Best mobile carrier in UK - Networking

Hey guys,
I'm probably moving to London this year and I would like to know which is the best mobile carrier in the UK?
I'll also buy a new phone there, I'm looking forward for a new Nokia Lumia 920.
Thanks for answers in advance.
Kind regards,
M.

I guess that depends on your usage, but I've heard good things about O2. Check out GiffGaff as well. I have also heard that Orange has very bad reception over there. So I'd stay away from them.

go for GiffGaff! i have a invite for you.

I researched this a lot before getting my contract.
It can depend on your needs, make sure the carrier works at your office/house/important places.
Either borrow a friend's phone or get a cheep paygo sim first
Personally I found that vodafone and virgin have very patchy areas, where I live there is no coverage
O2 is the best IMO, I have yet to find a place where I don't have signal and someone else does.
(GIFGAF and Tesco is the same as O2 so if they have better deals go for them, I've heard good things about GIFGAF)
You may want to consider EE (everything everywhere) if you are going to get a (uk compatible) 4G device as no other carrier is getting 4G tilll next year

Related

Is it possible to get the Leo working on AT&T in the US?

Is there a custom ROM in development to accomplish this? The Leo looks to be phenominal - just no due dates in the US.
TIA
I bought at expansys-usa.com.
Unlocked.
Regards.
Right on. Ty for the reply. So I should just be able to load up a custom Leo ROM, stuff in my simcard, and use all the AT&T contract features I currently use on my AT&T Tilt 2?
TY again!
Well, just keep in mind, the model being sold at expansys-usa is the Euro model, meaning no 3G service in the US. However, you can still place calls over GSM network (both ATT and T-Mobile) and use EDGE data connection.
Cheers,
S.
instead of rushing on getting one like i did you can wait till tmobile releases their's sometime around march(rumor) and get it unlock for att. This phone would be a lot better with 3g.
Thanks for all the info ya'll!
T-Mo and AT&T do not use same bands !!!
Please note that while AT&T uses 850Mhz band T-Mo uses the 1700Mhz. What will happen, if the T-Mo version will be 1700/2100 as I suspect, is that if it will be unlocked, even if it will show on screen it is on a 3G network, it will be for uploading only, and will not download a thing.
If the advise is to wait, I would wait until Telstra in Australia will start selling HD2, and import it from there, as their 'NextG' network is 850Mhz.
I know cause I just did the same with my HD. Got an aussie unit, and unlocked it. (internet buy)
As for myself, based on my 6 months experiance with the HD, I will get tomorrow my EU version. Yes, will not have 3G, but quite frankly, the 3G is almost useless for me because at leat on the HD it drained my 1350mAh battery pretty quick, being on 3G. I had to install WMlonglife and has been on a 2G network most of the time. Another thing - It is pretty easy to be on Wi Fi at home, at office, at starbucks, etc.. lots of free access points. For emails/SMS the 2G is good enough regardless.. So - I went with the EU version. BTW- I know expansys sells it for $784, but check www.networkingrus.com (hope I do not violate a forum rule, if I do, I appologise) but they sell for far less, and I have purchased 3 phones from them already, got great service and when I was over seas and my phone broke, I purchased one from them , and they shipped it to me there, it got stuck in customs, they got it back, and re-shipped to my other location while I was travelling. Very honest, and price is good.
Would i wait 3 moths? I would say yes if it was rock solid date, and guaranteed to work on the AT&T band. I decided not to wait any more, when SSPL already works (I am a 28014 addict)
Hope i helped here..
BigE
BigE said:
Please note that while AT&T uses 850Mhz band T-Mo uses the 1700Mhz. What will happen, if the T-Mo version will be 1700/2100 as I suspect, is that if it will be unlocked, even if it will show on screen it is on a 3G network, it will be for uploading only, and will not download a thing.
If the advise is to wait, I would wait until Telstra in Australia will start selling HD2, and import it from there, as their 'NextG' network is 850Mhz.
I know cause I just did the same with my HD. Got an aussie unit, and unlocked it. (internet buy)
As for myself, based on my 6 months experiance with the HD, I will get tomorrow my EU version. Yes, will not have 3G, but quite frankly, the 3G is almost useless for me because at leat on the HD it drained my 1350mAh battery pretty quick, being on 3G. I had to install WMlonglife and has been on a 2G network most of the time. Another thing - It is pretty easy to be on Wi Fi at home, at office, at starbucks, etc.. lots of free access points. For emails/SMS the 2G is good enough regardless.. So - I went with the EU version. BTW- I know expansys sells it for $784, but check www.networkingrus.com (hope I do not violate a forum rule, if I do, I appologise) but they sell for far less, and I have purchased 3 phones from them already, got great service and when I was over seas and my phone broke, I purchased one from them , and they shipped it to me there, it got stuck in customs, they got it back, and re-shipped to my other location while I was travelling. Very honest, and price is good.
Would i wait 3 moths? I would say yes if it was rock solid date, and guaranteed to work on the AT&T band. I decided not to wait any more, when SSPL already works (I am a 28014 addict)
Hope i helped here..
BigE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree....mine is an unlocked euro version too, and I am using mine on AT&T with no problems! It is even pretty fast on the Edge data network..... in addition, I use mine with my Verizon mifi modem for wifi, and it is blazing fast.....I am falling madly in love with my HD2 now that there are some custom roms available.....LOL
Later.....
BTW, I too got mine there.......they are great people to deal with!
hdbueller said:
I agree....mine is an unlocked euro version too, and I am using mine on AT&T with no problems! It is even pretty fast on the Edge data network..... in addition, I use mine with my Verizon mifi modem for wifi, and it is blazing fast.....I am falling madly in love with my HD2 now that there are some custom roms available.....LOL
Later.....
BTW, I too got mine there.......they are great people to deal with!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang! I did not know of that place. I bought mine on ebay. It came with everything and a 8GB memory card instead of 2GB. Bought it for $764 + 8% cashback.
Also using mine on AT&T no prob
I bought a Euro model as well, using it in the US on T-Mo and not regretting a thing: IN fact, I had a HD the year before. No 3G, don't care.
On top of that, I got my wife a TP2 through T-Mo. She used it 10 days, finding the 3G to be disappointing. I didn't do a head to head between the T-Mo 3G and my EDGE, that would just be silly.
My concern about a T-Mo version of Leo, assuming the rumors are correct, is what happens to the T-Mo specific functions, and can it be flashed by one of the magnificent custom ROM's available here on XDA? The only T-Mo specific feature I can come up with is 5 fav.....but I'm not sure that's even offered anymore.
The question is.....just for laughs.....can a T-Mo branded Leo be flashed with a custom ROM?
Agreed with pretty much everyone who went and got their HD2 and using it on ATT or TMobile. I bought mine a week after ATT released the Tilt2. I sold my Tilt2 few days after I got the HD2. I never looked back and the device is sexy as hell. Enjoying it even more now because with custom ROMs the internal storage is sweet (as good as the TP2/Tilt2).
I purchased my Leo in Hong Kong knowing full well that it would not work on the 3G with AT&T. That was not my main concern. It works very well. Love it especially with some of the mods to have 20 shortcuts instead of 9.
Glenn
unlocked phone is custom ROM ready..
audscott said:
I bought a Euro model as well, using it in the US on T-Mo and not regretting a thing: IN fact, I had a HD the year before. No 3G, don't care.
On top of that, I got my wife a TP2 through T-Mo. She used it 10 days, finding the 3G to be disappointing. I didn't do a head to head between the T-Mo 3G and my EDGE, that would just be silly.
My concern about a T-Mo version of Leo, assuming the rumors are correct, is what happens to the T-Mo specific functions, and can it be flashed by one of the magnificent custom ROM's available here on XDA? The only T-Mo specific feature I can come up with is 5 fav.....but I'm not sure that's even offered anymore.
The question is.....just for laughs.....can a T-Mo branded Leo be flashed with a custom ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, if you get a T-MO leo when it is offered, you can always unlock it and put a cooked ROM on it, BUT, don't ever try to get serviced after, because they will deny any warranty repairs. Even for obvious malfunation you will be blamed it was a result of flashing..
I never buy the hardware from the service provider. as an AT&T customer i was dumb enough to get an iphone to my daughter, paid $199 for it, and got locked for two years with a monstrous 2 year contact of $43/month (text,broadband, $10 family line). Guess what - phone was broken (screen shattered) after 3 months. they say warranty does not cover screen. $200 repair, 2 years clock started again, phone got nroken again (this POS breaks when you give it a look !) so now I am locked with $43/month plan, and no iphone. yes, AT&T will not let you go even when they know you do not have an iphone any more. My daughter runs a LG vue and pays the $43 until 2011 !!! that has taught me the lesson... I get my phone for real hard cash and never lock myself with contracts... PS: $43 x 24 +199 = $1,231. Boy was i dumb, or what? My new HD2 was $717 +shipping...
bigE

Looking to swap HTC Magic(Rogers) for My Touch 3G - TMobile

I have a month-old rooted black HTC Magic - Rogers (running it on Fido). It's running the RAv1.6.2 – Donut ROM. I'm looking to swap for a clean (not necessarily brand new but in a similar condition) My Touch 3G - TMobile. I'm looking to switch from Fido to Wind Mobile but the Rogers HTC Magic radio is not compatible with the 1700/2100 bands that Wind Mobile is on. My understanding is that T-Mobile phones work on those bands. Either reply or pm me for any offers.
u are in luck my man
I have an unlocked t-mobile my touch 3g but unfortunately I have at&t so no 3g I'm having the exact same problem but how would we set up the trade trade
Location, Location
I live in Toronto, not too sure if you do. If so we can definitely setup a meet and maybe a chance to check out the phone. Let me know.
RE: Location. Location
I live in DC closest I can think of. Is NY
RE: Location Location
I'm sorry my fault what I meant to say was that I live in DC but the closest place to meet for us would be New York City I'm guessing that would be halfway for both of us, thats if u dont mind traveling if u do I understand. but I'm willing to trade, phone is in very nice condition I just sold my iphone so I had it for about 2 weeks now and not having 3g is starting to get to me
Trying to figure this out
Sorry for the delayed response. I wouldn't be able to travel that far until a couple of weeks from now but would you know of a shipping service or something that we can utilize to facilitate a swap perhaps.
But How ?
Ive been doing a little research on a couple of sites that offer swapping services, but since this is the first time Ive tried to do something like this I'm not sure of the logistics. I dont want to end up with a Brick or a damaged phone or no phone at all and vise versa. Here are a list of the sites im talking about, SwapAce.com, [email protected], and Ive not taken a look at these yet, Swaptree.com UExchange.com BarterQuest.com I dont know if they offer shipping services or if they just help u find people to swap stuff. I would rather we both check the phones out in person to make sure we are both satisfied, you sound like a sincere person but if there is no other way im willing to ship the phone if u are. But how ?

Droid Pro for Europe?

Hi board,
I've been closely following the Droid Pro since its announcement, as I love the form factor, and I was wondering if it would ever land in Europe - and as far as I am concerned, in France .
I couldn't find anything about that, but maybe I missed something!
Thanks for any hint!
It does have European 3G(along of course American CDMA 3G), so you could always buy one off ebay get it unlocked and you should be set for use with whatever sim you choose(default is Vodaphone as they have majority shares in Verizon).
Thanks for the advice. Do you know in what the unlocking process consists?
I've read that it was basically hardwired against AT&T & other Verizon competitors but that it would be free for the rest of the world.
Well so far from what I read the Droid 2 and Pro do not work in America or Canada without a firmware hack, but people at XDA are working on to fix that. The unlock is fairly simple, as you call the carrier up and ask for unlock code which should be free if have customer with good standing account, or been with them for like 90 days. I am sure code(s) will be listed somewhere in the coming weeks(it just came to retail stores today as it was online only at first) if you google it.

Droid Pro on Virgin / T-Mobile UK 3G?

Hi all,
I am about to import an activated (with included Verizon unlock code) Droid Pro into the UK so all the essential bases should be covered. However, I saw that some people were having real problems with getting 3G reception on their Droid Pros in Europe. Does anybody have any experiences about using the Droid Pro in the UK, specifically on Virgin and/or T-Mobile??
Many thanks!
vivid22 said:
Hi all,
I am about to import an activated (with included Verizon unlock code) Droid Pro into the UK so all the essential bases should be covered. However, I saw that some people were having real problems with getting 3G reception on their Droid Pros in Europe. Does anybody have any experiences about using the Droid Pro in the UK, specifically on Virgin and/or T-Mobile??
Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine has been fine. I used it for a while on T-Mobile, and I was able to pick up 3G or HSPA pretty much everywhere. I'm on 3 now, but I'm thinking about going back to T-Mobile because the 3 signal seems to cut out randomly, and I can't seem to access the internet very much. I went with 3 because they're the only ones that let you use up to 1GB, but what's the point, if you can't access it anyway?
Haha, yes very true. Check out Virgin! I am on a 15GBP/month plan with 500mins, unlimited texts and 1gb of internet, they use T-Mobile's lines thats why I was asking... Best deal I have found around so far! Oh and I should say its a pay-monthly contract.
Thanks so much for the quick reply, I will proceed to actually buying it... would you recommend it generally?
vivid22 said:
Haha, yes very true. Check out Virgin! I am on a 15GBP/month plan with 500mins, unlimited texts and 1gb of internet, they use T-Mobile's lines thats why I was asking... Best deal I have found around so far! Oh and I should say its a pay-monthly contract.
Thanks so much for the quick reply, I will proceed to actually buying it... would you recommend it generally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really need that many minutes, so I've just been paying 10GBP. I've realized that I don't use cellular internet that much because my life pretty much consists of being at my flat, or being at school, and I have WiFi at both places. I just need a supplement on the rare occasions that I'm somewhere else, so 500MB should get me by.
I was kind of shocked to find out that internet here is so limited. I always thought Europe was way ahead of the U.S. in terms of speed and bandwidth.
Anyway, as far as the phone goes, I love mine. My favorite phone that I used back home was a Treo, and I fell in love with the front-facing keyboard. Unfortunately they don't have an Android phone like that that I can use on my network back home yet, but as soon as I realized I was going to be here for most of the year, I picked up a Droid Pro, and I've never regretted it. It's not perfect (read about the random reboots), but it's stable for the most part, and the wonderful form factor makes up for any minor faults.
Really? I feel that the internet here was pretty nice... I was using an HTC Touch Diamond2 on T-Mobile US last year and it just wouldnt switch into 3G due to band indifferences. It works on the EU networks like a charm though.. well it did I should say, HTC has no decided to charge me 220GBP to fix Newton rings on the touch screen which should be covered under warranty! I am very very annoyed with them; I was a loyal HTC customer for years.
Well not anymore, I ordered the Droid Pro activated and unlocked off Ebay for about 180GBP, your loss HTC. Have a look in my other thread by the way, Motorola just announced a EU version of the Droid Pro - untouched hardware! I would be very very interested in the ROM it comes with ... ) Might just help you with your reception on 3!
vivid22 said:
Really? I feel that the internet here was pretty nice... I was using an HTC Touch Diamond2 on T-Mobile US last year and it just wouldnt switch into 3G due to band indifferences. It works on the EU networks like a charm though.. well it did I should say, HTC has no decided to charge me 220GBP to fix Newton rings on the touch screen which should be covered under warranty! I am very very annoyed with them; I was a loyal HTC customer for years.
Well not anymore, I ordered the Droid Pro activated and unlocked off Ebay for about 180GBP, your loss HTC. Have a look in my other thread by the way, Motorola just announced a EU version of the Droid Pro - untouched hardware! I would be very very interested in the ROM it comes with ... ) Might just help you with your reception on 3!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it's just the area that I'm in, but we'll see.
I will take a look at the other thread.
no 3G data on my Droid Pro on O2 Uk
freak4dell said:
Mine has been fine. I used it for a while on T-Mobile, and I was able to pick up 3G or HSPA pretty much everywhere. I'm on 3 now, but I'm thinking about going back to T-Mobile because the 3 signal seems to cut out randomly, and I can't seem to access the internet very much. I went with 3 because they're the only ones that let you use up to 1GB, but what's the point, if you can't access it anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi mate,
just got my one on O2 but I cant get 3G at all ... any tips mate,
did reset
did pull battery out few times
all data settings enabled
even manually choose O2 3G network
Please mate ...anything....
bako.li said:
hi mate,
just got my one on O2 but I cant get 3G at all ... any tips mate,
did reset
did pull battery out few times
all data settings enabled
even manually choose O2 3G network
Please mate ...anything....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you set up the APN properly? I know I had to set up the APN when I switched to 3. I've never tried O2, so I don't know for sure, but that's the only guess that I've got.
Try the APN settings in this post:
http://forum.whatmobile.net/showpost.php?p=292435&postcount=4
Or, you can try entering your number on their website and seeing if they provide any suggestions for the settings:
http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI...7386165,K=6474,Sxi=8,T=Mobile_support,cmd=new
Untouched indeed
vivid22 said:
Really? I feel that the internet here was pretty nice... I was using an HTC Touch Diamond2 on T-Mobile US last year and it just wouldnt switch into 3G due to band indifferences. It works on the EU networks like a charm though.. well it did I should say, HTC has no decided to charge me 220GBP to fix Newton rings on the touch screen which should be covered under warranty! I am very very annoyed with them; I was a loyal HTC customer for years.
Well not anymore, I ordered the Droid Pro activated and unlocked off Ebay for about 180GBP, your loss HTC. Have a look in my other thread by the way, Motorola just announced a EU version of the Droid Pro - untouched hardware! I would be very very interested in the ROM it comes with ... ) Might just help you with your reception on 3!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also welcome an untouched ROM - I think with imported phones from the states the lock on the band limits the connection we get here in the UK with our unlocked phones.
My Droid Pro arrived today and I can confirm that it picks up 3G like a charm on the T-Mobile/Virgin UK lines. Reception is fairly good too, was never really strong where I live anyways but still quite speedy. So far now problems with any cut-outs, freezing etc... really stable. Did an OTA update as soon as I turned it on.
The seller fortunately supplied me with the original unlock code by verizon and it was pretty much just popping my card in, entering the code and boom it was ready to go.
Make sure when you want to import a Droid Pro into Europe:
* the seller is in good standing with Verizon
* the phone is not listed as having a bad ESN (impossible to activate!)
* asking the seller to activate it for you before it ships (so you can actually unlock it!)
* in my case, my seller was even kind enough to phone up Verizon for an unlock code, saves u the work of buying one.
Also, as in recent developments, Verizon seems to change the unlock codes OTA that makes it sometimes completey impossible to unlock it with one that u got of the internet, just warning you to consider taking the safe way!
The ESN doesn't matter so much if you're never going to go to the U.S. and use it, but a clean ESN is always better.
It really does suck that Verizon started doing the OTA code change thing. I'm glad I got mine and unlocked it before that started happening.
Yea but if the droid pro has a bad ESN means u can never get it activated, not even on Verizon in the US... I have seen some ways to get around it, but it doesnt really seem proven yet how reliable that is, e.g after an OTA update? Regardless, to have the least trouble getting it over here, recommendation should be to go for an activated w/ orignial verizon unlock code.
Thinking of selling mine
I may be getting a company phone so I might be selling mine.
I'm based in the UK.
Phone is unlocked and comes with extended battery, screen protectors, box etc, and is in EXCELLENT condition.
Asking £300 - meet in person preferred. Based in Birmingham, UK.
Please get in touch if you're interested.
Hi,
I have a Droid Pro in the UK on T-mobile and i find that although i get signal and 3G android only ever displays 1bar signal but under system prefs the signal is strong, apps sometimes say network error. over at the droid forums they have noticed this to be an issue with no fix.
Thanks

[Q] Canadian Note 4 in UK on O2

I'm going to the UK at the end of the week and I want to buy a SIM for my Canadian Note 4 (N910W8). If I buy a SIM with O2, should I get the 3G or the 4G version? I am not sure if the 4G will work on this phone or not.
Alternatively, if any UK members can recommend something other than O2, I'm all ears. (I don't care that much about minutes, but SMS would be nice, data the priority).
Thanks.
Hi,
EE or Vodafone look like your best shot at using 4G here in the UK. Details of the bands the different operators use can be found here:
http://www.4g.co.uk/4g-networks/
I got the phone band specs from here:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4-6434.php
Wooba99 said:
I'm going to the UK at the end of the week and I want to buy a SIM for my Canadian Note 4 (N910W8). If I buy a SIM with O2, should I get the 3G or the 4G version? I am not sure if the 4G will work on this phone or not.
Alternatively, if any UK members can recommend something other than O2, I'm all ears. (I don't care that much about minutes, but SMS would be nice, data the priority).
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're only here for a short period of time, you might want to try GiffGaff (https://giffgaff.com/). They use the O2 infrastructure, but have better packages for short term use (they call them 'goodybags'). Not sure if they've got 4G available as yet, but 3G is generally quite good from what recent users have told me.

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