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/)).