[3GScottishUser]

from Pocket Lint 30/09/2005:

30 September 2005 - Orange is gunning for a big 3G Christmas with the announcement of a Pay As You Go Tariff and seven dedicated phones to chose from. Customers will be able to get their fill from tomorrow (1st October) with handsets starting from £79.99.

The full range of seven 3G handsets available on PAYG:

Nokia 6680 £269.99
Nokia 6630 £159.99
SE K600i £189.99
Samsung Z500 £239.99
Samsung Z107 £99.99
Sanyo S750i £99.99
Sanyo S750 £79.99

There is one charge for calls and text, regardless of the time you use the phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all calls. Orange to Orange and other landlines will cost 15p per minute while a call to another network will cost slightly more at 35p per minute. Standard texts will set you back the industry standard of 10p and an MMS 30p.

Those looking to do video messaging will have to pay 50p per minute and data users will be charged a £1 per Mb. Those hoping to watch 20 hours of television a month on their new phone will get a bill for £10

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news.php?newsId=1744

[getti]

I have put an audio version on a podcast announcement if you listen via ITunes. Also all the info it at www.todayon3g.co.uk

[Ben]

I think Orange have put some thought into this offering. Now it's just a case of wait-and-see, though I'm pretty sure uptake will be quite good. Definitely good Christmas presents, and the data rate is fantastic.

[solo12002]

Data rate is good. Will this make o2 rethink their data rate for I-mode which I understand may be £3 pounds a MB??

[Ben]

Yikes :\ Still, I guess i-mode is mobile optimised so perhaps that wont be too bad.

It's a shame Orange didn't complement their 3G PAYG with cheaper MMS messaging and video calling, though. Still, one step at a time.

[solo12002]

Well heres the information for this month, looks like T - Mobile also haveng web access:

http://www.hughsymons.com/documents/hscm/pdf/9_2005_hscm_pdf_5pric_oct.pdf

http://www.avenir-telecom.co.uk/pages/talkingshop/200510.pdf

[dgilbert2]

Why oh Why have Orange not given existing Pay as You Go users an upgrade path whereby the SIM is upgraded to a USIM :mad:

[fat jez]

Why oh Why have Orange not given existing Pay as You Go users an upgrade path whereby the SIM is upgraded to a USIM :mad:

Because you need a 3G handset to support it? You should be able to upgrade a 2G phone to a 3G model though, in the normal way.

Cheers,
Jez

[dgilbert2]

Because you need a 3G handset to support it?


Thats the point, I do have a 3G handset and dont see why I should buy another. I just want to use my old SIM (or upgraded to USIM) and old number.

[fat jez]

try phoning 0800 801080 and asking them if you can buy a USIM.

Cheers,
Jez

[Hands0n]

Nice but ........... their PAYG tariff is wayyyy too high. It is likely to capture Orange diehards but ..... I'm not particuarly impressed.

A very nice selection of handsets - with attractive prices too.

Excellent data rate for a PAYG. Pity they could not make the same lead with the voice/video tariff (okay, I'll stop moaning about that now!).

Handsets aside, I'm underwhelmed other than the fact that they've now got 3G PAYG online.

Edit: @dgilbert2 - please let us know how you get on with trying to get a USIM only from Orange CS. That's a funny old state of affairs also. Vodafone lead with their standard SIM being updateable online to 3G. 3 now offer a USIM for a tenner. I wish they'd all stop drip-feeding us this stuff and get the heck on with it!

[getti]

November will see USIM's for sale in Orange stores. Im gonna get Orange PAYG 3G cause its really good and cheap

[getti]

Phones are now online and there are 2 more than were originally mentioned.

Prices are as follows

Nokia 6680 = £269.99
Nokia 6680 = £159.99
Samsung Z500 = £239.99
Samsung Z107 = £99.99
Moto C975 = £69.99
LG 8150 = £129.99
Sano S750i = £99.99
Sanyo S750 = £79.99
Sony Ericsson K600i = £159.99


Data is £4 per mb but you can get the Orange World Pack so for £4 you get 4mb (works out £1 per mb)

You can use 'Try Video Calling' for 1 month so you get 30mins free x-net video calling

You can use 'Try TV' on the 6680 to get 1 months free access to Orange TV.

You can use 'Try Video Messaging' where you get some free video messages in your first month also.

Its nice to see they are still allowing the 'Repay Prepay' on 3G so you get some free credit each month too