2 posts tagged “web'n'walk”

Just noticed 3 UK's Planet 3 portal has had a bit of a spruce up.  Haven't had a chance to really form an opinion on it yet.  One thing I do like and one thing that stands out is their 'Free and easy' page linked from the homepage.  It's prominently signed and clearly worded.  This would seem like a no-brainer but having used T-mobile's portal this week (for the first time ever) it would appear that not all operators are so clear cut.

I like T-mobile's portal in places but for the most part it's a mess.  Bizarrely it kinda like seems some of it wasn't designed with mobile access in mind!

Back to 3's, I hope they've finally gotten rid of the adult content that is the first thing you see when opening the (built-in) browser on 3 phones every night.  There is no opt-out and although it's more suggestive than anything else, it really isn't the first thing you want to see when browsing in public.  I can also imagine many parents not wanting that on a phone they give to their kids.

This is a UK-centric post but may be of relevance to those visiting the UK too.

I'm in the UK (the username probably gives the game away) and use internet on my mobile phone a lot, a real lot!  This time last year it would've been unbelievably expensive to use the 'net so much, so often.  Even this year, right now, this very minute, I would be spending a small fortune if I were on a different network.  This was brought home to me just this past weekend when trying to get a data plan sorted out for my sister who happens to be on Vodafone...

Price comparison of the data plans on the UK networks:

• Vodafone:       £7.50 p/m - for 120MB

• O2:                £7.50 p/m - for 200MB

• T-Mobile:        £7.50 p/m - for 1GB

• 3 (aka Three): £5.00 p/m - for 2GB

• Orange:          £5.00 p/m - Unlimited evening and weekend "fair use"

This is an over-simplification as, with anything mobile or internet, there's way too much small print and, sometimes,  not enough!  Vodafone's appears to be capped at 120MB, you go over you start paying extra.  O2, T-Mobile and 3 all state unlimited but have "fair use" limits.  I'm on 3 (not any of the other networks) so, personally, can only comment on their "fair use" limit:  I regularly go over and have never been charged extra.  Recently I've been getting SMS messages telling me I've gone over, but nothing else.  Orange class their's as unlimited - but only in the evening and weekends.  The odd thing is they seem to have no plan that covers the daytime as well!?!

I should also point out that some operators exclude some kinds of usage in their data plans.  All the above are for use on the handset only (no using the phone as a modem for a laptop etc.)  Some don't allow media streaming and/or VOIP services (such as Skype).

On 3 I can do pretty much what I like - making the most of internet radio, YouTube, Google Maps.  I don't worry about the cost as, after nearly a year with the service, have yet to be billed anything more than the monthly rate. On Vodafone I could easily use up my monthly allowance in just hours!  Unfortunately Vodafone is the network my sister is on and unfortunately her phone is only 2G (that's unlocked IPhones for you!) so she has had to settle for the miserly 120MB for £7.50.  YouTube will be out for her unless she's in range of a working (and free) WiFi hotspot.

Read a more in depth piece about UK data plans over at Pocket Picks

Hmm, first proper post!  Next one could do with less text more pictures....