As a long time Vodafone UK customer (10+ years), I have had many contracts and been mostly happy with there network coverage, which can be a little patchy on my train journey home. I had a long-running billing issue with them which was eventually sorted out and on the whole their customer service has been excellent when I’ve needed to use it. But there is one thing that really annoys me – and that is their data policy.
Just over two years ago when I got my Vodafone (HTC) Magic, as I wrote about here, Vodafone were giving “Unlimited” data packages, and I’d signed up for a two year contract. The “Unlimited” actually meant 500MB, but with no penalty for going over this. About halfway through the contract, Vodafone moved this from “Unlimited” to capped, and enforced the 500MB limit with charging beyond that. This didn’t go down well. I’m not a heavy data user, but that is as much to do with my network coverage at the time I would use data, i.e. on my daily commute from London to Bicester – most other times I’ll be on Wi-Fi, or using my phone as a phone!
Recently I upgraded one of my contracts to get a Samsung Nexus S – and it is by far the best smartphone I have ever owned (best phone award still goes to the Nokia 6310i for its battery longevity and the fact it just kept making calls). However it being a powerful smartphone means that I’m using my applications on it and more data. When I went to Australia earlier this year I put a Telstra PAYG SIM in it and it worked flawlessly. So this got me thinking. My Magic is now out of contract – and I don’t see a need for a new phone until the next Nexus comes out. So I thought lets give the 3 network a try – they are forever advertising their “all you can eat data” packages, which they also do on PAYG. This meant I could just get a SIM for £2 (or free from their website I think!), register it and try it out.
First impressions were not good – I put the SIM in the Nexus S and waited for it to register on the network (I was in the office of my current client, where I spend roughly 8 hours a day 5 days a week – so quite important that it works in here – and it is a bit of a black spot for some mobile networks) – eventually it found a trace single and registered – I know this because when I called the number I was initially getting Number Unobtainable, and finally I got to my new voicemail box, but never did my phone ring – it did get the occasional welcome SMS, but not all of them. So I went outside – and that finished the job – all set up now. My Magic had my Vodafone SIM so that I could make/receive calls, so I wasn’t completely cut off. One nice surprise was that once I’d registered on the my3 website, I got a few £10 + 150MB data credit – this’ll allow me to test them out for £2 I thought.
Saturday, I was working in the office and decided to stay with the 3 network for the day. Once on the train while sat at the station I ran a Speedtest and got a very respectable 3Mbps down/2Mbps up and thought this is nice. So once on the train I set up the phone in wireless tether mode and used the internet lightly (Google services) all the way into London with negligible issues (tunnels are a problem for all networks!) Back in the office – again not much signal, however the odd thing is that 3G data still seem to work, although only intermittently, voice/SMS was right out of luck. However, for the big test on the way home, I again went to wireless tether mode and fired up Test Match Special via BBC iPlayer, i.e. live streamed radio, and I listened to the England v India Test Match all the way home – once very happy commute I’ll say!
Sunday, long (by my standards) bicycle ride, network coverage seemed fine – 3G when I needed it for maps, MMS etc. Ok, lets forward all calls from my Magic to my 3 SIM.
Monday, true test – no Vodafone SIM in hand off to work. I didn’t receive any calls all day, nor could I make any while in the office. I missed at least 3 calls I should have been able to take and when I went outside I had to reboot my phone for it to be able to place calls. I think you know where this is going.
So today I am back with my Vodafone SIM, my 500Mb data plan and not listening to streaming media on my commute. Would I recommend the 3 network – well if you live in a tent and don’t work in an office in the City of London or you don’t need to make and receive phone calls then yes! Their data coverage is excellent and at £15 on PAYG for a month of unlimited data its hard to go wrong. But if you want to make and receive calls, then go to someone else.
Update May 31 2012:
I have not used the three SIM since – however it did prove useful for my Mum when she was over here from Australia recently and needed a UK SIM for her mobile. It worked flawlessly for phone calls and texts, she had no need for data.
I am also now using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus as my primary phone, but that’s a different blog post.
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