[Rog]

Wonder when we will be able to get hold of of a SIM?

http://www.freedompop.com/uk?experience=organic.default

[Zee_Bukhari]

I don't understand this, how will it work?

Will they be using one of the big 4's network or using their own wireless technology?

It looks like 3's old coverage map if you scroll down a bit and look at the map:

http://www.freedompop.com/uk

[Rog]

They will be piggybacking. I heard they are looking for a second network as well as 3

[Zee_Bukhari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rog

They will be piggybacking. I heard they are looking for a second network as well as 3

wonder who that will be? Perhaps EE for 2G only? or any of the other 3 networks for 2G connectivity?

[DevonBloke]

Yeah Three and another unknown network.
It's for really low users.
I think you'll get 200MB of data and 200 text/mins. Totally free apparently.

Crucially the service is data only. No switched services and it uses an app to do the calls/texts.
Call quality has been one of the major complaints I see.

[lightspeed2398]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

Yeah Three and another unknown network.
It's for really low users.
I think you'll get 200MB of data and 200 text/mins. Totally free apparently.

Crucially the service is data only. No switched services and it uses an app to do the calls/texts.
Call quality has been one of the major complaints I see.

I'll take it as a backup service. Keep it in an old phone in the glovebox or something like that.

[Thine Wonk]

Sensible Lighspeed

It's a strange name and given Blyk, Samba and Ovivo's failures I wouldn't recommend anyone rely 100% on it, but it could be ok for a spare.

[moox]

I can see freedompop being more popular in the US because of the otherwise high cost of service, but over here, it's already cheap enough - so are people going to deal with its issues (I think offloading onto wifi is a big part of it) just to be able to save a small amount of money

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

I can see freedompop being more popular in the US because of the otherwise high cost of service, but over here, it's already cheap enough - so are people going to deal with its issues (I think offloading onto wifi is a big part of it) just to be able to save a small amount of money

Well....it is cheap unless you use a PAYG sim on certain networks where the call cost is as much as 45ppm. That said SIMO seem to have increased in popularity which has brought costs down for people going that router. TBF the UK market is much more compeititive than the US, I have read in other forums the envy they have. We are lucky in some respects in that the market has pushed down prices with a big nudge from OFCOM on rate termination costs and such like.

[secretmsgs]

The other network can be o2, as they have bought o2 , i think there is a chance of sharing o2 and 3 plus i can see the service is like cloud and can be used on multiple device using app which is exactly like o2 tu go app., let see

[coachtrip_fan99]

How can they offer their service for free?

Is this like Ovivo all over again?

[jonmorris]

If you exceed the free amounts are you hit with huge run on charges?

[Chris1973]

Quote:

How can they offer their service for free?

Is this like Ovivo all over again?

No idea but they offer a similar service in the U.S, and have done for a while it seems. Wether the same business model will work in rip off Britain though remains to be seen.

I have a mobile data contract currently since the One Plan ended, and there is no way in hell i'm going to take out a second contract, or keep topping up a PAYG sim every month for the average 2 minutes worth of calls I make on a mobile every month. This Freebie (when / if its ever actually launched) will suit me, and however long it lasts for will be a bonus, just to keep a phone on one side for emergencies.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

rip off Britain

Really? How are a rip off? I pay a lot less than the Americans for a better service.

[Thine Wonk]

I frowned when I saw that phrase too, especially as Americans typically pay much more for mobile connectivity.

[Chris1973]

Quote:

Really? How are a rip off? I pay a lot less than the Americans for a better service.

And what has this got to do with my point?. I'm struggling to see the link with what you pay for a service has to do with the cost of setting up and running a business in the UK, more so for a business which, from first impressions, seems to be generating little, if anything, from its subscription base.

The plain and simple fact is that running a business in the UK is expensive, this is why many companies have upped and moved away.

Other people have pointed out that other similar services haven't lasted very long when they have started over here, I pointed out that this company seem to be doing fine with their US business model, however how it will fair setting up a UK operation where no doubt its set up and operating costs will be different than those in the US, remains to be seen.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

And what has this got to do with my point?. I'm struggling to see the link with what you pay for a service has to do with the cost of setting up and running a business in the UK, more so for a business which, from first impressions, seems to be generating little, if anything, from its subscription base.

The plain and simple fact is that running a business in the UK is expensive, this is why many companies have upped and moved away.

Other people have pointed out that other similar services haven't lasted very long when they have started over here, I pointed out that this company seem to be doing fine with their US business model, however how it will fair setting up a UK operation where no doubt its set up and operating costs will be different than those in the US, remains to be seen.

If you aren't generating much or any money, you aren't going to get anywhere in any country. You have operating costs to meet regardless of where you are.

Your post has a tinge of "the grass is always greener on the other side" - but let's be honest, access to American networks won't be cheap.

[Thine Wonk]

We have one of the largest and most successful economies in the world, the 5th largest in the world and the 2nd in Europe.

Let's stop propagating myths about business leaving the UK when we've actually risen in the rankings recently and are currently the fastest growing economy in Europe.

2.4% year on year GDP growth (Germany had 1.10%) and the UK is now down to 5.5% unemployed. What you are saying simply isn't true Chris.

[Chris1973]

So how many US businesses have relocated over to the UK, because it would be cheaper to operate over here?.

Terry's of York, ERF Trucks both companies whose closure has had an impact on me which were shut down, if there was no cost incentive why not keep the UK factories operational?.

Even the UK car industry now just assemble 'kits' which are shipped in via containers from abroad. I work in purchasing for a large manufacturer, I buy the majority of raw materials from abroad, not by choice, but because often its impossible to buy the materials over here anymore because there are no factories producing them, whilst as little as fifteen years ago I could grab a copy of Kelly's and find several companies within a 50 miles who could supply me with parts from an entire bill of materials, these days i'd be lucky to source three lines.

Sorry but i'm not seeing any of this growth that you speak of.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

So how many US businesses have relocated over to the UK, because it would be cheaper to operate over here?.

Terry's of York, ERF Trucks both companies whose closure has had an impact on me which were shut down, why not keep the UK factories operational?.

Even the UK car industry now just assemble kits which are shipped in via containers from abroad. I work in purchasing for a large manufacturer, I buy the majority of raw materials from abroad, not by choice, but because often its impossible to buy the materials over here anymore because there are no factories producing them, as little as fifteen years ago I could grab a copy of Kelly's and find several companies within a 50 miles who could supply me with parts from an entire bill of materials, these days i'd be lucky to source three lines.

Sorry but i'm not seeing any of this growth that you speak of.

This article from the last 2 weeks says different.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hancellor.html

Quote:

The industry has already provided the Chancellor with another helping hand, holding out the prospect of another 320,000 jobs – taking the total past the 1m mark – and boosting the economy by £321bn a year with extensive investment in electric vehicle and driverless car technologies if Britain remains in the EU.

An impressive list of headline data illustrates how the industry is back to accounting for almost 10pc of exports. It is currently ranked the 14th biggest motor vehicle manufacturer in the world and fourth in the EU – but with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin in its product range, it is second in the league table of luxury car makers.

Sales have risen for 38 months in a row in a buoyant domestic market, while the previously depressed commercial vehicle sector has seen production rise by almost 25pc in the first four months this year.
Industry turnover has topped £64bn a year, employment is 770,000 and rising. The industry exports more than 70pc of its production, with the average price of cars destined for overseas buyers nearing £22,000, compared with £10,000 in 2004.

or...

http://www.theguardian.com/business/...-factory-civic

Quote:

Honda has secured the future of its factory in Swindon by announcing a £200m investment to produce one of the Japanese carmaker’s most popular vehicles at the site.

The announcement takes promised investment in the UK car industry to more than £1bn in less than a week. On Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover said it would spend about £600m at its West Midlands operations, including £400m to support manufacture of the Jaguar-XF at Castle Bromwich.

On the same day, Geely, the Chinese owner of the London Taxi Company, unveiled plans to spend £250m and create up to 1,000 jobs developing new, low-emission black cabs at a new factory in Coventry.

[Chris1973]

Quote:

but with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin in its product range, it is second in the league table of luxury car makers.

These vehicles may be constructed over here, but the majority of their component parts are all sourced from Abroad

You may create several hundred jobs in a Car Factory, but years ago there would be another 6000 jobs created in the supply chain, from the creation of other businesses in order to supply them with materials. The media seem to miss that point, and there is no obvious sign of those days returning.

[Thine Wonk]

Hardly broken Britain though like you claimed.

[d123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

These vehicles may be constructed over here, but the majority of their component parts are all sourced from Abroad

You may create several hundred jobs in a Car Factory, but years ago there would be another 6000 jobs created in the supply chain, from the creation of other businesses in order to supply them with materials. The media seem to miss that point, and there is no obvious sign of those days returning.

You would be wrong there as well.

An article about Nissan Sunderland says the following:

Quote:

Ever since the Japanese company selected Sunderland to play host to its European base in 1986 the manufacturer has developed state-of-the-art facilities, broken production records and attracted a lengthy supply chain of component manufacturers supporting jobs for more than 10,000 people, 7,300 of whom are employed by NMUK in the city.

That’s a significant chunk of the 15,000 people employed in Sunderland’s automotive sector, according to Make It Sunderland’s most recent Automotive Report, with a further 13,000 in supply chain companies across the region.

There's a map at the link showing the position of the supply chain companies around the region:
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business...n-huge-7254559

[Chris1973]

Quote:

Hardly broken Britain though like you claimed.

I'd be rejoicing more, if we saw the end of Zero hour contracts. Kick started the Steel Industry, and turned the flats back into Factories.

Quote:

There's a map at the link showing the position of the supply chain companies around the region:
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business...n-huge-7254559

Ironic though how the linked story also highlights the point I made previously on post #19

Quote:

The decline in UK component production in the past two decades means Nissan import a significant proportion of the components they require

Is pretty much word for word with what I previously said

Quote:

I buy the majority of raw materials from abroad, not by choice, but because often its impossible to buy the materials over here anymore because there are no factories producing them

The report doesnt seem to mention what share the UK has of Nissan's entire component sourcing - ie how much of the car is sourced from the UK compared to still being imported from elsewhere, although I suspect the use of the word ';significant' suggests that it may still be considerable.

[d123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

Ironic though how the linked story also highlights the point I made previously

What point was that?