Mobile Broadband Pay As You Go Question

CuppaCocoa

I have a €20 per month mobile broadband contract with 02 due to end in August. I never download music, games or large files (mainly because the speed is too slow!) and am wondering if I don't renew the contract can I use it as a pay as you go? Will it still work the same way or do I have to put a new sim into it? I have one I use in a spare phone. Can I just switch them?

I also have a 3 mobile broadband that I use for the North & the UK. Its a pay as you go. Can I buy an Irish 3 sim and use that here in it, or is it locked to the sim that's in it?

CuppaCocoa

Anyone?

richardw001

Im in the same boat - what I'm thinking of doing is unlocking the the o2 modem and possibly moving to threes pay as you go option (purely as they are setting up 3G in the local area as part of the NBS).

Its worth doing some research yourself though - as if its the case that coverage is better for vodafone or 3 in your area - then it might be worth looking at them as options.

Also you should ring O2 yourself and discuss with them. Get you modem unlocked anyway if your out of contract.

When talking to all of them (esp three) - ensure that you dont inadvertantly sign another contract until you know what all of them can offer - three esp I find can be proactive in sending out usb modems etc. at the slightest hint of new business.

jor el

O2 don't offer PAYG midband, and the modems are locked, just like a phone.

brownbinman

More than likely it will continue past the year until you cancel the contract.

Try the 3 network. they have a 14 day return policy, so if it doesn't work bring it back. They have a pay-as-you-go modem which you buy credit for.

Vodafone have PAYG modem out soon if not already. 3 use the same network however so it should work in the midlands

CuppaCocoa

I already have the UK 3 PAYG dongle. On their website it says you can use it in Ireland from 30th June for 10p per MB. I might give it a go and see how much it costs compared to my 02 monthly one.

jor el

brownbinman wrote: »

Vodafone have PAYG modem out soon if not already. 3 use the same network however so it should work in the midlands

Vodafone and Three are separate networks.

brownbinman

jor el wrote: »

Vodafone and Three are separate networks.

Yeah, but they use Vodafone's masts etc.

watty

Only in some areas as roaming arangement.
If they have a nearby mast, I don't think it roams to Vodafone, even if you can't connect. But I could be wrong

jor el

It used to be the case that only people paying for the more expensive (an 1GB limit) Three service that came with a PC Card modem could use GPRS on Vodafone's network. When they introduced the E220 modems, these were for Three's own 3G network only.

They use Vodafone's network for calls, if Three isn't available, but I've never seen anything to suggest that they regularly push midband users onto it, if at all.

watty

Likely due to fact they would have to pay Vodafone the real price, which for 10G Internet Traffic costs more 150x higher 50mins voice (approx 20MBytes ?) even though both sold to pulic at same price.

CuppaCocoa

Doesn't matter now. Can't get a signal here :mad: