Tescomobile, Moto G, first edition.

My contract expires in January, and I'm considering whether to simply move to a SIM-only package or minutes/data bundle (are they the same thing?)

Alternatively, I could start a new contract; I like the look of the Mk3 Moto G, particularly the card slot. However, I have a few questions:

1. Can I place apps on the memory card, or just data (i.e. photos and music)?

2. Is there any advantage to 4g? I use about 100Mb of mobile data a month, and about 800MB of wi-fi.

3. Is 4g More expensive? If so, can I disable ir?

4g is just the most modern way that data works. It's quicker on average than 3g and does reach more places than 3g, if available.

In fairness if your happy with the phone, go sim only. You get 4g as standard from Tesco and if you dont really want it / need it, don't get a contract for the sake of it.

Potentially a little bit more data coverage that can be a bit faster and also means things like web pages can load slightly faster too. Any Skype calls should sound clearer and less delay on the voice etc.

Generally just a bit better data connection as Clewsy said above.

1. Yes apps can be stored/installed on the SD card.

2. When all the networks have sorted themselves out (about 2017/18 probably)...
Much better coverage (potentially 90% geographic).
Much faster data connection to more people more of the time.
Clearer HD voice calls.
Better call reliability.
Better latency (ping times) so most Internet services will run like they do on a decent fibre connection.
Depending on your network & handset, features like WiFi calling and WiFi to cellular handover.

3. It's getting to the point where 4G will just be the norm. I would go for it as the advantages outweigh and extra cost (which is probably no much now). If you are going on a contract there are going to be some pretty big advances in coverage, features and speed in the next two years
You can't disable it to save costs though. You either sign up to it or you don't.
You don;t need speed at just 100MB per month, but the coverage advantages over the next few years will be worth it.

We have HD voice on 3G though. It's the Americans that have tied it to 4G.

Or is there an higher definition voice than HD voice? 4K voice?

We also have pretty good 3g data coverage and speeds too, so for the average user there's not that much of a benefit. It's just a bit of a boost over 3G in all regards really.

3G speeds on O2/Tesco are pretty crap most of the time so I think you'll notice how much of a difference 4G makes to you.

Coverage wise it is a bit better. I find it works better in lower signal areas than 3G for example.

From using WiFi calling I would say that it (and I guess VoLTE) is using a higher (probably the highest) AMR wideband codec than 3G. 3G HD is pretty good but there is a very perceptible difference when on a WiFi to WiFi call. It really is crystal clear, like they are right there.


Down here it's all hills and valleys and there are plenty of places where 3G doesn't cut it. I agree with you totally that no one needs 100Mbps on a mobile. But if EE do what I think they are going to do and that is stick 800 on the vast majority of masts in areas like this, my god, you are going to be connected all of the time whether indoors or out. This is not the case now even though it's still pretty good.
800 is going to make a vast vast difference here.

Agreed. As I said somewhere else on this forum, 3G needs to go asap.
It's WCDMA cell breathing crap has been a pain in the arse.
With 2G you knew where you were. Fixed coverage. Same with 4G, It's fixed. Where you get 2 bars today, it'll be 2 bars tomorrow.
With 3G you can be having your lunch in the car parked up somewhere watching BBC news (coz I'm old) on one day and the next day there's no 3G and you are back to 2G.
That shit needs to go.

VO2 are a bit hobbled by the fact that they can't get their 800 on proper full power for a long time due to the fact it's their main carrier and it will have to be within 2G900 coverage for the foreseeable future (which isn't too bad at the end of the day, just not full potential).
Three/EE on the other hand are only allowing VoLTE/800 handsets on their 800 spectrum and so can crank it up to 11.
It will be interesting to see what the differences are once the 4G networks have matured.

As I've said too, 800MHz at full power is incredible, as in the distance it travels. It will go on at one bar for miles and miles.

If all masts had it (rather than just a few - despite what Three say, I think only a few masts are live at the moment), I think the coverage will be pretty incredible.

If only more devices supported it, I really want to test it but I'm waiting for the LG v10 to some out and to see if Three sell it and allow it on 800.

What are the chances I wonder... frustrating. They were going to allow the G3 to connect to 800, waiting for news on more devices getting access.

If more masts had it they'd turn down the power anyway wouldn't they, so that capacity is increased and so that they don't cause a problem with each other?

Based on what Jon (of Jon Morris fame ) has said, it appears that EE will be allowing Data devices to access 800 (re: The Cumbria project).
I have a sneaking suspicion that EE are aware of the Three F**k up and will probably release 800 to most 800/VoLTE devices (and data only devices) right away.
This is what I would do in this situation.
Just saying....

But the Tesco sim doesn't have to be used on a 4G device though.

Even 3G device owners should see the benefits of a faster download and upload speed and call quality with a 4G sim in their devices than with a 3G sim inserted.

Thanks for all the replies. I've never had a problem with speed on the phone, though I tend to use wifi only in cities, either London, the South coast or the North-East. Mobile data I use only in emergencies, or for bus times : so short periods and small amounts of data.

So I should really be just buying a bundle from January. However, I'm attracted by the SD card, since I can store more photos, all my music, and load more apps.

Presumably it would also mean that I could 'unlock' the old one, and buy data SIMs for local use when I'm abroad? Tesco's price for roaming data means I just have to switch it off completely when out of the country.

I have the same phone as you but am on Tesco PAYG.

Currently pay £5 a month for a 500MB data bundle only, call and text bundles are separate but I don't call or text enough for them to be cost effective for me.

With regard to placing apps on the memory card, I have a 64GB SD card where I store my music and if possible, move apps onto it. Have downloaded an app which moves other apps to the SD card, but it will not let me move all of the apps. Some will work on the phones internal storage only and certain functionality of others will not work if they are moved.

I'm not sure what you are meaning, but there is no such thing as a 3G sim or 4G sim. The device needs to be 4G capable and then it will allow 4G speeds and all the benefits that come with it.

I have a number of old sims that I use in my 4G phone without a problem, some networks (like Giffgaff) gave out BS info about needing a "4G sim" to get 4G service, this is nonsense, if the account the sim is tied to is 4G enabled and the phone is 4G capable it will work on 4G.

A new sim that works with 4G won't give you any benefits in an old 3G only handset.

I would add, anyone on o2 or an o2 MVNO really should have a 4G phone, their 3G is still below par, having access to 4G makes data on o2 much more usable.

In the 3G days it was very real - whether a technical restriction or an artificial one, networks like Orange required you to obtain a brand new SIM to be allowed onto their 3G network. I remember having to do it, the new SIM packet having 3G emblazoned all over it, and as soon as the SIM change was processed, full 3G coverage

And of course some network operators seem to require you to upgrade to a new plan or pay for a slightly more expensive PAYG bundle to be allowed onto their 4G networks. This is annoying as I'd like to test V-O2 coverage without actually paying anything first

A SIM itself serves literally to authenticate the device on the network. In itself it does not govern what services the user can use.

I suspect that Orange used to blacklist certain SIM numbers from allowing the device to authenticate on 3G. The actual SIMs were 3G capable as another user said.

SIM versus USIM

http://www.justaskgemalto.com/en/com...and-usim-cards

http://android.stackexchange.com/que...id-smartphones

So the USIM (mini SIM size) can hold thousands of contacts. I guess they gave up with that when the micro and nano SIMs came out?

Presumably you have the Mk 3 (or maybe Mk 2) if you have the card slot?

Does that mean you have both a bundle (for the data) and PAYG for the texts and calls you do make? I didn't realise you could do that. Though I don't make many calls it's useful to have the facility when I have to call mobile numbers. BT charges a fortune for calls to mobiles.

I have a 1st generation LTE variant of the Moto G (version XT1039), presumably you have one of the 3G variants (I should have realised that from the thread title). Did not know that these variants lacked a microSD card slot.


That's correct.

It's fairly flexible as well, you can change your bundle each month if you want or cancel them. Have found this useful as I've needed to buy a larger data bundle when staying at my parents for a week, due to them not having broadband.

I think USIM refers to the capability of the chip in the card, not the size. The physical size always was about removing the surrounding plastic, not reducing the capability.

I thought the limit on contacts was because its a direct trade off between software capability on chip versus storage. So the most networks went for capability instead of contact storage (given smartphones were storing contacts elsewhere).

Faster Data
Lower latency
More efficient for the operator (ok, that one is for me)
More reliable
Hard cell edge, no breathing
Better signal propagation at any frequency
Can aggregate carriers
Much better voice experience
Better voice codec options
Lower dropped calls because of better LTE management features.
Wifi Calling (needs IMS which needs a 4G service provision in the HSS)
You are missing a whole layer of a mobile network that some operators cover 90+% population and others will catch up. Kinda like driving on the motorway but never going in the 3rd/4th/5th lane.
Better roaming standards

That's my starter for 10, need more reasons?

More efficient for the user as well sites won't get congested as quickly so less likely to have call issues or slow data .