18 Comments

• Techtotaller, 11th June 2010.

  Hmm. 3 network coverage is the deal breaker for me. What's the point of having unlimited use if you can't get online at all? I'm waiting to see what Orange offers.

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• Andy, 11th June 2010.

  mmm unlimited data on 3: Not any more. If you read the contract, it states that unlimited data is subject to a fair usage policy. Guess what the fair usage on their unlimited data is? Can you guess yet? Try a bit harder...500MB per month! WOW! That really is unlimited! NOT!!!!!

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• Oakley, 11th June 2010.

  3 is the best network for internet - FACT! I use o2 and 3 on my iphone and I now work for 3. What they are doing is special: 75 per cent of handsets by the end of 2010 will be smartphones, which need a good 3g network.
  
  3 will be leading in the smart phone market by 2011 alongside voda. You heard it here first!

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• J20, 11th June 2010.

  3 having a terrible signal is a myth. Of course there is the odd exception in some areas. But I have had Vodaphone & O2 in my areas and 3 has always bettered them!
  
  I went back to 3 when at Uni due to the fact I couldn't even get a signal to send a text on V-Phone! And since then never had any problems anywhere!

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• JamieTT, 11th June 2010.

  I don't think people care about which network they get the iphone on now - hardly anyone even speaks to their network any more. The question is going to be all about who's able to take the strain of millions of smartphones on 3G. O2 has been a painful 2 years with my iPhone rarely capable of browsing the web, even in London.
  
  I for one welcome this competition and I'm gunning for 3 offering better mobile internet at fairer prices - O2, Vodafone and Orange have had it too easy for too long - time for a change.

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• Anoop, 11th June 2010.

  I've been a loyal 3 customer for nearly a decade now. The network and service has gone from strength to strength (where the signal fails, 3G jumps on the back of Orange!). Unlimited data on the new contracts is capped at 500mb a month but only 10p a MB after, which is still cheap.
  
  I opted for an Unlimited Internet & Push Email add on, for which I pay £5 a month for 2Gb allowance a month - that's pretty decent! I'm not sure whether you can use the new iphone 4 as a modem but 3 also offers 18 month mobile broadband add ons with up to 15gb for £15/20!
  
  3 will always undercut the other network providers. Plus they offer unlimited skype, 3 to 3 and texts and free voicemail!

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• Phil, 11th June 2010.

  @Oakley - Not true. I'm on Unlimited data and on my bill it stated that I used 2GB-worth before they cut me off! Can't wait for this! I've got a 3gs on three and my upgrade is due in December! Let's have a bit!

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• Gilbert, 11th June 2010.

  Ok-if no-one cares about network anymore, how come Orange sold 80,000 iPhones in 8 weeks in the run-up to Christmas, then Vodafone sold 100,000 in 8 days in February? Certainly seems as though those people must care.
  
  Also, to the person above who works for three, putting -FACT at the end of a sentence does not, in fact, make it a fact. You can't argue with the independent data which showed Vodafone as having the most extensive 2G network and the fastest and most reliable 3G network. I'm afraid that independent, extensively researched data trumps your opinion.
  
  If you ever need first-hand proof of the difference between the real networks and 3, try using your phone at the top of the Cairngorm funicular, where I took (and sent as an MMS) a picture of the systems there getting web access with a Vodafone MBB dongle.

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• George, 11th June 2010.

  I have been with 3 for 13months now. I must say that initially the network was iffy indoors where I work and around my friends house. That was before a massive upgrade programme was launched. Now in most parts around my town the network is spot on.
  
  Among my friends on other networks, no one browses the internet faster than I do. I hope 3's data plan for the iphone 4 will mirror their offering for the ipad where they have distinguished themselves. Fingers crossed.

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• Andy, 11th June 2010.

  I've been with 3 for almost two years and have resisted upgrading until the new iPhone was announced. Thinking I would be going to Vodafone I was surprised and delighted that my "loyalty" may (stress the "may") be rewarded by sticking with 3. I occasionally video call with my wife so I'm just hoping they can develop an App that allows me to do this still.
  
  In the past few months I've done my own basic testing of the networks at home, work and at my parent's house. Vodafone was 3G in all places, 3 was 3G at work and my parent's (I'll use wi-fi at home anyway) and O2 and Orange were rubbish everywhere.

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• Neil , 11th June 2010.

  love the fact that i don't live in London.... there are cities in the uk outside of London...believe it or not! if you cant get a 3g signal in "mighty London" I dont care. Love the choice of network where I live :-) bring on the iphone 4 - on any network.....

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• Stevie, 12th June 2010.

  3's customer service is truly appalling - would never use them even if they had the best signal. If you fancy talking with people with just a basic grasp of English this is the network for you

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• Jimroy, 12th June 2010.

  I tried 3 out for nine months after being with Orange for 10 years.
  Orange's data charges were extortionate that's why I left them.
  3's network was great until you had to contact them.
  The worst customer service ever!
  I still have mobile broadband with them, for wifi on my travels as it's gotten better and better since I've been with them. I use it instead of tethering on my o2 iPhone. o2's network is dire generally I've found. I'm always connecting to wifi.
  3's network on the other hand is full HSPA. I often get up to 4.5 mbs down
  and 1.2 mbs up speeds. Faster sometimes.
  But be careful if you use it all the time, as 10p/mb soon adds up if you go over you're limit.
  And once I paid extra over the phone with 3 using my card to lift it before my billing cycle and I had fraud committed on it soon after. Caused me a lot of trouble and 3 wouldn't take it forward and investigate. Even after my bank had. Beware!
  I won't be upgrading to an iPhone 4 on o2 as I'll lose my good value price plan. Capped data aside, my 18mnth iPhone 35 plan has gone up 5 quid to £40 a month! And doesn't include mms or international saver anymore which I liked. Voicemail now eats into your allowance and you can't apply friends and family discount anymore.
  I don't think I'd be sane to buy one outright on PAYG either and requesting a micro sim to replace my existing one. I can't see it happening.
  I also can't see me going back to 3 on one of their new 24mnth contracts either, even though it'd probably be good value and inclusive for data I expect.
  I'll stick with my 3gs on o2 for now and update to IOS4 and see what happens.

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• DPT, 13th June 2010.

  Have to agree with Stevie...I was on three for 18 months - was perfect up until the point I had a problem 9 months in. Cue 9 months of hell attempting to commicate with Indian call centre people who have scripts. You can't win...they only have two or three stock phrases which they use. After convicing them I had an issue with my handset they proceeded to send me new modems for some reason. At one point we have seven 3G modems (and still no new handset). Funny that following getting OFCOM involved, they unveiled a scottish call centre they all denied exists and sorted the problem within 2 working days.....

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• Gryzor, 25th June 2010.

  @Andy. The "fair use" on iPhone 4 is 1GB per month, way more than 02 are offering, and with thousands of minutes, not hundreds.

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• Lofty, 16th August 2010.

  Well ive been on 3 in the past, and found that the signal at my house is pretty good.. but soon switched to vodafone because i could get signal everywhere. I'm now thinking about getting the iPhone 4 on 'the one plan' from 3. this offers a massive 2000 minutes, 5000 texts 5000 3 - 3 calls and 1gb internet allowance.
  
  £40 a month and £59 for the handset! A great deal from 3!
  
  And if the signal has improved in my area like I've been told! Then i say BONUS!!
  
  Also 3 are good on PAYG. i had a PAYG sim not long back and went to south of Ireland for a week. i was able to send texts back to the uk at 10p a text and recieve them with no extra charge, i was also able to check facebook while out there with the 1gb usage (which actually lastest me a month) and when i got back to the uk carry on using the inclusive 300 texts i got!
  
  So i say forget all other networks. 3 is the way forward!
  
  p.s My views on the different major networks are as follows:
  
  Vodafone - Good for business managers and signal. Not someone wanting to use the internet (plus their customer services are rubbish).
  
  o2 - Great for PAYG customers, i.e. great little perks you can add to your account and customise it.
  
  t-mobile - Rubbish all around..
  
  Orange - I personally think they rob you.. and the signal isnt all that good anywhere (apart from big cities)
  
  and last but not least - 3, who like i along with others have said are the best for internet browsing, low prices and great deals!

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• Nathan, 17th October 2010.

  I'm in a dilemma :( I want to get a gd deal for the iPhone 4 but I want gd connection.
  
  3 do the gd deal but I'm not sure about the connection :(
  
  My friends say o2 have gd connection but their expensive :(
  
  I have vodafone at the mo and the connections gd but it's still quite expensive :(
  
  Help!!!

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• Alex, 10th January 2011.

  @Andy Not anymore!! 3 now offer eat all you like data!! no fair usage, just use all the internet you can!!!!!. once again 3 shuts everyone up! well done 3! best network in my opinion. haha

  Reply

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