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Avoid Meteor + Vodafone + 02 + Three

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  • 09-09-2013 2:33pm
    #1
    HB1024
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭


    Hi guys,

    I'm a Meteor Pay-As-You-Go customer and I really hate my mobile operator. I've found them to be shady in their dealings with me, and their customer service has been apalling in my experience. I would go to another operator, but I've heard that nowadays there is little difference between Meteor, Vodafone, 02, Three, etc.

    As I'm almost always in a Wifi zone, I'd like to avoid the traditional mobile operators altogether and go with a service that operates over Wifi only, eg. Skype. One of my aims is to save money, and for that reason, I don't plan to shell out for 3G. I know that I'll have no service when not connected to a hotspot, and I'm prepared to put up with this.

    I read online that I can buy a Skype number, and so be contactable from regular networks/landlines. But I'm wondering how realistic it is to expect to be able to retain normal services (calls to and from mobiles/calls to and from landlines/texts/voicemail) while avoiding the traditional mobile operators. When it comes to finding out any detailed information on stuff like this, I find Skype's website to be vague. I was wondering if anyone had any real-world experience of this.

    Thanks a million in advance,

    Hb.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    Mr. G
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 4,621 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr. G


    VoIP quality relies on your broadband connection, so if your on a WiFi connection at work it may work but I don't think VoIP is realistic for an alternative to mobile. It would be definately an alternative to landline however.

    There's a list of providers in the sticky here which may help, its not just Skype offering numbers.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=83973052


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    #3
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users Posts: 13,999 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    As I'm almost always in a Wifi zone, I'd like to avoid the traditional mobile operators altogether and go with a service that operates over Wifi only

    Set yourself up with a VOIP app and account to make outgoing calls over Wifi connection.
    Be aware that a lot of those connections are not very suitable for real time comms such as voice/video calls.

    I have used Linphone for this and an account with freevoipdeal (there are many other providers) .... and when I make such a call my caller ID is my mobile number, so I receive call-backs on the mobile number.

    So I get the benefit of a 1c per minute calls to mobile numbers and if the wifi connection is good no one is any the wiser.
    I do not use the VOIP for receiving calls on my mobile phone.

    Doing this as a first step will allow you to gauge whether the wifi service is good enough for your purposes.


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    #4
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Meteor, O2, Vodafone and 3 are actually the 4 infrastructural mobile networks. It's very difficult to avoid them!


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    #5
    SwissRoll1982
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 17 ✭SwissRoll1982


    SpaceTime wrote: »
    Meteor, O2, Vodafone and 3 are actually the 4 infrastructural mobile networks. It's very difficult to avoid them!
    And Emobile are a mugging shower of f##ktards


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    #6
    Mr. G
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 4,621 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr. G


    SwissRoll1982 wrote: »
    And Emobile are a mugging shower of f##ktards

    Emobile and Meteor is owned by Eircom..


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    #7
    SwissRoll1982
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 17 ✭SwissRoll1982


    Mr. G wrote: »
    Emobile and Meteor is owned by Eircom..
    I wasn't aware of that but I would advise all to avoid Eircom like the plague


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    #8
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Well, basically four networks own and operate infrastructure:

    Vodafone
    O2 / Telefonica (soon to be merged into Hutchison Whampoa i.e. 3, subject to regulatory approval)
    Eircom Group = Meteor and Emobile
    Three (Hutchison Whampoa)

    Emobile's just a brand operated by eircom and it's run entirely on Meteor's infrastructure, which they own. It's a MVNO, but only sort of.

    You've then got true virtual networks which have their own switching systems and other infrastructure but use the radio networks of one of the big-four players.

    Tesco Mobile is using O2's network.
    PostFone is using Vodafone's network.
    Lyca Mobile is using O2 as far as I am aware.
    and Blueface mobile uses Three's infrastructure.

    UPC are due to launch one too, I'm not sure who they'll cut a deal with to carry their service.


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