[!!11oneone]

I moved to Three a month or so ago because of their coverage, and they've been fine apart from one annoyance: the internet is filtered to take out 'adult' content.

However, this includes stuff like b3ta.com! I'm a grown man, and want to look at whatever the hell I like on the net, though they can't seem to unrestrict my access (they put me onto x-series, then told me it wasn't "compatible" with my plan and had to take me off again).

So, can anyone tell me if T-Mobile's internet is filtered?

[belleville1]

Don't go with Vodafone; I've got the same problem on their mobile broadband. I personally don't think anything should be blocked, after all they're just an ISP, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over the blocked-out porn because I wouldn't waste my mobile data transfer on mucky pictures.

However, on Vodafone all manner of other useful sites like Flickr, Photobucket and Google Talk are blocked out - they seem to censor anything that might be used to upload pictures or for "chat". They will unfilter the internet if you use a credit card and pay them £1 to "prove you're 18", but there's a snag - I don't have a credit card!

I too would be interested to find out which mobile broadband providers don't do this, because I find that I can't rely for work on a connection which allows something like Audioboo one day and then bans it the next. It's like being in China.

[sotek]

Originally Posted by !!11oneone

I moved to Three a month or so ago because of their coverage, and they've been fine apart from one annoyance: the internet is filtered to take out 'adult' content.

However, this includes stuff like b3ta.com! I'm a grown man, and want to look at whatever the hell I like on the net, though they can't seem to unrestrict my access (they put me onto x-series, then told me it wasn't "compatible" with my plan and had to take me off again).

So, can anyone tell me if T-Mobile's internet is filtered?

I've just accessed b3ta through my T-Mobile connection so I would suggest not. I can't imagine anything more pointless than accessing porn using such a small screen but again this doesn't look to be restricted.

The only thing to bear in mind is that I *think* I had to remove the content locks when I originally started my contract so you might find they are enabled by default (you can do it online in a matter of seconds).

Hope that helps.

[!!11oneone]

I don't mind having to remove a filter with CS, but with Three is appears it can't be done!

I not exactly watching porn all the time, it's just annoying that I get about a link a day through Twitter that I just can't open.


Plus, if someone sits next to me on the train when they could've chosen any number of empty seats, I fire up a bit of donkey fisting.

[Andy_Vodafone]

Hi,

The content control bar can be removed by clicking here and following the instruction for the type of account you have.

All the best,

Andy
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

[belleville1]

Originally Posted by Andy_Vodafone

Hi,

The content control bar can be removed by clicking here and following the instruction for the type of account you have.

All the best,

Andy
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

Originally Posted by Vodafone's website

by logging in or registering for My account online, you will need a credit card as evidence of age the first time you change Content Control

Originally Posted by me, months ago

They will unfilter the internet if you use a credit card and pay them £1 to "prove you're 18", but there's a snag - I don't have a credit card!

Do Vodafone even read the forums or do they just do a search on their company name once every few months and slap up a few robotic replies? The script-jockeys at the Three call centre make more sense than a lot of Vodafone's spam on here.

To Vodafone's credit, Flickr isn't blocked on their mobile broadband any more, even they saw the idiocy of that particular piece of censorship - but a lot of stuff still is, particularly instant messaging services. The fact that I don't have a credit card doesn't mean I'm under 18. Why is there no other way to prove my age? Why do I have to prove my age anyway? I can access what I like on my home broadband connection without doing so.

[frailfury]

So I can't get 100% unrestricted internet on 3?

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by frailfury

So I can't get 100% unrestricted internet on 3?

Yes you can, you just need to call up 333 and ask for somebody in technical support, they have 2 different internet addons.

The old x-series plans at the same price are still available and they don't go through the filtering.

Basically tell support you don't want it to go through their bluecoat device (one of these->) http://www.bluecoat.com/products/sg

Their 2nd line support told me they use this on one of the internet bolt-ons and as a tech myself I knew what they meant. If a customer wants to view adult sites on their phone they just need to be switched to the other bolt-on that doesn't go through the filtering.

[carguy143]

T-Mobile DO have internet censorship. You can have the censorship removed by either using a credit card to pay £1 to prove your age, or by sending in a copy of some ID via email or fax. I'm sure the T-mobile stores will be happy to help with this too.

Orange on the other hand, simply have an option to uncensor your own internet by logging in to your online account.

[Andy_Vodafone]

Hi Belleville1,

You could also contact us here with WRT135 in the title and I'll get the content control bar removed for you.

All the best,

Andy
Web Relations Team
Vodafone Uk

[dslrocks]

Originally Posted by belleville1

Do Vodafone even read the forums or do they just do a search on their company name once every few months and slap up a few robotic replies? The script-jockeys at the Three call centre make more sense than a lot of Vodafone's spam on here.

To Vodafone's credit, Flickr isn't blocked on their mobile broadband any more, even they saw the idiocy of that particular piece of censorship - but a lot of stuff still is, particularly instant messaging services. The fact that I don't have a credit card doesn't mean I'm under 18. Why is there no other way to prove my age? Why do I have to prove my age anyway? I can access what I like on my home broadband connection without doing so.

Or just go into a Vodafone shop and ask them to unblock it there, bring the device with you. They may ask you to show some ID like a drivers' licence or passport, and it will be done there and then; no need to pay any money or have a credit card. That's how I got the bar on mine lifted.

That said, how else do you expect Vodafone to be able to verify that somebody is over 18 via the internet?
Passport and drivers' licence numbers mean nothing unless you've got a link to the database to verify them, and just simply having an enter your age, people can simply lie. Therefore, it is a safe assumption that a large portion of people who are over 18 will hold a credit card of some description.

[Mr Pringle]

I'm actually really impressed by Andy @ Vodafone's reply here. Well done.

I was pretty miffed when, having just taken out a new contract with Vodafone, I went on holiday and found my internet access to be filtered. But nonetheless, the block was off less than an hour later. I'm not sure what the purpose is in the first place; you wouldn't expect a fixed-broadband ISP to content filter, so I've no idea why anyone would want a mobile broadband ISP to do the same.

To the poster above, I don't really expect them to have offered a contract to anyone under 18, do you?

[!!11oneone]

It's nice when your old threads come back, isn't it?

I tried to remove the filter on Three by switching to X-Series. Within a few hours, I started getting texts telling me my internet bill was adding up fast.

I phoned them, they said it was an error and cancelled the charges.

The texts kept coming. I have an always-connected Android phone, so the bill was about £40 within a few hours! I called back, they said that the x-series wasn't compatible with my account (whatever the hell that means) and I couldn't have it. They cancelled the charges again, and told me not to use the internet for 2 days while it changed back.

I said I wouldn't stop using the internet - that the whole reason I have an Android phone and had gone with Three was because I wanted a data connection for email etc. They agreed and said to call back later and they'd cancel the charges again.

When I tried to do that, the CS person said that since I'd been told not to use the internet they wouldn't be cancelling the charges. I argued and eventually they did.

I cancelled the contract due to this, plus lots of dropped calls, and am now with T-Mobile. Who don't appear to be filtering my feed.

Three even block access to b3ta.co.uk as it's "adult". And divert you to a "would you like some porn, sir?" page instead.