iPhone - Vodafone -v- O2

FishFingers

Okay, I'll keep this brief!

I want an iPhone, but am lost with all the jargon on which network is truly the better!

I want to be able to access the internet for free and have free texts.

Can anyone tell me which network is the better on this and is offering the best deals.

Kinda lost on this one!


-FishFingers

(Oh and if the phone came free under a contract that wouldn't be so bad either!!)

seamus

In reality, there's very little in the difference between the two networks.

Both require you to sign up to an 18 month contract

Both will give you "free" internet as part of your monthly package - this is internet only used from your iphone, and the allowance is more than enough that you will never go over it.

Depending on the package that you choose, you will get a certain amount of free texts. However, you can also download an app for the iPhone that allows you to use your webtexts from either network from the iPhone - effectively giving you an extra 300 free texts per month.

O2's minimum monthly package is €40. Vodafone's is €35 but you get nothing with that. If you want inclusive stuff, it's €45.

The only differences are thus:

You can get an iPhone free on Vodafone if you sign up to a €60+ plan before 31st March. On O2 this will cost you €50 - €130. But after 31st March, the prices will probably be identical.

O2 run an Edge network as well as a 3G network. This isn't fast, but it's faster than GPRS, and when you're out of 3G coverage you can still get OK email and web access over Edge. Vodafone don't run an Edge network, only a GPRS network, so when you're out of 3G coverage, your iPhone is just a phone.

Most of the O2 plans don't have free voicemail. WTF.

So by and large, there's very little difference between the providers except the free offer that Vodafone are currently running.

As someone who switched from Vodafone to O2 to get an iPhone last year I can tell you that there's no difference in the quality of the networks or their customer service.

If someone was to ask me next week which provider to go with, I'd tell them to just stick with their current provider and get the iPhone from them.

Linoge

I'd say the same as Seamus, just stick with your current provider. Whatever chance you have of upgrading before your contract is up, your best chance is with the provider you have been with for a long time.

Another option for you might be to buy an unlocked iPhone and use one of the other networks, but again, more researching. it basically all comes down to package price and how you use your phone (how much data, texts, calls, romaing etc.)

dougs09

but just to add to your post, both networks offer free calls and texts to numbers of your own network, so, if most of your friends are vodafone, then that'll suit you better, or vice versa.

most, if not all, of my friends are on vodafone, so, i'm getting screwed in terms of text messages, i',m always running up huge bills, so i think im gonna make the switch over to vodafone.


didnt realise that vodafones gprs was as bad as you say though, edge can be pretty annoyingly slow at times alright, and i could expect worse with vodafone eh?

guil

yes but to get free calls and texts with 02 ya have to use the optional extra, its not standard

bert911

I think Vodafone has better coverage outside of big towns and citys.

shaneraff

The unlimited o2 calls and texts are included in the 40 euro price plan

@doug you get free texts to every network on the 60 p/m plan
worth looking into if your bills are silly.

o2 have refined and tweaked there network over the last couple years to cope with the massive pressure iphone users put on it, Have been with o2 on the iphone since launch and very happy with it
you would be very surprised how quickly you would eat through a couple gig of data in 30 days 8)

splashthecash

Doesn't Vodafone have a better download usage @ 2gb compared to O2's 1GB...That extra GB comes in handy when watching live sky sports on the app!

seamus

splashthecash wrote: »

Doesn't Vodafone have a better download usage @ 2gb compared to O2's 1GB...That extra GB comes in handy when watching live sky sports on the app!

O2's new contracts have an "unlimited" data cap.

Head_Hunter

seamus wrote: »

O2's new contracts have an "3GB" data cap.

FYP

Dades

seamus wrote: »

O2 run an Edge network as well as a 3G network. This isn't fast, but it's faster than GPRS, and when you're out of 3G coverage you can still get OK email and web access over Edge. Vodafone don't run an Edge network, only a GPRS network, so when you're out of 3G coverage, your iPhone is just a phone.

I did not know that!

In-ter-est-ting. I would find not having Edge as backup to be a pain in the ass.

guil

shaneraff wrote: »

The unlimited o2 calls and texts are included in the 40 euro price plan

@doug you get free texts to every network on the 60 p/m plan
worth looking into if your bills are silly.

o2 have refined and tweaked there network over the last couple years to cope with the massive pressure iphone users put on it, Have been with o2 on the iphone since launch and very happy with it
you would be very surprised how quickly you would eat through a couple gig of data in 30 days 8)

with o2, on the 40 euro plan ya dont get an extra, on the 60+ plans ya can have unlimited texts as the extra

shaneraff

ALL current iphone plans come with unlimited data on o2

KD11

How bad is gprs really, i live out in the country and am trying to decide who to go with, 02 or vodafone. vodafone have gprs in my area and im not sure about 02. if i went into the shop would they give a broadband dongle for a few days to test before buying the iphone?

guil

KD11 wrote: »

How bad is gprs really, i live out in the country and am trying to decide who to go with, 02 or vodafone. vodafone have gprs in my area and im not sure about 02. if i went into the shop would they give a broadband dongle for a few days to test before buying the iphone?

edge is slow enough so i assume gprs would take forever

The Gambler 101

if your goin want the sky player app, which gives you the sports channels, you are better off on o2 wit the "unlimited" data allowance.

zack01

Hi, sorry guys just wanted to jump in here and ask a question, i'm already with vodafone, going to get the i phone 16Gb, €60 p/m with 300 anynetwork mins and 300 txts, they are offering 2GB per month for data, now the question... is that enough? basically i will be using the phone for e-mails, internet surfing etc, very little downloading. is 2 GB's enough?
Thanks.:)

shaneraff

when using mobile internet even just surfing uses up your data allowance its not like fixed line where your data "kitty" is only used up while downloading.

Be careful as loading big pages with lots of flash, listening to podcasts checking email with attachments, done every day, all this will will eat through even a few gig within a month.

to sum up every time you connect to mobile internet it will start chewing on your data allowance so unlimited data would be the more comfortable option.

hope this helps

The Gambler 101

2 gb is plenty, i've only the 1 gb wit o2 and you would never use it if you were only surfing and viewin emails

shaneraff

Just another note, you think you wont use the internet on the iphone but believe me once its that easily available to you , apps store , youtube, browser, lets just say it snowballs :pac:

guil

shaneraff wrote: »

when using mobile internet even just surfing uses up your data allowance its not like fixed line where your data "kitty" is only used up while downloading.

Be careful as loading big pages with lots of flash, listening to podcasts checking email with attachments, done every day, all this will will eat through even a few gig within a month.

to sum up every time you connect to mobile internet it will start chewing on your data allowance so unlimited data would be the more comfortable option.

hope this helps

iphone doesnt do flash for a start, i have my iphone since december and use it heavily through the day online, battery barely lasts a day

since gettin it i've only used 2.7gb download and 575mb upload

zack01

Interesting, thanks guys, i'm already with vodafone so i can't bail out on the contract, i'm sure 2 GB is enough, if it's not i'll just flog the phone!:D

skytop

guil wrote: »

with o2, on the 40 euro plan ya dont get an extra, on the 60+ plans ya can have unlimited texts as the extra

Is that plus o2 to o2 calls and txts?