If Meteor Gets sold....

Pyro Boy

From http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=21236&email=html It says that 3 Ireland are looking to buy meteor. Now my question is what would happen if 3 did buy Meteor. Would they get rid of the meteor brand all together? ,the price plans everyone topping up with 083... any ideas out there? they would have to sell one of their 3 G license

pyramuid man

Well it would be both beneficial and non-beneficial in certain aspects. First of all, Meteor would get 3g and mobile broadband and some really high end phones quicker.
The downside is that customer care would undoubtedly be moved to india and there would be more trouble than ever with a larger customer base. Thats just a quick assessment.

_Kaiser_

We'd probably lose the very good value Free Txts/CAlls as well.

EDIT: Competition is always healthier anyway.

xanthor

Considering the poor reputation 3 have in the area of customer service, i'd definitely be concerned if i were on Meteor.

prendy

i think alot of people switched to meteor just because of price and price alone...if 3 puts the price back up then il be switching back to vodafone for sure!

Sam Vimes

the first time i hear an indian voice when i call 1905 i'm going to cry

Thirdfox

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

We'd probably lose the very good value Free Txts/CAlls as well.

EDIT: Competition is always healthier anyway.

I doubt 3 would be able to end that legally - since our original contract had those terms included... at the very least it'd be very embarrassing public relations wise. They could legally stop the offer for new customers though.

Just like how I'm still getting monthly extra credit as a reward scheme (this scheme was phased out a few years ago). Basically every time I top up by 15 euro I get 3 euro extra

Pyro Boy

I'm on the same call plan... that's what i was worried about 3 taking them away or being forced to change to a new call plan.:eek: Would they get rid of the good reputation of meteor and logo ... most people would move to some other network, here's hoping that meteor don't sell

Tar.Aldarion

Better keep these free calls and texts, save me thousands.

Random

If 3 were to purchase Meteor I'd have to take a serious long luck at moving back to O2 for my primary calls.

I could not stand dealing with 3 for customer service, or any kind of serious service based on my experience with their broadband and prepay.

Competition is good, Meteor don't need 3G!

Who knows though ...

Sam Vimes

who said yes and why?

Random

Commander Vimes wrote: »

who said yes and why?

I assume those who want 3G.

_Kaiser_

Yep.. 3G is only useful if you have a phone with a massive screen - like an iPhone for example. Even then, the cost of using it on a regular basis (unless via wireless) is prohibatively expensive.

I pay €50 a month to Meteor for free calls and texts (for life) and get 300 any network minutes on top of that. Saves me a fortune! Is there not some clause in the terms though that says they can change the package/price as they want, as long as they advise you in advance though? (There normally is)

Random

I believe the clause states they can do what they like but if it's disavantageous (spelling?) to you then you have the right to cancel the contract.

i.e. you can't force them to keep offering that deal, but they can't offer you something worse.

Sam Vimes

random wrote: »

I assume those who want 3G.

well in that case they should join 3 if they want to put up with thrindia

Random

Commander Vimes wrote: »

well in that case they should join 3 if they want to put up with thrindia

This is true. Or O2 could offer free calls & texts and solve all problems in one

gurramok

A takeover will have to get past the regulator also. Funny thing is Meteor is actually the most profitable arm of Eircom, i'd be surprised if they let it go.

1huge1

prendy wrote: »

i think alot of people switched to meteor just because of price and price alone...if 3 puts the price back up then il be switching back to vodafone for sure!

I've never considered 3 expensive, some great deals, especially there bill pay options, and on 3pay 5c texts to ANY network all the time and you dont have to top up by a minimum of whatever a month.

while I doubt this deal would affect me too much because im already with 3 though would get free calls to a lot more people.

It would be a lot worse if vodafone or O2 bought meteor though, they already have too much market share each.

_Kaiser_

How much market share have 3 actually got anyway? I only know ONE person who's with them.

The network that offers free txts to all networks first will clean up I reckon.

Sam Vimes

Mr.S wrote: »

o2 have that for weekends only. im sure its only a matter of time before meteor offers free texts to all networks.

i don't see that happening tbh. they'd make a big loss on it because they have to pay the other network for each text

1huge1

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

How much market share have 3 actually got anyway? I only know ONE person who's with them.

The network that offers free txts to all networks first will clean up I reckon.

Id say closing in on around 4-5% largely helped by the skype phone

Also likes vimes said competition has done loads but can't see any network offering free texts to all networks.

foggy_lad

1huge1 wrote: »

Id say closing in on around 4-5% largely helped by the skype phone

Also likes vimes said competition has done loads but can't see any network offering free texts to all networks.

how many people are actually happy with three though and how many problems are just dealt with by customers throwing the phone away or doing without the service rather than ring india? so three may have many handsets in circulation but how many of them are in regular use??

Sam Vimes

foggy_lad wrote: »

how many people are actually happy with three though and how many problems are just dealt with by customers throwing the phone away or doing without the service rather than ring india? so three may have many handsets in circulation but how many of them are in regular use??

this is a good point considering ireland has >100% mobile penetration

Solair

I can't see a single operator being allowed to hold two 3G licences at the same time though. Meteor has a 3G licence and is about to roll out 3G services, the cells are already on air, they're just not open to users yet.

Comreg would more than likely force 3 to sell their existing network licence if they were to purchase Meteor.

Honestly though, I can't see 3 picking them up. It's more likely some bigger EU telco would jump in like T-Mobile or Orange.

neilled

Three buying meteor and then changing tarrifs to ones that would be at disadvantage would certainly be advantageous to customers who had taken out contracts or renewed them and taken high end handsets.

They'd be able to terminate contracts without penalty and keep the handsets.

chrislad

I really don't see this happening.

cast_iron

Most likely, just like when Eircom purchased Meteor, very little change for the average Meteor customer.

Walkman

Looking forward to seeing what they offer in the line of 3g services when they finally launch. Was with them years ago but could be swayed to move back when they launch 3g.

Rory B

I really cannot see 3 buying them, I don't think Comreg would allow it, lack of competition etc.., the only interest three have is that meteor are currently rolling out a wcdma/hsdpa network launching later in the year, 3 are probably scared they will lose most of there subcriber base when Digiweb (another 3G net) launches later in the year also.

FergalBoards.ie

Meteor do have a wonderfully friendly sounding help staff.

I don't want some eejit supervisor trying to figure out who I am and persecuting some staff member or marking my account for "special attention", so what I am about to say will be necessarily vague.

I have contacted Meteor over the last year on four issues:

Issue number one, no one had a clue what I was talking about when I quoted verbatim from their website. Refused to believe that such a thing existed, even though I was quoting from their material!

Issue number two, no one could help. They referred me to a shop. The shop called the helpline. Issue eventually resolved by paying someone competent to do it for me. But I should have been able to get help from Meteor.

Issue number three. Was told they were aware of the issue. Was told someone would call me back. Several days later I followed up. The operative I spoke to apologized for no one getting back to me, because my case had been marked "resolved". As I have a Voda a/c too, I just use Voda for this particular issue now. I couldn't be bothered waiting for them to do their job and figuring out who to blame.

Issue number four. Was told I would have to wait upto 10 days to get it solved. When I complained that this was too long, they did admittedly get back to me in 2 days. Too late, I already solved it by using the internet.

Meteor aren't a bad company as phone companies go...it's just they're all useless. Whether they are based in India or not, if you have a difficulty you'd better not count on them to solve it for you.

Meteor's policy to 3G so far has been a twin track approach of promising great things in the future while at the same time hoping that it will all go away. It's not realistic. That's why I say 3 will be an improvement. You can't not have 3G in an urban environment. The networks just get too crowded.

skywalker

prendy wrote: »

i think alot of people switched to meteor just because of price and price alone...if 3 puts the price back up then il be switching back to vodafone for sure!

Ditto. Meteor is great on price, very poor on handsets though.

neilled

foggy_lad wrote: »

how many people are actually happy with three though and how many problems are just dealt with by customers throwing the phone away or doing without the service rather than ring india? so three may have many handsets in circulation but how many of them are in regular use??

I actually am happy with three, I know what I'm doing and can solve most problems in store. Yes I agknowledge that its frustrating dealing with their "customer support" but for my pattern of usage then they offer by far the best deal.

I've given up on somethings like getting fring to work on their mobile broadband but I just carry a skypephone with me these days. I only paid around 60 euro for it so i don't mind.

The next dilema for me is what to do regarding an upgrade. Based on what they have on the UK network theres nothing coming out that I'll be interested in. Thinking Sonyericsson P1i or a T650i. I'll take an upgrade off them latter in the year and sell it.

jimmycrackcorm

I'd like to see Threes mobile data packages merged with Meteors customer service.

brendanuk

How do Three's compare with meteors data add-ons?

Meteor
Data Add-On Unlimited Unlimited * € 30.00
Data Add-On 250MB 250 € 9.99

* Fair Use Policy applies. See T&C's

Just had a look

Three
http://www.three.ie/priceplans/addons.htm
Data Add-On Unlimited Unlimited € 19.99
Data Add-On 250MB 250 € 9.99
Data Add-On 100MB 100 € 5.99

02
http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Personal/Price+plans/Pay+monthly/Add+ons
Mobile web €5 per MB €5.00 per month
10GB €30.00

Vodafone
http://www.vodafone.ie/planscosts/paymonthly/addons/
500 MB per month €9.99

If 3 purchased Meteor I'd be back to Vodafone in an instant.

Walkman

would it be possible fro 3 to take away the free texts. Is this not what people have joined meteor for??
Are they even gonna buy them??

1huge1

Walkman wrote: »

would it be possible fro 3 to take away the free texts. Is this not what people have joined meteor for??
Are they even gonna buy them??

Doubtful, there lifetime as far as I know

chrislad

Commander Vimes wrote: »

i don't see that happening tbh. they'd make a big loss on it because they have to pay the other network for each text

I guarantee we will see Free Texts to all networks. Sooner than you think too.

Jeapy

Whatever happens, I'd NEVER go back to Vodafone! Iandian Customer Services would probably more efficient!

Sam Vimes

chrislad wrote: »

I guarantee we will see Free Texts to all networks. Sooner than you think too.

your points are intriguing to me and i would like to subscribe to your newsletter. but seriously, do you have any more details on that?

petals

That's crap I want to keep my free texts thanks very much!

jesus_thats_gre

If Metoer are in fact taken over, the free texts will not be removed.. It is responsible for Meteor really making in roads and this was reflected by the fact that Vodafone introducing a similar offer..

skywalker

1huge1 wrote: »

Doubtful, there lifetime as far as I know

Id imagine if they rebranded that might get around the for life clause though wouldnt it? You wouldnt be with meteor then.

Sam Vimes

Commander Vimes wrote: »

your points are intriguing to me and i would like to subscribe to your newsletter. but seriously, do you have any more details on that?

looks like we didn't have to wait that long to find out

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055228201

1huge1

skywalker wrote: »

Id imagine if they rebranded that might get around the for life clause though wouldnt it? You wouldnt be with meteor then.

But id imagine they'd lose a hell of a lot of customers very fast if that happened, vodafone or O2 would offer the deal and 3 would lose all those customers, so basically I can'y see them losing there free texts
the problem 3 would have would be offering the same deal to their current customers (we dont want to be left out)
of course this is all just speculation, we have no idea who is going to buy meteor really. Denis O Brian could make a return

chrislad

Commander Vimes wrote: »

looks like we didn't have to wait that long to find out

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055228201

It's a good offer. Found out about it a couple of days ago. Can't wait to see what Meteor do to come up against it. Other off network calls are expensive at 49c though.

Moriarty

Rory B wrote: »

3 are probably scared they will lose most of there subcriber base when Digiweb (another 3G net) launches later in the year also.

4G.