I am currently on Orange and have been for years. A friend of mine manages a Vodafone store and I have been offered an Iphone 3GS with a 30% reduction on my line rental. What are Vodafone like as a network? I have used them once before a long time ago before packages, inclusive minutes and unlimited texts and found my bills were higher than with Orange so I went back to Orange. Everyone else I know is on Orange and from what I understand Vodafone's inclusive and aytime text and minutes are to mobiles on any uk network, I am just a bit wary and don't know anyone else on the network so some thoughts would be nice.

Before you ask why I'm not upgrading with Orange? I would have to buy myself out of my contract, £190.00 before even looking at cost of the Iphone 3GS. My contract does not end until next January but is on a very low tariff at £20.00 per month. I cannot afford to buy myself out and buy the Iphone with them but can afford the initial £80 layout on the Vodafone deal I have been offered and the cheap line rental.

I would probably think that Orange and Vodafone's networks are quite similar. If you have been with Orange for such a long time, then you will probably get a discount anyway for being such a loyal customer if you give them a call.

I doubt he'd get the 30% though, thats a £40 iPhone tariff for £28

He really does get 30% off line rental for friends and family, he's the manager of the store and its something they can do. Am looking at the £35 tarriff which is £24.50 with the discount.

I have tried ringing Orange and because of the tie in with Apple there is not much they seem to be able to do. I would have to buy my contract out and then buy the iphone on a tarriff which would cost me more or add it as another phone to my contract. Vodafone has unlimited texts which I cannot get on the iphone with Orange and I text a lot more than I call. I have until Friday to make up my mind anyway and will think about it some more. I am just a bit wary of changing networks.

02 were/are doing the same. I could have had a £35 contract for £25, but I still had a while to run he one I had at the time.

I was aiming my comment at the one prior to me saying Orange might do you a deal. I was saying they wont get you the 30% discount you can get on vodafone, all VF staff have the ability to nominate 8 friends for a 30% discount

Suddenly all becomes clear! Yes the chances of Orange giving me 30% off my line rental on a new Iphone are approximately nil.

i moved to vodafone from orange last august and have never looked back far better signal

Not approximately nil.

It's totally and absolutely nil.

Friends and Family iPhone packages on Orange are 20% off.

According to the times the European Commission is set to pass the T-Mobile / Orange merger any time now so expect the network to get alot better.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle7035175.ece

Hi Meanbugger

I'm part of Vodafone's Web Relations team and would like to offer some help and advice.

There's always a few things to consider when you're looking at changing networks, and personally I think coverage is the main one.

You can find the predicted coverage on Vodafone by checking out their Coverage Maps, http://bit.ly/5lpf9k

This won't give you the actual coverage in your house, but it will give you an idea of the outdoor coverage for the areas you're likely to visit which might help you make your decision.

I'd love to see if we can help you further. Feel free to contact me using the link below; please include MMM135 in the subject field so that the email comes directly through to my team.

http://bit.ly/1h8KuG

If you have any other questions we have our own Twitter page where we also provide support, follow us and we're on call whenever you have a question!

http://twitter.com/vodafoneuk

Hope this helps,

Helen
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

I'm not unhappy with the Orange network as such, well aside from the heavily branded phones and the fact that it seems to take ages sometimes for new phones to be available on the network. I just really want an Iphone and it seems silly to pay more than I have to. I was just a bit iffy of changing networks but I think I am going to go for it and just carry on with my Orange contract until it runs out or I can buy the contract out.

Thanks for all your help