My assessment of the 5 mobile networks in the UK

Thine Wonk · 07-09-2009, 21:05

First I should say that these are just my opinions and it would be nice to hear others, and that whist a lot of people have a favourite network to please try and be as unbiased as possible. In these reviews I'm thinking about things mainly from a company performance point of view, obviously peoples personal experiences will vary, but I hope this is a fair assessment of all 5.

Vodafone - Britain's first mobile network which started off fresh thinking and with some real entrepreneurship really punching BT in the early days and still has a lot of the 'get up and go' that it started with. Very good customer service, good coverage and overall known quality, if a little on the pricey side.

T-mobile - changed hands many times, from Mercury to One to One and so on etc, now up for sale again this network has struggled since the start. Has never had very good coverage, customer service is / was nothing special. They are now looking to exit the UK, with the joint network sharing deal with 3 should have much improved coverage in the future and if the new owner is Vodafone (most likely) it will have 1) a new name 2) great customer service 3) great coverage. One to watch in the future.

3 - started on 03/03 with the aim of being a 3g only network. Have rapidly expanded 3g coverage to levels higher than any other network, the driver for this is because they have to pay a 2g network for calls that fall back from 3g to 2g. Plans to have 99% population coverage of 3g by the end of 2010. It struggled with coverage a little in earlier years especially with handsets that didn't cope with the 2g / 3g switch with a live call, however this has improved a lot recently. A poor reputation for customer service which lets it down. Really carved out a market for itself with mobile broadband - the biggest mobile broadband provider in the UK whilst the smallest voice network by customer numbers. Due to the later network build the network was built with data in mind unlike the other networks who have had to adapt.

o2 - This network has history, was Cellnet, the network that launched just a few months after Vodafone to become the 2nd mobile network in the UK, BT launched it in partnership with Securicor. BT then de-merged it and it became part of mmo2 to be bought by Telefonica and become o2. They have the most subscribers in the UK, thanks in no small part to the Apple iphone exclusivity deal. There is not much between the 'big 4' in terms of numbers, but the iphone has tipped the numbers in favour of o2. Customer service seems to be fairly good, of late they have had a number of embarrassing data outages and the network has the least 3g coverage of any network in the UK but does seem have have solid 2g coverage.

Orange - started with a unique ad campaign that was really innovative and one of the first of a kind. Orange was very powerful and forward thinking in it's early days. In the 1990's Orange was 'the' network to be on. It used to have very good customer service and good coverage, but since being sold to the French has lost it's way a little. These days Orange seems to have lost the magic it once had that made it something special and it's now very much just a fair standard all round. Orange has struggled to get itself together with data plans and mobile broadband, but is now starting to make some improvements and catch up a bit.

I'd like to hear others thoughts, memories and what you think will happen to the 5 networks as things start to consolidate or as time moves on. Who will be the winners and losers.

iRuss · 07-09-2009, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

T-mobile.......Has never had very good coverage,

I could live to be 100 and I'll still never know why some people say this.

No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage. Their population percentage may be lower than the other networks but not enough for anyone to notice it. To be honest o2 and Vodafone have the worst coverage with people I know.

dangermouse1986 · 07-09-2009, 21:56

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html

Thine Wonk · 07-09-2009, 22:09

Wow big news dangermouse !

Thine Wonk · 07-09-2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by iRuss

I could live to be 100 and I'll still never know why some people say this.

No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage. Their population percentage may be lower than the other networks but not enough for anyone to notice it. To be honest o2 and Vodafone have the worst coverage with people I know.

Most of the people you know might live in roughly the same region, networks have better coverage in some areas than others and different network designs to choose what their coverage priorities are. You can only really look at these things on the maps. Believe me every 0.x% of coverage means coverage x 100,000 people.

Lummo · 07-09-2009, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangermouse1986

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html

That's excellent news IMHO, especially if its true about them both getting the iPhone soon!

iRuss · 07-09-2009, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Most of the people you know might live in roughly the same region, networks have better coverage in some areas than others and different network designs to choose what their coverage priorities are.

....which more or less reinforces my point against yours

cordunkni · 07-09-2009, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by iRuss

No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage.

Me for one - very poor both at home and at work. Now on O2 and much happier.

wavejockglw · 07-09-2009, 22:58

This article is based on outdated and dubious personal opinions.

ALL 3G networks are built with data as a priority and Vodafone for example has the fastest 3G HSDPA network in the UK offering 7.2Mb/s presently and increasing to 14.4Mb/s in major cities from late 2009.

Presently this is the network situation:

3 + T-Mobile operate a joint company called Mobile Broadband UK and they share their infrastructure. So both will offer the same coverage across the UK.

02 + Vodafone have entered into a cell site sharing agreement not just in the UK but across all European countries where they operate. The result is that in time both will have exactly the same coverage across the UK and Europe where they exist.

Orange has it's own network in the UK and will now merge with T-Mobile (to be announced tomorrow) and both brands will continue with France Telecom (Orange) as the dominant shareholder. They will make savings by sharing their networks and back office functions and the new joint venture will be Britain's biggest mobile operator with 30 million + customers.

It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK.

According to the Telegraph 3 UK looks like being the ultimate loser as it will be unsustainable attempting to compete with two such powerful groupings.

Anyway the business aside - the coverage for users looks like a straight choice soon between O2/Vodafone or Orange/T-Mobile.

ShaunIOW · 07-09-2009, 23:07

In my experience having tried all 5 networks here in the locations I need them:

T-Mobile - Gone from being the worst coverage here to the best on 2G, no 3G though and mobile broadband is GPRS speed. ***best here for 2G coverage***

3 - The only one with good 3G coverage here and 3.5G at that, drops to 2G ok where no 3G, mobile BB is 3G and quick, but where no 3G is none existant as doesn't drop to GPRS. ***only choice for 3G here***

O2 - Good 2G coverage, no 3G, not tried mobile BB.

Vodaphone - Worst of the 5 for 2G coverage (only one I can't get a signal at home with), no 3G, Tried mobile BB but couldn't get a connection.

Orange - Good 2G coverage, no 3G, not tried mobile BB.

Nb. The last time I checked all 5 was 6-9 month's ago so they might have improved since then - I use 3 for phone and mobile broadband and dad T-mobile so had no need to test the others recently.

iRuss · 07-09-2009, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordunkni

Me for one

Um no, read my post again.

Thine Wonk · 07-09-2009, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

This article is based on OLD information.

If you mean the original post that's not an article it's my thoughts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

3 + T-Mobile have a joint company called Mobile Broadband UK and they share their infrastructure. So both will offer the same coverage across the UK.

Not due for completion for another 15 months though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

02 + Vodafone have entered into a cell site sharing agreement not just in the UK but across all European countries where they operate. The result is that in time both will have exactly the same coverage across the UK and Europe where they exist.

The details are not clear though and I don't think it's all sites, but I might be wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK.

This is not clear, but they might be mad to not do so as Orange is still behind with 3g coverage and majorly behind on the mobile broadband front. I guess watch this space, but without the new 'mobile broadband uk' both t-mobile and Orange will be behind with 3g coverage.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that 3 will be unsustainable, they still do very well on mobile broadband and Orange may very well keep the t-mobile side separate and keep the coverage company deal in place. Alternatively 3 could sign a deal with another network like o2 over 3g coverage as o2 desperately need more 3g coverage.

wavejockglw · 07-09-2009, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaunIOW

In my experience having tried all 5 networks here in the locations I need them:

Read the post I made re the network sharing deals agreed to date and reflect on why the present 5 separate networks simply won't be an option in just a few months.

The mobile phone network map is changing out of all recognition across the UK.

ShaunIOW · 07-09-2009, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK.

According to the Telegraph 3 UK looks like being the ultimate loser as it will be unsustainable attempting to compete with two such powerful groupings.

Anyway the business aside - the coverage for users looks like a straight choice soon between O2/Vodafone or Orange/T-Mobile.

Thats very bad news for me as 3 are the only ones with good 3G coverage here - lose 3 and lose 3G will be the case

ShaunIOW · 07-09-2009, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Read the post I made re the network sharing deals agreed to date and reflect on why the present 5 separate networks simply won't be an option in just a few months.

The mobile phone network map is changing out of all recognition across the UK.

I read it just after I'd posted - it's a right sod for here.

wavejockglw · 07-09-2009, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

If you mean the original post that's not an article it's my thoughts.

Good to have that confirmation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Not due for completion for another 15 months though.

And unlikely to be completed if today's news is accurate re T-Mobile/Orange's merger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

The details are not clear though and I don't think it's all sites, but I might be wrong.

It's every site across the UK and Europe where they both have coverage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

This is not clear, but they might be mad to not do so as Orange is still behind with 3g coverage and majorly behind on the mobile broadband front. I guess watch this space, but without the new 'mobile broadband uk' both t-mobile and Orange will be behind with 3g coverage.

Orange has good 3G coverage across the UK and T-Mobile was one of the first with HSDPA, both have nothing to gain from a partnership with 3 UK. Much better for them to pile on the pressure and leave 3 high and dry trying to support their own network infrastructure with a fraction of the customers they have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

I wouldn't go as far as to say that 3 will be unsustainable, they still do very well on mobile broadband and Orange may very well keep the t-mobile side separate and keep the coverage company deal in place. Alternatively 3 could sign a deal with another network like o2 over 3g coverage as o2 desperately need more 3g coverage.

Better for the combined Orange/T-Mobile to take 3 UK out of the market as they would perhaps pick up the customers once the costs as an independent affect 3 UK. 02/Vodafone are in the same position as Orange/T-Mobile. Both will now simply wait for Hutchison to offload 3 UK as it will be unsustainable as a separate entity with a fraction of the customers of the other combined operators.

Game set and match to the big 4 by the looks of it and Ofcom will probably allow it as it has now been proven that the UK has too many networks.

carnivalist · 08-09-2009, 00:44

Not sure if it's quite within the remit of your thread, but I'd like to point out, for thse few who don't know, that Orange butcher their phones with their own firmware. It might be an issue for some people if they understood this and what it meant.

wavejockglw · 08-09-2009, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivalist

Not sure if it's quite within the remit of your thread, but I'd like to point out, for thse few who don't know, that Orange butcher their phones with their own firmware. It might be an issue for some people if they understood this and what it meant.

So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile.......

ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!!

How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

Lummo · 08-09-2009, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile.......

ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!!

How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

Very true, my mother had got a 3 Mobile before, and it was preloaded with a Planet 3 button stuck on the homescreen bit, 3 Themes, 3 Ringtones + Msg tones etc

DXRulz · 08-09-2009, 01:28

But with that said it seems Orange, 3 and Vodafone branding are the worst.

T-Mobile and O2 aren't so bad (depending on handset)

lost boy · 08-09-2009, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by DXRulz

But with that said it seems Orange, 3 and Vodafone branding are the worst.

T-Mobile and O2 aren't so bad (depending on handset)

I agree; 3's isn't overly bad in comparison with Vodafone, but Orange Homescreen is just so aggressive it's unreal - to the point where the Nokia service centre were advising me to have troublesome Orange branded handsets debranded after I'd been in with them so much.

Daveoc64 · 08-09-2009, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile.......

ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!!

How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

O2 doesn't actually brand its phones!

On my phone (Nokia N95 8GB) bought from O2 Online it only had:

An O2 Screensaver (just a .gif file that you can delete).
An O2 Welcome Message (you can turn it off)
The O2 Access Points (for MMS and Packet Data) preconfigured.

Other than that the software is the same as any other phone. That's vastly different to Orange where just about everything is changed (and often hard to reconfigure).

ShaunIOW · 08-09-2009, 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile.......

ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!!

How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

Yup, I have a Nokia 5800 that was originally O2 although unlocked (now using on 3) and that has an O2 splash screen on start-up and when new firmware came out I had to wait for the O2 version even though it was from Nokia. Dad's Nokia 5800 he got on contract with T-Mobile (from CPW) on the other hand is totally free of any T-Mobile branding or settings.

carnivalist · 08-09-2009, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile.......

ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!!

How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

Sorry, but as has been said before, it's a question of degree. Orange are among the worst, if not THE worst, culprits for this. Last time I looked O2 didn't stick stupid logos on the cases of their phones and the firmware alterations were minimal compared to Orange.

carnivalist · 08-09-2009, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveoc64;35356708ured.

Other than (a few minor issues o2) software is the same as any other phone. That's vastly different to Orange where just about everything is changed (and often hard to reconfigure).

The only real way for the average person to get rid of Orange firmware is to pay someone to debrand it.

07-09-2009, 21:05	#1
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	My assessment of the 5 mobile networks in the UK First I should say that these are just my opinions and it would be nice to hear others, and that whist a lot of people have a favourite network to please try and be as unbiased as possible. In these reviews I'm thinking about things mainly from a company performance point of view, obviously peoples personal experiences will vary, but I hope this is a fair assessment of all 5. Vodafone - Britain's first mobile network which started off fresh thinking and with some real entrepreneurship really punching BT in the early days and still has a lot of the 'get up and go' that it started with. Very good customer service, good coverage and overall known quality, if a little on the pricey side. T-mobile - changed hands many times, from Mercury to One to One and so on etc, now up for sale again this network has struggled since the start. Has never had very good coverage, customer service is / was nothing special. They are now looking to exit the UK, with the joint network sharing deal with 3 should have much improved coverage in the future and if the new owner is Vodafone (most likely) it will have 1) a new name 2) great customer service 3) great coverage. One to watch in the future. 3 - started on 03/03 with the aim of being a 3g only network. Have rapidly expanded 3g coverage to levels higher than any other network, the driver for this is because they have to pay a 2g network for calls that fall back from 3g to 2g. Plans to have 99% population coverage of 3g by the end of 2010. It struggled with coverage a little in earlier years especially with handsets that didn't cope with the 2g / 3g switch with a live call, however this has improved a lot recently. A poor reputation for customer service which lets it down. Really carved out a market for itself with mobile broadband - the biggest mobile broadband provider in the UK whilst the smallest voice network by customer numbers. Due to the later network build the network was built with data in mind unlike the other networks who have had to adapt. o2 - This network has history, was Cellnet, the network that launched just a few months after Vodafone to become the 2nd mobile network in the UK, BT launched it in partnership with Securicor. BT then de-merged it and it became part of mmo2 to be bought by Telefonica and become o2. They have the most subscribers in the UK, thanks in no small part to the Apple iphone exclusivity deal. There is not much between the 'big 4' in terms of numbers, but the iphone has tipped the numbers in favour of o2. Customer service seems to be fairly good, of late they have had a number of embarrassing data outages and the network has the least 3g coverage of any network in the UK but does seem have have solid 2g coverage. Orange - started with a unique ad campaign that was really innovative and one of the first of a kind. Orange was very powerful and forward thinking in it's early days. In the 1990's Orange was 'the' network to be on. It used to have very good customer service and good coverage, but since being sold to the French has lost it's way a little. These days Orange seems to have lost the magic it once had that made it something special and it's now very much just a fair standard all round. Orange has struggled to get itself together with data plans and mobile broadband, but is now starting to make some improvements and catch up a bit. I'd like to hear others thoughts, memories and what you think will happen to the 5 networks as things start to consolidate or as time moves on. Who will be the winners and losers.

07-09-2009, 21:49	#2
iRuss Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 470	Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk T-mobile.......Has never had very good coverage, I could live to be 100 and I'll still never know why some people say this. No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage. Their population percentage may be lower than the other networks but not enough for anyone to notice it. To be honest o2 and Vodafone have the worst coverage with people I know.

07-09-2009, 21:56	#3
dangermouse1986 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,544	http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html

07-09-2009, 22:09	#4
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Wow big news dangermouse !

07-09-2009, 22:18	#5
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by iRuss I could live to be 100 and I'll still never know why some people say this. No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage. Their population percentage may be lower than the other networks but not enough for anyone to notice it. To be honest o2 and Vodafone have the worst coverage with people I know. Most of the people you know might live in roughly the same region, networks have better coverage in some areas than others and different network designs to choose what their coverage priorities are. You can only really look at these things on the maps. Believe me every 0.x% of coverage means coverage x 100,000 people.

07-09-2009, 22:37	#6
Lummo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,737	Quote: Originally Posted by dangermouse1986 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html That's excellent news IMHO, especially if its true about them both getting the iPhone soon!

07-09-2009, 22:56	#7
iRuss Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 470	Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk Most of the people you know might live in roughly the same region, networks have better coverage in some areas than others and different network designs to choose what their coverage priorities are. ....which more or less reinforces my point against yours

07-09-2009, 22:57	#8
cordunkni Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 262	Quote: Originally Posted by iRuss No-one I know has ever had any issues with Tmobile's coverage. Me for one - very poor both at home and at work. Now on O2 and much happier.

07-09-2009, 22:58	#9
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	This article is based on outdated and dubious personal opinions. ALL 3G networks are built with data as a priority and Vodafone for example has the fastest 3G HSDPA network in the UK offering 7.2Mb/s presently and increasing to 14.4Mb/s in major cities from late 2009. Presently this is the network situation: 3 + T-Mobile operate a joint company called Mobile Broadband UK and they share their infrastructure. So both will offer the same coverage across the UK. 02 + Vodafone have entered into a cell site sharing agreement not just in the UK but across all European countries where they operate. The result is that in time both will have exactly the same coverage across the UK and Europe where they exist. Orange has it's own network in the UK and will now merge with T-Mobile (to be announced tomorrow) and both brands will continue with France Telecom (Orange) as the dominant shareholder. They will make savings by sharing their networks and back office functions and the new joint venture will be Britain's biggest mobile operator with 30 million + customers. It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK. According to the Telegraph 3 UK looks like being the ultimate loser as it will be unsustainable attempting to compete with two such powerful groupings. Anyway the business aside - the coverage for users looks like a straight choice soon between O2/Vodafone or Orange/T-Mobile.

07-09-2009, 23:07	#10
ShaunIOW Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 7,828	In my experience having tried all 5 networks here in the locations I need them: T-Mobile - Gone from being the worst coverage here to the best on 2G, no 3G though and mobile broadband is GPRS speed. *best here for 2G coverage* 3 - The only one with good 3G coverage here and 3.5G at that, drops to 2G ok where no 3G, mobile BB is 3G and quick, but where no 3G is none existant as doesn't drop to GPRS. *only choice for 3G here* O2 - Good 2G coverage, no 3G, not tried mobile BB. Vodaphone - Worst of the 5 for 2G coverage (only one I can't get a signal at home with), no 3G, Tried mobile BB but couldn't get a connection. Orange - Good 2G coverage, no 3G, not tried mobile BB. Nb. The last time I checked all 5 was 6-9 month's ago so they might have improved since then - I use 3 for phone and mobile broadband and dad T-mobile so had no need to test the others recently.

07-09-2009, 23:10	#11
iRuss Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 470	Quote: Originally Posted by cordunkni Me for one Um no, read my post again.

07-09-2009, 23:11	#12
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw This article is based on OLD information. If you mean the original post that's not an article it's my thoughts. Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw 3 + T-Mobile have a joint company called Mobile Broadband UK and they share their infrastructure. So both will offer the same coverage across the UK. Not due for completion for another 15 months though. Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw 02 + Vodafone have entered into a cell site sharing agreement not just in the UK but across all European countries where they operate. The result is that in time both will have exactly the same coverage across the UK and Europe where they exist. The details are not clear though and I don't think it's all sites, but I might be wrong. Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK. This is not clear, but they might be mad to not do so as Orange is still behind with 3g coverage and majorly behind on the mobile broadband front. I guess watch this space, but without the new 'mobile broadband uk' both t-mobile and Orange will be behind with 3g coverage. I wouldn't go as far as to say that 3 will be unsustainable, they still do very well on mobile broadband and Orange may very well keep the t-mobile side separate and keep the coverage company deal in place. Alternatively 3 could sign a deal with another network like o2 over 3g coverage as o2 desperately need more 3g coverage.

07-09-2009, 23:13	#13
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by ShaunIOW In my experience having tried all 5 networks here in the locations I need them: Read the post I made re the network sharing deals agreed to date and reflect on why the present 5 separate networks simply won't be an option in just a few months. The mobile phone network map is changing out of all recognition across the UK.

07-09-2009, 23:14	#14
ShaunIOW Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 7,828	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw It's doubtful if France Telecom will continue to support sharing with 3 UK and the new combined comapny probably won't continue to support 3 UK. According to the Telegraph 3 UK looks like being the ultimate loser as it will be unsustainable attempting to compete with two such powerful groupings. Anyway the business aside - the coverage for users looks like a straight choice soon between O2/Vodafone or Orange/T-Mobile. Thats very bad news for me as 3 are the only ones with good 3G coverage here - lose 3 and lose 3G will be the case

07-09-2009, 23:16	#15
ShaunIOW Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 7,828	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw Read the post I made re the network sharing deals agreed to date and reflect on why the present 5 separate networks simply won't be an option in just a few months. The mobile phone network map is changing out of all recognition across the UK. I read it just after I'd posted - it's a right sod for here.

07-09-2009, 23:25	#16
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk If you mean the original post that's not an article it's my thoughts. Good to have that confirmation. Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk Not due for completion for another 15 months though. And unlikely to be completed if today's news is accurate re T-Mobile/Orange's merger. Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk The details are not clear though and I don't think it's all sites, but I might be wrong. It's every site across the UK and Europe where they both have coverage. Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk This is not clear, but they might be mad to not do so as Orange is still behind with 3g coverage and majorly behind on the mobile broadband front. I guess watch this space, but without the new 'mobile broadband uk' both t-mobile and Orange will be behind with 3g coverage. Orange has good 3G coverage across the UK and T-Mobile was one of the first with HSDPA, both have nothing to gain from a partnership with 3 UK. Much better for them to pile on the pressure and leave 3 high and dry trying to support their own network infrastructure with a fraction of the customers they have. Quote: Originally Posted by Thine Wonk I wouldn't go as far as to say that 3 will be unsustainable, they still do very well on mobile broadband and Orange may very well keep the t-mobile side separate and keep the coverage company deal in place. Alternatively 3 could sign a deal with another network like o2 over 3g coverage as o2 desperately need more 3g coverage. Better for the combined Orange/T-Mobile to take 3 UK out of the market as they would perhaps pick up the customers once the costs as an independent affect 3 UK. 02/Vodafone are in the same position as Orange/T-Mobile. Both will now simply wait for Hutchison to offload 3 UK as it will be unsustainable as a separate entity with a fraction of the customers of the other combined operators. Game set and match to the big 4 by the looks of it and Ofcom will probably allow it as it has now been proven that the UK has too many networks.

08-09-2009, 00:44	#17
carnivalist Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,412	Not sure if it's quite within the remit of your thread, but I'd like to point out, for thse few who don't know, that Orange butcher their phones with their own firmware. It might be an issue for some people if they understood this and what it meant.

08-09-2009, 00:49	#18
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Quote: Originally Posted by carnivalist Not sure if it's quite within the remit of your thread, but I'd like to point out, for thse few who don't know, that Orange butcher their phones with their own firmware. It might be an issue for some people if they understood this and what it meant. So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile....... ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!! How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this.

08-09-2009, 01:11	#19
Lummo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,737	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile....... ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!! How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this. Very true, my mother had got a 3 Mobile before, and it was preloaded with a Planet 3 button stuck on the homescreen bit, 3 Themes, 3 Ringtones + Msg tones etc

08-09-2009, 01:28	#20
DXRulz Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oswestry, Shropshire Posts: 4,196	But with that said it seems Orange, 3 and Vodafone branding are the worst. T-Mobile and O2 aren't so bad (depending on handset)

08-09-2009, 01:50	#21
lost boy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolkland Posts: 1,787	Quote: Originally Posted by DXRulz But with that said it seems Orange, 3 and Vodafone branding are the worst. T-Mobile and O2 aren't so bad (depending on handset) I agree; 3's isn't overly bad in comparison with Vodafone, but Orange Homescreen is just so aggressive it's unreal - to the point where the Nokia service centre were advising me to have troublesome Orange branded handsets debranded after I'd been in with them so much.

DS Forums

My assessment of the 5 mobile networks in the UK

08-09-2009, 01:50	#22
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile....... ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!! How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this. O2 doesn't actually brand its phones! On my phone (Nokia N95 8GB) bought from O2 Online it only had: An O2 Screensaver (just a .gif file that you can delete). An O2 Welcome Message (you can turn it off) The O2 Access Points (for MMS and Packet Data) preconfigured. Other than that the software is the same as any other phone. That's vastly different to Orange where just about everything is changed (and often hard to reconfigure).

08-09-2009, 02:03	#23
ShaunIOW Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Isle of Wight Posts: 7,828	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile....... ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!! How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this. Yup, I have a Nokia 5800 that was originally O2 although unlocked (now using on 3) and that has an O2 splash screen on start-up and when new firmware came out I had to wait for the O2 version even though it was from Nokia. Dad's Nokia 5800 he got on contract with T-Mobile (from CPW) on the other hand is totally free of any T-Mobile branding or settings.

08-09-2009, 14:26	#24
carnivalist Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,412	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw So does 3, 02, Vodafone and T-Mobile....... ALL networks have specific firmware that they specify with particular phone models. It's no accident that the same phone on different networks is not only badged on the outside but is pre-configured with Orage World, Planet 3, Vodafone Live, T-Zones or 02 Active!! How naive (or misleading) to think only one network did this. Sorry, but as has been said before, it's a question of degree. Orange are among the worst, if not THE worst, culprits for this. Last time I looked O2 didn't stick stupid logos on the cases of their phones and the firmware alterations were minimal compared to Orange.

08-09-2009, 14:29	#25
carnivalist Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,412	Quote: Originally Posted by Daveoc64;35356708ured. Other than (a few minor issues o2) software is the same as any other phone. That's vastly different to Orange where just about everything is changed (and often hard to reconfigure). The only real way for the average person to get rid of Orange firmware is to pay someone to debrand it.