Be Value or O2 Standard?...

Nemo

...or indeed someone else?

I've just requested my MAC from Pipex after being a cutomer or theirs for 7 years. I obviously need to select a new provider now. Pipex recently said they'd up my line speed to the max their checker said it could handle, which was 5.4Mb. I'm only syncing at about 3.2Mb, so unless there's new technology (ADSL2+ etc.) that could get me significantly above 8Mb, I don't think there's any point going for a package above 8Mb. I'm currently capped at 40Gb. Most month's I'm probably under 20Gb, so unlimited isn't a must. I mostly surf, with some Youtube etc. and some P2P. I don't do gaming.

Checking my exchange indicates:-

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Tiscali LLU
Tiscali TV (via Tiscali LLU)
Orange LLU (Formerly Wanadoo)

So questions...

Do 02 and Be use the same network. If so, does that mean that performance would be the same regardless of which one you're with?

The broadband comparisons at thinkbroadband.com put Be ahead of O2 on speed, reliability, and customer service. How are the Bulgarian customer service people at Be?

If O2 was a straightforward £7.50, I'd probably lean towards them, but I don't have an O2 mobile, don't feel the need to get one, and think I'd just find it a bit of a bind keeping it topped up etc. The better Quidco cashback then pulls me back towards them.

Any other thoughts that might help me decide?

Thanks.

cheghead

I have a cunning plan...Have both!

O2 for the 1st 12 months will cost £40 in mobile top-ups for the year. (2 months free and £75 back from topcashback or quidco will cover the cost of broadband). Then switch to Be There after the 12 months.
:beer:

dylanuk

Don't forget that Be's £7.50 package is limited to 40GB, while the O2 standard £7.50 package is unlimited.

Be use foreign call centers, where O2 use only UK call centers. I would say O2 customer service is better, although as with all providers it can come down to who you get through to - but I'd say there's a higher chance of getting someone good at O2.

Be's unlimited broadband packages have a much more lenient fair use policy than O2's.

O2 are rolling out home phone services this Spring - so there is likely to be further discounts in/with/on this if you use a free E&W or anytime call plan at all.

But - all in all - either O2 or Be is likely your best bet to switch to. I don't think it makes a massive difference either way. I've got O2 because I've got an O2 mobile, but I've used Be in the past because they used to be the best for heavy users.

kwikbreaks

> Be's unlimited broadband packages have a much more lenient fair use policy than O2's.

No O2 LLU customers has ever had their collars felt for overuse so that statement is plain wrong. (Not that any Be customer has either). This is not the case with the non-LLU O2 Access product.

boliston

I'm pretty sure BE caters more for the geek/tech market vs O2 which is more mass consumer market. Geeks like to have things like multiple fixed IP, tweak s/n margins, fastpath/interleave etc

MsRed1

boliston wrote: »

Geeks like to have things like multiple fixed IP, tweak s/n margins, fastpath/interleave etc

I'm with Be, not a geek and did tweak my sn margin: high downloads but an unstable line.:rotfl::rotfl:Went back to the default 6dB.

dylanuk

You can get the same 'Pro' package on O2 - with a static IP, higher upload speeds and dedicated customer service - that you can on Be.

In fact, apart from the Value/Standard differences on download limit the packages are pretty much the same.

del1001

dylanuk wrote: »

Don't forget that Be's £7.50 package is limited to 40GB, while the O2 standard £7.50 package is unlimited.
That is quite right, at least as it stands at present.

Be's unlimited broadband packages have a much more lenient fair use policy than O2's.
Not correct, as far as I'm aware no O2 LLU customer has ever been warned about over usage, only their Access (ipstream) customers are restricted.

O2 are rolling out home phone services this Spring - so there is likely to be further discounts in/with/on this if you use a free E&W or anytime call plan at all. Be are also entering the Home Phone market, almost at the same time as O2.

Hope this helps

boliston

dylanuk wrote: »

Don't forget that Be's £7.50 package is limited to 40GB, while the O2 standard £7.50 package is unlimited....

I'm always wary of the phrase "Unlimited" as invariably it is NOT unlimited, and I'm surprised this phrase is still allowed to be used by ISPs.

dylanuk

Any other thoughts that might help me decide?

How about this? http://www.chooseisp.co.uk/broadband-guide/articles/o2-broadband-or-be-broadband-which-is-better.html It's about O2 versus Be.

They don't seem to mention Be's foreign call centers though - I'm pretty sure they are foreign because I had to phone them up once, although it was a couple of years ago now.

Stompa

Having just requested my MAC code I have the same dilemma of choosing between BE Value and O2. AIUI the O2 cashback has now dropped to £50 (QuidCo & Topcashback). My monthly usage has never exceeded 20GB so I think I'm going to opt for BE. I don't have an O2 mobile and I don't think it's worth the hassle of spending £40 on one just to save £60.

One other point, I asked BE what happens if you exceed the 40GB monthly limit. They tell me that if you do so 3 times they switch you to the more expensive unlimited package.