Mobile contracts - O2 T-Mob & 3, lots of questions, (massive post alert!)

[LeperousDust]

Right got a choice to make with my next mobile contract.

T-Mobile haven't offered me half the upgrade incentive i thought they would so its easier just to be a new customer with them (!?) and other operators.

• I'm looking at o2's simplicity package, if i sign up for 12 months @ £20pcm (which i'm obviously more than happy to do) i get 1600 texts, 600 mins, and a free web bolt on (which now apparently has a FUP so high its impossible to break not 200mb anymore). I could get amazing signal in work (quite a big thing) free customer service number and few other little things i'm after. I wasn't particularly impressed with the two people i've spoken to on the phone though it's only small but i do like someone half competent.
  
  
• But i'd rather stay with T-Mobile who are offering a solo package on a 30day rolling contract only @ £20pcm (plus point), with unlimited texts, 800 mins, and Web'n'Walk. Problem is their reception in work leaves VERY little to be desired. But their customer service is impeccable (much better than o2's phone manner etc...) I do love T-Mobile and have been with them for 3ish years now and don't really want to leave but feel like they don't want me to stay on yearly contract and lack of reception is pushing me.
  
  
• Three however much i might irrationally hate them for their past (which is unfair they've improved immensely), have an E71 on offer with a £20 a month for 18 months, which has unlimited texts, 200mins, free internet (3Gb FUP more than enough really) free skype use over 3g (good plus) and free MSN use as well unlike the other two. Problem is i have no idea about their reception. Oh and from what i've heard their customer service really is awful.

So the three above are all pretty similar, other two are cheaper overall, but i don't get a phone, i wouldn't mind the e71 its not what i'm after at all, but its a nice phone anyway, and for £20pcm for 18months its actually a bargain. It all boils down to reception. Now i was ready to just jump to o2 which seems fine to me, but then i read this:

3 currently has the highest level of 3G coverage in the UK and went live with HSDPA in September 2007. 3 currently has with full HSDPA coverage in place in north of Manchester, Northern Ireland and in London. Other UK locations will gradually be HSDPA enabled, with completion in July 2008. 3UK subscribers can use their service on 3 networks around the world for no extra charge (Ireland, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong and Australia) with '3 Like Home.'

3 UK and T-Mobile (UK) have signed an agreement to combine their 3G access networks in a ground-breaking collaboration that will lead to almost complete population coverage for 3G services across Britain by the end of 2008 with significant fill in and improvement to dense urban in-building coverage in 2009. As the world's largest known active 3G network sharing agreement, this will significantly increase both operators' 3G network quality and coverage, accelerate the provision of new high-speed mobile broadband services and deliver substantial cost savings as well as environmental benefits.

By combining their 3G access networks (the mobile masts and infrastructure that connects to each operator's separate core network) T-Mobile and 3 UK will create Europe's most extensive high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) network. Today's agreement offers customers comprehensive mobile coverage in the first stage of joint development in 2008 and further improvements to quality of service in 2009. It furthers both companies' joint commitment to deliver true mobile broadband internet access in addition to reliable voice and text services.

Although masts and the 3G access networks are being combined, each company's core network and T-Mobile's 2G network will not be shared. Both parties will retain responsibility for the delivery of services to their respective customers and use their own frequency spectrum.

High-speed mobile broadband and data services are set for rapid growth as mobile progressively becomes the individual's primary means of accessing the internet. Nationwide 3G coverage is essential to meet this growing demand. Blanket population coverage becomes rapidly achievable if individual operators split the investment required and share operating costs. Integration of radio access networks will give a further boost to the pace of development of 3G services, reduce the duplication of costs and the proliferation of mobile masts and extend 3G coverage for the first time to some of the more sparsely populated areas of the country.

Now, reception in revs aside with T-Mobile, i get amazing 3G and HSDPA around here and home and most places, so i know their network is pretty good, now 3 have the largest 3g network in the UK, teaming up with T-Mobile seems like a massive seller to me, whereas o2 invested in making a network iphone edge compatible, 3 and T-Mobile are hopefully looking toward the future. Now all i keep telling myself, is i really want to go with that T-Mobile deal above, and it seems like it could be a gamble that may pay off, i get a rolling contract, the best HSDPA/3G signal of the carriers, and amazing service. Or i go with 3 for the same reasons bar service but get a phone (which i don't really want).

Now thats a massive post i know which is just based around 3 mobile contracts, but i've got till the end of this month to decide really, do i stick with T-Mobile and hope they pull their finger out, or just go with o2? Anyone got any experience with 3,o2 or inside knowledge between 3 or T-Mobile? Anything to help sway me?

Cheers!

[divine]

I think you've mixed up some O2 packages.

Website says SIMplicity 1 month = 600m/1200t, 12 month = 800m/1600t both with free bolt on.

[Halfmad]

I'm with 3, contract ends in June this year. I won't be staying. Coverage isn't as great as you'd expect, I'm in central Glasgow and get on/off reception in my own flat. Essentially I have to be near one set of windows to get any coverage at all, my works vodafone has full signal anywhere in the flat.

3 call centres are awful, worst I've dealt with so far by a long way. Based overseas and frankly I'm sick of calling to ask for changes to my package or report problems with my handset/sim as it takes so long to get them to understand a simple statement like "I think my sim card is faulty as I cannot recieve or make calls even on full signal and from this phone or my partners 3 mobile."

My phone has been off for 2 months, I'll keep it off until I call to cancel in June, can't get out of the contract but I'm damn sure I won't be staying. I've no doubt that if you don't have to call their call centres with a problem the service is good (has been for my partner) but if you do, expect a rough ride.

[Glaucus]

get o2 no one beats them for coverage. Would you use all those extra texts and minutes? or will they just just dissapear/roll over every month.

How many minutes and texts do you actually use?

Also isn't o2 rated as the best mobile internet for 2008? or did I just dream that.

[lostkat]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

get o2 no one beats them for coverage.

I'd dispute that as it's the reason I moved to Orange. When I was on O2, I couldn't get any cover at work or at home (middle of the flat Leicestershire countryside). My parents have O2 mobiles, and coverage at their house still hasn't improved at all. I wouldn't consider moving back until network coverage improved.

Currently with Orange and very pleased with network coverage.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by lostkat

I'd dispute that as it's the reason I moved to Orange. When I was on O2, I couldn't get any cover at work or at home (middle of the flat Leicestershire countryside). My parents have O2 mobiles, and coverage at their house still hasn't improved at all. I wouldn't consider moving back until network coverage improved.

Currently with Orange and very pleased with network coverage.

I'm the opposite, Orange network is awful and not in just a few places. Pretty much the whole country.

[divine]

It all depends where you live.

Round here O2 have best coverage, closely followed by Orange with the others lagging some way behind.

[iCraig]

Yep, here in Wolverhampton I have full 3G all the time, but in Welshpool I get nothing.

[Desmo]

I'm the other way around....swapped from O2 to Orange and regret it now that Orange seem to have crap coverage in most places I go. Jumping back to O2 as soon as I can.

[lostkat]

I was merely disputing the "no-one beats O2 for coverage" claim as I've found that not to be the case. Not had a problem with Orange at all. Only place it doesn't work is at the gym I think it's pretty much swings & roundabouts with all of them tbh