O2 or Vodafone?

124124

Boardies,

Lately my mobile phone is acting up (just old age, it served well, alright) and I am thinking of getting a new one. Its been a while and I need to catch up with the technology as well (presently I use Nokia 8210), something with a digital camera etc.

I was browsing for a good deal, but then this important question came up - which network is better? O2 or Vodafone?

Any thoughts?

oneweb

Last time I checked, O2 were better value (O2 cheaper than Vodafone to call a landline too)

Plus, O2 don't do 'tests' on ppls phones...

Stephen

Tests? What do you mean by this?

Tusky

shouldnt this be for the wireless boards ? anywho id go 02... im with vodafone and they suck.....stuff !

RED HORN

Go 02.

No reason

Lucifer

i was with vodafone, but recently changed to o2. much better value and service.

ballooba

O2 for the last 3 years and I've never had any serious problems with them.

oneweb

Originally posted by Stephen
Tests? What do you mean by this?

By this i mean that

Bottle_of_Smoke

Don't think this affects you but just in case you're getting a prepay phone bear in mind o2 insist on telling you how much credit you have once you're under €3, it's really f*cking annoying!

Seraphina

plus O2 dont charge you 40c for the privellege of purchasing credit from them

Spunog UIE

meteor!!!!

kaimera

Originally posted by Gideon
meteor!!!!

I'm guessing he actually wants a signal somewhere in the country!

O2 all the way.

Vodafone sponsor Utd.
One VERY good reason NOT to go with them.
Makes sense why they charge the extera 40c per top-up

mooman_00

o2 been with them for 5 years, back in the good old irl digiphone days, and thay have always been and still are the best network....

oh and bottle of smoke in case you dont know if you press any button on your keypad during the balance message it cuts off nd carries on with your call

John2002

Originally posted by Bottle_of_Smoke
Don't think this affects you but just in case you're getting a prepay phone bear in mind o2 insist on telling you how much credit you have once you're under €3, it's really f*cking annoying!

That is annoying, but you can just press * and it stops it dead.

124124

Many thanks to you all for your suggestions and comments!

I myself never had any problem with O2 (then digifone) in last 2.5 years (speakeasy - pay as you go) connection. No test calls, no nonsense. Wanna use it? Then pay for it! Fare enough.

But, as I live in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, and drive around this remote wild west of Ireland, occasionally the connection drops out - for example, Paddys weekend in Leenane (in Co. Galway, between Galway & Westport) my O2 phone was totally dead for the whole day, where as my mate's vodafone was working well!

Well, meteor - I thought it's just for Dublin City Centre!!!

Happy talking to you all!

seamus

Originally posted by Seraphina
plus O2 dont charge you 40c for the privellege of purchasing credit from them

Either do Vodafone. If you're paying an extra 40c on top of your credit, then you're buying in the wrong shop. Buy credit online or at an atm and you get 10% free.

Vodafone have better coverage, but O2 seem to be cheaper, which is really the area to be better at in these times

Mutz

Originally posted by 124124
....
Well, meteor - I thought it's just for Dublin City Centre!!!
....

Actually, Meteor have Excellent Reception all Over Castlebar. Give their Customer Care a Call and See if Your Area is Covered. As for Lenane, I'm not sure (Probably not because of low population density, but I'm sure they will in future). They are giving out Free Sim cards at the moment so you have nothing to lose by getting one.

Tom Dunne

Speaking from bad experience, I would not go with Vodafone. They cut me off last year on the presumption I would not pay (long story - the phone was used outside the country, there's a thread on it here somewhere). Now that i have converted back to Ready to Go, I had a problem and have been trying since the weekend to speak to somebody. Not a chance. An hour and a half waiting, without success.

As soon as they implement this new thingy that allows us to keep our 087 number while being on another network, I'm jumping ship.

Mutz

Originally posted by tom dunne
....
As soon as they implement this new thingy that allows us to keep our 087 number while being on another network, I'm jumping ship.

You can Do this with meteor, but just change the prefix to 085 - short term Solution to your problem.

Rebel18

My recommendaton would be o2 for their exellent customer service and value for money. I was previously with meteor but I quickly changed beck to o2 because I dont have a credit card when I need to go roaming this summer.

Ste.phen

My main problem with O2 is their extremely dodgy practice of charging for unsent messages, undelivered messages, and the habit of its SMSC responding 'message sending failed', sending the message anyway, charging me, (not returning a delivery report), and prompting me to resend the message.

I think i got a bit confused there, but you get the general idea i'm sure.

dastards.....

carrotcake

i don't get that. are you on bill or pay as you go?

Ste.phen

Pay as you go.

The basic sequence, for me, is:

1) type a message
2) hit send
3) phone says 'sending' for a while, then goes 'message sending failed'
4) I resend message
5) (repeat steps 3 and 4 a few times)
6) person texts me telling me to stop sending that message so many times (sometimes it takes hours for the 'extra' messages to get through)
7) I'm charged for all the times i was told the message couldnt be sent.

I've anecdotal evidence that this is very widespread on O2 speakeasy.

Not handset related either, I've had this problem over 2 number, and on a Nokia 3310, 6210, 7650, and an ericsson T68i.

Called them about it once or twice, they usually rfund a couple of cent, and tell me not to try resending the messages when the 'failed' message appears.
(This is no use when the message ACTUALLY fails though).

Winters

I have never had that problem with o2. Ive been o2 for over 3 years, or is it 4 now and have never really had any problems with them. 500 free text messages to oto ANY number ... none of that 30 messages to only 087 numbers crap with Voda-my-phone.

carrotcake

strange. i get that the odd time too, but quite rarely (i'm on bill). i've got delivery reports enabled tho, and if the message is sent, even when the phone says that it failed, i'll get the report saying it's gotten through

Ste.phen

I dunno, maybe my phone(s) done display delivery reports for messages they don't have recorded as 'sent but pending'.

I was just ranting really

donaloconnor

o2 can leave u down at time a lot with text messages but I must say I still rather them over vodafone

suppafly

Yeah go 02, they're the best. Cheap and you get all of that online stuff too. The 500 free web texts r well handy. they also have that group text thing which is cool too and they give u every 3 one free or something like that. It well handy if yur changing numbers cuz u can just put all yur numbers and there and then sent it out to all yurs bds yur new number. As for Meteor, they're fair bad!! I got one of the free ones with an AIB account and it was terrible. The siemens c35 and meteor really don't mix well!! The phone was ****za!! and then the coverage was really bad to!! Like one phonecall on it and the battery dies!

donaloconnor

Originally posted by suppafly
Yeah go 02, they're the best. Cheap and you get all of that online stuff too. The 500 free web texts r well handy. they also have that group text thing which is cool too and they give u every 3 one free or something like that. It well handy if yur changing numbers cuz u can just put all yur numbers and there and then sent it out to all yurs bds yur new number. As for Meteor, they're fair bad!! I got one of the free ones with an AIB account and it was terrible. The siemens c35 and meteor really don't mix well!! The phone was ****za!! and then the coverage was really bad to!! Like one phonecall on it and the battery dies!

500 Ad free if u go here http://www.kerrypages.com/text

Press insert and start typing then click send login to o2, once loged in click back till u get to the text page again and click send. Tdaaa

124124

I myself never had any problems with messaging in 02. (Pay as you go, 2.5 years).

That 500 free webtext is quite handy. All my friends are complaining about the money spend replying to my endless stream of texts though!

carrotcake

Originally posted by donaloconnor
500 Ad free if u go here http://www.kerrypages.com/text

Press insert and start typing then click send login to o2, once loged in click back till u get to the text page again and click send. Tdaaa

nice one for that. people won't think i'm a cheap b*stard anymore!

donaloconnor

Originally posted by carrotcake
nice one for that. people won't think i'm a cheap b*stard anymore!

Exactly what it was designed for

Lorax

Meteor !!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.meteor.ie/

LFCFan

I was with Digifone. Crap Customer Service, crap coverage half the time. Refused to do me a decent upgrade deal so went to Vodafone. We bit more expensive but I get call a friend for free minutes which is really good. So far Customer Service has been way ahead of o2. I guess everyone has their own tales to tell about all 3 operators.

DMC

I've sampled both Digifone/O2 and Eircell/Vodafone, and in the whole, Vodafone rocks.

I was with Digifone originally, as they had middling coverage back home, whereas Eircell didnt. So that was fine in Dublin, but far from ideal back in North Co. Meath. That was fine for 3 years, then Eircell improved that other people around home dumped their Speakeasys for Ready to Go like a hot spud. Shortly after that, I joined Eircell and have never looked back. Perfect reception almost everywhere. I feel O2 are very patchy off the main roads, whereas Vodafone's coverage is excellent.

Emmo

Well both o2 and Vodafone both have the same population and Geographical coverage. Hence the adds saying "best coverage in Ireland"

The two operators both are very competitive in pricing with o2 being better for ringing the competition than vice versa.

The only way to tell the two apart is the customer service which o2 have won best in practice for 3 years runninng.

FMNP will be release on in late July.

Emmo

jesus_thats_gre

Realistically both are the same! I have had 4 different 02 accounts and 3 vodafone numbers and 2 meteor numbers, both prepaid and pay monthly.

I have had bad experiences with all of them! The best way to decide is to narrow down what type of calls you make most frequently!! If you send loads of text messages, use Meteor!

Villain

Didn't realise until the other day I can text ANY MOBILE PHONE IN THE WORLD for free from o2.ie when you are registered online.

You get 500 messages a month, only useful if your on the net a lot but most people in work are now.

I text a scotland number a lot it costs 25 cent per message with vodafone, so say i sent 50 - 100 messages a month that adds up quite quickly!!!

Just thought I'd let you know

flywheel

at the moment for personal use i'd use vodafone mainly for voice (due to their friends for free number as I'd be calling another 087 no. a lot). i'd use o2 mainly for (gprs) data as their range of packages work out a lot cheaper than vodafone's single option

on the customer service side - on the whole i find o2 better than vodafone

on quality/reception - don't find much of a difference (located mostly in dublin)

BrianG

jesus_thats_gre

If you are a massive user it is important to analyse both companies monthly options in alot of detail against an average phone bill that you get. If you barely use the phone its makes feck all difference. As for customer service wise, I find O2's friendlier but just a little bit less up to speed.

Vodafone are definetly ahead of O2 when it comes to launching new services and standards. They have pulled of a number of firsts in this country and Europe (WAP, HSCSD, GPRS, MMS......) including the new 3G network that is currently in operation. O2 tend to wait for Vodafone to do something and then launch a few months later (they tend to learn from Vodafone's mistakes and not make them however). The perfect example was when Eircell launched the E-Merge site, it took a few months for then Esat to develop DOL.ie, and make it more appealing with 500 free messages a month. Another was when Vodafone annouched free picture messaging just before Christmas, O2 later responed to that by doing the same. Now they are copying the Vodafone Live menu with the O2 Active service. Dont mean to sound petty, but there is consistent evidence of this occuring.

So if you want cutting edge, Vodafone is the best option. Mind you I am a geek and work for Vodafone's tech support team. Mind you, I do hate working there!!!!

Emmo

Hmmmmm

Is it about who does it first or who does it best?

I dont know if I want a service that is patchy and lacklustre when I can get a more complete service at a more resonanble price when better handsets become available.

Its all about cost vs speed vs quality


Getting a balance of all three is the key. Vodafone might get it there with more speed but with less quality and more cost.

o2 tend to deliver a great product at the right price a little slower which I belive is the RIGHT time.

Emmo

flywheel

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
So if you want cutting edge, Vodafone is the best option. Mind you I am a geek and work for Vodafone's tech support team. Mind you, I do hate working there!!!!

Vodafone tend to get their press releases out 'first'

on consumer accounts here I was able to send MMS on O2 before I could on Vodafone (who launced Live here a few days later) and I was able to use full Interent GPRS on O2 before I could on Vodafone (who only limited the service to WAP for months before allowing full internet access) - and when they did you paid thought the nose for the privlidge (compard to O2s GPRS price plans)

you left out WiFi access points which O2 have rolled out (Vodafone dont yet offer offer them)

so if by firsts you mean Vodafone announced them first - sure - but the ability of consumers to use them has, in some cases, put them second

atb,
BrianG

jesus_thats_gre

Wi-Fi hotspots are a valid point, but this is not the business that Vodafone or O2 are in. In my opinion, O2 have launched this with the help of Esat BT who have also introduced the service (coincidently around the exact same time i think). Mind you, Vodafone are introducing such a service soon, I personally dont see the point in Wi-Fi hotspots unless it is tied in with a companies main data products such as GPRS. The ability to patch up areas without hotspots with GPRS while roaming between WiFi hotspots through GPRS cells. O2 dont offer this, I am thinking Vodafone will but I cant confirm this.

Also, O2's hotspots are still in short supply, there is no point juust offering them in poxy hotels or some fancy apartments in South Co. Dublin.

Regarding all other service you mention, specifically GPRS. The network was the first to be implemented and if officially the first network with a GPRS session carried over it. Mind you I coul dbe a bit off but sure who cares anyway.

O2 and Vodafone are essentially the same, I would be inclined to go with Vodafone because of the fact that they have 100+ millions customer worldwide and worldwide they seem to be so much more organised that O2. Some of the projects they have introduced recently and are in development of now seem very promising to say the least. The recent Instand Messaging service they lauched is very impressive, its possible to use the service using a PC client, Web client, WAP and SMS. Very useful indeed

Also, Eircell still have not been completely Vodafonafied as there is stil alot of changes taking place in the company since the take over. For calls etc.. Vodafone are the best value while O2 offer very competitive GPRS charges. I would be more inclined to use HSCSD over GPRS for browsing the web anyway as it is still faster and is far far cheaper than any GPRS service.

Regarding O2's charging for GPRS, when they initially launched their pricing for GPRS there was "uproar" in Vodafone, the general concensus is that O2 are selling GPRS services at a fair loss (fair played to them, but how long is that practical from a business point of view).

There is also talk that Vodafone are to drop the price of their GPRS and MMS services soon (rumours).

flywheel

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
Wi-Fi hotspots are a valid point, but this is not the business that Vodafone or O2 are in.

i've had conversations with some T-Mobile US people who'd disagree (wholeheartedly) with you

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
Also, O2's hotspots are still in short supply, there is no point juust offering them in poxy hotels or some fancy apartments in South Co. Dublin.

everything has to start somewhere... i thought i read on the boards Vodafone's 3G network (with it's fan-fare press launch) only has a handful of handsets running on it...

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre

Also, Eircell still have not been completely Vodafonafied as there is stil alot of changes taking place in the company since the take over. For calls etc.. Vodafone are the best value while O2 offer very competitive GPRS charges..

and not all for the good, an example of how a wider group policy affects individual territories is the rollout of the Mobile Connect Card - not a great fit for this country - as it isn't a multi-mode data card, only GPRS, leaving HSCSD out in the cold...

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
I would be more inclined to use HSCSD over GPRS for browsing the web anyway as it is still faster and is far far cheaper than any GPRS service.

that would, as you know, depend what you are doing on the connection, for me it would be the other way around (i.e. GPRS used mostly)

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
Regarding O2's charging for GPRS, when they initially launched their pricing for GPRS there was "uproar" in Vodafone.

i bet there was!! when Vodafone launched theirs, there was "uproar" in here!!

Originally posted by jesus_thats_gre
the general concensus is that O2 are selling GPRS services at a fair loss (fair played to them, but how long is that practical from a business point of view).

maybe while they keep winning new contracts, (i've certainly pointed new customers to them because if it). conversely how long is it practical for Vodafone to charge so much...

although, i'd still like it cheaper, just back from the US where I was using an account with all you could eat GPRS for $30 a month on T-Mobile (it also had the add on of unlimited HotSpot usage for another $30)

atb,
BrianG

Emmo

First of all BT did not help o2 at all with the hotspots. This was something that was rolled out in the offices as part of a "wireless workspace" and it was then felt that o2 should commerically push it.

It was launched in "poxy hotels" because the majority of users will be travelling business people, there will be further roll out to customers who can buy accounts with unlimited usage and not have to use prepaid vouchers. Thats called a bussiness model. Something Vodafone Ireland and Eircell know very little about.

The GPRS and Wireless launch is part of o2 ethos, to be best in practice for mobile data. It all ties in together. We have also had the first 3g network in Europe and the second in the world.

Our GPRS network was ready for 9 months before it launched. Lack of handsets delayed the launch but o2 employees where using the service for email and webaccess for months before Vodafone coined the phrase High-speed.

T-Mobile in the states is a great example. Their bussiness models on the WI-FI and cell-data combo's are excellent.

Emmo

The Corinthian

I would ask that all posters refrain from making inaccurate accusations, remain civil to each other and that this does not become a Punch & Judy show between the operators.

Otherwise, I may well be forced to close this thread and start handing out bans.

jesus_thats_gre

I stand corrected, I obviously dont know as much as I thought I knew. Doh!

sirlinux

Vodafone GPRS service was up over a year before it was launched, i was on one of the so called trials with a nasty motorola GPRS phone, before O2/digifone i believe, I remember a friend who works for O2 getting GPRS a few months after i got the vodafone trial thing. Vodafone cover all the options with HSCSD and GPRS, yes I agree Vodafone GPRS is to expensive, and also HSCSD always gives me a better connection then GPRS on either network. Vodafone works just about anywhere, which is why id go with them.

jesus_thats_gre

If I remember correctly, I was messing around with GPRS two summers ago. I also remember being involved in testing for a six months period of so before that with a poxy motorola thing....

Rorshach

I've spent a number of years with both operators and I'd recommend O2 (my current provider)

Rorshach

Hey Corinthian,

Just to clarify Emmo's comments about who was first with 3G; O2 or Voda:

http://www.manx-telecom.com/mobile/default.asp?id=66