[Everything Goes]

Tesco looking to sell off its mobile business. The 50/50 venture with O2 generates £100m a year for Tesco.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/08/t...obile-network/

[lightspeed2398]

Another change in the industry if it sells. First EE, then o2, now this, although it may not be as dramatic as the rest.

I do hope it doesn't get shut down though, it provides some welcome competition sometimes, with their reasonable pricing structure and the fact that they moved to 4g relatively quickly.

[engineermoore]

oh no! I quite like the sim only plan I have with Tesco. I get the feeling I would be forced to change to something else if/when it gets bought

[swb1964]

I wonder if o2 will simply buy Tesco out, if they can agree a price?

[engineermoore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

I wonder if o2 will simply buy Tesco out, if they can agree a price?

I wonder how regulators would react though. If Hutchinson buy O2 and merge it with three it will be the biggest network in the UK. Would they be allowed to add more customers from the largest MVNO? I am unsure.

[Stiggles]

Hope it doesn't get shut down either! Just joined the buggers a few weeks ago!

[clewsy]

They are a cracking network. Can't believe this as mobiles was a strategy in the long term plan so surprised if really such a change.

[enapace]

On a side note similar topic Hutchison is to sell a one third stake in its British mobile phone business, Three, for $4.3 billion if the O2 Buyout is given Regulatory approval. I found that quite surprising.

[Zebb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by enapace

On a side note similar topic Hutchison is to sell a one third stake in its British mobile phone business, Three, for $4.3 billion if the O2 Buyout is given Regulatory approval. I found that quite surprising.

Global business deals, The investors entering into the agreements are; Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC of Singapore, Limpart Holdings Limited, CDPQ of Quebec, Canada and BTG Pactual of Brazil.

[Lyceum]

I hope this doesn't happen. And if it does it doesn't effect customers.

I pay £10 a month for 1000mins. 5000sms and 1gb data.

I have been out of contract for around 8 months and never seen anything that matches or beats that to switch too.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyceum

I hope this doesn't happen. And if it does it doesn't effect customers.

I pay £10 a month for 1000mins. 5000sms and 1gb data.

I have been out of contract for around 8 months and never seen anything that matches or beats that to switch too.

Vectone is as an established EE MVNO. UK Pocket Saver 10 offers unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data (3GB fup) for £10. It also provides a Tugo like app for call/texts over wifi.

http://www.vectonemobile.co.uk/pay-a...-calls-uk.aspx

GTmobile (a Lyca brand) is an O2 MVNO and whilst a little more at £12 it offers twice as much (2GB) of up to 4G data plus 1000 mins, unlimited texts and free GT to GT calls.

http://www.gtmobile.co.uk/en/

[alanwarwic]

Some say Vectone prices are temporary and change ultra fast, so be maybe wary of transferring an established number to them.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

Some say Vectone prices are temporary and change ultra fast, so be maybe wary of transferring an established number to them.

If you tansfer an existing number to a PAYG provider that subsequently changes its bundle pricing how difficult is it to obtain a PAC and move ?

[prking]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

If you tansfer an existing number to a PAYG provider that subsequently changes its bundle pricing how difficult is it to obtain a PAC and move ?

I think the issue is that if you are on a legacy tariff and then move to Vectone. If they then change their prices you won't be able to port back as the tariff isn't offered any more.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

I think the issue is that if you are on a legacy tariff and then move to Vectone. If they then change their prices you won't be able to port back as the tariff isn't offered any more.

There's also no guarantee that a customer won't be forced to move to a new tarrif especially with the for sale sign up.

The freedom of PAYG is ease of change and usually as one deal goes another arrives.

[ard100]

Gt and Lyca are good but get slower 3g 4g speeds compared to tesco payg i have tested it this week,

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

Vectone is as an established EE MVNO. UK Pocket Saver 10 offers unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data (3GB fup) for £10. It also provides a Tugo like app for call/texts over wifi.

http://www.vectonemobile.co.uk/pay-a...-calls-uk.aspx

GTmobile (a Lyca brand) is an O2 MVNO and whilst a little more at £12 it offers twice as much (2GB) of up to 4G data plus 1000 mins, unlimited texts and free GT to GT calls.

http://www.gtmobile.co.uk/en/

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ard100

Gt and Lyca are good but get slower 3g 4g speeds compared to tesco payg i have tested it this week,

That dosesn't suprise me just as Giffgaff another O2 MVNO is really poor for data.

Having said that I generally found O2 pretty poor for data coverage/performance and Tesco even worse and no longer use either.

[alanwarwic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

There's also no guarantee that a customer won't be forced to move to a new tarrif especially with the for sale sign up.The freedom of PAYG is ease of change and usually as one deal goes another arrives.

Years back I was on an Easy Mobile tariff. When it closed the transfer was painless.
That was PAYG. Obviously with a Tesco contract, someone will take it on at exactly the same costs, at least till contract end.

Contracts are prized possessions.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

That was PAYG. Obviously with a Tesco contract, someone will take it on at exactly the same costs, at least till contract end.

Contracts are prized possessions.

I have a sim only The One Plan contract and there are pros and cons to both contract and PAYG.

As for the OP I replied to he appears to be out of minimum term. At face value the current PAYG deal from Vectone betters the OP contract deal by fair margin which was my point. Either may be subject change.

[swb1964]

Personally I'd be a bit wary of Lyca, Vectone, GT and the other smaller MVNOs . Lebara seem a safer bet if you want to look beyond the big providers.

From the reports of others Asda and Sainsburys are fine, IME GiffGaff are OK for voice and text, not great for data, but it's useable most of the time for basic browsing and they are ultimately owned by O2 so worse case you wouldn't lose your number or credit if the closed.

But wait and see- if you are happy with Tesco personally I don't see any reason to panic right now. Worst case you'll be transfered to an O2 sim only deal and can look to move on from there if you want to.

[gardensleeper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clewsy

They are a cracking network. Can't believe this as mobiles was a strategy in the long term plan so surprised if really such a change.

Perhaps it shows just how dire the core grocery retail business has become that they need to sell off some of the smaller, more profitable parts of their business to keep the core afloat?

Of course this follows hot on the heels of the broadband sell off, at a time when other firms are doing the opposite - merging and bundling up for quad play.

Like you though I find this a real surprise, and an indication of how bad things must be at Tesco house.

[Thine Wonk]

Now is a good time, it can be considered alongside the O2 sale and Tesco need to sell non core assets to focus on their main business.

I'm sure there will be a buyer like Sky or somebody that will come along just like when they bought O2 broadband, effectively somebody is just buying the customer base.

[clewsy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardensleeper

Perhaps it shows just how dire the core grocery retail business has become that they need to sell off some of the smaller, more profitable parts of their business to keep the core afloat?

Of course this follows hot on the heels of the broadband sell off, at a time when other firms are doing the opposite - merging and bundling up for quad play.

Like you though I find this a real surprise, and an indication of how bad things must be at Tesco house.

Yes as they were talking up mobile remember. Of course maybe they want out before BT and Sky start eating into the market as well?

[clewsy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Now is a good time, it can be considered alongside the O2 sale and Tesco need to sell non core assets to focus on their main business.

I'm sure there will be a buyer like Sky or somebody that will come along just like when they bought O2 broadband, effectively somebody is just buying the customer base.

Yep sky or talk talk I suspect. BT mobile could have been an option if they were not on the o2 network possibly. I guess a rival supermarket group could buy them up like Sainsburys

[ard100]

Any update on this