Mobile networks - next stop, Voodoofone?

[denny]

I'm considering moving away from Orange... they used to be pretty good for new handsets, but lately they seem to be well behind on offering the shiny toys I want. They also keep putting their own firmware on them (Orange Homescreen), which is incredibly poor quality crap which destroys the UI, but I think most networks do similar these days from what I hear. Firmware flashing seems to be the way forward where that problem is concerned.

Anyway, I'm thinking Vodafone is probably the next network to check out for reliability and coverage (two things that I've never had a problem with on Orange). Unless anyone has either recent Vodafone horror stories to offer, or better networks to pimp?

I'm probably looking to get either a Nokia N95 8GB, or an N82 if anyone is offering those yet. I'll want a data package, quite a few texts per month, and a relatively low amount of minutes (use a phone to talk to people? What a strange idea!)

Comments

[babysimon]

I'm contemplating moving from Orange to T-Mobile (for the reasons you cite, and since T-mobile has a fairly sensible mobile data plan).

I've assumed that the four classic GSM providers would all have good coverage by now. Is this reasonable?

But I haven't looked into it in detail yet, so please let me know how you get on ;)

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Initial anecdotal evidence is that T-mobile (and their resellers) are the only network lagging behind on coverage/reliability now. That's only from three people, but nobody has said anything good about them to balance it out yet :)

The Vodafone data package is stingy, that's one of my biggest concerns about them. That said, I don't think I'd get near 100MB with my current planned usage, but these things do tend to creep up once you find out what's possible.

[pooloftrees.livejournal.com]

I've assumed that the four classic GSM providers would all have good coverage by now. Is this reasonable?

Yes and no.

Vodafone's coverage map (http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coverageviewer/web/default.aspx) | Orange's coverage map (http://coverage.orange.co.uk/uk/UKCoverageSearch.htm) | O2's ("we won't give you a country-wide view") coverage map (http://www.webmap.o2.co.uk/?Search=Search) | T-Mobile's postcode checker (no map) (http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/coverage/street-check/) | 3's ("we hope you aren't going to Scotland") coverage map (http://www.three.co.uk/personal/coverage_/coverageChecker.do)

Basically 3G coverage on all networks (outside London) is still pretty hit and miss, and coverage in Scotland a parts of Wales on basically all of them is "variable" to non-existent.

One thing that makes a real difference is that O2 and Vodafone have licences allowing them to use the 900Mhz frequency (which has better range and can pass through walls more easily), whereas T-Mobile and Orange have to use the 1800Mhz frequency. I read something on the internet which explains how much of a difference this makes, but can't find it now... However, Ofcom are looking to reclaim this for technologically open use (details here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/20/900mhz/)).

[ev1ldonut.livejournal.com]

I'm on Vodafone (have been for many years now) and have never had a problem with them. Coverage is excellent. :) Vodafone have very recently updated their data (3G) tariff. I think it's now £15 a month for up to 3gig, or something like that.

I think in terms of cost and service, overall they're much the same as Orange really.

[grahamb.livejournal.com]

I've been with vodafone for 10 years. Comments are my own personal experience and your millage might vary!

They're probably the single most expensive network. They're woefully behind in their handset selection, and don't have a lot to choose from. They really don't seem to 'get' data. I vaguely remember they've recently (past 2-3 months) started offering some kind of mobile data package details vague, but they randomly phoned me out of the blue just to try and sell it to be and at the time I wasn't interested.

That said I've never had a network coverage complaint with them, no problems getting a signal. I can only think of one occasion where I've found myself disconnected from their network and a quick call to their tech support sorted me out. No issues using them for data etc.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Interesting. They have the N95-8GB which is the phone I probably want, so I guess the handset problems aren't a problem for my specific case. Their prices seem the same or maybe a bit better than Orange to me, looking at the deals I could get with either right now. Haven't checked prices on the other networks yet.

Their data offering has a very low cap compared to other network's packages, that's currently their main minus point for me.

[mr_magicfingers]

750 mins, 3000 texts, unlimited data (in reality 120mb which is enough) + free N95 8Gb, £45/month.

Vodafone coverage is much better and more reliable than T-mobile's ever was and that nice Mr. Whatley will flash your phone and get rid of the silly vodafone branding if you ask him nicely.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

The difference between 'unlimited' and '120MB' is so incredibly rude that it's one of the things biasing me against them presently. Everyone else at least puts their lying 'no limits oh except that one' limit somewhere in the GB range!

[jezzifishie.livejournal.com]

In my experience, Vodafone are very expensive. I had a contract with them for a while, but in the end found PAYG better. (For me)

Coverage was fine, no problems :)

[tephramancy.livejournal.com]

I've been on vodafone for around 8 years now - they're pretty damned reliable, rarely have cause to talk to customer services, coverage is excellent, and prices are fairly reasonable. Also, Stop The Clock is just brilliant.

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

I jumped ship a few years ago to Vodaphone, during festival season my bill was around 300 quid per month. They treated me like god, with phones comming out my ears ( so to speak ) when I realised ( they never told me ) I could have the same usage for a flat £ 35.00, so I changed package they still gave me the top upgrade phone ( I don't use all the tricks on the phone so very little data transfer ) but they still treat me good.
No complaints, although I do work in some out of the way places and sometimes find the coverage a little weak, but have noticed I get better coverage than most of my crew when out in the wilds.

Although often busy the customer services have always been good in my experiance.

[adjectivegail]

I moved to T-Mobile last May, having used Orange for years and years before. It cut my bill by 50% while giving me more free minutes than before(and greater flexibility; I have 450 minutes per month and I can either use them as minutes or two text messages = 1 minute. I'm averaging 300 mins and 300 texts a month), and as I got a Blackberry I give them an extra £10 pcm for unlimited emails to be pushed straight through (this has actually been pretty useful given how rarely I'm at a computer during 'working' hours these days - and it really does seem to be unlimited). You can also do £10 pcm for unlimited web, and I do think it's pretty unlimited, certainly more than 120MB!

They were definitely more helpful than Orange have been recently, and people may say the coverage isn't as good but I haven't had any problems (although I have had problems with the Blackberry - absolutely rubbish at getting signal, even just in buildings).

Basically don't write them off - I've been using them since last May and have been lots happier than with Orange, AND their customer service were helpful in the early days when I needed them.

[adjectivegail]

(oh, meant to say, my brother got the N95 with T-Mobile's web 'n' walk and seems pretty happy - tis a fab phone and the coverage was good enough for him to use the satnav thingy down in some gloomy little valleys in Oxfordshire when we got lost!)

N95 8GB verca N82

[missyasmina.livejournal.com]

N95 8GB
- powerconsumer, have to charge the battery annoyingly often.
- camera; the dexel to protect the lense, - not there anymore.
- 8 GB is enough... (no place to put in any other memorycard)
- Shiny pretty thing.

I would recommand the 'old' N95 instead.


N82
- The buttons are very small (sore fingertips if you text a lot)
- Lack the 'shiny pretty'
But.. a very good choise indeed. It IS a smartphone.

Re: N95 8GB verca N82

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks for that info - have you had both of these phones, or do you work with mobiles now or something?

I'm told that the old N95 had quite a few problems which the newer one fixes - battery life is one of them (although it still dies in a day or two - I hear the old one wouldn't last even one day without a recharge).

I quite like the look of the buttons on the N82, although I've not seen one in real life yet. They look like it'd be hard to accidentally hit the next button with a thumbnail, which is something I do a LOT on my N70. I do send a lot of texts (well, maybe 200 a month, not sure if that is 'a lot' by most people's standards).

Does the N82 have expandable storage?

Re: N95 8GB verca N82

[missyasmina.livejournal.com]

I sell them ;)

I have the 'old' N95, and yes.. it has to be recharged every other day, N95 8GB has better standbytime, but is still a powerconsumer.
(N95 8GB has got 25 % larger batteries than N95)

Has to be said; Most Nokia-phones are powerconsumers.
You can run several programs at the same time, but.. if you forget to properly exit from them, they will contune to run (and consume power). You'll also notice the phone gets kinda slow if there are too many programs running.
Programs are properly closed by entering every programs menu, and 'exit' from it.

I know the N82 is better that way, K (the next-door-handsome-single-etc-man)bought it after me recommanding it, and he sais he has no trouble getting the phone to last 2-3 days.
(And he talks a lot on the phone)

N82 comes with a 2GB memorycard, one can buy a 8GB memorycard and use that instead.

The arrows (buttons) takes time getting used to, it's according to K easy to push the 'back' button while you navigate. But texting is no trouble at all.