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iPhone 4 UK - Which network?

I like 3 mobile and am with them at the moment, their £5 internet add on gives 1GB of data but if you read their pdf price thing you actually get 2GB of data for the £5. I'm a data user so that is what matters most to me but also the free texts they give you with a top up lasts for 90 days which gives me time to use them up rater than them running out after 30days or even just after one weekend, and their coverage (for eveywhere I have been) has been 3G coverage on good signal strength. alos with 3 you can use your data for ANYTHING -skype, iplayer, watching tv, they have the thought that you have paid for the data you can use it however you damn want.

other good networks for data is tmobile which will give you 6 months data for £20 but limited to 1GB each month - and they dont have the free texts or free minutes, or 150mb of data for free when you top up.

I'd say get a free sim from 3 mobile give it a quick cut down and try them out if your coverage isnt very good then there is no skin off your teath, also of all the time I've been with them I have never had to call them once (after I had ported my number and even then they were very fast and efficient), what the hell do people call them up for so much to even notice bad CS, apart from inane BS like "the text says I can upgrade on the 1st of september, when can I upgrade?"
 
Thanks for your replies!

I'm considering Vodafone at the moment although I have to say I'm not liking the first impressions. I know its the network coverage that matters but I can't help but feel concerned about how the local vodafone shop only had 6 units on launch day (compared to 20 for O2 and 10 for Orange), doesn't even have a demo model and not even the tariff details on launch day (I had to go to the carphone warehouse to find out). O2 seemed to be better prepared for the situation - even to the extent of having the stock checker and a prepared sign outside the shop declaring that they were out of stock!

I think I will simply see which one stocks first - although I'm still not sure if I want to get the iPhone 4 at the moment due to the issues.

Thanks again.
 
Have tried my iPhone 4 on both Vodafone and O2 in Central London.

Vodafone has a vastly stronger 3G signal, which is particularly noticeable indoors (at my workplace (EC4) O2 barely had 1 bar of 3G signal, often dropping to 4-5 bars EDGE whenever the phone was gripped... 4-5 bars 3G on Vodafone). The data network was also often congested on O2, with timeouts or slow throughput despite a good signal. For GSM voice calls both are similar I found - no issues with dropped calls on either network.

Speed test are only one snapshot, but at similar locations and times of day I managed consistently higher throughput on Vodafone in addition to a much stronger 3G signal without dropping to EDGE/GPRS. See below.

Speed test below on Vodafone in central London (EC4) during peak hours (5:30pm). Typically seem to get 2 to 4.5 Mbps down, 1 to 3 Mbps up throughout central London on 3G signal.
42984242.png


One of the best results I've managed from O2 in the same location (EC4) below. Typically between 1 to 3 Mbps down, 1 to 1.5 Mbps up on 3G.
42587497.png


Granted, the performance of the network will depend on what infrastructure is installed at your location, but Vodafone certainly seems better in London. I will be terminating my O2 contract. :)
 
y0zza said:
Have tried my iPhone 4 on both Vodafone and O2 in Central London.

Vodafone has a vastly stronger 3G signal, which is particularly noticeable indoors (at my workplace (EC4) O2 barely had 1 bar of 3G signal, often dropping to 4-5 bars EDGE whenever the phone was gripped... 4-5 bars 3G on Vodafone). The data network was also often congested on O2, with timeouts or slow throughput despite a good signal. For GSM voice calls both are similar I found - no issues with dropped calls on either network.

Speed test are only one snapshot, but at similar locations and times of day I managed consistently higher throughput on Vodafone in addition to a much stronger 3G signal without dropping to EDGE/GPRS. See below.

Speed test below on Vodafone in central London (EC4) during peak hours (5:30pm). Typically seem to get 2 to 4.5 Mbps down, 1 to 3 Mbps up throughout central London on 3G signal.
42984242.png


One of the best results I've managed from O2 in the same location (EC4) below. Typically between 1 to 3 Mbps down, 1 to 1.5 Mbps up on 3G.
42587497.png


Granted, the performance of the network will depend on what infrastructure is installed at your location, but Vodafone certainly seems better in London. I will be terminating my O2 contract. :)
Click to expand...

I've linked this into the UK Speed Test thread for you - I'm hoping to collate a load of speed test data for all the major UK networks! :)
 
So my SIM has turned up from Three for their iPhone £15 SIM only tariff - only it's not a micro SIM! SIM chopping time I guess.

Bonus PAC question;
When I ring them to activate the SIM do I have to give them my O2 PAC then or can I activate the SIM to try it out for a few days to check I'm happy with the service and then give them my PAC to port my number?
 
You do know it's actually cheaper to get the iPhone on PAYG then get a SIMplicity contract for 2 years, then it is for the standard 2 year contract? With a much better data allowance too.
 
dalvin200 said:
I've been with O2 for the past 3 years...currently on Simplicity.. when i got my iPhone 4 I contemplated switching to vodafone as a first option, but they were too slow to respond to any queries i had, so have now opted for Three UK... £15 per month micro sim 30 day rolling contract... obviously if they are crap, then i will def make the switch to vodafone on their sim only plan, although it's £10 per month more expensive!

In my experience, avoid Orange.. was with them for 10+ years and they didn't give a rats ass about you unless you was a new customer.

I know Three have poor CS, but I'm willing to give them a go for a month or 2 :D
Click to expand...

Dude im really interested as to how you get on with 3 as im also contemplating using them on the sim only option.
 
From a Yank working in the UK

I've been working in the UK for the past couple of years, and I have an international data plan from AT&T that allows me to use my iPhone here. And since AT&T is not tied to any carrier, I get to pick which carrier to connect to.

I am working in the Bedford area in between Luton and Milton Keynes, so your area may differ, but this is what I've seen with data rates:

1. Vodafone (best data rates when I can get signal)
2. Orange (not consistent, but when connected data rates are ok)
3. O2, 3 (distant 3rd and 4th). I think O2 is bad simply because most of the iPhones are on O2 and the network is overwhelmed.

When I visit London, 3 turns out to be quite speedy. Aside from that, I wouldn't recommend 3 if you're not in a big city. Bedford is too small for 3.

I can't speak to customer service, though.

Amro
 
Vodafone v O2

Just changed from O2 to Vodafone because Vodafone's package is better and I believe their coverage to be superior BUT they "forgot to mention" that Vodafone don't support visual voicemail!

This may be covered in other posts, but it really p1ssed me off that they weren't up front about it.

Don't know whether this will impact on anyone's choice, but it is worth noting.
 
I have decided to leave O2 and join Vodafone. I am beginning to wonder if it was a wise move.

It all started going wrong when my order email arrived confirming an order for 2 iphones. I had only ordered one. This has put Vodafone into a tailspin and I have so far spent 4 hours this week hanging on the phone (premium rate) waiting to talk to someone who knows what they are talking about and also sent many emails, only answred with a generic call this number for help rather than trying to solve the issue.

I ordered July 1st and have been given two dates for phone delivery that have been missed. I have had calls where I have been told I am stuck in credit check, on other calls they tell I cleared credit check on July 1. I get passed from department to department (each time involving another long phone queue) and no-one wants to own my sale. Reps are often rude and it is very obvious they are poorly trained. Having been closely involved in managing call centres, this has to be the worst I have experienced. They need some serious help fixing their acquisition process (online and by phone).

I have now been given another delivery date (if the warehouse has understood that I long ago passed the credit check). I am only holding out as I hope the vodafone network is much better than O2 and also for the vodafone passport. If nothing materialises this time, maybe I'll go stick with O2.
 
thefunkymunky said:
giffgaff has only got inclusive free internet until end of June 2010, after which you have to pay.
Click to expand...

1st October now. But after that a £10 goodybag each month will give you unlimited internet after that (plus 100 free minutes & unlimited texts).

Also, no where on there site do they mention WiFi so I'm guess you'll have to pay to use WiFi hotspots which are included in iPhone plans.
Click to expand...

True enough.

Giffgaff also works with phones locked to O2 BTW.
 
Vodafone have now sent the wrong iphone, 16 not 32. Their incompetence continues to amaze me.
 
I left o2 (no coverage at home) and went with vodafone on launch day. All good and working in Central London on the day and I was happy and as soon as I get home I get very low signal.

I have a work blackberry on vodafone and the reception is much better than the iPhone 4 reception when at home.

So within 7 days I went back to vodafone to return the iPhone as I didn't want to be tied up for 18 months for something I could barely use at home. And as simple as it sounds I was in the shop for a couple of hours and after speaking to about 10 different people they let me cancel.

I'm eagerly waiting for 3 to announce when they are realising the iPhone 4. It's taking so long that I'm contemplating going Android :mad: !

Anyone knows when is that gonna be?
 
I was an o2 customer for 4 years but i decided to leave for vodafone because of the superior data offered.

I signed onto my dad's account and so far i have had no call drops although i can replicate the death grip and lose signal.

img0359b.png



By the way do not sign for the 3 network they have the worst signal out of any provider in the uk you will be very dissapointed with it.
 
Vodafone+ quidco is the way to go. You get a massive 100 quid cashback for a 12months sim only!

Hopefully next year there will be better tariff with o2/orange so you can switch and get another cashback :)
 
I'm with O2.

PAYG Simplicity. £10 a month for Unlimited Texts + 500MB data. I don't like how they take the £10 out your phone unlike the other PAYG tariffs they have, but I just topped up £20 when I got my iPhone. Still got about £8 of credit left. This tariffs fine for me. Due to get my Unlimited Texts & 500MB data topped up on the 24th July. I have used about 2000 texts and 100mb internet in 22 days.

O2s reception is great here. Get about 4-5 bars upstairs in my house, and 3-4 downstairs. I'd like to move to either Orange or Vodafone as they seem to have better coverage but their tariffs are more costly.
 
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