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how does the 3G network work?
rua is god
14-04-2004
Im thinking about buying a per-pay mobile from 3G. How does this work, do you top up in the same way. How will I know if it is compatible where I live etc. Will the phone be on Vodafone, O2 etc or will it be on its own network?

Also its a tri-band phone so what network will it lock onto in the USA?

Cheers in advance

Rua
lee18xx
14-04-2004
I'm no expert on Three, but I'll tell you what I know...

Three is buidling its own network which currently covers 77% of the UK's population. When in three's network coverage, you can take full advantage of its services like video calling etc. - You will be able to tell this by the "3g" logo on your handset

If you are not in the Three network, the phone 'borrows' O2's network - you will not be able to use video calling on this network. Either "2.5" or "2" will be displayed on your handset when on o2's network - 2.5 simply meaning GPRS access is allowed.

As for topping up or international roaming..im not sure

Cheers
*Joe*
14-04-2004
I'm on Three (pay monthly)

yes, as posted earlier, the 3G Video network covers 77% of the population (NOT the UK landmass, the population).
When you are in 3G coverage the phone says "3G" next to the signal strength. When you are out of 3G coverage, you roam on the O2 network, but you won't notice any change, the phone will still display "3" as the network provider. But it will no longer have the 3G symbol at the top, on my phone it shows a little antenna (like the icon for signal strangth on a 2G phone).
If you do go with three, most of their handsets are crap (battery life is miserable) I went for the Nokia 7600 as this was the only one that looked any good, it is a fantastic phone, but you can only get it from Carphone warehouse, not even direct from three!

If you go for a phone that is Tri Band, then yes this means it will work in the US (as well as other GSM 1900 countries: chilie, dominican republic, etc....)
nickgold
14-04-2004
No the nokia 7600 is very poor either get the A835 or wait a few months for the new lg phone
*Joe*
14-04-2004
Originally Posted by nickgold:
“No the nokia 7600 is very poor either get the A835 or wait a few months for the new lg phone”


What exactly is poor about the nokia?? it has the longest battery life, the smallest form factor, the highest ratings in reviews, etc...

I have the Nokia 7600 and find it beautiful!

Can you justify what you said please?!?!
lee18xx
14-04-2004
I've heard the Nokia is one of the best phones out at the minute, I know two people with it and they love it
nickgold
14-04-2004
It is a good phone but is lacking features.
the three services are more limited but can be accessed by adding the links
It is still a good phone. but I didn't like it.
I have got the A835 an A830 a nec E606 and E616 And I did have I borrowed a friends 7600 and A925
The a925 was annoying to navigate but good.
I didn't like the 7600 much but love my A835 is amazing.
The E616 is still rubbish it reboots etc
Go for the 7600 but in my opinion I prefer the A835
cybersquatter
17-04-2004
I've got a Motorola A835 and it's ace.

By the way, one thing to remember about 3: if you're making or receiving a call in an area which has flaky 3G coverage, the call sometimes gets dropped. This is because when the 3G signal dies, the phone has to switch over to O2's backup GSM network, resulting in the phone call being lost.
wavejockglw
17-04-2004
Different networks use different versions of the same UMTS (3G)technology and in 3's case their network is a work in progress. 3 dont have a nice reliable GSM network to fallback on and have a clumsy roaming arrangement with 02 that will always drop calls in poor signal areas. The core 3 network is also problematic and has been since it was commissioned. The prices 3 charge at the moment reflect not only their desire to build a customer base quickly but provide a clue as to what their service is worth compared to the others. This is a fact that is ofetn overlooked by those who buy the 3 product.

Commonsense should tell you that you get what you pay for and mobile communications services are no different from any other product. Dropped calls, poor customer service, handset size/bugs, poor battery life and no mobile Internet are just a few of the features that you can expect but hey you get lots of cheap voice minutes and if you dont need the phone as a reliable communiactions device then it might be an option.

Later this year there will be better options when more 3G networks become available.
Mr Cable
18-04-2004
3 is often unfairly judged by people who have experience of them 6 months ago.

Since they've added the 1000th transmitter and reached 77% video coverage, the 'dropping on to the 02' network which results in a dropped call has been much less evident.

Their pre-pay offering is outstanding and far, FAR above any of the massive rip-off costs that the big four shaft the majority of their customers with (ie, Pay as you Go).

I highly recommend them! Go for it, especially now the phone is half price!!!!
wavejockglw
18-04-2004
Nonsense.....their network is still utterly unstable. I have had an NEC 606 and now have a Motorola A-835 and they both drop calls.....indeed the Motorola in its first week managed 4 dropped calls out of 9 made! The signal meter just dies regularly and it cant be the handset as the 2 NEC examples I had did likewise. I live in an area with a three cell site just 1/2 mile away that was installed in December 2003! So I conclude that the problem with 3 is'nt the minor irritation of the dropped call syndrome when they roam onto 02 its when you have their coverage (in 77% of the country) that's the major issue and the reason they are so cheap!

ThreePay is an abosolute nonsense for all but the credit unworthy. Its pre-pay with a monthly commitment and you dont get free handsets, 1/2 price line rental, Cash Backs and all the other additional subsidies that contact folks get. They'll tell you the calls etc are the same as on contract but when you work out the actual costs a Three-Pay punter pays £495 for his moto 835 for 12 months on VT750 compared with his contract cousin who pays £210 (based on dial-a-phone offer 16/04/04).
MacattacK
19-04-2004
...and with many uncreditworthy people out there it makes for a rather large potential customer base. Add to that the creditworthy people who exercise their right to not be tied into a contract and people who just but them for the hell of it and that's a lot of people catered for.

Uncreditworthy people are aware of their status and know that they will have to pay more in the long run and those who go threepay rather than a 2G contract could still potentially save an awful lot of money.

It's a shame that you have these issues with your local transmitter but I personally haven't heard of any problems with regards to the calls being dropped in an area with full coverage from my friends on 3.
wavejockglw
19-04-2004
You should have a look at the forums that specialise in 3G and 3 in particular to see the extent of the dodgy 3 network problem! The number of dissatisfied 3 customers is astounding and that fact is confirmed by the number of complaints made to Oftel/Ofcom since their launch a year ago. A very high number of customers also return 3 handsets within the 14 day trial period (friends in independent stores inform me) and the trend has not changed much lately (with the exception of those who bought the Nokia 7600 from CPW). It must be very worrying for 3 that with 77% coverage they are having to subsidise more heavily than ever to get customers and are still getting a very significant number of cancellations. These two factors should'nt stop folks trying 3 but should provide some precautionary evidence before commiting themselves.
Mr Cable
19-04-2004
Originally Posted by wavejockglw:
“Nonsense.....”

How dare you! Don't "Nonsense" me. You may disagree with my post, but don't chastise me like a fib-telling 7 year old.

FACT - I have had no problems here, in Manchester (in the last few months) with 3 dropping calls. Do you live here, in Central Manchester? No you don't. I may have not made the fact that I was referring to my personal experience (which I would have thought was evident, but I'll hold my hands up if not).

My family in North Armagh have no problems with 3 service and I have friends in Teesside who are more than happy.

Wavejock, I know we have opposing views on the service from 3, but I've always attempted to give your posts respect, never poo-pooing them with "nonsense" statements.

Unfortunatly, you live in an area where 3 obviously have issues with YOUR transmitter and that is a problem for 3. Thousands of us don't live in your house and we're happy.

While still a long way off, 3 sales are growing as the weeks go on, reutrned handsets are a fraction of what they were 3 months ago and as regards subsidies, I would suggest that ANY new network using ANY technology would have to subsidise to this level - we have one of (if not THE) most competitive mobile phone market in the world!
dj1471
19-04-2004
Originally Posted by wavejockglw:
“Commonsense should tell you that you get what you pay for and mobile communications services are no different from any other product.”

That's funny; my e606 cost £200!!!
wavejockglw
19-04-2004
Mr Cable I will not turn this thread into a personal issue but I regard my 'nonsense' remark as completely justified having had 3 different 3 handsets and having used them in various locations since last June. I also have friends whom I have recommended 3 phones to (because of the tariffs) and they have had similar difficulties (and they dont all live in Central Scotland) with dropped calls and poor services reliability not to mention the battery drain!

I am sure you are pleased with your 3 deal but the vast majority of the feedback both on the net and from personal contacts has been quite unlike yours and looking at your profile I doubt if the balance of opinion will change yours.
Mr Cable
19-04-2004
And looking at EVERY SINGLE THREAD IN MOBILE TELEPHONY you have ever posted in which you ALWAYS seem to turn towards your own little war against 3 it's obvious yours wont be changed either. I've avoided several of them (not all), but I just wanted the original poster of this thread to know people have had an overwhelmingly positive experience with 3.

You and your friends have problems, me and my friends don't. Both sides of the arguement have now been put across.

(oh, I don't actually have a 3 'deal', I pay full price and still think I get an amazing service).
Last edited by Mr Cable : 19-04-2004 at 23:32
Maven
19-04-2004
To the original poster: once you've experienced 3's legendary 'customer service', pop over to www.3hell.com with your findings.....you'll find you're not alone.
wavejockglw
20-04-2004
A far more active forum with more detailed evidence concerning 3UK is available here:

3 Complaints Forum at 3G.co.uk
Russ T Bitz
20-04-2004
The problem with that site is that's too corperate - and 3 have a hand in censoring it. If there's anything on that forum they don't like, they get in touch with the webhost who removes it straight away.

I may be biased but I can't quite say I have much confidence in complaining on a site with that kind of environment.
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