Vodafone v O2

[TheWakoKid]

Hi all, long-time reader of the forum, first-time poster.

For the last 5-6 years my mobile phone has been provided for me by my employers, I'm leaving this company soon and I'm looking forward to finally jumping on board the iPhone bandwagon.

Is Vodafone's data network superior to O2's? If so, I intend to wait until the Vodafone iPhone is released next year. If there is no big difference between the coverage and quality of the two networks then I'll probably plump for the current O2 iPhone 3GS. Are Vodafone a "better" network than O2? (I've heard lots of grumbles about O2 over the last few months...)

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance,
TheWakoKid

[Boon72]

i would of thought the networks were simular in performance, O2 does have the biggest share of the market at the moment.

as far as my experience has been, Vodafone mobiles are always full of Vodafone branding which can be tacky n overwhelming, O2 on the other hand have always had minimal branding (normally a startup screen) I have been with O2 for the past few years due to this issue (Vodafone even stopped mp3 ringtones being added unless bought on the phone through them)

the O2 iPhone has no branding, I doubt the Vodafone one will be, but we'll have to wait and see on that.

[hutch]

Apple dont allow carrier branding on the iPhone so no worries there.

As for the network thats totally dependant on where you live and where you travel to regularly, what you will do with the phone and what tariffs are out at the time you buy.

I personally rate O2 as the best UK network and I think their iPhone tariffs are very good but others will obviously disagree. I had bad experience of Voda in the past and wouldnt ever consider them again.

[TheWakoKid]

It's interesting to hear some support for O2... Everything I've heard about them recently has been negative. The folks over at TrustedReviews certainly have an axe to grind with O2. They have been hailing the introduction of Orange and Vodafone to the iPhone party as great news for UK consumers. (Who they think are being ripped off by O2 at the moment due to expensive contracts and poor data network performance.)

Any other O2 supporters out there?

(I'd actually prefer to go for the O2 iPhone because my friend's sister works for O2 and can get me the staff reduction on the £45 per month tariff - So it would only cost £31 per month, which seems pretty reasonable to me.)

[wynnwillo212]

i know orange are getting the iphone at the end of this year and vodaphone and the beginning of next year. I have heard rummours of t mobile also getting the iphone sometime soon

I would either wait for vodaphone, orange or t mobile as o2 3g signal is a bit of a joke {My opinion}

To make sure you make the right decision i would wait till the other networks get the iphone and see what kind of deals they will offer before buying one as currently 02 contracts for the iphone are a massive rip off {Again in my opinion}

Hope this helps

[RobM83]

Voda customer service is terrible and very inconsistent. That was part of the reason for jumping ship and heading to O2. Fortunately I've also ended up with better signal in the areas I visit which is a bonus and O2 CS have been great every time I've called.

Network performance and coverage will vary by location so it's impossible for anybody to tell you which will be better for you. but O2 and Voda have very similar coverage with some areas being better on one than the other, and visa versa.

[addyb]

I have no complaints really about o2. Ive been a customer for about 5 years and had 2 iphones with them.

I am disappointed at there current phone range though. If they do get the HD2 i will no doubt get it from them.

The only gripes i have with o2 are:

Lack of handsets
No 12 mth contracts

Apart from that i have a brilliant reception where i live, excellent customer service and i dont find there tariffs bad at all.

They really do need to get on board and stock more HTCs and the nokia N97 and N900 though. Now that they no longer have exclusivity with the iphone they will need more than the "palm pre" to keep there customers IMO!

[2010]

Despite having some reservations about O2's 3g/hsdpa network (partially influenced by Trusted Reviews ) I recently switched from Orange where I couldn't get a signal at home) to O2 Simplicity (with web bolt on) & have had no problems with the service wherever I've used it in London on my sim free Hero.

I recommend O2 but Vodafone has good HSDPA too.

[TheWakoKid]

Thanks for your input guys. I'm reassured by all of the favourable comments about O2. I'd rather not wait until an indetermined point next year to get the Vodafone iPhone 3GS, so I think I'm going to grab the O2 one next week.

My decision now is whether or not to get it on a monthly contract or as a PAYG with the web "bolt-on" thingy. (As previously mentioned, my friend's sister can get me the £45 per month package for £31, so I'll probably opt for that.)

One last point to consider: Next year I will be going travelling for 4 months. (Europe, USA, South America) Does anyone know if O2 or Vodafone offer any good value solutions for the foreign traveller? Is one network stronger than the other in this regard?

[Brandon66]

My 2 cents, i have been with 02 for as long as i can remember and i have never had a problem, accounts customer service etc.

Now tho there phones are poor, for example i want the BB Storm2 will they get it? Doesn't look like it, will they get the HTC HD2? Nope doesnt look like it either.

So your stuck with changing suppliers or buying the phone outright..

shame,

[novahob]

Originally Posted by Brandon66

...will they get the HTC HD2? Nope doesnt look like it either.

Do you have inside information as O2 are doing this phone, it's in their october catalogue.

[Brandon66]

not really, went into store today and they said they are not expecting it to be stocked?

[addyb]

o2 are getting the HD2, its coming out early november. Thats good enough for me and i will be certainly sticking with them. I'll admit though if they werent stocking it i would of jumped to T-Mob but dont have to do that now!

[Brandon66]

storm 2 over HTC

[addyb]

Originally Posted by Brandon66

storm 2 over HTC

Horses for courses but to be honest i wasnt impressed with the storm 2 at all.
HD2 all the way for me, it looks a fantastic bit of kit!