Three/LG Viewty/u990/Phones4u...

musical_norwich

I received my Viewty on Thursday. Here are my initial thoughts and some questions. I bought the phone from Phones 4u on an 18-month contract with 3 on Mix&Match 1100 for £27 per month (I got £50 cashback through Quidco). I used the N70 on T-mobile previously.

I am getting an extremely variable signal in my house (best is 2 bars), with switching between 3G and 2G reception, poor call quality and dropped calls. Phone even says 'Emergency calls only' occasionally. Although I did not get 3G at home with T-mobile on N70, calls were always reliable and good quality. I checked 3's coverage map before I joined and it said all was okay for video at my postcode (NR2 3RG). Questions:
- Has any Viewty user compared its signal sensitivity versus Nokia handsets and I wonder if the Viewty is making the poor signal issue worse?
- How can 3's coverage information be so poor?
- My area is due the upgrade to go to Turbo in December. Is this upgrade likely to improve reception?
- Is it me or is mic/speaker performance pretty poor in comparison with my N70?

I bought the phone because I need to talk to friends in the US and India with whom I am setting up a business. Skype and Messenger were key in my purchasing decision and the Three website told me they were both compatible with my phone. However, when I try to use/download the applications on the phone I am told they are not available yet.
- Does any other user feel ripped off about this? I was told that they are expected next week (5th November), but I also know that software is often late. 3 should have said 'coming soon'

The Viewty's battery life is s**te in my opinion. It was fully charged yesterday. I had a long day out, made a few calls, entered some contacts into the phone, did no bluetooth, surfing or watching of videos (still awaiting 2GB card) and yet phone died in the evening when on the phone to 3. Much much worse performance than N70.
- Is the battery life pretty poor?

Speaking to 3 customer services is astonishingly poor. I am not all anti-Indian. My best friend is Indian (even despite the fact that he is an Arsenal supporter) and I am setting up a business with another Indian friend in Bangalore. But 3 customer services is ridiculous. I knew it would be substandard, but never imagined it could be so bad. When I rang about the applications, they tried to tell me the phone was incompatible, then told me that Skype/MSN would not work without an Internet Add-on. Even a supervisor told me this. In the end I managed to get through to a clueful chap who actually listened to what I had to say, understood it and went away and investigated and came back and told me the date when the java implementation of Skype/MSN for the u990 is expected.
- What do others think of 3 customer services?

I have been told I can exchange the phone for another by 3.
- Would I get better results from a Nokia?

I also have the right to return the phone to Phones 4u (via the web rather than through a shop)
- Do any of you have experience of trying to do this with Phones 4u?

Even though I really like the phone's features, these become much less important if the phone bit does not work. I have given 3 my PAC, which will be actioned next Friday.
- Can I reverse this or is it too late?

Even though I really like the phone's features, these become much less important if the phone bit does not work.
- Should I keep the phone?