3 Like Home - Sicily Review

Bluefrog

Now I know I've ranted on a lot about 3 Ireland here in the past and I think pretty much deservedly so. Appalling customer service, network upgrades that quickly turned to downgrades, over-subscribing their systems etc. However, I had an opportunity last week to put their '3 Like Home' offering through its paces in Italy and mentioned I would post here after.

3's network in Italy is second to none and I had great coverage in Sicily from them in Trapani, Erice (750m up) and Valderice.

The only times my phone seemed to go into roaming mode was when I was in older buildings with very thick stone walls. My data was stopped automatically when this happened so I should get no whacking data bills when I'm back in Ireland. I roamed for periods like this with TIM mainly and also occasionally with Vodafone and Wind.

I used the 3 Skype client extensively and call quality was great. Also used Fring for my IM, the Gmail app from Google, Shozu and even Livecast all very successfully. Had access through Slingbox to my own digital TV service back home though I didn't use it much and an ongoing issue with 3 Ireland where third party Real streams die after 1 minute 45 seconds was not an issue there.
I was also able to retrieve a couple of documents via Orb from my PC back home and see my dog via webcam (yes, pathetic I know).

Overall I was delighted with the service in combination with my N95. My only real issue was battery life and I carry a spare for that.

1huge1

Wow you know how to get the most from a mobile. Seeing your dog on webcam how class is that.

Ive only ever used the 3 like home feature in northern Ireland but I found there coverage to be limited to highly urbanised area's. When it did work though it worked a treat.

drunkmonkey

I can see all the 02, Vodafone, and Meteor customers wondeing what your on about.....

what's and orb or even a sling???.... some day they'll figure it out;)....by that time 3 customers will be teleporting with there phones, go on 3, nice to hear some good comments for a change!!:)

Bluefrog

I really wish I could teleport back to Sicily...

-aboutagirl-

When I was in Itlay in January, 3's Like Home Service was nothing short of terrible. I had intended to be able to use Skype but it wouldn't connect any of my calls but for some reason it would send my Skype chats. I spend all of the credit I had trying to ring customer services to get it sorted but of course all I got was the usual "take your sim card out" crap!

Terrontress

I've used it in Vienna and it was fantastic. Being able to check emails, share prices, send free texts etc.

Bluefrog

Just curious as to what part of Italy you were in?

-aboutagirl- wrote: »

When I was in Itlay in January, 3's Like Home Service was nothing short of terrible. I had intended to be able to use Skype but it wouldn't connect any of my calls but for some reason it would send my Skype chats. I spend all of the credit I had trying to ring customer services to get it sorted but of course all I got was the usual "take your sim card out" crap!

Walkman

-aboutagirl- wrote: »

When I was in Itlay in January, 3's Like Home Service was nothing short of terrible. I spend all of the credit I had trying to ring customer services

Are you sure you were not roaming on another network. I was in Italy for nearly the month of May
, no problem with 3. Had to call customer case on 333 and it was free. If you were charged I would imagine you had roamed onto another network. 3 like home clearly states you will incur roaming charges if your phone goes onto another network. I came home delighted with the fact I had a normal bill with no roaming charges (my phone did roam onto Wind and Tim but I didnt use it when on these networks).