Three mobile using samsung galaxy tab 2 7.0

rocky559

I thought that I should make everyone aware of the following experience which I have had with Three mobile.

1) I purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 8Gb 3G & WiFi. For those that are not aware this comes out of the box with the facility to make and recieve calls, text and internet browsing.

2) I chose the Three netword due to price and inclusive minutes on a SIM only rolling month contract.

3) Prior to taking out this contract and purchasing the phone I checked with the Nottingham store that this SIM would be suitable with this phone which they stated it would be. I was sure it was as a friend uses the same phone on the same network.

4) For 2 months all has been fine and rosy without issue and I was happy with the service. Calls, text and browse the internet/app use without issue.

5) Last Saturday the internet was blocked by Three, therefore disabling its use. Several calls to the service centre and 3 different answers to why this service was no longer on, basically two of the call centre workers blamed my phone for being faulty.
Usual things, changed SIM for a non Three in the phone and all worked fine, put another three sim in the phone and again no internet.

6) Finally managed to go into a shop, when I explained the problem they were confused and said that if I had come into that shop then they would sell me a SIM only phone sim on the same contract I have as its able tomake and recieve calls straight out of the box. The call centre they spoke to stated that because Samsung have classified this as a TABLET they will not allow a mobile SIM to be used in the device.Even though it has a standard size sim slot x1.
I would have to buy a internet sim which does not have the ability to call/text! so rendering my PHONE useless for calls etc.

As its a rolling contract on a month by month basis and Three will not compramise (although its a phone, TABLETS do not have the ability to make or recieve calls in traditional way) I have cancelled the contract giving 30 days notice.
However, Three will not now reduce the tarriff amount when I spoke to their call centre. I am paying for a service which I took out in good faith after confirming this with their shop staff.
I am paying for calls, text and internet and they refuse to allow internet access but are still charging me this for the remainder of the 30 days! Is this fair? Paying for a service that they will not provide through no fault of mine.

Sorry this is now a rant......very upset regarding the matter. There has been mis information from Three throughout and poor customer service.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Three and can offer advice? Are you using a Galaxy Tab 2 on the Three network?? Help what are my consumer rights?
Technically, do you use more data on a tablet that say a Galaxy S3?

spannerzone

What puzzles me is how did Three determine your device was a 3G capable tablet rather than a smartphone? did you ever list your phone as a 7" Tab2 when signing up for the sim contract?

I've got the 10.1" tab2 but only use it with a Three preloaded 1Gb/month data SIM although I have made a few test calls on it with a valid voice capable SIM.

These 3G tablets do fall into a sort of grey area as they're sold as being a phone primarily but does it matter? I guess that Three consider that a tablet will be likely to use a lot more 3G data as it's bigger and more usable for longer periods than say a smaller smartphone.

Neil49

In section 3 you make reference to it being a phone, but it isn't, even though it has the capabilities to make calls etc.

It sounds as if you have purchased a phone sim card but are primarily using for data. If the contract doesn't permit data tethering then it would appear that 3 have detected you are using the sim outside of the terms of the contract and have blocked data use.

Just because Samsung have made a tablet that can be used as a phone doesn't mean that all phone type contracts can be used on it.

spannerzone

But the 3G Samsung Tab2's aren't tethering when you use the cellular 3G data capability, they're using 3G data exactly like any other smart phone would do.... the Tab2 3G are virtually identical to a smaller Android phone, there's nothing to differentiate except it's called a Tablet rather than a phone.

I think these slighly niche versions of tablet fall in between data tariff or smartphone tariffs as far as mobile networks are concerned. I can't see any technical difference between them other than they might assume you'll use more data as it's a larger more comfortable sized device so you'll use more data on it?

banger9365

You could say the same has a NOTE 2
PhoneTablet
TAB2 is only a few inch bigger if that

rocky559

I entered a contract for a phone contract rather than a data only contract as i use the device as a phone, calls texts etc. I also use it to surf and use apps just like any other smartphone user. Hence, i went for the all you can eat data package, so data allowance should not really be an issue.
In reguards to the device,consumer it does sit in a grey area, it makes calls texts, data usage as standard from the box. Therefore there is nothing wrong in using a mobile sim

Apparently, a mobile provider can tell what device is being used as data is exchanged both ways, however i was very transparent with the sales assistant when i got the sim .
If three refuse to allow this device on their network then why should the consumer spend the £100 for the 3g version.

Dream_Machine

rocky559 wrote: »

I entered a contract for a phone contract rather than a data only contract as i use the device as a phone, calls texts etc. I also use it to surf and use apps just like any other smartphone user. Hence, i went for the all you can eat data package, so data allowance should not really be an issue.
In reguards to the device,consumer it does sit in a grey area, it makes calls texts, data usage as standard from the box. Therefore there is nothing wrong in using a mobile sim

Apparently, a mobile provider can tell what device is being used as data is exchanged both ways, however i was very transparent with the sales assistant when i got the sim .
If three refuse to allow this device on their network then why should the consumer spend the £100 for the 3g version.

I have had exactly the same experience - it worked fine on internet & calls for 2 just days - then they blocked the Internet part leaving me with just calls / texts.
I went back to the 3 store they could not sort it & when they phoned up 3 were told it's a 'Tablet' NOT a 'Smart phone' we don't cater for Tablets with calls !
I then spent almost an hour on the phone myself to 3 and no matter who I got passed too they all stated the same & would not come up with any alternative Tariff to solve it.

So I thought I'd try Virgin Mobile as I have their TV / Home Broadband & 2 ordinary Mobiles (calls only Tariff) with them..

RESULT - I explained my experience with 3 & the telesales Guy said no problem they could change my Tariff on one of the phone Sims to a new Tariff = 2500 minutes calls + unlimited Texts + unlimited Internet for just £15 on a rolling Monthly Contract........! !

Just had to swap the Sim from the old phone into the Galaxy Tablet and within 2 minutes it was all up & running.
That's Internet + Email + Phone Calls + Texts .......... and the signal is even vastly superior to what I was getting in the old Phone.

Virgin uses the T-Mobile network which now includes the Orange network - so coverage is pretty dam good too.

So I suggest you give them a try even if you're not an existing Virgin customer.

vooper

I thought I was going crazy until I stumbled across this post. I have a 3 Mobile phone sim card on a contract. It has worked fine in an unlocked 7 inch tablet device (which can take a sim card and make calls and download data over mobile network - basically a larger format smartphone - just like the Galaxy Tab is) that i have had for 2 years.
The device is showing signs of age though so I bought myself a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. Everything worked fine - can access internet over wireless, can make voice calls BUT the device refused to access internet using trhe mobile network. I can take the sim card out and put it back into my old device and get tothe internet over the mobile network fine. But as soon as I put the sim card back into the Samsung Galaxy Tab and switch off wireless, internet is not accessible and I get redirected to a Three Mobile webpage which seems to be trying to tell me that I'm using the wrong type of sim card for what I'm trying to do.
Thank God for this post or I may have spent hours trying to figure out what the hell is happening.
So now it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Tab is going to have to be returned (which is a real shame as it is an incredible device for the price you can pick one up for these days). And when my 3 mobile contract expires you can bet I won't be renewing. All I can say is that if you are considering buying a 3 Mobile sim card be aware of their rather odd policies and your sim card will not necessarily work in ANY unlocked 3G device.

MillicentBystander

Imo Three are targeting 'tetherers' so aggressively because they want everyone on their £25/mth One Plan. I'm sure that's where the real profit is.