O2 new plans for smartphones looks like a joke, what is worth getting instead?

Fresh2000

Hello guys,

over 5 years with o2 (pre pay), wanted to get smart phone (HTC Desire in mind) and was shocked that new plan from o2 is 45 euro 150 minutes/text and 500MB data only (18 months contract)... are they crazy? phone is not that cheap as well.

Checked other companies and seems 3 mobile has good deal but e mobile has the best offer (and 12 month contract as well), but to be honest I am not sure about coverage, I mean they all tell you they have 99% coverage, but we all know it is not true. e mobile uses meteor grid and heard as well that there are some reception issues with android on meteor or something...

anyone here has experiance with e mobile? or maybe other ideas for good plan for smartphone. I am not sending that many texts, call more often, and 100-150 minutes would be enough for me.

sineadgalway

I was in carphone warehouse and was told that that plan is going up in price to 50 euro with included data dropping to only 500mb. I'm just out of contract with o2 and will be leaving.....

The other options are three: classic flex max for €40, 2gb of data and 350 flex units (1 unit is 1 min or 2 txts)

metoer have a bill pay smart plan that is €40 for 18month contract and has 2gb of data and 200mins&txts

chrislad

sineadgalway wrote: »

I was in carphone warehouse and was told that that plan is going up in price to 50 euro with included data dropping to only 500mb. I'm just out of contract with o2 and will be leaving.....

The other options are three: classic flex max for €40, 2gb of data and 350 flex units (1 unit is 1 min or 2 txts)

metoer have a bill pay smart plan that is €40 for 18month contract and has 2gb of data and 200mins&txts

It's 30e for 200mins/texts and 1gb data, plus free Meteor Calls/Texts if you keep your number.

50e for 500 mins/texts, 2gb data, plus free Meteor Calls/Texts if you keep number.

Free Meteor Calls/Texts are for 12 months, and it's an 18 month contract.

Fresh2000

o2 Advance 150:

18 month contract, 45 euro, 150 minutes, 100 texts, 500MB data

3 mobile Classic Flex-Max:

18 month contract, 40 euro, 350 flexi units (1min = 1 unit or 2 texts = 1 unit), 2GB data

e mobile select 300:

12 month contract, 49 euro, 300 minutes, 300 texts, 2GB data


it looks like e mobile has best deal, but I know nothing about them are they good or not, and how is their coverage...

chrislad

eMobile has the same coverage as Meteor

Oafley Jones

Fresh2000 wrote: »

o2 Advance 150:

18 month contract, 45 euro, 150 minutes, 100 texts, 500MB data

3 mobile Classic Flex-Max:

18 month contract, 40 euro, 350 flexi units (1min = 1 unit or 2 texts = 1 unit), 2GB data

e mobile select 300:

12 month contract, 49 euro, 300 minutes, 300 texts, 2GB data


it looks like e mobile has best deal, but I know nothing about them are they good or not, and how is their coverage...

The three plan also give you an extra add-on of your choosing such as unlimited land line calls or 150 extra texts etc.

Fresh2000

well yeah, but 18 month contract...

evolutionqy7

o2 was always overcharging took you long enough to realize it

Fresh2000

well, I am pay as you go Customer, and really happy with their service, have old not available any more plan costs me 12 or 15c per minute so works great, but now when going for smart phone it seems redicoulous.

plus they do not care I am with them for over 5 years (no way to upgrade or get anything extra for upgrading to bill pay), and 3 weeks ago theyr Advance plan looked very different as it was 40 euro and 2GB data and I was prepared to go for it as loyal Customer, but now it is a joke.

Nobody gives a bleep for loyal customers, it seems best option is to change provider every 12/18 months and get extras for the switch...

MrGarak

Pre-pay/PAYG is rubbish for smartphones, 99c for data per day? Typical Ireland.

The only realistic option to have data on PAYG is to pay the 4.99 out of your credit a month with 3 on 3pay for 500mb of data.

I'm moving back to them from O2. Want to get the Desire HD and they lost the exclusivity deal to Vodafone in favor of the HD7.. Don't even give you any discount to upgrade anyway, full price. :rolleyes:

Ghandee

chrislad wrote: »

eMobile has the same coverage as Meteor

So crap, unless you live in some dodgy skangertown areas of Dublin
3 have the best plans out there by a mile at the min!
As a 32 county roaming with work man, I can vouch for their value, and coverage!

Mits

I'm leaving O2 ( after 11years ) but I can't decide on Vodafone or Three. I want to get the Desire HD but I think it will be a while before Three get it.

evolutionqy7

yeah three has massive delays in introducing new phones cause of their testing ****

MrGarak

Mits wrote: »

I'm leaving O2 ( after 11years ) but I can't decide on Vodafone or Three. I want to get the Desire HD but I think it will be a while before Three get it.

Here is a thread on on the O2 forums where someone says Three told them they were getting it next month, I would imagine they will only have it on bill though, and wouldn't believe this info til I see it!

O2 also say in the thread they won't be stocking the Desire HD.

I'm probably going to order a sim-free one from the UK once there is steady stock of the device, very pricey though!

angel01

I went with 3 and the best thing I ever did. Best plans out there by miles in my opinion

angel01

Oafley Jones wrote: »

The three plan also give you an extra add-on of your choosing such as unlimited land line calls or 150 extra texts etc.

You also can use half of your units to call UK calls

Fresh2000

Thanks guys that is the feedback I was looking for. If it gooes to Three I like their pay as you go with that 500MB data for 4.99. I have to think now if to go PAYG or bill for 18 months.

one question tho, is it posible like with o2, to send texts globaly from their webpage for free?

[EDIT] just checked myself, texts only to Irish mobile

angel01

Fresh2000 wrote: »

Thanks guys that is the feedback I was looking for. If it gooes to Three I like their pay as you go with that 500MB data for 4.99. I have to think now if to go PAYG or bill for 18 months.

one question tho, is it posible like with o2, to send texts globaly from their webpage for free?

[EDIT] just checked myself, texts only to Irish mobile

No texts to irish mobiles only.

BostonB

angel01 wrote: »

No texts to irish mobiles only.

Aren't 3 in UK though and have a roaming agreement for that kinda stuff?

angel01

BostonB wrote: »

Aren't 3 in UK though and have a roaming agreement for that kinda stuff?

3 have a "3 at home" agreement which helps when you are roaming so you can use your units in the UK just like here.

You can only send webtexts to ROI mobiles.

Oafley Jones

Fresh2000 wrote: »

o2 Advance 150:

18 month contract, 45 euro, 150 minutes, 100 texts, 500MB data

3 mobile Classic Flex-Max:

18 month contract, 40 euro, 350 flexi units (1min = 1 unit or 2 texts = 1 unit), 2GB data

e mobile select 300:

12 month contract, 49 euro, 300 minutes, 300 texts, 2GB data


it looks like e mobile has best deal, but I know nothing about them are they good or not, and how is their coverage...

Meteor are now offering 400 texts, 400 minutes and 2gb on their website for 40euro. This is for one month sim-free and 18month contracts. Seems to be a limited time offer though. O2 really are absolutely no-where in terms of value now.

BostonB

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Meteor are now offering 400 texts, 400 minutes and 2gb on their website for 40euro. This is for one month sim-free and 18month contracts. Seems to be a limited time offer though. O2 really are absolutely no-where in terms of value now.

are those meteor only minutes though?

Oafley Jones

BostonB wrote: »

are those meteor only minutes though?

You get free meteor to meteor calls and texts for 12 months as well.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Fresh2000

the offer is really nice, but it says there they out of stock with HTC Desire... grrr

racer1

I am with o2 advance 150... 40 euro a month 150mins and 100 texts.... unlimited data(3gb)..... the new plan is a joke.... when my contract is up i wont be upgrading to pay more for less.

Abelloid

Fresh2000 wrote: »

the offer is really nice, but it says there they out of stock with HTC Desire... grrr

Meteor? Carphonewarehouse have them in some shops.

12 months 200/200/1gb @ €35 pm is the best deal out there I reckon.

ToxicPaddy

racer1 wrote: »

I am with o2 advance 150... 40 euro a month 150mins and 100 texts.... unlimited data(3gb)..... the new plan is a joke.... when my contract is up i wont be upgrading to pay more for less.

I was considering an upgrade with O2 and to say they are a bunch of muppets is an understatement..

They are charging an existing customer up to 50% more to upgrade to a new phone than they are charging a new customer, even though both have to sign up to a new contract and same conditions and pay the same amount monthly.. it makes no sense

I posted a few things on the O2 forum and the reply I got was "if you spend more per month you get the same deal as a new customer"

Like wtf is that about eh??? :rolleyes::mad:

BostonB

They obviously don't want to retain customers.

ToxicPaddy

Nope they don't.. so guess I'll be moving..

14 years of custom to O2/Esat Digifone spending €2k a year with them obviously means nothing to them..

Abelloid

That's business though - if you want a better deal, switch. Switch back at the end of your contract if that's what is best.
I've never renewed a mobile phone contract, there's nothing in it for me.

racer1

Well i wont be upgrading on those priceplans at the moment. I will port to 3 or emobile. Who the f... do they think they are. In a recession put up the price of there basic smartplan and reduce the data allowance. Also they have no data plans for prepay. They are falling way behind the competition. I would think they will feel the heat in the next year particularly with the budgets coming our way.

lolie

02 rang up d sister hour ago to say shes usin lot of money on prepay and they switch her to billpay for €50 for 350 mins and i think 150 txts. she told me she told them to sign her up, i told her to ring them back and tell them to feck off. 02 simplicity looks ok though €20 euro for 100mins + 100txts plus unlim 02 calls & txts. r €30 for same except 150 mins

racer1

They are prob under pressure as i would think they are losing a lot of customers. They have no prepay data add on and at 99c are dearest as far as i know for data. There lowest smartplan is the worst on the market. With all the cuts for next year people will be trying to budget more and i for one will be looking at mobile phone bills.

ToxicPaddy

racer1 wrote: »

They are prob under pressure as i would think they are losing a lot of customers..

Well what do they expect, they treat their existing customers like dirt and think ah sure they wont move.. People are watching every penny they spend at the moment and O2 are off on another planet ignoring people and their needs and wants.. Reducing minutes and data packages but charging more for the privilege.. Even their phone insurance is way above what others are charging..

As much as I despise Vodafone, I'm seriously considering moving to them as they have better deals and offers at the moment.

As someone else said here, its all business..

Isn't business main aim supposed to be keeping existing customer while trying to gain new customers and increase your customer base and not lose existing customers while trying to gain new ones?

Common sense obviously doesn't prevail on their HQ anyway.. :rolleyes:

BostonB

lolie wrote: »

...O2 simplicity looks ok though €20 euro for 100mins + 100txts plus unlim 02 calls & txts. r €30 for same except 150 mins

+ only thing that looks ok. I'm switching to that because most of my calls are to O2 anyway. The upgrades they offer are rubbish so no point hanging for those.

In my house we've all had a bunch of calls from O2 cold calling, hoping to move us to new bill plans. So they are pushing hard for it. Bit pointless if theres nothing worth moving to, other than a 30 day sim. (simplicity)

ToxicPaddy

Make sure you tell them that.. if enough people start telling them their packages are crap. They might listen, I seriously doubt it, but they might..

I had to demand that O2 stop calling me regarding upgrading my plan and in the end I wrote a letter of complaint.. they took me off their list and that was the end of that..

racer1

I see that o2 added 5400 customers in qtr3 this year. But i also see vodafone added 31700. Thats a diff of 25k. Since then they have made there cheapest smart plan even more undesirable. Im 6months into my current contract. The plan i am on they cold called me about too. I dont mind the cold calling when its for a good plan like my current one. Also there insurance on the iphone is a joke 12.99 a month. The insurance as far as i know with 3 is 8euro and 9.99 with vodafone.

ToxicPaddy

I think the numbers speak for themselves really.. They may have added 5400 new customers, but how many did they lose in that quarter?

I doubt they will release those figures tbh, but I would be curious..

quad_red

Come on O2, listen up and fecking restore some competitiveness!

ToxicPaddy

I think you should save your breath and just move networks.. I've been onto O2 for about 12 months now to cop on and see what people are looking for.. lower their tariffs, give better packages and start treating existing customers like they do new customers.. surely loyalty should be rewarded and they have basically ignored me at every turn..

So I waited patiently until my contract had expired on my current plan and made sure the stopped contacting me trying to pressure me into a new one.. now I'm a free agent so to speak and they are ignoring me even more.. :rolleyes:

racer1

There are no rewards for loyalty. if people keep switching networks there better off. last time I upgraded I was able to stay on my current plan. I have seen on forums that now you will have to change to inferior plans that cost more if I want to upgrade next time.

tinofapples

JustinOval wrote: »

Meteor? Carphonewarehouse have them in some shops.

12 months 200/200/1gb @ €35 pm is the best deal out there I reckon.

Just had a look at this myself with an Nokia E5 free as well. I'm stuck with O2 till January :mad:


What's the Nokia N8 like , available for €39

racer1

That looks a good deal. I'm stuck with them till June. I want to go back to iPhone. But I won't be upgrading as there plans are to expensive for what you get. I'll prob move to 3.

BostonB

The deals really depend how many calls you make and to what network. The vast majority of my txts and calls are same network. So is there something better than O2 simplicity deal for that?

racer1

I think its mainly about plans with data we are on about Boston. O2 changed there basic smartplan. It used be 40 a month 150 mins 100 text. Free o2 calls and texts 2gb data. They increased it to 45 euro a month and reduced the data to 500mb of data with it. And now you can't upgrade without changing to the new pricing

BostonB

Simplicity + data addon? 20+ 9.99 (700MB)?

I didn't realise they changed the price of the addon aswell. Was 7.50 for 1GB.

They must have missed the world recession is on.

ToxicPaddy

BostonB wrote: »

They must have missed the world recession is on.

Nope they didnt miss it. They are just ignoring it and hoping no one else notices.. :rolleyes:

CJhaughey

That was the o2 Strategy, they apparently have enough customers and so not want more, they just want to look after the existing customers that they have.
I have this from a former o2 retailer.
I definately won't be staying with o2 much longer especially if I decide to go to a smartphone.

ToxicPaddy

CJhaughey wrote: »

..they apparently have enough customers and so not want more, they just want to look after the existing customers that they have...

You're joking right??? Thats my whole arguement with them, they DONT look after their existing customers, they treat them like sh*te..

Charging an existing customer up to 50% (with an upgrade) to avail of the same deal a new customer gets is hardly what I would call looking after existing customers now is it???

That O2 retailer obviously is talking through his a*se.. :rolleyes:

Royale with Cheese

Do any networks look after their existing customers?

I was on O2 about 6 years ago and left when they wouldn't give me an upgrade after having spent €50+ per month on my bill for over 12 months. I went to Meteor and have been with them since, changing from PAYG to bill a couple of times. Currently on bill pay lite.

I tried getting a HTC Desire over the summer from a meteor store but they were very difficult to find. I eventually found a Meteor store who told me they had one in stock but they wouldn't sell it to me because I was an existing customer. I ended up getting one in Carphone Warehouse and signed a 12 month contract, got out of the contract about 6 weeks later. I'm considering leaving the network now as their plans don't suit me. I used a loophole to get out of my contract extremely early and am now thinking of leaving the network, I'm showing them about as much loyalty as they'd be prepared to show me.