O2 'unlimited' data bolt-ons...iphone vs others

pingtiao

Am I right in thinking that iphone users get actual unlimited data, while the rest of us are subject to a 200 mb 'fair use' allowance?

Does anyone think that there will be a change in that with the new 3g phones coming in? And has anyone actually heard of someone getting pulled up for exceeding the limit? I haven't been able to find any reports of it on the net yet...

agsnu

O2 changed the terms of their bolt-on so that the non-iPhone web data package is also "unlimited" (with restrictions that you can't use your phone as a modem, etc etc).

jon_r_2

pingtiao wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that iphone users get actual unlimited data, while the rest of us are subject to a 200 mb 'fair use' allowance?
...

Please can someone explain what this 'fair use' 200mb allowance is? I take it to be free internet to this amount
I am due to go on 02 400+400 thanks

Cavey

agsnu wrote: »

O2 changed the terms of their bolt-on so that the non-iPhone web data package is also "unlimited" (with restrictions that you can't use your phone as a modem, etc etc).

Riiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhhhtttttt. It's not the case, despite what people who work for O2 think. I am writing a letter to O2 cause I got a bit annoyed, so I paraphrased it below. Please do let me know your thoughts.

-- Start Paraphrased Letter

I recently upgraded from a 12 Month Online 200 contract to a Simplicity 20 while carrying on my insurance and taking an "Unlimited Web Bolt on" (which it is advertised and in their terms as) for use with an O2 XDA Stellar. It has a proper, desktop compatible webbrowser (Opera Mobile ~£15) and a whole host of SPB software (SPB Weather, Insight etc...) that updates off the internet, so an Unlimited web connection to let it keep up to date seemed nice.

Before the upgrade, I did my research. I looked through the terms, found the relevant sections and found that, while the PAYG unlimited web bolt on is noted as being limited to 200Mb of data, the version for users on a pay monthly contract are not limited by this term. So, I rang up on a Saturday, spoke to a very helpful Customer Services Representative (CSR) and began to wait the 48 hours for the change to be applied. Later on the Saturday afternoon I received an email stating my handset would be dispatched and delivered shortly, so given I was not expecting a handset I rang customer services and was told this is actually a note stating that something is dispatched, most probably the relevant documentation to go with the new service. So, I went back to waiting.

48 hours after making the change (and as I am always cautious about using provisions outside my contract) I checked the details of my tariff online and found the Unlimited Web bolt on listed as "Web Ultimate Consumer (200MB)". This led to me ringing up a CSR and enquiring what this 200Mb means, only to be informed that it is a part of the excessive or fair usage policy and that if I wanted to attach it to my laptop they could sell me a mobile broadband adapter.

However, I don't want an adapter for my laptop or to use my mobile as a modem, I want to use my phone as it was intended - as the ultimate communication device. The problem is that while 200Mb is fine for occasional browsing, should I use a program such as SPB Insight to sync the front page of the BBC news pages for viewing whilst travelling I will use about 6Mb of data. Add on the extra data for email transfer (which could be a few Mb if I get sent a set of jokes from my friends (my phone can open Office documents after all) or pictures from my relatives), that the facebook home page is 1Mb in size (XDA Stellar can cope with the desktop formatted version, not just the mobile cut-down version) and I will comfortably reach 10Mb per day while only making reasonable use of the service in line with the capabilities of my mobile phone AND the terms available online.

So, I figured there might be some mistake - perhaps the CSR had misunderstood that I was on PAYG rather than a contract and that the 200Mb limit wouldn't apply, so I decided that I would check the contract to find what I had missed. I checked the terms on the O2 site again and confirmed that for contract customers there is no specification of a data limit.

I went into the O2 shop in Exeter and asked if they could provide me with a copy of the Excessive Usage Policy and they were unable to do so. At first they insisted that it was unlimited, that there were no caps and it was only my persistence in questioning that resulted in them contacting customer services. They then informed me that if I were to exceed 200Mb of data in one month I would receive a strike, and after three strikes the data bolt on would be removed from my contract.

However, while I have managed to extract this information from O2 after finding evidence that a policy exists, I was not provided with a copy in writing on request or before signing a contract. I asked for one and was told there isn't one they can give me. I have not received the documentation which was described as a handset above, nothing!

I therefore assume that O2 only enforced when they are in O2's favour ("The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use of Telefonica O2 UK Limited's Edge/GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone." (my emphasis))!

Given my inability to find written copies of these terms despite trying by a number of methods on a variety of occasions, I also have to assume that the Excessive Use Policy does not actually exist and that these limits will only be implemented as and when it suits O2.

If these terms were clearly stated in advance I would not be as annoyed, but to only find out after the fact and with considerable effort on my part I find to be decidedly dishonest and that, given O2 reserve the right to "to impose further charges" and may use these hidden rules to do so, verging on fraudulent.

-- End

Thoughts?

So yes, the 200Mb limit is how much you can use. At least with T-Mobile they are open about it, cap at 1Gb and if you go over it they slow your connection down and don't cut you off.

Relevant sections for quoting are below....

----

The following is taken from O2 terms under the section "Pay Monthly standard tariff terms & conditions" at 17:36 9/6/8.

Data Bolt On Terms

* The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use of Telef!nica O2 UK Limited's Edge/GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card:
o in, or connected to, any other device including modems;
o to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or
o in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers.

If O2 reasonably suspectsyou are not acting in accordance with this policy O2 reserves the right to impose further charges, impose network protection controls which may reduce your speed of transmission, remove the Web Bolt On from your account or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.

The following is taken from O2 terms under the section "Pay & Go Bolt Ons terms & conditions" at 17:36 9/6/8.

O2 Web Bolt On

1. The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use (subject to this excessive usage policy) of Telef!nica O2 UK's GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card:
- in, or connected to, any other device including modems;
- to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or
- in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers.

If O2 reasonably suspects you are not acting in accordance with this policy (including where you use an atypical volume of data as compared to normal users of the O2 Web Bolt On, which will normally be less than 200MB of usage within a one month period), O2 reserves the right to impose standard browsing charges (see https://www.o2.co.uk for details), impose network protection controls which may reduce your speed of transmission, remove the Web Bolt On from your account or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.
2. To OPT IN to the O2 Web Bolt On send a free text message containing the keyword "WEB" to 21300 or call free on 2425 from your O2 mobile.
3. One month minimum term applies. To OPT OUT send a free text message containing the keyword "WEBOFF" to 21300 at least 48 hours before the next payment is due or alternatively call free on 2425 from your O2 mobile.
4. You may OPT IN or OPT OUT of the service at anytime. However the minimum charge is the monthly fee of £7.50. No refunds will be given.
5. Benefits of your O2 Web Bolt On apply to use in the UK only. A maximum of one O2 Web Bolt On can be added to your mobile at any one time.
6. O2 Web Bolt Ons apply to GPRS WAP and/or i-mode but not Circuit Switched WAP. You must have a GPRS handset and your SIM must be GPRS enabled in order to use the O2 Web Bolt On.
7. Please note O2 Web Bolt Ons cannot be used in conjunction with the WAP 500, Browse & Download or O2 Active Browsing Bolt Ons.
8. You must have a minimum of 60 pence on your handset balance in order to make a GPRS connection in the UK.
9. General Bolt On Terms & Conditions apply.

agsnu

That's a bit bizarre. The T&C for Pay Monthly definitely used to say 200MB, then changed to say "unlimited" as long as you don't take the !!!!, which brought it in line with the iPhone T&C.

pingtiao

Thanks all- I'm still confused though- I? have not seen it changed to "unlimited" anywhere.
As far as I understand it it is still subject to a 'fair use' of 200mb a month.

Can anyone confirm this?

agsnu

http://www.o2.co.uk/termsconditions/tariffsandboltons0153

Data Bolt On Terms

• The Web Bolt On allows you unlimited use of Telef!nica O2 UK Limited's Edge/GPRS/ 3G networks (as applicable to your handset), for personal internet use via your mobile phone. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card:
  • in, or connected to, any other device including modems;
  • to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or
  • in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers.

If O2 reasonably suspectsyou are not acting in accordance with this policy O2 reserves the right to impose further charges, impose network protection controls which may reduce your speed of transmission, remove the Web Bolt On from your account or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.
It used to say 200MB, now it does not. Changed with the price plan refresh on 1st Feb, IIRC.

pingtiao

Yeah, you seem to be quite right.

Hmm- this is odd. I'm sure when I checked a few weeks ago it did say 200 mb...
I'm only too happy if they have removed the cap though!