Sim Only contracts to use with the iPhone

[x Swift x]

Hi,

I have an iPhone on an orange contract that i have had for 14 months now, its an 18 month contract and im ditching orange without a doubt. Today i was on a call that lasted about 30 minutes, and during that call my service cut out 5 times on my way home. Their "unlimited" data plan is disgusting.. £8pm for 30mb!!!!

I have therefore decided for now to get onto a 30 day sim-only contract and have to decided between:

o2 simplicity £25 NOW £20

600mins 1000txts unlimited web bolt on

or

vodafone £20

600mins unlimited txts + £5 for unlimited data (500mb)


I would much prefer o2 (Edge, great bolt ons and tariff change possibility)

my question is does o2 simplicity with the unlimited web bolt on provide full internet, email, app store access with effectively unlimited data restrictions?

Looking forward to replys :)

thanks in advance,

Swift

[WildWayz]

The way O2 do it, is that they say 'unlimited' - what they mean is that if you use it in you phone as you normally would, then it you won't get pulled up on it.

If you stream videos 24x7 and run up gigs of data, then no - they wont like it.

also you cannot put the sim into another handset and use it to hook up to a laptop for downloading data via mobile web...

[x Swift x]

What im trying to say is, will i be able to use email, download from app store, web browse etc using the unlimited web bolt on with the simplicity contract? It's not the same data connection as the iPhone contracts which is why im unsure.

[TigaSefi]

That unlimited web bolt on doesn't include downloading app store and itunes and program files of any kind.

[DJBenson]

o2's "Unlimited" internet bolt-on's are subject to o2's definition of "unlimited". I get it free with my £35/month contract and use it daily for the following (in moderation) and have not (in 4 months) been pulled up for excessive use:


Reading email (including binary attachments)
Downloading Podcasts
Downloading Applications
Viewing the web through my PC/laptop
Listening to internet radio
VoIP Telephony (via InternetCalls.com)


This is using my Nokia N95-8GB.

I suppose if you use it with "caution" then you will get away with doing stuff which they technically do not allow, but hammer it and they'll be on to you! :D

[x Swift x]

I did ask the guy in the o2 store about it and he said it is only for web browsing, and that i would get charged for using email on my phone.

Is this true? I can't see how they can charge for one thing but not another.

If they will then im just going to get vodafones sim only

[DJBenson]

Don't ask o2 what they do and do not allow - they make it so obscure what is and isn't allowed.

I should have added email (including attachments) to my list. My phone is set to check for mail every 15 minutes at present.

If it is their "Unlimited Web Bolton" then that is exactly what I've got and the list above is my normal usage of the service.

EDIT : Just to add my partner is on o2 PAYG and uses RSS, Email, internet and downloads apps to her phone too and no complaints there either.

EDIT2 : Just checked the log on my phone for "packet data" (so all 3G activity) since I got it and I've done 600meg down and 23meg up - so that is 150meg a month since getting the phone.

EDIT3 : o2's site doesn't make it clear how much it thinks I've downloaded, but interestingly on their site, they label data as "Browse and Download" :thinking:

[x Swift x]

thanks for the help DJB, are you using an iPhone btw?

[DJBenson]

No this is an Nokia N95-8GB.

[x Swift x]

ahh yeh im remember now..

what do you use to get your email? is there a specific app and do you use imap/pop3?

[DJBenson]

The N95 has email built in, it's nothing flashy but it works. It sits along side text messaging in the "Messaging" menu.

There is a beta of Nokia Email out that is a dedicated application that works on a push-email basis but it drained my battery twice in two days before I removed it.

Users of Yahoo! Mail or GMail both have access to specialist apps from the respective providers. the GMail client for S60 is pretty good.

For GMail, I'm using IMAP4.

[TigaSefi]

lol **** I'll download some freebies on my iphone and see what O2 has to say about it!

[DJBenson]

lol **** I'll download some freebies on my iphone and see what O2 has to say about it!

Nice one :thinking::thumbs:

[x Swift x]

im at a tough decision now wether to choose between going for the o2 package and hoping that it will allow unlimited email for free or going for the vodafone package.

how much faster is edge compared with gprs?

[TigaSefi]

Not that much faster but email is definitely free here if you don't use push email.

[x Swift x]

Not that much faster but email is definitely free here if you don't use push email.

So the unlimited web bolt on with o2 simplicity will allow me to get my email via the mail app included as long as i don't use push?

I've just had a look at t-mobiles sim only plans - 800mins unlimited texts for £25 and 1gb data for £5 extra! Anyone had any experience with t-mobile and the iphone?

EDIT: Just called T-Mobile and you can't get the data on a 30day contract :( so thats a no go.

i've just gotta decide o2 vs vodafone.

Tiga, why does push incurr a cost?

[DJBenson]

I'm a little confused here - is there a difference between the iPhone Internet Bolt-On and the "normal" Internet Bolt-On?

If not then why would push email be charged and normal email not?

[x Swift x]

Yeh there is - The iPhone tariffs are on seperate servers, completely seperate from the rest so that they get the best possible service.

[j0nn13]

I managed to get unlimited data from orange (proper unlimited, well FUP applies) which i found suprising as they definatly don't advertise it.

Give them a call and ask. £35 a month down to £30 with the online deal and 1200 xnet minutes and 600 txts.

[tpr007]

I use an o2 simplicity sim, and have the web bolt on, all with my unlocked iPhone.

I use the internet on it a lot, and it all works fine.

[mitch316]

I use an o2 simplicity sim, and have the web bolt on, all with my unlocked iPhone.

I use the internet on it a lot, and it all works fine.

me too:thumbs: