Internet on Mobile Phone

Conrad11 · 8 Aug 2008 at 15:37

Hi there,

I am going to get a contract and a new phone soon and I was thinking I would get one with some free internet in the contract.

I was wondering what the different internet protocals are for mobiles and what the difference in speed is?

Is it limited to the phone speed or the network/type of internet. Like what i mean is, in desktop-terms, is there like a dial-up version and a broadband version for phones.

Like for instance I know that there is GPRS and something like HSPA (don't know the exact acronym) and that they have a difference in speed. So in my contract will it specifcy which i can use for my free internet, like will it say 200MB HSPA or 10MB GPRS, or can I just download 10MB or 200MB by whatever my phone is capable of.

I hope i've explained this sufficiently to get my question across :/

Thanks.

iraiguana · 8 Aug 2008 at 15:52

if you get a 3G symbol you will have broadband speed, if not then it will be dial-up speeds. Its all automatic switching so you will only see a difference in the speed. They will not limit your access between connections as its all over the network and its just how good a signal you have which defines which you are using.

Work out where you would be using the phone and see what signal you get there as it may not be worth it.

IamMed · 8 Aug 2008 at 16:19

T-Mobile is pretty good atm:

Combi 25 + web'n'walk (18 months) £30 a month, 300minutes, 600texts and 1gb Data

Data used is data used so doesn't matter which way you download it.

Having a phone with WiFi can be handy though as then you can bypass your provider and use free access points which wont affect your usage allowance

Camalot · 8 Aug 2008 at 16:37

Is there any sites that show any wifi spots in area?

Hutch · 8 Aug 2008 at 16:42

writing this on my iPhone now, speeds are ok on 3g. Edge and GPRS are slow..

Conrad11 · 8 Aug 2008 at 16:54

IamMed said:
Having a phone with WiFi can be handy though as then you can bypass your provider and use free access points which wont affect your usage allowance

Was thinking of going O2 Simplicity:

£20/month
600 mins
1000 texts
"Unlimited" web
30 day rolling contract

As for WiFi, don't you usually have to pay to use WiFi?

EDIT:

If I got a phone "with HSDPA connectivity, and 384 kbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds", I could technically have faster internet that I have at home (got 2Mbps on my desktop)...?

Whats the difference between HSDPA and 3G?

syke · 8 Aug 2008 at 17:03

Unlimited on O2 is something like 250-600mb isn't it? Could be wrong.

WiFi hotspots such as McDonalds etc are all free.

Simplicity is pretty good though.

I was close to going to O2, but i decided on the T-Mobile Web 'n' Walk, got 3GB Data, £180 allowance and free weekend/texts. More than enough.

Conrad11 · 8 Aug 2008 at 17:06

syke said:
Unlimited on O2 is something like 250-600mb isn't it? Could be wrong.

WiFi hotspots such as McDonalds etc are all free.

Simplicity is pretty good though.

I was close to going to O2, but i decided on the T-Mobile Web 'n' Walk, got 3GB Data, £180 allowance and free weekend/texts. More than enough.

How much you pay for that?

No idea on the data allowances tbh...will check it out.

EDIT:

Says this is the terms and cons:

1. The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use of O2 UK's Edge/GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card:
* in, or connected to, any other device including modems;
* to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or
* in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers

If O2 reasonably suspects you are not acting in accordance with this policy O2 reserves the right to impose further charges, impose network protection controls which may reduce your speed of transmission, remove the Web Bolt On from your account or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.

...so surely I can just show them this if they have a go at me?

[DOD]Asprilla · 8 Aug 2008 at 17:13

Basically O2 jsut don't want you to take the mick.

Odd that they specify VoIP when Truphone is available for the iPhone.

Conrad11 · 8 Aug 2008 at 17:19

[DOD]Asprilla;12244738 said:
Basically O2 jsut don't want you to take the mick.

Odd that they specify VoIP when Truphone is available for the iPhone.

Would be nice to know what they think is "taking the mick"....have been searching through their terms and I can't find anything yet.....

Would they consider connecting the phone to a pc via bluetooth and using the phone as a modem as taking the mick? (Just for when my usual internet fails) - Because technically, the SIM isn't in another device.

Camalot · 8 Aug 2008 at 17:23

Pants, Orange don't seem to be offering their free internet deals anymore

There goes my plan out the window.

syke · 10 Aug 2008 at 01:42

Conrad11 said:
How much you pay for that?

No idea on the data allowances tbh...will check it out.

£25/month but got it cheaper because my Dad also has a contract from them.

Reason i say that is when i rang them they said the same as above, about the not taking the mick, but mostly its under a gig anyway.

Orange also said they offer 'unlimited' internet, after ringing them its 250mb.

Conrad11 said:
Would be nice to know what they think is "taking the mick"....have been searching through their terms and I can't find anything yet.....

Would they consider connecting the phone to a pc via bluetooth and using the phone as a modem as taking the mick? (Just for when my usual internet fails) - Because technically, the SIM isn't in another device.

It depends if they state modem use, they can probably find out, but if you're downloading mp3's etc, it'll mount up. T-Mobile have a plan where its allowing using for a modem i think.

Camalot said:
Pants, Orange don't seem to be offering their free internet deals anymore There goes my plan out the window.

Ring them up, they should tell you. When i was about to renew, there wasn't anything about internet deals, we rang up and they offered it to us, but its 250mb data.

Stellios · 10 Aug 2008 at 02:27

Oranges free internet offer was a month long thing only, luckily I got it so I have it on my contract for the next 18 months, also, when I spoke to them over the phone they said it was 3GB, not 250mb?

syke · 10 Aug 2008 at 19:16

Stellios said:
Oranges free internet offer was a month long thing only, luckily I got it so I have it on my contract for the next 18 months, also, when I spoke to them over the phone they said it was 3GB, not 250mb?

I spoke to them too, and they said 250mb is all they could offer, and will offer.

*shrugs*