Fed up with the great O2/VF iPhone rip-off?

whiterebel

Complain to the Competition Authority.

www.tca.ie.
Just for once lets tell these bloody gangsters that we won't take it.
For years we've put up with being screwed royally in this country. Time to make a stand against 2 of the most arrogant companies around.

DonalN

the link doesn't work for me......so what they do to you?

Dades

whiterebel wrote: »

Complain to the Competition Authority.

What exactly would your complaint be? Their pricing plans don't suit you?
I pay less a month on O2 with an iPhone than I did on Meteor with a Nokia.

Why do people think everything is owed to them? You can be sure if you had an exclusive product you'd charge what people would pay - and if you didn't your shareholders would oust you quick time.

whiterebel

Dades wrote: »

What exactly would your complaint be? Their pricing plans don't suit you?
I pay less a month on O2 with an iPhone than I did on Meteor with a Nokia.

Why do people think everything is owed to them? You can be sure if you had an exclusive product you'd charge what people would pay - and if you didn't your shareholders would oust you quick time.

Complaint is that they have changed their contracts for the one phone, and now VF have followed suit with the same product. I don't think anything is owed to me apart from not allowing big fat multinationals sticking their heads together to shaft the Irish consumer - again. BTW, VF have it now too, so its not exclusive, hence the complaint to the COMPETITION Authority:rolleyes:

I pay less than the iPhone contract with either O2 or VF, and I have an iPhone, so whats your point about Meteor? Have they started selling the iPhone?

Dinarius

I have an iPhone with O2. I'm paying €40 p/m for the 150/100 package.

In addition, I get 250 webtexts. Using these with Vinny Coyne's EirText Pro, I have, in effect, 350 texts per month. And, if I send texts to O2 numbers (which are free) using SMS and NOT webtexts, I can really stretch that out.

But, I've just found this on Vodafone's site.........

"With Webtext you can send 600 free text messages online each month to any Irish or international mobile number. You can even send texts to up to five different mobiles at once, with the option of scheduling your message to send anytime over the next seven days."

600 free webtexts per month???!!! That's incredible! If I could use EirText Pro to send these from an iPhone (instead of on a computer) then all my text needs would be solved. Unless I'm missing something, this would make Vodafone a no-brainer for me (alas I'm tied to O2 now).

As always, the devil is in the detail (e.g. can you carry over texts/minutes with any of Vodafone's packages? You can't with O2, though you used to be able to - something that was not pointed out to me when I signed up to the iPhone). People usually only compare minutes/SMS texts packages and leave it at that. BIG mistake.

Either way, it seriously raises the bar for O2.

D.

Dades

whiterebel wrote: »

Complaint is that they have changed their contracts for the one phone, and now VF have followed suit with the same product.

You do realise that both networks are recouping the cost to them of the actual device via longer contracts/higher tariffs?

whiterebel wrote: »

BTW, VF have it now too, so its not exclusive, hence the complaint to the COMPETITION Authority:rolleyes:

You can buy an iPhone here right now, and use any tariff on any network you like.

What's that? It's too expensive?! Hence you can get one subsidised on a partner network.

DonalN

Dinarius wrote: »

can you carry over texts/minutes with any of Vodafone's packages? You can't with O2, though you used to be able to - something that was not pointed out to me when I signed up to the iPhone

Nope - you can't carry over mins/txts with VF either - i asked the other day. And like you, they didn't offer the information.

Dinarius

Donal,

Thanks for that.

But, 600 webtexts vs. 250? A no-brainer, particularly so as it seems that EirText Pro can be used to send them from an iPhone.

D.

whiterebel

Dades wrote: »

You do realise that both networks are recouping the cost to them of the actual device via longer contracts/higher tariffs?

You can buy an iPhone here right now, and use any tariff on any network you like.

What's that? It's too expensive?! Hence you can get one subsidised on a partner network.

Seriously, what are you waffling on about? If you have even half a brain you'd understand the concept. You are almost obtuse enough to be a Vodafone or O2 Customer service agent, between posts like this and your previous ramblings. With people like you defending rip-offs in this country, no wonder we're in the mire we find ourselves in.

Dinarius, VF recently bought in the 600 texts which is great. However, their web "service" is atrocious, and their webtext doesn't give you a record of texts sent etc. Their record of remaining minutes was 6 and 7 days behind until recently.I still can't find out how many minutes I have remaining without calling CS.

Dinarius

Whiterebel,

Thanks for that.

I've confirmed that you could send these 600 webtexts using EirText Pro, which would make it very attractive.

I've no interest in texting via computer. If I'm at a computer I usually send an email.

D.

Dades

whiterebel wrote: »

Seriously, what are you waffling on about? If you have even half a brain you'd understand the concept. You are almost obtuse enough to be a Vodafone or O2 Customer service agent, between posts like this and your previous ramblings.

I addressed each point that you made, if you could see past the hysteria for a moment.

whiterebel

Dinarius wrote: »

Whiterebel,

Thanks for that.

I've confirmed that you could send these 600 webtexts using EirText Pro, which would make it very attractive.

I've no interest in texting via computer. If I'm at a computer I usually send an email.

D.

No problem, its just not as user friendly as O2s. Big plus being able to send them to international numbers too.

whiterebel

Dades wrote: »

I addressed each point that you made, if you could see past the hysteria for a moment.

Hysteria? What next will you try and muddy the waters with? Bringing Meteor, Nokia and Expansys into a thread about O2 and VF putting out almost identical plans, terms and conditions onto the same product seems to me you can't or won't understand.
Oh, and a photo of a crying baby, how clever!! Maybe I should look for a photo of a village idiot for yourself, seeing as how you think O2 are offering such a good deal.

Tom Dunne

Guys, can we cool it, please?

whiterebel

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Guys, can we cool it, please?

No problem here.

Dades

whiterebel wrote: »

Hysteria? What next will you try and muddy the waters with? Bringing Meteor, Nokia and Expansys into a thread about O2 and VF putting out almost identical plans, terms and conditions onto the same product seems to me you can't or won't understand.

I'm not sure why I'm bothering to address the points relevant to your post here, given you ignored them and got personal the last time I did, but here goes:

You believe you have a case with the Competition Authority because two networks have similar price plans for one type of phone? Bearing in mind that you can buy the phone from numerous 3rd parties, and use it on any network you wish.

What exactly are the rules of competition being broken here?

DonalN

well - my VF iphone arrives on Friday! - a small bit of lube should get me aquainted with the price plan!

Loomis

Dinarius wrote: »

Whiterebel,

Thanks for that.

I've confirmed that you could send these 600 webtexts using EirText Pro, which would make it very attractive.

I've no interest in texting via computer. If I'm at a computer I usually send an email.

D.

Wondering if you could clarify some things on this for me as I've been looking to get an iPhone for a while.
Basically, I'm with Meteor PAYG and send several hundred texts per month, almost entirely to the girlfriend. That's possible atm because the girlfriend is also on meteor and we have free meteor to meteor texts. So if I get the iPhone with o2 or VF the issue of texting another network is where I'd be killed with charges.

With o2 their inclusive minutes and texts seem to apply only to other o2 customers making it useless to me. Or am I reading that wrong? If not, the only option available seems to be the 60euro per month plan where I could get the 'free' add-on of unlimited texts to text any network.

From what I can see VF 45euro plan is 150 mins + 150 texts to any network with texts/calls to VF being free. Am I right here? If so, the 150 texts plus 600 webtexts would definitely make this a possible purchase for me.

Any help on this would be great.

Dinarius

If you use Vinny Coyne's EirText Pro, then there would be no charge for sending your 600 Vodafone webtexts to any network number - even from abroad. That's my understanding of it.

I am amazed that this discrepancy hasn't had more traction since it is a complete no-brainer/decision maker when comparing similar O2/Vodafone policies.

In short, if I were you I'd be strongly considering Vodafone if you're a heavy texter.

D.

ps....read this too........

http://forums.o2online.ie/forums/showthread.php?8844-Vodafone-s-iPhone-Tarriffs-%28not-confirmed%29&p=101098#post101098

Tom Dunne

Dinarius wrote: »

If you use Vinny Coyne's EirText Pro, then there would be no charge for sending your 600 Vodafone webtexts to any network number - even from abroad. That's my understanding of it.

Just to clarify (and to be a tiny bit pedantic ) - you need some sort of network connection. If you have free WiFi, then of course it is free to send the texts. If, however, you have to use the mobile phone network, or pay for WiFi, it kinda negates the usefulness of Eirtext or any such program.

I have used it Eirtext abroad where I was receiving texts on the iPhone and replying via Eirtext - worked a treat as the hotel provided free WiFi.

Loomis

Dinarius wrote: »

If you use Vinny Coyne's EirText Pro, then there would be no charge for sending your 600 Vodafone webtexts to any network number - even from abroad. That's my understanding of it.

I am amazed that this discrepancy hasn't had more traction since it is a complete no-brainer/decision maker when comparing similar O2/Vodafone policies.

In short, if I were you I'd be strongly considering Vodafone if you're a heavy texter.

D.

ps....read this too........

http://forums.o2online.ie/forums/showthread.php?8844-Vodafone-s-iPhone-Tarriffs-%28not-confirmed%29&p=101098#post101098

Thanks for the reply. But could you just clarify this; the inclusive 150 mins/texts on Vodafone would therefore apply only to calls/texts to non Vodafone numbers (since it says Vodafone to Vodafone calls/texts are free) meaning I could potentially have 750 (inclusive 150 texts + 600 webtexts) texts to send to the girlfriend's meteor number?

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Just to clarify (and to be a tiny bit pedantic ) - you need some sort of network connection. If you have free WiFi, then of course it is free to send the texts. If, however, you have to use the mobile phone network, or pay for WiFi, it kinda negates the usefulness of Eirtext or any such program.

I have used it Eirtext abroad where I was receiving texts on the iPhone and replying via Eirtext - worked a treat as the hotel provided free WiFi.

Basically you're saying the app is only useful if you don't get extra charges for connecting to the web i.e. using it on the iPhone would incure no extra charge since you're allowed access the web as part of the monthly charge?

If you's could clear these questions up it'd be great. Just want to make sure I'm understanding it right - that I could have up to 750 texts to send for free (using inclusive texts and Eirtext to send the webtexts) under the 45euro per month plan and pay just that! No extra charges?

Tom Dunne

Mr. Anderson wrote: »

Basically you're saying the app is only useful if you don't get extra charges for connecting to the web i.e. using it on the iPhone would incure no extra charge since you're allowed access the web as part of the monthly charge?

Yes. Actually, to be even more pedantic, if I recall correctly, sending a webtext and getting charged for data still works out cheaper per text than sending a regular text.

So yes, the fact that you have a data plan means you can send all these texts at no extra cost.

drunkmonkey

whiterebel wrote: »

Time to make a stand against 2 of the most arrogant companies around.

It's called porting to the competition. It's pretty easy;)

Dinarius

A webtext sent within Ireland is free regardless of the number it is sent to as long as it is within your monthly webtext allowance.

So, as far as I can see, Vodafone's offer is a complete no-brainer.

Tom is correct regarding it being free from abroad too when using a free wifi connection. I'm not sure what the story is regarding the cost of webtexts sent via 3G when abroad.

D.

Loomis

Cool, thanks lads.

yop

Got an email off them offer a free 16GB iPhone, 60 euro for 300 min, 300 texts and 2GB downloads there if I change to them.

What do you think of that?? Not too bad a deal?

whiterebel

yop wrote: »

Got an email off them offer a free 16GB iPhone, 60 euro for 300 min, 300 texts and 2GB downloads there if I change to them.

What do you think of that?? Not too bad a deal?

O2 give 50 extra minutes, 150 LESS texts and 3GB data for €60. phone is then €129.

Ask them if the phone is locked or unlocked

yop

whiterebel wrote: »

O2 give 50 extra minutes, 150 LESS texts and 3GB data for €60. phone is then €129.

Ask them if the phone is locked or unlocked

Thanks for that.

I am gonna look for an increase on mins, text and data. See if they REALLY want me to transfer :P

Dinarius

whiterebel wrote: »

O2 give 50 extra minutes, 150 LESS texts and 3GB data for €60. phone is then €129.

Ask them if the phone is locked or unlocked

I presume you mean 150 fewer SMS texts. If you add on the 350 extra webtexts you get with Vodafone, then it's an additional 500 texts with Vodafone.

Why, oh why did I sign up to O2 for 18 months?!

A HUGE mistake.


D.