Time for a Change

[Guest Jasonkruys]

OK....

I think I am sick and tired of Orange. After 7 years with them on a pi$$ poor plan, I binned my contract and started a new one on a better deal, before the original one finished and let that run its course..

Now I have been on that plan for a year it is time for a change I feel...

I have a C500, and I am bored with it.. The C600 isn't enough to make me stay with Orange..I think I want an M5000.

Now, despite being the Network to introduce Smartphones in the UK (I jumped on the bandwagon with the original SPV!), they really seem to have dropped the ball. They are now the LAST Network to introduce each Smartphone that I want, and not including wifi on the C600 is another mistake.. Then there is the poor signal quality where I live..

Orange want 150 notes off me for an M5000, have none in stock, and when asked the likely waiting time, and I quote, " We have no idea, we never have any idea " Just about sums them up at the moment I feel..

So...

Current Contract:

200 Minutes

1000 Texts

10MB GPRS

Orange Care

£66 (including £3 non DD charge!)

+£150 for an M5000.

I looked at 02 yesterday and it seems I can get:

Online 200 texter:

300 Minutes

750 Texts

1MB Data

Insurance

+ 4MB Bolt on - £5

£40

+£150 for the Exec

That is £26 quid cheaper, all I loose is 250 texts I don't use, and 5MB of data...even if I use another 5MB @ £3 per 1MB, I'm still saving £11.

Now I know they are pretty comparable packages, and I'm not saving much, but the better signal in my area, and the ability to get one now might tempt me..

So Questions:

Anybody have any experience with O2?

How does their insurance compare with Orange care?

What would you do if you were me?

Any reason I should stay with Orange?

Thanks :twisted:

[Guest gilesjuk]

Certainly go for a PPC phone if you want something to toy with. I won't say I'm bored of the SP5, but it isn't as wonderful as I was hoping. Sure the wifi works, there's some other nice touches. But it doesn't feel like Microsoft has progressed at all.

They could have had features such that it launches an application of your choosing when pluggin in headphones. Video recording could have had more options, maybe sacrifice frame rate for a greater resolution etc..

I have to lose out on radio, tv out, decent camera etc simply to have wifi and gps? oh well.

[Guest Jasonkruys]

Nobody had any experience with o2?

Interested in their insurance, general service level....and how about updates? Am I more likely to get a ROM update from o2 than Orange?

[Guest munky^^]

I only have 2nd hand info on O2 from my brother who uses them, but from what I can tell he's not particularly impressed. Went with them because of some deal that was cheaper than orange. He has to pay to call their customer service and/or tech. help line, and pay for itemised billing if he wants it. As far as basic coverage and quality of the service OK, I don't think he has any complaints, although he's only a basic user.

If you don't mind trawling through the reviews you can usually get good info from ciao.co.uk reviews, here's the page for O2 (which overall has 2.5 stars out of 5, Orange have 4 stars out of 5)

http://www.ciao.co.uk/O2__5313872

[Guest peekie]

expect o2 to change now as its been taken over by telefonica , the spanish probably will drop all the smartphones/ppc phones as they do not have them on their own network. i can see the future more a orange v tmobile for the smartphones with o2 gone ;)

[Guest Pondrew]

Peekie, do u mean O2 worldwide? Cos I can't imagine them dropping the XDA brand, it's traditionally been the example as far as marketing of a Pocket PC Phone brand out of all the operators...

[Guest afhstingray]

yea...the "xda" brand is worth a lot...

its almost synonymous with pda phones. ask any non techie what you call a pda with a phone, and they'll say XDA

[Guest Jasonkruys]

Peekie, do u mean O2 worldwide? Cos I can't imagine them dropping the XDA brand, it's traditionally been the example as far as marketing of a Pocket PC Phone brand out of all the operators...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm.... Just looked back on the website, and the XDA Exec is no longer there. If you click on the 'Buy now from online store' link from the XDA minisite, you get the statement 'Sorry, this phone is no longer available'

In fact, the only XDA now on their website is the XDA IIi :?:

[Guest Pondrew]

Hmmm.... Just looked back on the website, and the XDA Exec is no longer there. If you click on the 'Buy now from online store' link from the XDA minisite, you get the statement 'Sorry, this phone is no longer available'

In fact, the only XDA now on their website is the XDA IIi  :?:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting although not conclusive of course. Noticed yesterday that the XDA SP (HTC Feeler Smartphone branded XDA) was removed from the Personal O2 Online Shop but still available in the Business section. Is this the case here?

[Guest Jasonkruys]

Think that may be the case here actually. I'll check later properly when i'm back at the computer!