T-Mobile Retentions

mobilecat

Its something to think about but its possibly a bit of a faf for me - I will look into it though. I am lucky because I am currently on a business contract so as well as my full webnwalk I get proper internet access with nor estrictions including being able and allowed to use my phone as a modem for my laptop whenever and wherever I am (removing the need for their dongle thingy or wifi access anywhere). In fact the network coverage is so good in my house I dont even use the wifi in the house anymore - its completely redundant for me on my phone.... As I am on a business tarif I get free voicemail which means I get my full allowance for calls. I can't work out exactly what discount I am am because I have been given a pound here and a pound or two there due to problems I had at the beginning with my phone and contracts. I know that £25 is a good price for what I pay but I am sure I could be paying a lot more.

I think ideally I would get a new phone that did everything that mine did and didn't cost me anything/much. I would keep all the benefits of my current tarif but reduce the cost monthly (and possibly my call and text allowance which would be fine).

In practice I can't see this happenning but I live in hope.

I think the problem will be that I have to have a new phone and really as I have a VarioII now I will struggle with something without the features I have - although I am willing to try as long as I get the data and internet and its usable on the device.

greyster

you can use most phones as a modem for your laptop these days.

voicemail is not free but can come out of your minutes. So just factor it in when you choose a tariff.

The fact you want voicemail suggests you need flext. Flext + £7.50 web and walk.

I suggest you go to a T-Mobile store have a play with some phones. There are several cheaper ones that should fit the bill.

Alternatively you may wish to sign up for a £35 odd tariff and pay about £110 for the latest Vario III. Go through quidco for £40 back.

Can't complain, the Vario III is going for £350 on ebay.

PS Currently you would get free weekend calling too including voicemail.

mobilecat

greyster wrote: »

you can use most phones as a modem for your laptop these days.

voicemail is not free but can come out of your minutes. So just factor it in when you choose a tariff.

The fact you want voicemail suggests you need flext. Flext + £7.50 web and walk.

I suggest you go to a T-Mobile store have a play with some phones. There are several cheaper ones that should fit the bill.

Alternatively you may wish to sign up for a £35 odd tariff and pay about £110 for the latest Vario III. Go through quidco for £40 back.

Can't complain, the Vario III is going for £350 on ebay.

PS Currently you would get free weekend calling too including voicemail.

I currently have a flext tarif with wnw BUT some of the WNW tarifs specifically disallow you from using the phones as modems and using voip and similar etc. so you do have to be careful. I want tor reduce my expenditure - not increase it - £35 is an extra £10 a month so that isn't that feesible for me. I often have to rely on voicemail a lot so losing my free voicemail if I stay with tmobile definately wont be on the cards - it is worth a lot to me.

I am not sure about the vario3 to be honest. I have found the vario2 to be a seriously suspect piece of kit. It has a great amount of functionality and features but as a unit - its awful. I found the previous MDA3 to be a much better unit. I cant wait to get rid of this one and I bet I dont get as much money on the resale as I got for the MDA3 because it just isn't as stable as a unit. Lots doesn't work. I think on of the real rpobs with tmobile at the moment is they dont really have a phone that would suit on the market. The vario3 - I wouldnt want to risk getting stuck on another 18 month contract like I did with the vario2. The N95 would be a bit like going mickeymouse I think after an HTC device. Its a long time since I had an 'ordinary phone' so it would take some gettgin used to. I woudln't remember how to text! I also require a decent screen for internet use as I need it for work a lot. maybe something good will come in before I need to upgrade - here's hoping.

greyster

MDA Compact III? £15 a month plus £80 for the phone. Quidco bringing it down to £50. With web and walk £22.50 a month?

they can not stop you from using your phone as a modem. The limitation is only GB per month.

mobilecat

greyster wrote: »

MDA Compact III? £15 a month plus £80 for the phone. Quidco bringing it down to £50. With web and walk £22.50 a month?

they can not stop you from using your phone as a modem. The limitation is only GB per month.

The Artemis (MDA C3) is a possibility as a unit. DOn't forget to check out www.xda-developers.com by the way if you dont tend to use it - its the place to find out about HTC devices for anyone that hasn't looked.

Not sure about that tarif though - I recon by the time I add on the bits I have I would be paying more than I am now - good place to start bargaining though

greyster

I don't think you will get much of a better deal because you are looking for a top end handset or at least a better handset than most people seek.

Unless you resort to a cashback deal third party (cringe).

However when you come to renewal I'm confident you will get a much better price. Networks THIS year are actively looking at reducing churn (increasing loyalty), including T-Mobile so you will fortunate in 2009 when you renew.

mobilecat

The plus point of the MDA compact 3 is that I could have sat nav - the minus - and its a biggy - no 3g or HSDPA which I think I would really miss - I would struggle with slower speeds I think - I have been spoiled. I will deifnately have a look at one though.

greyster

N95? It has SatNav and 3G. Getting cheaper.

Doesnt have the keyboard you are looking for, but you can get the N95 bluetooth keyboard (same size as an MDA one) and carry it with you when you need it. Internet on it is not bad.

mobilecat

The N95 is looking like the way Tmobile are going. It definately has the functionality and can be got quite cheaply as its the one they are pushing. I haven't heard anything good about it which worries me and I like having the support of the XDA deveoplers forum but compromises have to be made and I think a really good fiddle with the N95 is probably my next thing.

Tell you one thing - I had a fiddle with an iphone last month - yuck - horrid thing - wont be payiong nearly £300 for one of those - it does less than my current phones and its awful - what a gimmick.

greyster

The N95 is a best seller. Half the people I know have an N95. The only downer is the battery life. There is talk of a high performance battery which can be bought in Europe but personally a charge a day is sufficient.

I haven't be caught out yet where the battery doesnt last me until I get home however I could always buy a spare battery for emergencies.

The iphone isnt 3G which is the biggest joke of it all. Apart from only letting one network in each country have it for the first year.