Recommendation for network

Mark_In_Hampshire

Hi

Hoping one of you more knowledgeable lot has some ideas:

We don't make many calls. We don't have a landline since there aren't any companies at our exchange who can supply one competently, there is only BT, plus, we haven't really needed one.

We both have PAYG mobiles which are currently Vodafone.

The signal strength on Vodafone is pants, the line doesn't drop calls, but you do have to repeat yourself frequently.

We also have broadband which is on the Three network and works very well (up to about 5Mb down and 0.5Mb up versus the ADSL we used to have with a landline here which was very slow) so we'd want to keep that speed and Three have been pretty good so far.

However we're starting a second small business from home and I could really do with a Windows Mobile based handset which works natively with MS Exchange and has a Remote Desktop client.

I can't find any of these on PAYG.

Looking at contracts which doesn't seem a bad idea as we'll be making more calls I was attracted to something like the o2 XDA.

However:

- I have to rule out o2 as they only accept payment by direct debit; I have a standing instruction with my Bank never to allow these insecure mandates on my account;

- Preferred method of payment is quarterly via BACS/Faster payment with online billing;

- Since the Three reception (broadband) is good, but Vodafone is poor, I was wondering which networks share which masts as it would be pointless to go for another network which uses the same mast as Vodafone;

- I would be looking for a Business tariff - not to do with cost, but to do with the hope that some customer service exists on business tariffs. Price is not the key.

- I'd anticipate making about 400 mins/month of calls 95% to landlines (presently use Skype over 3G for most of those), and about 20 SMS messages per month.

- 12 month contract is ideal; 18 month at a push, 2 years isn't something I'd consider.

Any recommendations?

Mark

(edit for spelling)

jclegs

Can you get an Orange signal?

lhwjud

How much you prepare to pay each month?

fiendishlyclever

Have you considered buying Sim-free?

My last two Nokia phones have been sim-free and it removes the problems you often get once our mobile networks have mangled the firmware. You can then get a payg or rolling 30-day contract sim to go in it.

Expansys have a good selection of phones including windows mobile phones. It sounds like Three would be a good network from a coverage point of view - and their data costs are pretty reasonable compared to the other networks too.

Mark_In_Hampshire

I don't know if we can get an Orange signal. Nobody with an Orange phone has ever visited

Assuming I'd be prepared to pay, say, £250 for the handset, and I spend maybe £20 a month on calls, data, SMS, over 18 months that's a total of £360 on calls. Add £250 gives £610 total / 18 = about £34.

That's not a hard and fast rule, it costs what it costs, though if I were looking at something mad like £50 per month just for a mobile phone I think I'd drop back to my second choice of IMAP email on a more basic model and be done with it.

I looked for ages for somewhere to buy just the phone - looking at that Expansys site now, thanks - buying the phone only is probably preferable.

jclegs

What about Orange Business Solo £25 - 600mins 100txts and 500mb browsing with a free HTC Touch 3G + £50 quidco? That is if you can get signal at your house.

Sheepster

Well, a quick look at the Orange coverage checker shows Froyle has excellant coverage to most of the village, and good just outside, with patches of sketchy coverage once you really get out into the sticks.

BUT....how much do you trust these coverage maps - that is the question. It looks like you're way in the country, so that's possibly not so bad really. I think most networks struggle away from the cities to some extent, despite what they like to claim.