GPRS - why so expensive?

Poolman99

I've had my Sony Ericsson P900 for nearly a year on a Vodafone contract.
I regularly use 200 mins and about 50 texts. That's good cos it's quite a standard number of mins and texts for some good tariffs.

I was thinking of switching to O2 sim only, so I can carry on using my P900 (which I really like) and save about £15-£20 a month. I currently spend £45-£50 a month with Vodafone.

What I just can't understand is why you have to spend £2.50 per Mb of downloaded GPRS. I like to check my hotmail etc regularly during the day at work (it's blocked there), and 1/2 Mb per day is uncommon.

Given my usage (mins, txts and gprs) is there any thing you could suggest as an alternative? Any GPRS friendly deals out there?

Thanks

bbb_uk

As far as i'm aware, no contract (or SIM only) come with WAP/GPRS as part of the inclusive cost of the contract with the exception of o2. I believe o2 comes with 1mb of GPRS. I can't seem to find a link to the prices o2 charge for additional mb outside your tariff.

scheming_gypsy

Orange do GPRS packages

seaniboy

go here for sim only o2(best o2 online deals), includes 1mb gprs
http://www.o2promotions.co.uk/doubletalkdoubletext/?ref=HpBanDoubletext

get the o2 active bundle £4 for 5mb (+ your 1mb contract allowance=6mb)
http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=310,E=0000000000488220979,K=7389,Sxi=0,Case=obj(3253)

if 6mb is not enough add one of these data bundles to your contract
http://www.o2.co.uk/business/tariffs/datatariffs/0,,203,00.html

jf2404

On Vodafone, i get 3mb gprs free each month.

Matt_Nixon

Well since having a new O2 contract, I haven't been charged for any GPRS use

I haven't taken the mickey using only about 5Mb / Month, I'm sure they'll catch up soon!

bbb_uk

jf2404 wrote:

On Vodafone, i get 3mb gprs free each month.

Is that because you work for them? Looking at their website, CPW, The Link, etc inclusive GPRS isn't mentioned for Voda. Although their website does state Browsing Vodafone Live! is free therefore I assume they charge for visiting any wap sites that are not part of Live!

fatboyonadiet

I get free GPRS with Voda (think most people do) but only 2mb, a friend is on O2 but uses his minutes on WAP NOT GPRS and has never been charged, I think you can do this on T-Mob too as when you ring 150 is says total voice and wap minutes are ... ...

jf2404

bbb_uk wrote:

Is that because you work for them? Looking at their website, CPW, The Link, etc inclusive GPRS isn't mentioned for Voda. Although their website does state Browsing Vodafone Live! is free therefore I assume they charge for visiting any wap sites that are not part of Live!

Ex employee, (got sick of all the moaning customers lol).

Least on here i can help and not listen to the moans

carmenes82

I've got a T-mobile tariff which gives me unlimited data for £13.50/month and I don't even get charged for usage when using GPRS abroad. Perhaps worth popping into a T-mobile store and having a chat?

Car.

hydermanpete

Has anyone noticed the Pre-Pay GPRS Options and the costs... Some operators seem reasonable one stands out as being a total rip-off

Virgin Mobile charge 0.5p per Kb therefore £5.00 per Megabyte

o2 Charge £2.35 per Megabyte but you can pay £4.00 for 5 Megabyte each month (They do also give you 5 free Megabytes with each new sim or phone for the first month)

Orange charge £4.00 per Megabyte but you can pay for £4.00 for 4 Megabyte

Vodafone charge 0.1p per Kb for Vodafone Live pages therefore £1.00 per Megabyte or 0.7p per kb or £7.50 per Megabyte

Tesco Mobile charge £4.00 per Megabyte but access is free until the end of May 2005

Let's see who have I omitted - oh yes T-Mobile

T-Mobile charge 2p per Kb thererfore a staggering £20.00 per Megabyte!! what makes it worse is that it is very difficult to find out the actual price with T-Mobile until after you have made a purchase!! One page on the website simply announces "Using T-Zones through GPRS is not expensive" yeh right!!

Most of the GPRS charges are fairly comparable with contract EXCEPT T-Mobile where on contract it is 0.7p per Kb or £7.50 per Megabyte which is still much higher than most