I've been with 02 for about 8 years but I'm not really happy with their upgrade prices (iphone 5). Considering they won't even have 4G for quite a while, their prices are very high. I'm considering moving to either 3 or Orange. 3 have quite good prices and plans, however I've heard a lot of bad things about them so I think the one I'm most likely to switch to is Orange...cheaper than 02, plus it has things like Orange Wednesday's that I'd benefit from, as well as being one of the first to have 4G. What would everyone reccomend? What are Orange like signal wise?

Orange are probably the best nationwide for signal/3g coverage, especially since they combined with T Mobile.

I would recommend Orange their Orange Wednesdays are great 2 for 1 Pizza Express and Cinema

Orange all the way, an excellent 21st century network that's only gonna get better - I am on Orange and they are great and over the last 12 months there is a night and day difference thanks to 3G sharing, network improvements, revised plans etc... I say go Orange

My first iPhone was on O2 which i started to hate so much i was forced to jailbreak my phone and put it on Orange, i have been with Orange on all my iPhones since and wouldn't consider switching, it just gets better and better.

I was thinking of switching to Orange because I've been told their coverage is better. I'm currently on a rolling one month contract with O2 and don't really want to give that up, and sign up to a 24 month contract with Orange. I hate that so many contracts have to be 24 months now.

Pretty sure Orange do monthly contracts

For the new iPhone? I thought it was only O2 and Three that were providing monthly contracts atm.

This says otherwise. Gives you the option to select Nano or 'combi' SIM. You'd have to get the handset from Apple though.

Have you checked the coverage maps for your post code(s)?

http://search.orange.co.uk/ouk/porta...hannel=direct/


You could also get a PAYG SIM and try it out (assuming your current phone is not locked to O2).


I'm thinking of leaving O2 for Three, so I got a PAYG SIM from Three last week so that I could test coverage and speeds.

I would go for O2 orange customer services is terribe

Orange as they are owned by EE, have MUCH better 3G coverage then O2 and will soon have 4G.

Customer Service on any network can be fantastic or hell. It depends on the person at the other end. Some people will do anything to help whereas others simply pass you off with crap.

Definitely EE as they are improving their network all the time and coverage is way better now with the signal sharing.

i'm not sure why so many say Orange have crap customer service, i'm not sure if i still get a premium customer service as i'm on an iPhone plan but they have been pretty much excellent. Only ever had one idiot in over 4 years.

They have alot of customers, any company that size is going to have a small percentage of ones unhappy about something, they also can be quite vocal.

My own experience of Orange having been with them for about 8 years mobile payg/contract and 4 years broadband is all good.

Broadband went down once in that time, called CS who took me through the usual basic tests on the router, when that was OK they found out some work was going on at my local exchange...was all working again a few hours later. Can't grumble about their CS then and a few hours downtime in 4 years seems pretty reliable!

With the mobile I've never really had much problems, couple of days in that time where had no service for a few hours but I'm guessing a local problem that was soon fixed, all providers suffer this, I don't recall ever suffering a nationwide problem as some providers have had. I've only called them a couple of times with bill queries which they solved/sorted over the phone. My handset contract is about to expire, I'm loathed to leave them really but am looking for a cheap sim only deal and Three is my choice although I'm still not 100% sure what to do.

If your phone is unlocked then go in a 3 shop and get a sim card to try them out at home and places you visit frequently.

I've used 3 for last two years, with a contract iphone which i've just changed to sim only plan for £12.90 as the contract had finished.

Go and get some unlimited data from T-Mobile, I say.

You'll still use the same network.

is that the full monty deal and do they do it in sim only 1 month contracts ?

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/sim-only/plans/

Scroll down and the Full Monty SIM-onlys are there.

Not sure how Three compares, but might be worth a look too. Remember that the EE network is now pretty excellent - so much better than a year/18 months ago. If the plans aren't cheap enough for you, then that's fair enough, but I'd recommend going with either Orange or T-M if you can.

I'm all ready on it, have tried out a payg Three sim at home and a few places. It seems fine at home and locally so should be ok, I just know with Orange I can rely on it where ever I am, especially since they joined up with T Mobile. Threes £6,90 deal is good value though and fits my usuage, Orange have a simular sim only deal which is currently £10.50 at the moment, I think I would stick with Orange on that if it wasn't for the fact Quidco are offering £50 cashback on Threes £6.90 sim only deal....that along with the saving on the monthly fee represents an extra £93 in the back pocket. I have about another 10 days before I need to commit,PAC expires on the 12th.

Go for Orange or T-Mobile, doesn't matter. By this time next year EVERY cell on their network will have 2G EDGE, 3G HSPA+ (21Mbps) and 70% of the population will have LTE!
I have an iPhone 5 on Orange and yesterday I got a speed test of around 10Mbps! others have achieved 12 or more.
EE now starting to roll out DC-HSDPA (42Mbps) across the network. iPhone 5 supports this. Never ever had a problem with customer service and been with them for nearly 15 years. Same number, same contract (no. 00281***). They had less than 300,000 customers when I signed up
It's refreshing to see Orange being praised again. Olaf Swantee in The Man!

Sorry jimmy, wasn't supposed to quote you. It was meant to be a standard post!

I agree I have been with Orange as long as I've had phones, a long time, I have left a few times for other networks but never for long and always returned to Orange. It's a great network and as of late is just getting better and better

You really need to decide what company offers the best tariff and coverage that suits you.

I have a friend who has been on an Ornage business tarriff for years, mainly beacuse of the extras that come with it. He gets a crap signal at home and his dealings with customer service have been dire.
My o2 phone invariably got a great signal in his house but then I fell foul of their customer (lack of) service and left.

Each company has it's benefits and problems, so make sure you consider all the alternatives.

The Full Monty no longer includes tethering & costs £26/month for a 30 day rolling contract whereas Three's One Plan does include tethering & costs £25/month for a 30 day rolling contract.