Should I go for O2 or Orange to call internationally from my X-network minutes?

thor

I'll be looking for a new contract phone in June and was hoping to get an O2 one so that I could use the x-network minutes internationally. Since O2 announced that they are now going to charge 25p/min for 07744 numbers this has changed my plans somewhat. However from June onwards will O2 still include 0845 & 0870 numbers as x-network(if they ever did that is)? Because if that is the case then I will be able to use the likes of telestunt and dialwaise for this purpose won't I? I was wondering how this would work, for example let's say I had 100 x-network minutes and used one of these low callrate compnies to call overseas at a 5p/min rate and talked for 10 minutes. I then used another company which charged 10p/min and also talked for 10 minutes. Will the cost of the calls be independant of the call rate and depend solely on the time. This would mean that I would use up 10 minutes of x-network time for both calls. It does not seem right because there would be no advantage(to Os users at least) of using simplyfone when I had got the impression from this forum that they were a good deal.
Another network I have been thinking about is Orange. I think that they currently allow 07744 numbers to be included as x-network but have disallowed it at least once. If I went with them and they pulled the plug on including 07744 will I be able to fall back on using 087X numbers like I believe I could do with O2?
Man, I hate having to 2nd guess these networks!!!!

redux

There are plenty of providers with 0844 numbers - this should give you about 150 landline and mobile destinations from O2. 07744 providers vary in their range of destinations - Simply-Fone has a fairly similar list to 0844 numbers, but others have a wider range of for example European mobiles. Who knows what Orange will do? - but they don't include 0870 and 0844 in inclusive minutes

olykun

I'm having the same dilemma. Orange, 02, and Voda all have free 12 month with xnet mins at the moment. I would prefer not to spend even an extra couple of pence per minute, just call internationally for free. Which one should I go for?

virgo17

thor wrote:

If I went with them and they pulled the plug on including 07744 will I be able to fall back on using 087X numbers like I believe I could do with O2?

Somebody just reported in another forum that O2 are about to remove 07744 and 07755 numbers from their inclusive minutes. It was in a Usenet group so I can't give you a direct link.

Might be better to check this one out before picking O2.

V.

rabialiones

olykun wrote:

I'm having the same dilemma. Orange, 02, and Voda all have free 12 month with xnet mins at the moment. I would prefer not to spend even an extra couple of pence per minute, just call internationally for free. Which one should I go for?

would u b kind enuf to post details of free 12month withxnet minute deals.
thanks!

digp

Is This True And If So From When Are They Going To Charge For 07744 Numbers? When Did They Announce It And How?

virgo17

digp wrote:

Is This True And If So From When Are They Going To Charge For 07744 Numbers? When Did They Announce It And How?

YES it is true. If you would like confirmation of my previous posting then check out this URL:-

http://shop.o2.co.uk/shop/o2uk/jsp/tariffs/TariffSmallPrint.jsp?tariffProdId=consumer:Q3:05:O2:online:50:basic:Texter:18M:mms


In the 11th bullet point you will see the reference to 07744 and 07755 calls being outwith of inclusive minutes from 1st June, and that they will be charged at 25p/minute at all times. This applies to both 'on-line' and 'high street' tariffs.


V.

digp

ah but what is not clear is is it new customers or all customers including existing customers if the latter then the change entitles one to reject the contract ?

virgo17

digp wrote:

ah but what is not clear is is it new customers or all customers including existing customers if the latter then the change entitles one to reject the contract ?

I spoke to O2 customer services a short time ago and they said it was all customers. Maybe others could ring them and see if we can get a 'best of 3' response.

V.

Alltheloginsaretakenappar

olykun wrote:

I'm having the same dilemma. Orange, 02, and Voda all have free 12 month with xnet mins at the moment. I would prefer not to spend even an extra couple of pence per minute, just call internationally for free. Which one should I go for?

Definitely not vodaphone - if you can't use the free minutes then o2 and orange are cheaper than vodaphone for international calls (at least this was true a month ago when I was looking for a new contract for my Dad)

littlemisscheap

No issue - O2 wins hands down - why? well its the 0870,0844,0845 - these numbers will start to cover even more destinations as call costs fall further still. If they don't you still win as the number of destinations already covered is phenomenal even just to call Customer Services helplines and not worry about how long you are on hold etc and nationally.