Payg

Futuristic

d123 wrote: »

FreedomPop works well, but you missed the caveat that it needs a smartphone from Android or Apple to work.

Don't the calls work off the net as well so you need good signal too?

d123

Futuristic wrote: »

Don't the calls work off the net as well so you need good signal too?

You need a 3G or 4G signal, calls work in the same way they would using the inTouch app or TuGo on o2 (or Skype, Whatsapp etc).

If you have a 4G signal it will work with any workable signal (as LTE works differently to 3G). If the signal was that bad to prevent calls over data it's a good chance normal voice calls on 3G would also be breaking up and failing.

System

I tried Freedompop and it's pants -

No number porting.

The android app isn't the greatest, needs to run all the time and texts from it are very slow to reach the recipent.

No 2G backup.

Even if you pay for 'premium voice' that only covers outgoing calls.

Standard voice calls will work ok with 1 bar of 3G coverage but not VOIP calls.

d123 wrote: »

FreedomPop works well, but you missed the caveat that it needs a smartphone from Android or Apple to work.

d123

Heng_Leng wrote: »

I tried Freedompop and it's pants -

No number porting.

They are saying porting is coming soon, so it's being worked on. It's not something that I find an issue as I have no intention of moving my main number to them (though I did get a really good easily memorable number from them).

Heng_Leng wrote: »

The android app isn't the greatest, needs to run all the time and texts from it are very slow to reach the recipent.

I'm using the sim in a Galaxy S5, I find the Android app quite good, it's well integrated when compared to the iOS version which is a little clumsy.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the app needs to run all the time as that is the way calls and texts are routed. That's like being surprised inTouch needs to be running all the time if you want to have calls over wifi.

I haven't seen an issue with texting, I've just tested a few and they all arrive in a comparable time to direct network texts.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

No 2G backup.

Duh, they are a Three MVNO, where did you think that they were going to get a 2G back up from?

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Even if you pay for 'premium voice' that only covers outgoing calls.

I wouldn't know, the normal free calls work fine on my handset.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Standard voice calls will work ok with 1 bar of 3G coverage but not VOIP calls.

I haven't seen any real difference to normal Three calls. Perhaps an issue with your handset not working all that well?

kingrulzuk

My old man is happy with 3
so my vote for Three 3-2-1 payg.

Graham1

This site https://payg-petef.rhcloud.com/ is quite useful to see payg tariffs and which network each virtual operator uses.

SpanishBlue

Talkmobile's new "Happy hour" price plan charges just 10p PER CALL to landlines & mobiles for calls lasting up to an hour.

http://talkmobile.co.uk/help/payg/payg-charges/

System

d123 wrote: »

1. They are saying porting is coming soon, so it's being worked on. It's not something that I find an issue as I have no intention of moving my main number to them (though I did get a really good easily memorable number from them).
2. I'm using the sim in a Galaxy S5, I find the Android app quite good, it's well integrated when compared to the iOS version which is a little clumsy.
3. It shouldn't be a surprise that the app needs to run all the time as that is the way calls and texts are routed. That's like being surprised inTouch needs to be running all the time if you want to have calls over wifi.
4. I haven't seen an issue with texting, I've just tested a few and they all arrive in a comparable time to direct network texts.
5. Duh, they are a Three MVNO, where did you think that they were going to get a 2G back up from?
6. I wouldn't know, the normal free calls work fine on my handset.
7. I haven't seen any real difference to normal Three calls. Perhaps an issue with your handset not working all that well?

1 - They don't port - end of story
2 - Doesn't use the native dialler or sms setup.
3 - It isn't made clear when you apply that it's essentially a mobile
VOIP service using an app IMO
4 - The texts are very slow when I used them.
5 - 3 have voice/text backup (roaming on 2G EE) outside 3G/4G coverage. Freedompop don't even with 'Premium Voice'
6/7 - The voice quality is highly variable using the mobile network, using home Wi-Fi it was fine but the texts were still slow. 'Premium Voice' is ok but only works for outgoing calls and hasn't 2G access.

I wouldn't recommend them as their only/main mobile service.

ThemeOne

The site recommended by SpanishBlue looks really useful.

However, there's so much more to happy mobile use than price I find - particularly in relation to call quality. My impression is if the combination of location, network and handset is not the right one then you can forget about any idea of enjoyable and easy to hear calls.

I've often wondered why call quality on mobiles in the UK is so poor and variable. There seems to be no sign of this changing.

diamonds

SpanishBlue wrote: »

Talkmobile's new "Happy hour" price plan charges just 10p PER CALL to landlines & mobiles for calls lasting up to an hour.

http://talkmobile.co.uk/help/payg/payg-charges/

Ordered, handy to have where no Virgin signal