O2 to ditch Tugo

60camraman60

Not sure if this should be put on this board or phones
I got a text yesterday from O2 saying they are ditching the Tugo system. I may be wrong but I think I may not be the only person who "ain't happy".
Here is how I sit.

All our families mobiles are on O2 for ease. Me and child 1 at home and child 2 at uni. All phones on unlimited calls, txts and varying degrees of data. Uni kid can phone home at any time without thinking of cost. We are on O2 because they were the only network at the time with a Tugo type phone over wifi system. This means that by having tugo I don't need an expensive landline calling package (weekends only) that i hardly, but not never used.

We live in a very bad mobile signal area so something like tugo was ideal so the kids can get txts and calls from work etc.especially when child 2 is home from uni. And i could phone child 2 at uni without major cost implications via tugo.

The 2 kids, I think, are going to be OK as they have iPhones 6 and so can set themselves up with WiFi calling which their phones support. I on the other hand have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which is not supported. It also looks as if a lot of the phones on the market are not supported either only the newer ones.

I know what a lot of you will say that it is an old phone and I should move with the times but this was bought in the days when people said that the new larger screened phones would not take off due the size. How wrong they were. This phone is still ahead of a lot of those on the market even now.
So I am stuck with a fairly high end (very expensive at the time) phone, does everything I need and more, except WiFi calling.

I am not a big fan of Apple but it looks as if they are always ahead of the game when it come to supporting new technology and I may have to bite the bullet to future proof myself.

All comments on this gratefully received. Even those that tell me I'm a "stingy" so and so and go out and buy a new phone. I know I am but being a Yorshireman by birth I am allowed to be.:rotfl:. (Joke before anyone starts complaining)

Inner_Zone

3 still offer a app similar to TU Go, ThreeinTouch if you are prepared to change network.

Or get a VoIP provider and use CSipSimple or Sipdroid.

20aday

You could also consider Viber and/or WhatsApp too?

custservice

I completely sympathise.

O2 are going to regret this big time.

We live in a rural area with NO mobile signal at all and my wife has just purchased a brand new Samsung A5 mobile on a 24 month contract SOLELY based on the TuGO service and now they withdraw the service with only 6 weeks notice!

Viber, whatsapp etc. are no good unless the other person has the same app installed. So my wife now has a very expensive doorstop!

I'm absolutely fuming about this and will be complaining to O2, trading standards and the ombudsman.

What is even more galling is they advertise Tugo as one of the main selling points of their phones!!!

Inner_Zone

custservice wrote: »

Viber, whatsapp etc. are no good unless the other person has the same app installed.

Those apps maybe not with VoIP.

toof4st

Tugo, is one of the reasons I am with O2.

• No reception at home.
• Ability to take calls when abroad.
• Ability to text, when I am stuck on London Underground.
• Ability to listen to voicemail on London Underground. (Message downloads in station and then can be listened to, when in a tunnel. Wifi calling won't allow that, until TFL enable internet in the tunnels)

I too am stuck in contract with O2. My device is a stock Samsung device, without O2 firmware so WiFi calling won't work...

Not happy....

Browntoa

I assume its to force us slowly onto


https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/news/2017/03/o2-finally-launches-wi-fi-and-4g-calling/


O2 has at last launched Wi–Fi and 4G calling on its network, making it the last of the four main UK networks to offer the service.
Until now, users who wanted to make or take calls using home wireless or public Wi-Fi networks had to download and use O2’s Tu Go app in order to do so.
Now though, O2 users can use Wi–Fi when there’s no mobile reception without having to go through the app.
Disappointingly, Wi–Fi calling is only available on Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. O2 has promised that more devices will follow soon

d123

Browntoa wrote: »

I assume its to force us slowly onto


https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/news/2017/03/o2-finally-launches-wi-fi-and-4g-calling/



Disappointingly, Wi–Fi calling is only available on Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. O2 has promised that more devices will follow soon

Typical idiocy from o2 (and Vodafone for that matter) as there is absolutely no technical reason to restrict iPhone access, all iPhones from the 5S/5C onwards are capable as shown by the fact EE and Three allow all compatible iPhones to connect.

garlicsheep

I’m hopping mad with O2 about this. Like others I only went with them because of the TuGo app as I have no mobile coverage at home on any network. VoIP is all very well but no good when someone is trying to contact you via your mobile number. I have an iPhone 5S because I don’t want one of the stupid wannabe tablet-type things. Looks like I will now have to upgrade to the SE. Will O2 cover the upgrade fee I wonder, since they are withdrawing a key service without providing an alternative? Or even better, perhaps they could extend their network coverage to my area (not holding my breath).

60camraman60

Thank for all the comments. Didn't think I would be the only person in this boat. Sorry for this next comment for those of you who cant find a way out but I was mentioning this to my boss who has solved my problem. He has let me have an iphone 6 on a limited EE contract so I can at least get incoming texts and calls from him while at home. Not sure if it will help but if a phone company raise their prices you can get out of the contract free of charge. Does this not apply to removing "major" parts of the network accessibility. Can those of you who have taken out an O2 contract specifically cos of TuGo try going down this route. Maybe Martin could answer this. I've posted it to Facebook to see if anyone can answer.

custservice

I have registered an official complaint with O2 about my own contract as my phone is useless without tugo and they have refused to let me end my contract without charge. If they don't give in I will complain to the ombudsman.

My wife has returned her phone to the carphone warehouse as it's only 10 days into contract. The staff there were completely unaware that tugo was ending and were also miffed as they said they sell a lot if O2 handsets using tugo as a big selling point!

I think legally O2 are gonna struggle as they advertise Tugo as one of their main selling features on their website (even now it's being withdrawn!)