[solo12002]

Three have now moved to this offer for life:

talk and text 900 now £28 a month for life.

[getti]

750 mins & 150 texts a month for £28 for life

or

750 mins, 150 texts, 50 mms & 50 mins video calling for £35 a month (Certain phones have it at £17.50 for a set period of months)

BBC1, BBC3 and BBC News 24 are now on 3 for 49p a day or you can pay £5 for 1 months unlimited viewing so you can view BBC, ITV & any other of the TV stations on the network

The £15 offers still are on until the end of may, you get 75 mins & 600 texts!.

£20 student deal this month (although strange as anyone can apply, you dont have to be a student) for 100 mins & 1000 texts. Same phones as the £15 offer but with the Nokia E61 and Sony Ericsson W950 free on this offer too

There is a big push on X-Series this month for the £5 for unlimited internet (fair use of 1gb).

There are new TV adverts and Radio ads this month for the new deals which personally is great to see after a long stretch away with no adverts. There is also a new deal in June which we have no details on yet.

No information on handsets yet, personally i expect to see the Motorola Z8 in end of May / Early June as all 5 networks are supposed to have it, and Modaco have confirmed 3 are getting the Motorola Q9 1st which is a windows mobile 6 HSDPA device.

The 2 new phones on PAYG are the SE K610 for £99.99 (used to be £149.99) and the Nokia 6288 for £109.99

I definatly prefer the new structure to PAYG where you just buy cash credit and do as you wish. You can stick on £40 and say buy 500 mins for £25 and 80 texts for £5, plus Mobile TV for £2. After that you will have £8 credit, mobile tv, 80 texts and 500 x-net mins...... or just blow all £40 on video calling, downloads or what ever you want..... much easier

[3GScottishUser]

49p a day for a limited range of BBC TV on your mobile eh? That's £178.85 a year..... more than £40 more than the TV licenece!!! Bonkers!!

As for the £15/£28 monthly plans ... it's still wise to shop around as networks and dealers have incentives that can match or even better the 3 deals depending on usage patterns. (Totally free weekends, stop the clock, convergence deals etc).

[Hands0n]

There is a big push on X-Series this month for the £5 for unlimited internet (fair use of 1gb).


I hate to sound like one of their fanboys, but T-Mobile's Web N Walk Plus is £12.50/pcm for 3GB, which is a lot more value per £1 than 3's X-Series.

There is no mention on the FUP or Ts & Cs whether or not the X-Series can be used via the handset as a data modem. @Getti, do you know what the formal policy on this is at 3?

No-one has yet matched this value offer from T-Mobile. I do believe that T-Mobile's Internet access is unconstrained, having never been a walled garden. The only restriction is no VoIP (if you want that you'll have to buy their Web N Walk Max package. These can be coupled with their Flext plans which makes them better value still!

That said - if all you need is 1GB/pcm then of course 3's X-Series is good value at that £5/pcm. But don't go over ..... or they'll get stroppy with you



Unlimited Data

Fair Use Limit: 1 GB each month

X-Series - 1 GB should be more than enough to allow you to surf websites, use ISP email and download podcasts

X-Series Silver & Gold - 1 GB should be more than enough to allow you to surf websites, use Mobile Mail and download podcasts

We will let you know by text message once you have reached the fair use limit and ask you to cease using the included data services for the remainder of the month. If you continue to use the services we may suspend your data usage until the next month. This will not impact your access to other X-Series services.

Source: 3's X-Series Fair Use Policy (FUP) (http://www.three.co.uk/xseries/fair_use_policy.omp)


So, be sure that 1GB is going to be sufficient for your needs.


Really, I believe that T-Mobile have the Data Tariff game all to themselves at the moment. We're all waiting for the others to respond in kind but they're not giving up what they think is the Golden Goose, even if at £7.50/MB no-one is buying it!

Funny old world really :)

[Ben]

Gosh getti, you're wearing your sales hat very proudly today I see :p

That Mobile TV charge of 49p/day would indeed be staggering if it were used every day of the year. It does make for an 'affordable' way to dip into Mobile TV during that odd bored moment. However, and lets be real, Mobile TV is a flop thus far so pricing is insignificant - even if it were free it wouldn't get massive takeup.

The 'for life' offers are interesting. Isn't any deal 'for life' if you don't change your tariff? Some people have stayed on their (now expensive) tariffs for many, many years without the networks forcing them off - some even get great benefits from 'back in the day'.

[Ben]

There is no mention on the FUP or Ts & Cs whether or not the X-Series can be used via the handset as a data modem. @Getti, do you know what the formal policy on this is at 3?
AFAIK it's on-handset usage only - modem usage, I believe, is actually charged for as extra on a pay-as-you-use basis?

(I remember one user on here experiencing something like that when using their X-Series as modem use)

[miffed]

There is a big push on X-Series this month


don't suppose it is a "big push" off the edge of a cliff ?

Why don't three drop all this X-series garbage and all this "certain things on certain handsets" nuts and just allow true unrestricted access ?

Silly question I suppose :rolleyes:

[a_ukboy]

don't suppose it is a "big push" off the edge of a cliff ?

Why don't three drop all this X-series garbage and all this "certain things on certain handsets" nuts and just allow true unrestricted access ?

Silly question I suppose :rolleyes:

Am i missing something here?? Three do offer unrestricted access, don't they??? i have had this for well over a year now, can't you now get open access on any phone for £5 per month with the new standard X-Series add on...

[3GScottishUser]

Nope x-series means a quite different range of services on different handset models. 3 have a handset compatability chart on their x-series site and so far only their discontinued Nokia N-73 does all of the advertised functions.

Sadly it's not quite as straightforward a propositon as it looks.....

[Ben]

You still get 'unlimited' browsing though, I believe. So it's basically Flext with some extras?

[solo12002]

A number of issues here:

T-Mobile web and walk plus offers more freedom, however its twice the price of the £5 data access on three which offers skype etc. I think you need to look and decide what it is that you need and I would not rule out or slag either one of the two off.

I think it is confusing for three to have a number of hand sets which do not offer the full range of services that x-series sliver has, and for me thats a down side.and something three needs to fix NOW.

In respect of their new 750 mins & 150 texts a month for £28 for life offer, while this looks good, my guts tells me if you wanted to upgrade your handset this offer would then stop, maybe some one can cofirm if this the case.


Also I personaly would question why would I want to pay that price when I can get the same plan for 18 months at £17.50, which means I could end my contract in 18 months and very likely pick up a new one, with a new phone on another haf price deal. Plus if I add £5 for x-series Ill still only be paying £21 22 pounds, still less than the £28 offer above.

Also lets not forget three has a CRAP C/S support, however orange and some of the other networks are going overseas for the call centres to. Once again Im not a fan of three, i had problems with them two years ago with a LG hand set that dint work, but to be fair to them, they currently have good 3G coverage, unlike (o2) they have a data access plan at £5PM unlike ( o2 and indeed vodafone) and still cheaper than Orange at £8 PM.

I think you need to add up what you need, for some three x-series is spot on, they can suff from there handsets, use msn, has push email and skype. Fro others they wish to use their handsets as modems and will look to t-mobile.

For ppl like me in NI,T-Mobile, Orange and O2 has no 3G coverage were I live and work, the only two networks have Vodafone who cant get a data access plan out 15/18 months after t-mobile becaused the computer said no or three that does.

[gorilla]

A number of issues here:
For ppl like me in NI,T-Mobile, Orange and O2 has no 3G coverage were I live and work, the only two networks have Vodafone who cant get a data access plan out 15/18 months after t-mobile becaused the computer said no or three that does.

solo, what network are you on? Is it t-mobile? I only ask as I'm in 'new contract' mode and am really keen on getting one with a data tariff e.g. web & walk. I'm tempted to go back to three as I've had more problems with O2 than them and they have a couple of nice offerings at the moment.

Would there be much point in getting web & walk if I'm ony getting 2g?

[Ben]

Would there be much point in getting web & walk if I'm ony getting 2g?
Sorry to chip in :p Not really, IMHO, as it takes some time to use data at 2G speeds. However, if you're familiar with the naff 2G browsing experience and think you'd still use a lot of data anyway then it'll be worth your while.

Have you had a go on T-Mobile's streetcheck service to check your coverage?

[gorilla]

Thanks.
On t-mob's s street checker, I get excellent 2g at home but no 3g (and no sign of it ever coming!), however at work I get a strong 3g signal. So I'll not be getting web and walk then! As solo has said 3g over here has pretty limited coverage, but I did get a good 3g reception on three.
What annoys me is that I live in Belfast (that major hub of city life!) and I would expect it to have blanket 3g coverage on all networks, but it does not.

[solo12002]

Im in Bangor work in Dundonald and find I dont have 3G Coverage at all, I get it in Belfast but only some parts not it all.

The only networks that has full 3G that i can see are Vodafone and 3, vodafone has no data plan at this stage may have in June and three currently has.

[gorilla]

I work in Dundonald too ;) Parliament buildings to be precise.
If be some chance your in the Stormont estate, have you noticed that your mobile reception has improved today? Not so much outside, but indoors? We've just had the mobile signals boosted in anticipation of a surge on Tuesday.

For all you 'foreigners' :p our little ole Assembly is being restored on Tuesday and apparently the last time there was a big media presence vodafone and orange buckled under the demand. I was too busy to notice :eek:

Interesting that they can boost capacity to order. I wonder if they can roll out 3g as quick :D

[Ben]

Often they deploy mobile units - vans and lorries with big portable masts. They used to do it often just outside of Canterbury to cover various events but they ended up shoving in one of those fake-lampost style masts. I think it was O2 in this case, but they all do it.

Make sure you let us know how the nets cope! :D

[solo12002]

Me thinks its in case michael stone gets out for the day and wants to use a mobile to call some of his mates.

[paulbds]

Ok, I get a three contract and get the X-series for an extra £5 /month.
I then put my SIM card in Wireless PCMCIA card that is 3 compatible and use this to surf. Whn I have finished I simply put SIM card back in phone. Ok so it's abit messy but do you think I will get away with it?

Paul

[getti]

Just a quick note on a comment earlier.... When you have the £28 deal its for LIFE. So when you upgrade your phone in 16/18 months time you can stay on the same plan at £28 a month. its basicly Direct Talker 1000 with no downloads/mms/video mins.

As for modem use with x-series i have seen that this will be looked into within the next few months.... maybe a new x-series package with more data allowing modem use (Like Web n Walk Plus?)

Cant comment until i know more as i dont want to mis-lead anyone. As soon as i know any info il make sure everyone else knows :)

[3GScottishUser]

Ok, I get a three contract and get the X-series for an extra £5 /month.
I then put my SIM card in Wireless PCMCIA card that is 3 compatible and use this to surf. Whn I have finished I simply put SIM card back in phone. Ok so it's abit messy but do you think I will get away with it?

Paul

Don't even think about it!!

3 charge £2 per MB for modem use and connection via a modem is easily identifyable as it is a validated connection with a handshake confirmation.

If you need to use a modem for 3G the least expensive option is T-Mobile's Web'N'Walk Professional.

[bsrjl1]

There is no difference in the connection using your handset's WAP browser, or using it as a modem - the APN is the same, and there's nothing to identify it either way. However if you're web browsing your user agent string will be different, and this could identify you as being a naughty boy (or girl).

I don't think 3 will care if you do it a little bit, but when you start using it as a replacement to broadband you'll probably get a call/sms warning you.

[Ben]

I'd heard that 3 actually charge for modem access, as in they detect it and bill accordingly. See https://talk3g.co.uk/showthread.php?p=19263#post19263

[3GScottishUser]

When used as a modem the phone has to dial in using *99# and the phone number is used to identify and validate it.

There is a very big difference in the process which is why most networks supply connection software that has to be installed to allow modem use.

3 definately DO NOT allow free modem access and as Ben has stated there are customers who have been billed whilst experimenting.

[Ben]

There is a very big difference in the process which is why most networks supply connection software that has to be installed to allow modem use.
I think that's mostly to do with branding and allowing users to text/check usage/etc. Getting a computer online is usually as simple as dialling *99# on the modem, whether it be connected via USB, PCMCIA or Bluetooth.

I don't know if Three identify modem data sessions by the number dialled to make the connection (indeed, I don't know how DUN differs from how a mobile phone makes a connection for on-handset use), but delinquentwoody's post would seem to confirm that Three will charge for modem use under X Series.

T-Mobile's offerings are pretty sweet.

[3g-g]

When used as a modem the phone has to dial in using *99# and the phone number is used to identify and validate it.


I'm in no way an expert as to who charges for what on what network using whatever tariff, but just in relation to the *99# thing, that only refers the session to use whatever internet settings you have specified in the handset. For example, I used to have a few GPRS settings, WAP, Internet and a Corp one, and to dial into the corp one specifically I had to specify a 3 after the hash. I'm not saying Three can identify all the traffic that moves over their network, however, if your laptop is using the same connection/APN as you use for WAP I'd imagine it may be slightly more difficult. As far as I know, Three just see that as a GPRS connection on that APN, and if your profile is enabled for that I couldn't foresee an issue, as long as you're not abusing it.

[bsrjl1]

*99# doesn't appear on your bill, like a normal call. This is just an instruction to the modem in the phone to connect to the default APN. This is excatly what the WAP browser, e-mail client etc.. on your phone does. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE in the connection as far as the network is concerned. They have to look at what traffic is being passed, port usage & things like the user agent string.

[3g-g]

*99# doesn't appear on your bill, like a normal call. This is just an instruction to the modem in the phone to connect to the default APN. This is excatly what the WAP browser, e-mail client etc.. on your phone does. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE in the connection as far as the network is concerned. They have to look at what traffic is being passed, port usage & things like the user agent string.

Exactly what this guy said, except not clouded through a bottle of wine like my post was last night! :D

[Ben]

However, the technical details should not detract from the fact that Three do, or did in at least one documented instance, charge for data usage over a modem.

Caveat emptor.

[Hands0n]

I think the thing to be clear on here is that 3 (and the other networks also) have the ability to track, analyse and report on the use of your data connection. The tools for doing this are commonplace these days, the hard part is integrating the output into the billing system. But that is now a forgone conclusion, the networks are able to assess the Customer's usage and profile of the data. It is easy, then, to detect whether it is a typical handset or an attached device popping up dozens of TCP/UDP ports and using amounts of data that no handset could reasonably consume.

As Ben says, Caveat Emptor - buyer beware - if you are buying with intent to "bend it a little" then don't be surprised if you are detected. What the operators do in response varies from op to op. Be clear before you give it a go!

Otherwise ..... fill yer boots :D

[bsrjl1]

I thought that 3 billing customers for 'modem use' was a mistook on the billing system, some people on other forums said they hadn't and had charges of around £30-£60, which isn't exactly a huge amount of data. But I didn't hear of anyone who didn't get a refund, and got told they were using it as a modem & had to pay up.

[fairywishes]

Hello All
I have been surfing the web for what feels like a lifetime concerning buying the above item from 3 and happened upon your very informative site here is hoping you can answer a few of my questions and advise me please..

Have been on vodafone with a motorola v3 for years was never brave enough to use the phone to surf but deicded its time for a change having never been with 3 before and due to them being the only ones to do the 3G version of the LG shine i went into one of there shops and was shown the planet thingy how you can surf the internet and watch tv for £5 a month which i thought was fab.

Having cancelled my vodafone contact so i can take out this phone on 3 i am now having cold feet as i have no idea how good this planet thingy actually is and also what teh coverage is like for 3 network?

Although not shown it doing the above in the shop I believe the LG shine is x series compatible so presume it will do the above?

I have now come across the new motorola v9 phone reviews and really quite fancy that too but its not out till later on this year so am in abit of a quandry any advise re the 3 network, the planet thingy and which phone to go for would be greatly appreicated.

I'm not sure i can hold out till the end of the year for the v9 plus i hate the colour it comes in so would prob wait for longer for the release of better colours hence why i am considering getting the LG u970 now but am just wondering on vodafone if you can do the watching of tv like on planet 3

[hecatae]

However if you're web browsing your user agent string will be different, and this could identify you as being a naughty boy (or girl).

I don't think 3 will care if you do it a little bit, but when you start using it as a replacement to broadband you'll probably get a call/sms warning you.

But you can change your user agent in firefox, to the phone model.

[Hands0n]

Hello fairywishes, welcome to Talk3G.

I'll have a go at some of your questions, no doubt others will chip in :)

TV on Vodafone - yup, they have been doing it for simply ages, and very good it is too - possibly the best of the bunch. You need 3G handset though. Have a look at their Live! information on the web, they have a number of packages available from £5 to £10 a month. See here (http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template09&pageID=MI_0020)

Turning to 3, re coverage - it all rather depends on where you live/work/play. There are some areas where it is not very good at all, and then others where it is absolutely terriffic. I tend to l/w/p in one of the latter - North Kent (actualy pretty much all of Kent and into London) has superb coverage. I've held a continuous 40 minute call from Dover to Dartford before now! I think you really need to assess the coverage in your area, ask friends and associates if they are 3 users.

I'll say now that I don't believe anyone does TV better than Vodafone at the moment. 3 did have a run with MobiTV which was dire - Orange use it too, and it is dire there also. Word of advice, before you buy you really must try. I found MobiTV completely unwatchable even in my area of great 3G! The MobiTV servers just could not cope.

I can't comment on LG handsets as I never use them, being a bit of a Nokia and Sony Ericsson fanboy :D The LG U970 is one of 3's recommended handsets for X-Series (http://www.three.co.uk/xseries/index.omp), so no problem there. 3's TV is more limited in the number of channels than Vodafone.

X-Series vs Vodafone Data: There is a lot going on in Data at the moment. The best of the bunch is T-Mobile with their Web N Walk, it is the mark that the others have yet to reach by a long way. Next up is 3 with their X-Series, followed by the others (Orange, Vodafone and O2 in that order). For this I'm referring to the amount of data that you get in your monthly bundle and what you are allowed to do with it. Some are still very restrictive. But the cost per Megabyte varies hugely, and I think that Vodafone are still being very, very stingy with their £/MB.

Hope this helps you some. Do let us know how you get on and your experienceds after you made your choice.

[fairywishes]

thanks handon noone else seems to want to answer :0( oh well

[Hands0n]

You're welcome - one of our admins is associated with 3 and will probably be able to give another perspective - but I'm not sure where he is at the moment :)

[getti]

you rang :)

Hard for me to post about 3 and the Shine really due to my position. I review phones but also work for 3 so members could see my views as biased.

From my experiance as a 3 customer the last 3 years has been up and down but mostly up. There are a few annoying things with CS but then again there are forums like this where you can get most answers anyway.

The 3 network (signal) is very strong and has to be 1 of the best in the country. They cover more 3G than any other network so far and now they have seemless handover between Orange it is great (if you ever drop out of 3G).

With data everyone thinks T-Mobile is better which in a way it it but in another way its not. Now the LG Shine is a HSDPA handset and on T-Mobile to get HSDPA you have to use Web n Walk Plus which is £12.50 a month for 3GB. On 3 you can use the X-Series 'Freedom' add-on for £5 and get 1GB but that also includes HSDPA data when it launches VERY soon!.

T-Mobile data is better for modem use as you cant (yet) use X-Series as a modem but on a handset X-Series is more than enough and for 1/2 the price of Web n Walk (although you get 1GB not 3GB)

[miffed]

you rang :)



With data everyone thinks T-Mobile is better which in a way it it but in another way its not. Now the LG Shine is a HSDPA handset and on T-Mobile to get HSDPA you have to use Web n Walk Plus which is £12.50 a month for 3GB. On 3 you can use the X-Series 'Freedom' add-on for £5 and get 1GB but that also includes HSDPA data when it launches VERY soon!.

T-Mobile data is better for modem use as you cant (yet) use X-Series as a modem but on a handset X-Series is more than enough and for 1/2 the price of Web n Walk (although you get 1GB not 3GB)

I am on £7.50 standard Web & Walk and I get HSDPA , and I know of plenty of others too
..... And as for HSDPA date "imminent" launch .....

https://talk3g.co.uk/showpost.php?p=16965&postcount=9


I wouldn't hold your breath ;)

[getti]

From an internal comment on 3's intranet in the last week..... its VERY soon ;)