How good (or bad) are Three?

Deep · 16 Aug 2011 at 08:56

I'm just weighing up my upgrade options for 2 months time.

I have a HTC Desire at the moment, and don't really feel the need to get rid of it. It's perfect for my needs, and I just don't feel anything out there is a good upgrade path for me... Yet.

So I have decided to go Sim only and just pay less on a contract.

I will see what Virgin offer me but I doubt it could match Three anyway.

SIM 600 - 12 month
600 minutes
3000 texts
1GB of internet

Thats £15 a month, and I can get £80.80 cashback from TopCashBack which works out a monthly cost of just under £9 a month.

Do Three have any signal issues? Are they generally pretty good?

Very rarely do I phone customer services so that isn't a big issue tbh.

Any good or bad stories?

Brando710 · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:05

Signal issues are fine nowadays, just use the coverage check to view your area.

I am intrigued by this TopCashBack scheme. How exactly does it work and are there any catches? I can't get too far into the site without having to sign up.

Deep · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:10

Brando710 said:
Signal issues are fine nowadays, just use the coverage check to view your area.

I am intrigued by this TopCashBack scheme. How exactly does it work and are there any catches? I can't get too far into the site without having to sign up.

Well its the same as Quidco I believe.
I haven't heard many complaints about it, so want to give it a try for the first time

alex24 · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:19

Three have this reputation of signal problems that goes back such a long way it's not worth mentioning. Now they have (from my experience) the best 3G coverage of anyone in the UK, and it's fast.

The only issue I have is that recently they've been turning off the 2G networks (owned by orange) and so you can only use 3G in areas where they deem there is full coverage. However, the 3G signal for whatever reason is not as penetrative through thick and old buildings. So be prepared to possibly stand outside to call if there's anywhere like that. It also depends on how good 3G reception is on your handset. My old E71 struggled, but the new SGS does pretty well, gets a signal in most buildings except the weakest signal areas. I would have liked them to keep the 2G on as well because being on 3G/HSDPA on my smartphone gives me about half the battery life of 2G. I only used to swap to 3G when I needed it, now I don't have a choice and can't really get two days usage since they switched it off. I used to get up to 4 days battery life. Just something to consider.

Nymins · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:22

Yep Three are brilliant. Probably the best network in Northern Ireland for 3G coverage.

Weighing up leaving T-Mobile and going back to them as the T-Mobile 3G coverage here is non-existant.

gavindo · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:26

i totaly agree with alex24..
ive been with them 4 years but since they have turned 2g off ive had a lot of problems, its that bad now that i cannot get a signal were i work were i used to get 2/3 bars :/

im planning on jumping to orange / o2 when my contract ends.

neojay · 16 Aug 2011 at 10:47

I recently moved to three from orange, I receive better signal at home work and at my girlfirends. Needless to say im very impressed with them, internet speed are much higher then orange in my experience too

Deep · 16 Aug 2011 at 11:08

Thanks for the information

It's very rare that I don't get a 3G signal, I have turned it off sometimes to save battery but that is rare.

Skully · 16 Aug 2011 at 11:43

I'm with Three, great signal and always helpful on the phone if I need them.

Have also had dealings with their Twitter team (I feel that Twitter is now the best way to deal with companies, emails and phonecalls are ignored but all companies jump to help you when you complain in public on Twitter!) who were helpful.

Spartacus · 16 Aug 2011 at 12:11

Get a 3 pay as you go sim card and test the signal at home, work and around your local area before signing up for 12 months.

Personally I find their 3g coverage excellent and I get up to 6meg download speed on my htc sensation at home.

b0rn2sk8 · 16 Aug 2011 at 13:24

3 are good, it just depends on the area just like every other mobile provider.

What makes 3 much better is the pricing, I had never used three before and I got my iPhone 4 (32GB) at launch for £99 on a £30 PPM contract. 500mins/5000text/1gb, way cheaper than the other networks.

Deep · 16 Aug 2011 at 14:16

Just seen this on the Virgin site

Virgin £20.99 - 30 day rolling
SIM card cost FREE
Your tariff gives you:
600 minutes
2500 texts
2.5GB Mobile Web

Will push for that at £10-15 per month! That'd be perfect!