HELP: Are Orange actually any good? [N97] (Please Read)

[fu510n]

Just a quick one guys...

Is Orange a reliable network with good customer service and reception?

The reason I ask is because my gf is in her final month of an 18 month O2 contract and the current selection of phones and tariff's is quite frankly appalling! They appear to have the attitude of - "Want an iPhone? No? Bye then!"

So she has settled on the Nokia N97 (I say "settled", but "fallen madly in love with" is more accurate, lol!)

Unfortunately O2 are showing no signs of stocking it so she has been forced to consider other networks. Which is a real shame considering the reception and customer service at O2 has always been exceptional. 3 and T-Mobile didn't even get considered so it was between Orange and Vodafone, both of whom have some cracking deals on the N97.

Orange has been declared the winner but there is the obvious worry of if they are any good with regards to customer service and reception........ considering its £40pm for the next 24 months I don't blame her!


So what's everyone's opinion?

Many thanks as usual Guys 'n' Gals

[LFC_SL]

Reception will obviously differ if you reside in say the peak district rather than a major city. If you do not want to give your location away then you should use the checkers online that operators provide for coverage. Note that you should not use it as anything definitive; see the sticky which I wrote

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Reception will obviously differ if you reside in say the peak district rather than a major city. If you do not want to give your location away then you should use the checkers online that operators provide for coverage. Note that you should not use it as anything definitive; see the sticky which I wrote

We live in a well populated are so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, its just that from past experiences I have found network check tools to be grossly inaccurate, lol!

[invisiblekid]

Originally Posted by fu510n

We live in a well populated are so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, its just that from past experiences I have found network check tools to be grossly inaccurate, lol!

My Mum used Orange for ages and was very happy with them . Good customer service and good coverage, though not the strongest signal.

Phones are locked to Orange though, so just in case she leaves Orange but wants to keep the phone she'll need to get it unlocked.


P.S. Saw Metallica at LG Arena earlier this year. Front row so was just 4 feet from stage! Awesome show, though strangely I prefer the new songs from DM in studio mode. Everything else sounds better as live.

[Uzeless]

And don't forget about Orange Wednesdays!!!!

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by invisiblekid

My Mum used Orange for ages and was very happy with them . Good customer service and good coverage, though not the strongest signal.

Phones are locked to Orange though, so just in case she leaves Orange but wants to keep the phone she'll need to get it unlocked.


P.S. Saw Metallica at LG Arena earlier this year. Front row so was just 4 feet from stage! Awesome show, though strangely I prefer the new songs from DM in studio mode. Everything else sounds better as live.

That's good to hear, although the signal thing is a bit of a worry

RE: Metallica - I saw them at Sheffield Arena on Feb 28th and they were phenomenal, amazing set list! Funny thing is that the weakest song on that set list somehow got the best crowd participation.... The Memory Remains! The the whole crowd was going for ages

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by Uzeless

And don't forget about Orange Wednesdays!!!!

Haha! Yeah thats always a bonus

[mitchellsx]

Ive been with orange for 2 years now, good customer service.. Ive also just taken an n97 on orange £40 24m, the phone is unlocked and also you get something called orange premiere customer service. This is where people that pay £40 per month get a quicker service than people that pay less, much easier to get through etc. hope that help

[apolloa]

I was with Orange for about 8 or 9 years I think until last week (Brought an iPhone )
Anyway, I have always found them pretty good, very good customer service and reception is not too bad but that depends on where you live of course. They did go through a pretty bad spell not long ago for 2 or 3 years with lots of horror story's on the net etc but I believe they fired the CEO and hired a new one to turn things back around as Orange were famous for excellent customer service wining that JD Power survey thing a fair few times, hopefully they'll get back on top again soon but like I said I never had any problems with them.

Orange retention's are also pretty good, my friend just got a free W995 on 15 pounds a month with free browsing and 3000 text a month, only 1 or 200 mins as he's a texter lol.

Having said this, since coming to O2 so far I have been similarly impressed with them as well.

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by mitchellsx

Ive been with orange for 2 years now, good customer service.. Ive also just taken an n97 on orange £40 24m, the phone is unlocked and also you get something called orange premiere customer service. This is where people that pay £40 per month get a quicker service than people that pay less, much easier to get through etc. hope that help

Originally Posted by apolloa

I was with Orange for about 8 or 9 years I think until last week (Brought an iPhone )
Anyway, I have always found them pretty good, very good customer service and reception is not too bad but that depends on where you live of course. They did go through a pretty bad spell not long ago for 2 or 3 years with lots of horror story's on the net etc but I believe they fired the CEO and hired a new one to turn things back around as Orange were famous for excellent customer service wining that JD Power survey thing a fair few times, hopefully they'll get back on top again soon but like I said I never had any problems with them.

Orange retention's are also pretty good, my friend just got a free W995 on 15 pounds a month with free browsing and 3000 text a month, only 1 or 200 mins as he's a texter lol.

Having said this, since coming to O2 so far I have been similarly impressed with them as well.

Thanks guys, that's really reassuring to hear

I think her mind is prettymuch made up now

One thing though, ive heard of rumours that Orange recalled the N97 due to some alleged "software faults", however they have now "sorted it" and it should be ready to re-launch within a couple of weeks........... with their own software modifications..........

If they have completely screwed up the software on it will it void the warranty to flash/restore the proper Nokia software?

[RobM83]

Originally Posted by fu510n

If they have completely screwed up the software on it will it void the warranty to flash/restore the proper Nokia software?

Yes, it does.

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by RobM83

Yes, it does.

Would they know though?

I.e. if I was to flash it with the proper Nokia ROM (not even sure im using the correct terminology XD) would they be able to find out? And if it developed a problem and had to be sent back could I re-restore the Orange ROM so they would never know?

Just don't wanna have a top-end phone that has been crippled with Orange gumph

[mitchellsx]

just get one from phones4u or carphone warehouse they sell them unlocked with none of the orange garbage u get with an orange handset.. But I will admit the phone is far from complete lots of faults people are experiencing and the update from nokia is taking its time reaching the Uk, everywhere else has got it except UK I think now.

[fu510n]

Originally Posted by mitchellsx

just get one from phones4u or carphone warehouse they sell them unlocked with none of the orange garbage u get with an orange handset.. But I will admit the phone is far from complete lots of faults people are experiencing and the update from nokia is taking its time reaching the Uk, everywhere else has got it except UK I think now.

But there are other downfalls with going with a 3rd party as opposed to going direct

Plus like you say - there is lots of faults with the N97 aswell....


We're both starting to think its all a bit too much hassle now with all of the unreliable stuff from the phone itself to the networks carrying it....

[PewPew]

i work for orange but belive me im bias in now way. I would recommend if u wanna get a N97 ur gonna have to go 3rd party i work in direct sales / web sales channel of orange and ever since the N95 they seem to activly discourage sale of these handsets and we are always grossly over priced by coming direct.

There are several reasons for this that i can see, these phones are always going faulty , partly id blame this on the orange software but partly with nokia too and the amount we have to replace due to the unit cost makes it a real big cost. Secondly they were a firm favorite of the id fraudsters due to their high resell value , we got hit really bad back when the N95 came out and we did it free on dolp 35 so now they are really warry of sending it out.

Now back to the N97 i know we havent got it in stock as all of the ones from nokia failed testing so our direct launch has been put back but i expect them to overpriced once we get them. This phone is getting a lot of bad press as well and although on paper looks good the one ive been playing with doesnt feel very good quality at all.

As far as network goes I find orange these days pretty much the same as o2 and voda. Singal wise it always comes down to where u are but im on voda and orange have zero singal voda full singal orange. But at the moment theres a heavy investment in HSDPA masts and upgrades. Customer service can be crap with all the networks ive had my issues with o2 and voda and even orange. Its all depends who u speak to being on a contract ur less likely to get someone off shore on the phone but it does still happen for the basic stuff and they are generally rubbish.

hope this helps