I want to upgrade but don't know what get - mobile/tariff

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2004
Posts
23,795
Location
South East
Firstly, I am sorry that this is such a vague thread but I don't know what I am looking for.

I used to work for O2 and know all there was to know about mobiles but since I left I have completely lost touch. I was tempted by an iphone but in reality it is overkill for what I need and imo way too pricey for what it is, i just love the interface.

Anyway. I have been on a contract with O2 for 6 years from when they were BT Genie. I still have that same sim card and the same £10 a month contract which gives me 100 minutes (not enough) and unlimited texts (too much)

Currently I have a K800i, which I like, but I am bored with.

Firstly, I am thinking of changing contract so that when I do get a new phone, I can actually use all the features, like internet, media messaging, video messaging etc. But I think that the standard tariffs are a bit of a rip off compared to what I have now. So does anyone have any tips for ringing O2 and getting a good bespoke deal?

As for the phone, I really like Sony Ericsson's, I hate Motorolas and I can't stand the majority of Nokia phones. I mainly use my phone for calling and texting (duh!) but I would love to be able to get proper internet on it and be able to do stuff like that. Would also be cool if it worked as a decent MP3 player as well.

I LOVE the touch screen stuff. Any suggestions? Thanks
 
Firstly, to get the best O2 contracts you NEED to talk to their retentions department - the upgrades department only offer exactly the same as what's on their website whereas retentions can modify each contract depending on what you ask for.

O2 do offer a 'unlimited' data transfer bolt on (however if you use more than 200mb in a month they will start charging extra), i believe it costs around £7 extra per month and allows basic internet use such as web browsing but not more advanced things such as skype.

In terms of phone, the most feature-packed one i know of is the N95, it has full web browsing, a good MP3 player and even GPS which when combined with a good 3rd party app (not the one supplied by nokia as it's rubbish, i recommend route66) acts as a very usable satnav which has got me to my destination every time, its also sports a pretty swanky 5mp camera. The downside is the interface isn't as 'swish' as the likes of the Iphone.

The closest thing to the iphone, infact i would say it's a better phone, is the LG viewty. It has a touchscreen like the iphone but a much better 5mp camera. IIRC it also has full web browsing and a mp3 player and most importantly can be obtained for free with your contract if you sweet talk retentions enough.

Oh and just so you know what to aim for - i got a N95 with £100 cashback (basically my first 5 months free), 400mins and 1000 texts for £20/month. If you were to ask for similar but with whatever phone takes your liking and add on the 200mb web allowance you're looking at around £27/month.
 
Wow, cheers dude, thanks for the help. I do remember when I worked in an O2 shop people used to get awesome deals calling the retention team.

I also used to be a Retention Sales Advisor for a medical insurance company so hopefully will know how to talk them around.

I'll have a look at the viewty now, I'm not keen on the n95 or Nokia, i have no idea why though, I think it is because I always hated their OS. Thanks again
 
Well all it allows is web browsing, nothing fancy like orb or skype which use large amounts of bandwidth. You would need to do a hell of a lot of web browsing to use up 200mb imo.
 
What do you reckon of the SE w960i?

Looks quite cool. Has normal buttons but is touch screen too.

I had a look at the Viewty and it looks alright, I might go into a shop and have a play though. I just think the interface is ugly compared to the iPhone. But I like the fact the viewty has video and can upload to YouTube, that is pretty cool.
 
Have viewty and an iphone still strugling on what one im going to keep. touch screen on viewty is a bit fiddlier if u have chunky fingers like me :p

one thing with the viewty is scrolling around the touch screen with fingers like the iphone doesnt work as well. menus are nice there is a cool pond with fish on the background.

I would say imo that if u want music and web browsing and not botherd about camera get the iphone. but for vids (divx movies) camera and a overall decent touchscreen and web browser go for the viewty. if u have any specific questions just let me know :)
 
DAvE18 said:
Have viewty and an iphone still strugling on what one im going to keep. touch screen on viewty is a bit fiddlier if u have chunky fingers like me :p

one thing with the viewty is scrolling around the touch screen with fingers like the iphone doesnt work as well. menus are nice there is a cool pond with fish on the background.

I would say imo that if u want music and web browsing and not botherd about camera get the iphone. but for vids (divx movies) camera and a overall decent touchscreen and web browser go for the viewty. if u have any specific questions just let me know :)
Click to expand...

Can you view full web pages on the Viewty like you can on the iPhone?

Anyone got any tips on what to say to O2 retention when I call them? I have looked at other networks and the deals actually seem much better (T-Mobile for example)

I would like to stay with O2 but I think I will threaten moving to another network, might get me further :)
 
Last edited:
You mean as in zoomed out then scroll in and around not tried that but if you browse a website like bbc u can scroll around with your finger and tap stuff to read it. dont know if it zooms out give me 5 mins :)

Edit, yup u can zoom out scroll the little box and tap and it goes full screen landscape
 
Last edited:
DAvE18 said:
You mean as in zoomed out then scroll in and around not tried that but if you browse a website like bbc u can scroll around with your finger and tap stuff to read it. dont know if it zooms out give me 5 mins :)

Edit, yup u can zoom out scroll the little box and tap and it goes full screen landscape
Click to expand...

Cool thanks.

I know the viewty is probably more functional but I am a sucker for snazzy interfaces, and I love the iPhone interface but I think I would miss video recording.

Also the cost, do O2 retentions do good deals on the iPhone for existing customers or not?
 
Just called O2 retention and have been offered:

Free LG Viewty
400 Mins Xnet (only using about 100 atm anyway)
Unlimited Free mins to O2 mobiles (GF is on o2)
400 or 600 texts (can't remember which)
This is for £25 a month, so it would be £32.50 a month with the data bolt on.

This is ok but compared to what Streeteh got (2nd post) it is rubbish.
THey say the offer stands for 7 days, what can I say to them to get a better deal. I talked about a T Mobile contacts which is similar so I guess that is why they went for this. Shall I pretent a mate of mine works there and can get me an even better deal, like £20 a month with first 6 months free or something.

What would you say?

As for the Viewty, will be going into town to look at what they are like tomorrow :)
 
best idea is to go with the viewty then as the video recording is awesome :)

the offer I got from o2 was 600mins xnetwork mins and unlimited texts for 25 quid and the viewty free.
 
DAvE18 said:
best idea is to go with the viewty then as the video recording is awesome :)

the offer I got from o2 was 600mins xnetwork mins and unlimited texts for 25 quid and the viewty free.
Click to expand...

Did you go for the internet bolt on as well?

I won't use that many minutes in a month, so do you think they would still give me the phone for free if I ask for a 200 min plan with say 400 texts?

I guess the best thing is to ask them. I'll go view the phone tomorrow and then ring them if I like it.

I heard the web browsing is a bit dodgy though, in particular the scorlling. Is this the case?
 
I wouldnt say it was a problem but it is not as easy to scroll as the iphone. Still nice to use though. They may give u more texts and less minutes and the phone free if you ask. o2 said they had 80 in stock last week so I don't think there shifting as fast as they where.

Have a play about or do what I did get the viewty on contract get the iphone play with both and sell the one u like the least. :)
 
DAvE18 said:
I wouldnt say it was a problem but it is not as easy to scroll as the iphone. Still nice to use though. They may give u more texts and less minutes and the phone free if you ask. o2 said they had 80 in stock last week so I don't think there shifting as fast as they where.

Have a play about or do what I did get the viewty on contract get the iphone play with both and sell the one u like the least. :)
Click to expand...

How did you get both but only 1 contract?

The guy told me that they couldn't do any deals on the iPhone as Apple had set the price and that I could only have the iPhone tariff.

TBH I think I prefer the viewty because of the features and the fact it isn't Apple (whilst their products are stylish with slick GUI's which I love, I just find them overpriced for what they actually are)

Forgot to say thanks to all the peeps in the thread to help out. I'll update you when I decide if I like it tomorrow.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
How did you get both but only 1 contract?

The guy told me that they couldn't do any deals on the iPhone as Apple had set the price and that I could only have the iPhone tariff.

TBH I think I prefer the viewty because of the features and the fact it isn't Apple (whilst their products are stylish with slick GUI's which I love, I just find them overpriced for what they actually are)

Forgot to say thanks to all the peeps in the thread to help out. I'll update you when I decide if I like it tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Aye the iphone has its own fixed tarrif that imo is fairy overpriced, especially considering that you've already payed the best part of £300 for the phone in the first place. IIRC its a minimum of around £40/month for decideably average mins/texts/data limits.

And i couldn't agree more on the Apple comment, i also dislike the fact that they always try to make out they are the first to use certain technologies even though its fairly commonplace these days. For example the 'real internet' angle they use for the iphone - phones have been capable of using the 'real' internet for ages now, they just never made a big thing about it.
 
Random question but how do you get put through to retentions at 02, im a select customer (as ive been with them so long) and my contract is up after christmas, so I need to know how to get through to them so they offer me a cheap deal on an upgrade?
Thanks!
 
I didnt get a contract for the iphone just the workaround to use your own o2 contract sim in it. makes it perfect. and I wont lose money on either.

There is a thread on it. :)
 
knip said:
Random question but how do you get put through to retentions at 02, im a select customer (as ive been with them so long) and my contract is up after christmas, so I need to know how to get through to them so they offer me a cheap deal on an upgrade?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I rang customer service and follwed the instructions to cancel my contract
(in their words 'leave o2')
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom