questions I have in my first post. I'd just like to get the best possible deal for my personal use and don't really know where to start!

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

drunkmonkey

Hi Cormie,

I'm in business but not on a business plan as I just want my own personal phone....I use my phone a lot all day every day mainly to other mobiles in ireland and the uk....my average bill is usualy around €102 - €130pm including vat... (i'm a really heavy user, I don't use a landline at all)

your best going pay monthly, 3 offer the best all round deal at the moment, i'm on relax 950....i've been with them since the start...they've had there problems but I think there finally getting things right.......

I get 950 anytime units per month + free microsoft messanger + 3000 free skype calls + texts and 3000 free anytime 3 to 3 minutes....I can't find a better deal anywhere.....even vodafones current offer with the n95 wouldn't make me switch back to an old school network......

The flexi untis work as follows....

1 unit = 1 Voice Minute(3 offer per second billing)
1 unit = 3 text messages (text, video or picture)
1 unit = 1mb of data (Good value, 100mb per month is plenty for most mobile surfing)


Your currently on 02 so it's no surprise you don't use or have much intrest in data usage, that will all change if you move to 3.....I used to be with 02.....much the same boat as yourself......

If you spending €155pm on 02 prepay you mite get away with relax 750 for €79pm on 3......

Using your phone as a modem, yes it works on 3 but they will not give you any support......pick carefully when choosing your phone if using it as a modem....most 3 phones are like mini laptops so you'll find yourself checking the phone rather than turning on the computer.....

try them out (1more person I can call for free);)there's a 14 day money back gurantee with 3 and you should pick up the nokia e65 of nokia 6500 for free with either of the higher plans......both great for business

forget pay as you go....you'll always be watching the pennys rather than concentrating on bringing in the business.....

hope this help.....10 years bill pay experience and a little brother on 02 pay as you go who sends "call me texts:mad:

cormie

I have 3 broadband for 20 euro a month and to be honest, 3 are on my bad side now. It's really terrible. I'd need a lot of convincing to let them take care of my phone too. How would an o2/meteor package compare to the 3 offer you're on do you know? So the 950 units are divided between phone/text and data? That's pretty good

drunkmonkey

That's one of 3's big problems, all there phone users are happy and there broadand customers wudn't trust them to boil an egg let alone look after the phone......I returned my modem within the 14days 3 times....i've come to the conclusion there's some things I can live without....

Don't judge 3 by their broadband service....there phones are top of the range with usable 3g features....they do have the largest 3g network in the country, they also have a roaming agreement with vodafone when your not in 3 coverage....

Vodafone partner with Three

02 partner with Meteor and Tesco : )

I'll start with 02" they can catch you out with introductory offers and 18mt contracts, beware! they offer 600 minutes and 300 texts for €89pm no free calls!! o2 "see how much you can spend":p

Meteor will give you 600 anytime minutes + free weekend calls to all irish networks.....great if your only open for business on saturaday and sunday....forget about data services.....

Vodafone will give 600 anytime minutes + free anytime vodafone to vodafone calls + 600 free texts for €89pm
It's the second best offer at the moment......


Compare Vodafone perfect choice 600 to relax 950 from 3...

600 texts will use up 200 of your 950 until allowance,
So then your left with 750 units while on Voda you'll only have 600 minutes left.....

So for the extra €10pm you'll have an extra 450 texts, 150mb of data or 150 extra minutes.....and all your free msn and skype, plus free access to planet 3 and free 3 to 3 calls.......

Your choice is between vodafone and three all the other networks are playing catch up......3 have the biggest 3g network in the country & europe ...fact!

take the 14day trial, reception on your phone should be bang on if you've got 3 broadband coverage.....pick a nice phone.....try and get 1 of there most up to date phones with 3g and HSDPA....nokia e65 is a great phone and works with all 3 services, youtube, googlemail, skype etc....crap camera but the rest is brilliant.....

cormie

Hi again,
Thanks for the very informative post

I can't believe I'm actually considering 3:o

Could you clear up a few things for me though, can I use an existing skype account with 3 and if so, does this mean I can make all my calls if I want, through skype, so I never have to ring an international number and be charged 3's international rates, instead I can use Skype on the 3 network and just be charged skype rates? If Skype is free all the time and I wanted to make most of my calls from Skype, would I not be best choosing a cheaper monthly option just to get use of the Skype thing?

Once you go over the included units/minutes etc, how much do calls work out at per minute and is there an any time flat rate you can opt for if you're out of the included units, if so, how much is this?

Also, are calls (making and receiving) free in the UK? I go to the UK quite a bit and I'm afraid to answer calls because the customer and I will be charged a ridiculous amount, so will it not matter if I'm in the UK if I'm with 3?

Do you know if I can use the phone as a modem on my laptop and connect to the net with it this way, so I can get rid of my crappy three broadband and just use the phone as a modem if I'm out an about?

thanks again, would appreciate any help on the above too

drunkmonkey

cormie wrote: »

Hi again,
Thanks for the very informative post

I can't believe I'm actually considering 3:o
can I use an existing skype account with 3?

Once you go over the included units/minutes etc, how much do calls work out at per minute and is there an any time flat rate you can opt for if you're out of the included units, if so, how much is this?

Also, are calls (making and receiving) free in the UK? I go to the UK quite a bit and I'm afraid to answer calls because the customer and I will be charged a ridiculous amount, so will it not matter if I'm in the UK if I'm with 3?

Do you know if I can use the phone as a modem on my laptop and connect to the net with it this way, so I can get rid of my crappy three broadband and just use the phone as a modem if I'm out an about?

I should be on comission for this.....:)

Yes you can use your existing skype account on your 3 phone but you can only make & recieve calls to other skype numbers........it also does not use any of your monthly data allowance......if you move from a 3g coverage area while on a skype call, the call will not drop, but you will not be able to make or recieve a skype call when not in a 3g area....you can also use skype in the UK on the phone...


Use your phone as you would in Ireland when your in the UK, No charge for recieving calls, One thing to note, 3 partner with tmobile in the uk, if your phone is showing tmobile you will be charged on top of your monthly bill, if you latch onto 3's UK network the call will come out of your monthly allowance.....


Keep your phone and broadband seperate.....it's less messy....your modem will work in the UK and your not charged any roaming fees....


Whatever you do don't do what I done.....don't pick a cheap price plan and go way over your minutes.....you'll get a stinker of a bill.....your better having a few minutes in hand......relax 750 should cover you for everything......you can easily check planet 3 on your phone to see how many units you have left....


Did you know you can watch the RTE news live on your 3 phone when your in the UK...you can alos video call the lady back home......they are cool phones......doubt you'll be disappointed.....

make sure the phone you pick has.... 3g & Skype

let us know how you get on......

cormie

Hmmm, I wonder is there any way to *cough* make skype be able to call non skype numbers too? Is there any way I can see the charges for calls out of the allowance? Don't want to sign up to a package I'm constantly going over, not even from day 1.

When you say no charge for receiving calls in the UK, is there a charge for making them or is everything exactly the same as back in Ireland as long as I'm 3's network? I'm in the UK enough times for it to be a concern

Why do you say to keep phone and broadband seperate? If I use one for the other, then I wont have to pay any seperate fees, right? As in, I can just sign up to one of the relax plans and then if I need to get online, I can just hook up my phone and use it as a modem and the cost will be taken from my units? do you have them seperate? Seperate in what way? What modem do you use? I thought you returned the three broadband thingy?

Do you reckon for my original post, that three is DEFINITELY the best option for me?

drunkmonkey

You could look up software like fring, that might allow you to call any number you want....

If your travelling a lot to the UK 3 is the best option, same applies if your using apps like skype & msn etc...


Your in Business, you shouldn't be worried about when or where to use your phone.....as I said i'm a heavy users and my total bills are around 120.....that should drop this month down to €100 as i've changed to their new relax price plan......I was on talk 1000 with a message and data add on.....

Get relax 750, budget yourself €100pm and you should be able to use your phone all the time....

I saved a fortune compared to my o2 bills.....there's no way I would got back to pay as you go....it's madness if you spend over €50pm on calls.....

cormie

Cool thanks again,
So just to be extra sure:

As long as I'm on a "Three" signal in the UK, I'll there is absolutely no difference between being there and back in Ireland. All calls will be at normal rates and just taken from my units and this also applies to if I've used all my units. Skype and MSN are also free if in the UK. So basically nothing changes once I go to the UK (And any other country listed on their international page?)

Would you be able to just tell me why you don't use you're phone as a modem for broadband, and if not, what DO you use? To connect to your laptop for example?

Relax 750 seems not to be on the site, it's relax 650 and relax 950 now, I think they are updating the site at the moment because I think a new phone was put on, do you think they got rid of relax 759

The out of bundle minutes are 18c per minute so that's 2c cheaper than what I pay now, presumably anytime...

cormie

I've looked on their site but can't find it anywhere, are there free webtexts with three at all and if so, how many? Also, are 3 to 3 texts free, or is it just calls?

Sam Vimes

drunkmonkey wrote: »

That's one of 3's big problems, all there phone users are happy and there broadand customers wudn't trust them to boil an egg let alone look after the phone......I returned my modem within the 14days 3 times....i've come to the conclusion there's some things I can live without....

their phone customers are not all happy by any stretch of the imagination. they can solve any phone related technical problems either and they have a lot of ridiculous policies that can never be waived.

for example, for the first 3 months, you get cut off if your bill goes over €160. and you have to wait until the month is over, you can't pay in advance. you'd want to be careful with your €155 average bill

Do-more

Do you have a landline also Cormie?

I'm just trying out a solution to my €100 a month Vodafone billpay bill.

Just bought one of these GSM gateways will use it with two tesco mobile sims. Tesco sell an add-on for €11.99/30 days for free calls to all other Tesco mobiles.

Then it's just a case of speed dialing the GSM gateway which is connected to my landline. This answers automatically and I get a dial tone as if I had picked up the reciever on my landline at home. Then it's just a case of dialling out using 13434 which gives me rates of between 0.5 - 2cents a minute to most landlines worldwide. Irish mobile rates are 10cent a min weekdays and 5 cent a min at weekends.

I'm still waiting for the gateway to arrive so I can't say how well it works in practice, but I expect to slash my bill to about €30 a month total.

You can of course program your contacts with the full string of numbers so that dialling isn't cumbersome.

If you buy a second €11.99 add-on for the sim in the gateway you can set it up to forward all landline calls to your mobile which is handy if say you wanted to provide an 1850 or 1800 number for your customers.

You can of course port your existing mobile number to the Tesco mobile sim.

cormie

That sounds a bit complicated to save 30 euro a month, are you sure that 30 euro couldn't be saved by going on a better package or are you on the best possible package for your usage?

I don't have a landline, could it be used with a voip phone over a wireless internet connection? How reliable would it be? I actually do have an 1890 number but I'm not sure I understand how you're saying I could save money with this too?

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds interesting

Do-more

cormie wrote: »

That sounds a bit complicated to save 30 euro a month, are you sure that 30 euro couldn't be saved by going on a better package or are you on the best possible package for your usage?

The saving should be €70+ per month, I expect my total bill should be €30/month max.(For anyone making a lot of International calls from there mobile this type of set up would save them a fortune)

cormie wrote: »

I don't have a landline, could it be used with a voip phone over a wireless internet connection? How reliable would it be?

Yes it can be used by connecting it to your ATA, how reliable it is depends on your wireless BB.

cormie wrote: »

I actually do have an 1890 number but I'm not sure I understand how you're saying I could save money with this too?

Is your 1890 number terminating to your mobile? If you don't have a landline I guess it must, in which case this won't save you money. When I had an 1850 number about 4 years ago they would only terminate it to a landline and I was crucified with call forwarding charges.

drunkmonkey

my mistake it must be relax 650 it's called, I thought it was relax 750......i'm on the relax 950 plan.....I started on the €19pm plan Then I got busy!!

you say your paying 20cent a minute with 02.....650 minutes alone would have cost you €130 pay as you go.....you still might get away with the relax 650.....you should try and cut down on your texting......I find it a lot easier just to call somone if they text me rather than waste my time texting...you can usually sort out in a one minute call what it will take 20 texts to do......i personally hate sending or getting text messages....if your in business you should really be talking to your clients rather than texting them....they must think your either skint or to tight to call them.....:eek:

No there are no traditional free texts with 3, you can use skype and msm to text for free......i also think there's some programs on the web for free texting......no idea where....

3 to 3 calls are free all the time.....i'm not sure if video calls are free....still i don't make a lot of them, usually late at the weekend when i'm legless and want to see what states my mates are in......

Your correct about the the calls working like home when your on 3UK......

On the mobile broadband, i've hooked up my phone a few times it's easy to do but you'll need a data add on.....if you use 1gb of data you'll have burnt up all your relax units.....the 10gb data add on for your phone is €19.99pm......the modem is the same price per month and 3 will support you if your in difficulty.....keep them seperate......if your phone brakes you've lost them both.......you'll have to wait at least 3 days before you've either a phone or broadband....you'll be out of business....


If your not into a camera go for the e65, it's the best in the range and works well with all 3 apps....it's also got wifi and a buit in modem

it's not on the 3 site so you best off finding your local independent dealer, I find the local shops best as if my phone brakes they'll get it repaired for me and give me a lend of one while i'm wating for mine to come back...you won't get the same service in a carphone warehouse and the like as there not run by the owners so the serice will never be as good......

you can find your local stores here... an e65 should cost you around €50 on relax 650....

http://www.three.ie/store/index.htm

drunkmonkey

Sam Vimes wrote: »

for example, for the first 3 months, you get cut off if your bill goes over €160. and you have to wait until the month is over, you can't pay in advance. you'd want to be careful with your €155 average bill

they will bar outgoing calls or texts outside your plan if you hit your credit limit in the first 3mts (€160)..you can still use your free calls and skype etc...if this happens they will get eveything back up and running straight away if you make a payment of lets say €50 which will bring you back under your credit limit.....it happend to me....I was a bit upset they didn't stop me at €40 as I was on a €19 plan...:mad:

Your average bill should be around €90 if you promise to cut down on your texts a little.....

tech support has a bit to go but it's no worse than the likes of eircom or bt who are absolutley dreadfull....if I did not need there broadband I would not be with either of them.....don't get me started on eircom...:mad:

cormie

Do-more wrote: »

The saving should be €70+ per month, I expect my total bill should be €30/month max.(For anyone making a lot of International calls from there mobile this type of set up would save them a fortune)



Yes it can be used by connecting it to your ATA, how reliable it is depends on your wireless BB.



Is your 1890 number terminating to your mobile? If you don't have a landline I guess it must, in which case this won't save you money. When I had an 1850 number about 4 years ago they would only terminate it to a landline and I was crucified with call forwarding charges.

Yup, the 1890 number connects direct to my mobile so it probably wouldn't save anything for me. My wireless connection here isn't the most reliable and I wouldn't like to be relying on it for all my business, however I do have access to a landline at my family home, would this greatly improve the reliability? Is this definitely the cheapest way to make calls after all your research and not just some crazy idea you came up with?

cormie

drunkmonkey wrote: »

my mistake it must be relax 650 it's called, I thought it was relax 750......i'm on the relax 950 plan.....I started on the €19pm plan Then I got busy!!

you say your paying 20cent a minute with 02.....650 minutes alone would have cost you €130 pay as you go.....you still might get away with the relax 650.....you should try and cut down on your texting......I find it a lot easier just to call somone if they text me rather than waste my time texting...you can usually sort out in a one minute call what it will take 20 texts to do......i personally hate sending or getting text messages....if your in business you should really be talking to your clients rather than texting them....they must think your either skint or to tight to call them.....:eek:

No there are no traditional free texts with 3, you can use skype and msm to text for free......i also think there's some programs on the web for free texting......no idea where....

I don't actually do all that much texting from my phone and when I do, it's only 5c a text as I get the 20 euro bundle with 400 texts, this lasts me about 3 months, so less than 10 euro a month on texts, definitely, although I have been texting internationally quite a lot on average about €15 worth a month, so it's still not all that much. So that's maybe €25 max on texts a month, but that's also with using up quite a lot of my 250 free webtexts (I tend to be very lazy and much prefer the typing speed on a computer so I'd let a group of messages build up and just reply to them all at once when I'm on o2.ie).

I'm just trying to figure out so, without free webtexts how much it's going to cost me to text the way I do at the moment. So imagine I send say 400 texts a month, at the moment, with 60 being 25c (which would still be the charge for international texting on a pay monthly plan with three I see, I thought it was 6c anywhere in the world ) and the rest being 6c, that's €35 a month as opposed to the €25 it was costing me, but unfortunately, a lot of the 200-250 texts I send on o2.ie a month are also international, so say another 100-150 international texts which I get for free on o2.ie, is another 37.50. So texting alone the way I am now, could end up costing me about €70 instead of the €25 or less I pay with o2 speakeasy. Because I text internationally so much, this is a bit of a problem, and calling is not an optional replacement for these types of texts I'm afraid.

If three offered free webtexts aswell this wouldn't be an issue and I didn't realise how much it would cost me until I just worked it out now because they don't. Unless of course I signed up to something like SMSdiscount.com and used boards.ie user Dal's AFT java texter from my phone, I could send 400 texts to UK and Ire for less than €15 with. But at the moment with o2 and my free webtexts, I can use Sam Vines cabbage program and send 250 (my free webtexts) of these for about 35cent (for 250! not each!). So even with the cheapest solution, texting on 3 is going to cost me about €15 more per month because of no free webtexts.

I can't find anywhere to confirm that international texts are included in the "units" per month. If so, I could get 350 texts and 650 minutes and still have 175mb for broadband on the 950 plan for 99 euro. How does texting from MSN and Skype work? Does it show that it came from your number and if they reply direct to it, will it go direct to your phone like a normal text, and not to your msn/skype? The only time I really text customers is if returning customers text me or if I send a text notification that I've replied to a quote request or if I'm picking up a band and they are in a loud venue

3 to 3 calls are free all the time.....i'm not sure if video calls are free....still i don't make a lot of them, usually late at the weekend when i'm legless and want to see what states my mates are in......

Your correct about the the calls working like home when your on 3UK......

On the mobile broadband, i've hooked up my phone a few times it's easy to do but you'll need a data add on.....if you use 1gb of data you'll have burnt up all your relax units.....the 10gb data add on for your phone is €19.99pm......the modem is the same price per month and 3 will support you if your in difficulty.....keep them seperate......if your phone brakes you've lost them both.......you'll have to wait at least 3 days before you've either a phone or broadband....you'll be out of business....

Having used the three broadband for a good few months, I don't get €20 worth of use out of it per month at all really so I might be best to just use the phone instead to check emails or whatever if I'm on the go. I can't imagine me using more than €240 above my units a year anyway (that's how much it would cost to have the three broadband for a year). I've also already paid and own the three modem for the broadband, so maybe I could get a duplicate made of my 650/950 sim (there's stuff you can get on ebay for this) and just keep it permanently in the modem so maybe I could keep my phone on while surfing the net, I don't know if it'd be possible but could be. I don't know how accurate it is, but according to the modem software, I've only received 800mb of data with the three broadband so far, this is under 100mb a month so the phone plan could definitely suffice for my usage I reckon. When I signed up to three broadband I thought it was going to be a replacement solution for my normal broadband in the house, how wrong I was, so now I only use it when I'm out and about so it the above figures would be accurate of my on the move usage.

If your not into a camera go for the e65, it's the best in the range and works well with all 3 apps....it's also got wifi and a buit in modem

it's not on the 3 site so you best off finding your local independent dealer, I find the local shops best as if my phone brakes they'll get it repaired for me and give me a lend of one while i'm wating for mine to come back...you won't get the same service in a carphone warehouse and the like as there not run by the owners so the serice will never be as good......

you can find your local stores here... an e65 should cost you around €50 on relax 650....

http://www.three.ie/store/index.htm

Just googled the e65 and it's a slider phone that'd be pretty annoying for a few different reasons for me I'm afraid. Do you know of any others with wifi? I know you can get cheaper o2 speakeasy phones on their website, so I'm wondering, would I get a better deal by just buying off threes website or would I be just paying the same amount?

Thanks again for all the help folks

Do-more

cormie wrote: »

however I do have access to a landline at my family home, would this greatly improve the reliability?

A landline will be much more reliable than wireless BB.

I've used various different VoIP services over DSL BB using an ATA and all have had problems of one sort or another, however I have found 13434 dial up service to be excellant, can't fault it.

Remember however that you won't be able to make a call if someone is on the phone at your homeplace!

cormie wrote: »

Is this definitely the cheapest way to make calls after all your research and not just some crazy idea you came up with?

Yep. The only possible option is if 3 add Skypeout to their service, this has been rumoured but I doubt it will happen soon. (I have been wrong before however, once! )

cormie

Ok, there goes that plan, can't rely on wireless and the landline is ALWAYS in use, although I have access to another that's never in use, but that's in Wicklow, would it make a difference what area code the phone is in?

When you say skype out, do you just mean the ability to make skype calls to any number on a 3 mobile? I'd hazard a guess that if you can make Skype to Skype calls over the 3 network, there's some way to allow Skype to any number calls?

If you use the 13434 way, will phonecalls appear to be from my mobile number, or a different number altogether, and how about receiving calls? When do you think you'll be set up on it? I still have a load of free credit to use up on o2 because I just bought a new phone there recently which I'll lose if I switch so it'll probably be a few weeks before it's costing me money not to switch so hopefully you'll have had time to test you're lil trick by then Do you know anyone else who's using your way?

Sam Vimes

drunkmonkey wrote: »

they will bar outgoing calls or texts outside your plan if you hit your credit limit in the first 3mts (€160)..you can still use your free calls and skype etc...if this happens they will get eveything back up and running straight away if you make a payment of lets say €50 which will bring you back under your credit limit

They definitely used to not take payment in advance. are you saying that 3 changed a ridiculous policy :eek: that's not like them

Walkman

Sam Vimes wrote: »

They definitely used to not take payment in advance. are you saying that 3 changed a ridiculous policy :eek: that's not like them

3 always took advance payment. I first joined then in 2005 and made an advance payment on my second bill. You can put your account into credit with them by calling cc with a credit card

Sam Vimes

Walkman wrote: »

3 always took advance payment. I first joined then in 2005 and made an advance payment on my second bill. You can put your account into credit with them by calling cc with a credit card

ah so it must have just been stupid customer care agents who kept telling me they couldn't take advance payments. fair enough

Walkman

I have always been an advocate of 3's on here but that annoyed me sam. Surly there are basic levels of training you need to answer the phone to your customers. Customers are entitled to the same level of card when they call not have that depending on who they get through to. Come on 3 sort it out. Ps as I have stated before a mate me mine works for them and told me yesterday they now have 8% market share not bad seeing as they get slated at every turn and were on about 4% this time last year (there was a thread somewhere here about it)

Sam Vimes

Walkman wrote: »

I have always been an advocate of 3's on here but that annoyed me sam. Surly there are basic levels of training you need to answer the phone to your customers. Customers are entitled to the same level of card when they call not have that depending on who they get through to. Come on 3 sort it out. Ps as I have stated before a mate me mine works for them and told me yesterday they now have 8% market share not bad seeing as they get slated at every turn and were on about 4% this time last year (there was a thread somewhere here about it)

i bet you a tenner you posted that from a phone. guess how i know

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Sam Vimes

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

bingo

cormie

Where's drunkmonkey to help me with my huge post above:pac:

Do-more

cormie wrote: »

Ok, there goes that plan, can't rely on wireless and the landline is ALWAYS in use, although I have access to another that's never in use, but that's in Wicklow, would it make a difference what area code the phone is in?

It won't make any differance at all, you just need to be sure the phone is on Eircom billing for the calls i.e. calls arn't on carrier pre-select to someone like BT or Talk Talk. The 13434 prefix only works with Eircom.

cormie wrote: »

When you say skype out, do you just mean the ability to make skype calls to any number on a 3 mobile? I'd hazard a guess that if you can make Skype to Skype calls over the 3 network, there's some way to allow Skype to any number calls?

Yes, presently 3 limits you to calling other Skype users only. Other Skype software allows you to call landlines & mobiles at cheap rates but at present 3's version does not.

cormie wrote: »

If you use the 13434 way, will phonecalls appear to be from my mobile number, or a different number altogether, and how about receiving calls? When do you think you'll be set up on it? I still have a load of free credit to use up on o2 because I just bought a new phone there recently which I'll lose if I switch so it'll probably be a few weeks before it's costing me money not to switch so hopefully you'll have had time to test you're lil trick by then Do you know anyone else who's using your way?

As you're actually placing the call from the landline that the gateway is connected to, it's that landlines number which will show up on caller display.

The gateway still hasn't arrived from Hong Kong yet, but I'll let you know how I get on, PM me if I forget!

BostonB

I've heard you can install another skype client along side the 3 client. One that has full skype functionality like skype out etc. I haven't tried it myself.

cormie

That's what I was hoping for

Even a little java program that would do skype-ing. I know there are a few different IM programs that have skype built in so it could be easy enough. If this was possible I'd definitely be up for 3

BostonB

If you hunt around you might find out where this was posted. I'm nearly sure it was on the boards. Someone said they had it working.

cormie

Do you reckon it could be used on a non three phone aswell then if it was just a java app?

BostonB

Yes but 3 has the best tariff for data. I think.

cormie

Don't suppose you remember where the skype hack thingy was posted at all? I had a quick search but tbh, I'm not sure what to look for or where:o

Sam Vimes

cormie wrote: »

That's what I was hoping for

Even a little java program that would do skype-ing. I know there are a few different IM programs that have skype built in so it could be easy enough. If this was possible I'd definitely be up for 3

it's called fring but it's a symbian program, not java

cormie

Oh yeah, I've seen people on my msn list logged in with fringe before. Hmm, so can fringe make any calls via skype? skype to mobile etc? How do I know a phone as symbian? Does the k800i or do only really expensive phones have it?

BostonB

iSkoot is a Java one that works on Sony's etc. I've not used any of them myself. Theres probably other clients.

Sam Vimes

cormie wrote: »

Oh yeah, I've seen people on my msn list logged in with fringe before. Hmm, so can fringe make any calls via skype? skype to mobile etc? How do I know a phone as symbian? Does the k800i or do only really expensive phones have it?

yes it can make skypeout calls. you can tell if a phone is symbian by going to www.gsmarena.com. for example:
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n73-1550.php

OS Symbian OS 9.1, S60 3rd edition

but if there's a java client like bostonb says you don't have to worry about that. i've heard of iskoot but haven't looked into it at all so it might do it

spicywedge

Why go to the hassle of moving network or going to bill pay, use the O2 experience price plan where you get free texts to all networks or free calls and text to ten choosen numbers. doing this would knock down how much you top up by a serious amount.

Sam Vimes

spicywedge wrote: »

Why go to the hassle of moving network or going to bill pay, use the O2 experience price plan where you get free texts to all networks or free calls and text to ten choosen numbers. doing this would knock down how much you top up by a serious amount.

not necessarily. calls are 49c to other networks at all times on that tariff. i was just about to switch when i saw that.

and the ten people all have to be on o2

cormie

spicywedge wrote: »

Why go to the hassle of moving network or going to bill pay, use the O2 experience price plan where you get free texts to all networks or free calls and text to ten choosen numbers. doing this would knock down how much you top up by a serious amount.

Not for me I'm afraid, I'd loads of different numbers as I use the phone for business, new customers all the time etc.

Thanks for the links to the Skype yolky, I must check it out

spicywedge

What did i say

cormie

Can't find any info on the site about that, could you provide a link please?

neilled

people should remember that Iskoot dials an irish number - so the call comes out of your monthly minutes.

Just to let everyone know, there is a Java version of Fring called mini that I am currently beta testing.

cormie

What's the difference between fringe and iskoot? Would iskoot not be free for three users since Skype is? Is fringe free for Three users? Where would I get mini? or is it called fringe mini?