Which is exactly what I said would happen, and with little pressure from the other 3 we'll see much more of this in the years to come. I think in 3 years time there will be a massive shift of opinion toward my views, which were shot down in a recent thread full of big EE fans, from EE's legacy.

I think we all knew it would happen. Heck, it would happen anyway. BT will want to make more money. Three can no longer be the disruptive small guy. And so on.

When revenue from calls started to die, and even the very lucrative text message revenue is dying in favour of IM, it's all about data now.

And providing that isn't cheap.

I think we all knew it would happen. Heck, it would happen whatever occurred in the market and has been since the dawn of mobile. BT will want to make more money. Three can no longer be the disruptive small guy. And so on.

When revenue from calls started to die, and even the very lucrative text message revenue is dying in favour of IM, it's all about data now.

And providing that isn't cheap.

Jon, are you sure that those prices listed on your webpage, are going to be the prices EE will charge? Because an increase from £9.99 to £16.49 for the lowest package is incredibly expensive. It's almost as bad as when Three UK doubled everyone's prices (who were on the One Plan). And 50MB more data (from 250MB to 300MB) doesn't sound attractive enough to warrant that sort of increase. Especially when they are offering 4G that is capped at 3G speeds (most decent 3G masts can do 10-20Mbps).

If I was searching for a new SIM deal now, it'd make me either go to Three, sacrifice 4G and use Virgin, or even sacrifice 3G/4G coverage and go the CTIL route. Because EE are not doing the right thing here by pricing themselves out of the market.

Heck, you can get 500MB data for £6 (on a 12 month contract) on Three, or £8 if you need tethering or Feel At Home. And of course, Three UK share the vast majority of EE's base network via 3G MBNL. BAD MOVE EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE !!!!!!!!

Neither is BTsport. If they had high usage/high speed prices WITHOUT the sports option, I would be happy. So far it looks like BTsport is a reason to avoid EE which is stupid. I left BTbroadband when prices went up, just as BTsport was launched; now are BT doing the same to EE?

Maybe BTsport isn't covering its costs, and they've paid out stupid millions for football that most people don't want (all the footie fans I know have SkySports but don't see point in BTsport, either via VirginMedia or Sky).

The cost of those new sim only plans are a disgrace. Vodafone have some very tempting sim only offers right now. £22.20 for 20gb and 4gb of euro data is very competitive.
I doubt EE would attract many new customers with those prices unless they run special
offers.

Let's just say I'm very glad I took out a new contract a couple of months ago. Paying £48/month for 25GB and a free LG G5 looks cheap.

We did all know that it would happen.

BT themselves have said in their financial - investor stuff that part of their strategy is to charge more for data because they see themselves as having an advantage, I forget the precise phrasing of it.

I think this is a massive mistake by EE, making it unnecessarily complicated and segmented. I think we all know this was a stealth price increase and an opportunity to create more "upsells" - "You say you like viewing videos on Facebook, well you'll probably need the unlimited speed one for that to work properly." or even casually whilst waiting for a system to load "You off anywhere nice this summer? Oh xyz in Europe, yeah I went there last year and spent loads in roaming, glad these new max plans have unlimited roaming, really think it'll be great" (this went off on a bit of a tangent)

I think this is a massive step back in improving consumer experience and from transitioning to the experience of "Everything Everywhere" at a time when their cost per gigabyte is falling in terms of operational expenditure. (although of course they do need to get all that investment back, spectrum/rollout/ESN extra stuff)

Those are the prices on EE's documents, but some do look like errors - or they're going to do some promotions.

The whole idea I guess is to upsell. So the essentials plans look so limited, people will happily pay just £2.50 a month more. It even quotes the increase as pence per day, so staff will be saying 8p a day...

Were they stated as being 12 month? As 1 month plans the prices aren't too bad

This refresh isn't for sim only. It's 24 month handset contracts. It has to be based on that pricing structure.

I put BT broadband on my other phone just to get BT sport for MotoGP. Then they keep tweaking and hiking the prices. Just switched it as BT are a bunch of wakners and can keep BT Sport. I'l watch the highlights on ITV4 which will probably be more entertaining than their turgid offering.

I hope BT strategy isn't the future for EE. I suppose it is.

Oh well. Another good thing turned to rat shit.

Well if the handset contract prices are crap I'll be putting a new battery in my iPhone 6 and using that for a while more.
I could move to Vodafone.....
No,.... no, that would be insane... hahahaha

Well EE has been fully integrated into BT Group now, part of one of the main business units. They move into BT Centre in London in the next few months so will become more and more just a BT brand over the next year or so.

This is why we need the likes of Vodafone to get off their backsides and sort themsevles out. The coverage is one part, but I keep reading about their completely cack handed billing system, while EE sail on and can basically do as they please.

I have to say that EE's billing seems to work well even with a myriad of discounts (short and long term). As far as I can see it is all correct on an account with

A) lifetime discount
B) discounted tariffs (for as long as I keep them)
C) 10% discount for two lines as existing customer

I'd hate to think how Vodafone would manage that.

Why should Vodafone get off there arse? They don't really have to anymore do they if they choose not to? The 4g speed and data revolution we've become accustomed to could well be over.. EE are going for capped speeds now as well as data for all but the big spenders, three and O2 don't really have enough spectrum to mount a challenge or the funds to buy more in any auction coming up, Vodafone can, but why? Unless they have some desperate reason to go to war with EE to be the UK's biggest network and spend many billions doing so, they'll probably continues they are, slowly rolling out a thin layer of 800mhz 4g giving around an average of 20-30mbps under medium load, add 2100mhz for any other busier areas and 2600mhz for mega busy zones, position prices just under/between EE & three/O2, and push plans on Spotify premium and such and the euro 4g allowances it has at present, in fact they could drop or limit the streaming add ons and still be where they want to be, maintaining market position and making money..
Maybe a promo or 2 like they have at the moment to boost numbers when needed.. But really, we could well see an end to the mobile market as is.. Speeds back below that of an average home fibre connection for all but the cash rich..
It's what BT do, crush advancement and styfle competition..

Vodafone could never manage..
It's took them until the 10th month of a 12 month contract to get my £40 sim only deal for £30 promo offer right..
They could only get the system to process it by adding a 25% discount reoccurring every month, but have any out of contract charges and it can't cope and blows a fues.

How would less competition make this better sorry?

Will they change the name

Not necessarily. There already is a BT Mobile and it has its own niche. No point spending money on a rebrand, including the very expensive shop refits.

BT still hasn't messed with Plusnet too much and they've owned that for several years.

Perhaps they'll get rid of EE's wired broadband operation in time though. No point operating three ISPs when they can shift the customers to BT or Plusnet

BT have indicated in their latest investor relations pack that they want to keep 3 brands, BT, EE and Plusnet each targeting a different segment but each getting stuff from each other as "synergy"

So BT is old gits who don't know better. EE is for the technically knowledgeable with money to spare and Plusnet is for 3 blokes in a bath going downhill fast while they reminisce about how good Hovis bread is.

I like it. Where do I buy shares in this? Oops, actually, just shorted them. Stops at 410, target 382.

Broadband with wi' nowt taken out.

My costs for BT Infinity and EE mobile have actually gone down. The key is to negotiate a better deal at renewal times. It's the same with sky, haven't paid full price for years.