085 vs 086 vs 087 ......(vs, um, 083 vs 088) - Mobile Prefix Stigma

eskimo · 21-03-2009 04:34AM #1

Is there a certain stigma attached to Meteor and the 085 mobile prefix?? To me it screams "cheap" or "student" or "budget" or "low quality." That's what I think more than anything else when I see 085.

Is there any stigma attached to the other prefixes? Like to me 087 screams TOO EXPENSIVE!!

I know it's weird. Anyway, if you had a choice, which prefix would you prefer to have on your mobile number?

AlmightyCushion · 21-03-2009 04:36AM

Well considering you can have any prefix on any network now any stigma would be pretty badly placed. Also who honestly gives a crap what prefix you have.

Senna · 21-03-2009 04:37AM

What the hell is 088?

eskimo · 21-03-2009 04:38AM

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Well considering you can have any prefix on any network now any stigma would be pretty badly placed. Also who honestly gives a crap what prefix you have.

Stigma generally is badly placed.

cHaTbOx · 21-03-2009 04:39AM

eskimo wrote: »

That's what I think more than anything else when I see 085.

Are you a real Eskimo?

AlmightyCushion · 21-03-2009 04:39AM

Senna wrote: »

What the hell is 088?

It used to belong to eircell's analogue service. It's tesco mobile now I think.

Cool_CM · 21-03-2009 04:39AM

Senna wrote: »

What the hell is 088?

Old Eircell methinks

AlmightyCushion · 21-03-2009 04:42AM

eskimo wrote: »

Stigma generally is badly placed.

Well at least thinking vodafone is expensive rather than 087 is a better placed stigma.

Any who, this reminds me of when I used to work in a shop that sold credit. You'd always get some idiot who would ask for €10 087. Then when you ask them what network they were with they would reply with o2 or meteor. Way to go retard.

minidazzler · 21-03-2009 04:48AM

083 - Thinks there being Cool.
085 - Young, student, maybe low paying job. Formerly had bad coverage, no longer the case but stigma sticks. Texters usually, although some try to convert people because they have free calls and text to meteor only.
086 - (me) Anyone really, nearest phone shop. Enjoy free texts after €20 top up, but call people enough to run out of credit. Generally top-up by €40 a month.
087 - (My second phone used to be my only and primary phone, now never used but kept with me because I have had it 10 years. And it's the only number everyone knows for me.) Generally business people, it's the brand of choice so they use it. They want to come across like they don't care about the price. Also the only one to work with Blackberry, so practical for the business type.
088 - Obsolete.

eskimo · 21-03-2009 05:08AM

088 = Tesco Mobile.

Yes I am a real Eskimo.

minidazzler · 21-03-2009 05:20AM

eskimo wrote: »

088 = Tesco Mobile.

Yes I am a real Eskimo.

Really, then I apologise, I was under the impression that was the Old Obsolete company.

S.I.R · 21-03-2009 05:25AM

doesnt really make a differance to me...

i use 086 only for free calls for business and normal use...

dSTAR · 21-03-2009 05:28AM

Mobile phone snobbery.

How nouveau.

seanybiker · 21-03-2009 05:38AM

eskimo wrote: »

088 = Tesco Mobile.

Yes I am a real Eskimo.

I thought tesco was 089

kelle · 21-03-2009 07:50AM

I'm with meteor because they're far cheaper, but I kept my 087 number as I've had the same number for over 10 years (I owned a mobile phone when it was considered yuppy-ish to have one, but I needed it for work). And, funnily enough, I do think there's a certain upper class feeling to having an 087 number!!!!
And, 088 - that's a blast from the past.
Who has 083?

pow wow · 21-03-2009 08:11AM

I surrendered my 086 for an 085 a couple of days ago. I don't feel dirty...yet.

21-03-2009 09:18AM

i used to be meteor with 087 number but changed to 085 prefix few months back.

there is a stigma, people in work don't use meteor.. all my friends do though.

The Mad Hatter · 21-03-2009 09:25AM

kelle wrote: »

Who has 083?

3.

I'm 087 on o2, and I find as a teacher that most of my students' parents have 087 numbers, which I think is probably a hangover from Eircell. Most of my friends and family have 086 numbers, but are on a wide variety of networks.

Gah, it's far too early in the morning for this ****...

January · 21-03-2009 09:40AM

Tesco is 089 not 088. 088 is obsolete...

I've had all numbers... except 089, This was before you could change network but keep your prefix. At the moment I'm 083 and on 3's best of both plan, serial texter, I hate ringing people...

stovelid · 21-03-2009 09:57AM

Deleted User wrote: »

there is a stigma, people in work don't use meteor.. all my friends do though.

You actually know people that attach social significance to the mobile operator they use?

21-03-2009 11:04AM

I originally went with vodafone because o2 and meteor never had any signal at home in meath ( no, I don't want to hear about 100% coverage campaigns, no signal = no signal and that's that ) and now I just like them, they have nice deals and give me random free credit now and then which is nice.

p.s. who on earth gives a damn, if someone is attaching some kind of social significance to this who isn't doing a project on it, tell them to get a life

dmcg90 · 21-03-2009 11:15AM

I'm the only person here that likes the 083 number? I'm switching back to it at the moment, think theres more choice of numbers on it (you know where you go into a shop and they show you the phones they have in stock and the best number out of them eg 083*******)

ChumpStain · 21-03-2009 11:23AM

085 and meteor ftw!

I'd say about 70% of my mates are meteor so free calls and free texts do it for me. Plus I've been getting an extra €10 free every month off them for like 15 months. How could I leave something that treats me like the prince I clearly am?

Berty · 21-03-2009 11:27AM

My first ever phone was back in 1996. It was this and it was 088. I was the first to have one out of my friends. It was a quiet phone because nobody else had one so who was going to ring me................ah somebody had to be first.

I also had a scanner back then and you could listen in to mobile phone conversations. Every time someobody hung up you would have to search the airwaves for a new signal. You hear some strange things when people do not know you are listening.

ElBarco · 21-03-2009 11:28AM

This one has to be dying after number portability.

Although if we're really determined to keep the snobbery going we should all listen carefully for that little been after you dial and then mock the person for trying to hide their true colours. It could destroy relationships though - imagine if you found out the girl you loved wasn't really on vodafone?

I think the real answer in our hearts is that whichever network you're with is the cool, hip one that gives the best value for money.

kc66 · 21-03-2009 11:39AM

Digiweb have the rights to use 088 with their mobile broadband service. Havent seen any progress with this though even though it was anounced a few years ago.

stupidsometimes · 21-03-2009 11:44AM

dmcg90 wrote: »

I'm the only person here that likes the 083 number? I'm switching back to it at the moment, think theres more choice of numbers on it (you know where you go into a shop and they show you the phones they have in stock and the best number out of them eg 0830551122)

I love my 083 number. I moved to O2 though lately and kept my number. I only need to tell people my number once and they remember it because it is so easy to remember

21-03-2009 12:22PM

stovelid wrote: »

You actually know people that attach social significance to the mobile operator they use?

not social significance.. jus an opinion that meteor is crap.

whereas all my college friends are on meteor so it's cool.

Firetrap · 21-03-2009 12:31PM

083 = people who were codded into signing up with Three, only to discover they're shyte.....

087 = people who signed up with them years ago and refuse to change even though they're being overcharged. I went into a Carphone Warehouse with a friend a few weeks ago - he was thinking of changing their phone. There were no prices beside the Vodafone mobiles (his network) but just an "Ask at the Counter" sticker. When we asked, the girl said it was because Vodafone keep changing their prices usually upwards. Also, they were giving away a staggering €5 free credit with their handsets. If that's not a network that's riding its customers sideways, I don't know what is. Maybe the customers like the misery.

Dord · 21-03-2009 12:48PM

Digiweb won the 088 number a year or two ago and are working on a new 4G phone network.

Personally I don't give a fupp about the various numbers.

PCros · 21-03-2009 01:41PM

085 by far, anyone whos uses the other networks just for text and calls is stupid because they're alot more expensive. Simple math.

I think the stigma is gone with 085, the only stigma I fealt was the bad coverage years ago but thats gone and also the now sponsor the biggest music awards in the country. Well done!

Obviously anyone who needs to use blackberrys would need 086 and 087.

085 vs 086 vs 087 ......(vs, um, 083 vs 088) - Mobile Prefix Stigma

Your preferred mobile number prefix?? 306 votes

Comments