02 now gunning for 3 - Cheaper!!

[3GScottishUser]

NEW - O2 500 Tariff

Launch Date: 30th September 2005 on 3G

1st November 2005 on i-mode

O2 500 is an exclusive i-mode/3G promotional tariff which is
available until 31st December 2005. The tariff will not be open to
new customers post 31st December 2005 but
customers that have already connected will continue to enjoy the
benefits.
• Available to both new and upgrading customers.
• £29.79 (ex VAT) per month subscription.
• 500 anytime any network minutes.
• 100 messages.
• 100kb inclusive browsing every month.
• Free ITS and voicemail.
• Free i-mode/active browsing until 31 December 2005.

http://www.hughsymons.com/documents/..._5pric_oct.pdf

If it is an 18 month contract then this is much better

http://shop.o2.co.uk/shop/o2uk/jsp/s...tentType=iMode

1000min and 150 texts 1 MB browsing for £35/month or
750min and 750 text 1 mb browsing also for £35

both have free picture messaging and email until April 2006.

Always remember to read any small print! Not sure if the double minutes is for a limited time??

[Bleubean]

Hmmm id say Three still have some better deals than that. . .

[3GScottishUser]

The 02 deal above beats Talk and Text 600 hands down.

Dont forget you get open Internet access with 02 as well so your 100Kb can be used to view whatever you like not the 100 or so sites 3 dictate.

[Bleubean]

Yes true. But 100k is hardly alot.

Also in comparison Three's new tarrif gives for the equivalent price

1000 text messages
300 voice minutes
50 video/picture messages
50 videocalling minutes
£5's worth of downloads per month (with double downloading for 3months which makes it £10s worth of downloads per month)

[Hands0n]

Also of note is that O2's offer is a Promotional Tariff only. What happens on 1 Jan 2006?

Aside: I do think that is a bit disingenious of [all] the Mobile Operators to be quoting their data offerings in Megabits (or in O2's case Kilobits! - 100Kb = 12,500Bytes) these days!

[3GScottishUser]

TRhe 02 deal above is poitched squarely at T/T 600. There are other 02 deals that beat 3's on-line offers like their 'on-line 400' which for £30/month provides 1000 inclusive SMS/MMS/Video and 400 X/Net anytime voice minutes. Videocalling is charged at the same cost as voice presently.

When comparing deals one has to look at 'like for like', the significance of the 02 deal is that, it is the first time any network has matched a mainsteam 3 tariff head-on Great news for customers even if it is a limited offer. This looks deliberately designed to damage 3's efforts in Q4, solid competition!!

It's no wonder 02 have been Britain's fastest growing network in 2005 and I predict they will continue to thrive with what appears to be not on an agressive range of tariffs, they also have the widest range of service offerings including basic GSM, i-mode and 3G.

[gorilla]

Let's not forget that 02 also have great 3g coverage. Not.

I wonder if they'll piggy back on the three network in 3g areas!

[3GScottishUser]

I doubt if any network would desire that option.

Have a look at 02's 3G coverage now...... they have the strongest 3G signal in my home area now and have been rolling out at a faster pace than many think. I would estimate that they now cover more than 60% of the UK population with UMTS.

[Ben]

Technical hiccups aside, I think O2 especially would be glad of Three's 3G coverage.

It's a shame this tariff is only a promotional offer - it should be here to stay really if O2 are serious about credibly competing with Three on price.

Just as a comparison, £35 on Orange Direct buys 300 minutes and 500 texts or 100 minutes and 1000 texts. £35 seems to buy quite a bit these days.

As an existing o2 customer of 5 years, who has been eligible to upgrade since 16th September but been waiting (very) patiently for the Nokia N70 am definately interested in what package they can offer me now for the Samsung Z320i.

i-mode sounds really cool for someone not very techy like me who loves both a great deal and to browse the internet 24/7!

Does anyone know what the video recording quality is like on the Z320i and any hidden surprises I might be dissapointed with? Much appreciated!

[3GScottishUser]

Z320i seems to be pretty similar to the Z500. I have used mine (Z500) for a few video clips and the quality is really good. Comparing saved videos from the Samsung to previous ones from my Nokia 7600 I would say the Samsung is clearer and less jerky on playback once transferred to my PC.