T-Mobile Flext

[Jonny M]

All I can say is, what a great idea. Something like this would suit me perfectly, however, I really don't get along with the T-Mobile network. Their support is great but reception is just too patchy.

What are the chances of someone like Orange copying this idea?

[5lab]

its not only a good idea, its really really good value too - 2000 mins for £55? wow.

[Rhyth]

Your right it is great idea and easy to sell. The network used to be patchy around our area also and with the word of mouth being the powerful thing it is, we're going to have to re-educate the public on this one Unfortunatly I can't see Orange adopting it into the OVP EQ's anytime soon, still never say never

[McMav]

I think if it really takes off and they take alot of customers off the other networks then you will probably see something similar from the other networks.

[Aaron]

I wish the deal included data.

[5lab]

only 75p/meg outside of the contract, or you can do a bolt-on to include it

[McMav]

supposedly a new tarriff for data coming soon aswell

[Jonny M]

£7.50 / month for unlimited apparantly.

Unlimited as in "browse the web on your phone" not "tether to a laptop and torrent all day".

Edit: The thing about the signal is still true though, I came off T-Mobile last February so I doubt much has changed since then. I live next to the town their head offices are located in, and still the signal would drop out driving between towns.

[JPreston]

Originally Posted by Caged

...
Edit: The thing about the signal is still true though, I came off T-Mobile last February so I doubt much has changed since then. I live next to the town their head offices are located in, and still the signal would drop out driving between towns.

Well, I used to work at the aforementioned head office and according to independent benchmarks T-Mobile's 2G coverage is most definitely no worse than any of the other operators nationally. The same for any operator, coverage may vary according to geographical region so it's meaningless to compare coverage in an anonymous internet forum - one needs to speak with friends/neighbours/colleagues etc to get an idea for how coverage is locally. Or, a good indicator would be to see how many billboards are up for a given operator in your town - astonishingly, the industry builds cells where the Marketing Depts want to sell phones rather than where the Network Depts say they need them.

[Rhyth]

its the same for any operator, coverage may vary according to geographical region so it's meaningless to compare coverage in an anonymous internet forum

Is it meaningless? I don't think so, there is always some relavence to be gleaned in anothers experiances. Caged was telling us of his and not making any comparisons.

according to geographical region

This is the problem, mobile network companies have been known to base figures on population rather than geographical area, I know that as fact and T-mob has suffered in rural areas such as Cornwall for many years although it has improved. Orange had the clever idea of undertaking restoration on old churches in exchange for the permission to have a booster (which needed no planning permission due to its size) set up. This effectively sucured a dominant customer base in rural areas of the UK which is only now coming to an end.

Rhyth

[Pdog]

I notice you also get 25% if buying direct from T-mobile. So the Flext 35 package works out to be £26.25 for £180 allowance!! the only downside to all the Flext packages though is an 18 month contract.


Pdog

[Rhyth]

You get a nice phone though

[JPreston]

Originally Posted by Rhyth

Is it meaningless? I don't think so, there is always some relavence to be gleaned in anothers experiances. Caged was telling us of his and not making any comparisons.


This is the problem, mobile network companies have been known to base figures on population rather than geographical area, I know that as fact and T-mob has suffered in rural areas such as Cornwall for many years although it has improved. Orange had the clever idea of undertaking restoration on old churches in exchange for the permission to have a booster (which needed no planning permission due to its size) set up. This effectively sucured a dominant customer base in rural areas of the UK which is only now coming to an end.

Rhyth

Course it is - utterly utterly meaningless. I'm not flaming anyone but it's one of my bugbears, if lay people had any appreciation of how big and complicated a mobile network actually is, and how much science goes into deploying it, they would not expect to glean any sort of insight into whether they would have an acceptable level of coverage from comments made in forums without any geographical reference at all.

Seriously, a massive amount of drive testing by independent firms is done and everyone's (well, the established networks anyway) GSM networks are pretty equivalent, whether you look at urban areas, rural areas, A-roads, motorways, whatever. But on any network, someone in random village (town, city, whatever) A's experience will have absolutely no bearing on whether someone in random village B would have good coverage. Also, if lack of coverage is an issue where you live, work or frequent then of course you can cancel your contract at no cost under your statutory rights

Haven't heard the one about boosting the signal in churches, there's stringent regulations about the maximum power you're allowed to put out in public buildings as you might expect and it seems a bit of a publicity own goal to boast about sticking cells on church rooves. What would be more relevant is the fact that 900Mhz operators can broadcast more powerfully than the 1800Mhz operators thus giving each rural cell a bigger footprint and hence fewer dead spots - not an issue in cities where capacity becomes the driving factor. But I did hear of a vicar who would give permission for a rooftop cell only if it could be guaranteed in writing that the traffic carried by it would absolutely not contain any adult content...

[5lab]

vodafone also use church towers. reason? (i know this cos my mum was a tresurer at one) they are tall, and often stuck on the top of the tallest local hill - thus the perfect place for such an antenna. the church in question got a lump sum, and an annual payment nearly the equivilent of all other donations.. quite reasonable if ya ask me

[Apex]

Originally Posted by 5lab

only 75p/meg outside of the contract, or you can do a bolt-on to include it

it's 75p per Kb as per there site, will get rather expensive.....

o and if you think we are lossing customers think again out of ten that i had that came throught to disx so they could take up the offers 9 of them stayed with o2.

[Rhyth]

Quote:
if lay people had any appreciation of how big and complicated a mobile network actually is, and how much science goes into deploying it, they would not expect to glean any sort of insight into whether they would have an acceptable level of coverage from comments made in forums without any geographical reference at all

Unfortunately many people don’t care how big or complicated your mobile network is, they just want their phone to work and it's not just coverage its signal stability that effects these people. The overall coverage may look pretty equivalent on paper but I assure you it’s those numerous little 'patches' that have a large impact on reputation.

Lets not get silly here, but you are the one here that seems to be unable to even listen or accept other peoples thoughts, opinions and experiences whilst also judging them as being "utterly utterly meaningless" I haven’t directly opposed anything you've said, merely offered a small insight into public perception 'gleaned' over seven years of business around the UK based in mobile networks. Next time I take some of the T-mob out for golf/luncheon I'll be sure to commend a Mr J Preston’s active support in anonymous internet forums

Haven't heard the one about boosting the signal in churches, there's stringent regulations about the maximum power you're allowed to put out in public buildings as you might expect and it seems a bit of a publicity own goal to boast about sticking cells on church rooves. What would be more relevant is the fact that 900Mhz operators can broadcast more powerfully than the 1800Mhz operators thus giving each rural cell a bigger footprint and hence fewer dead spots - not an issue in cities where capacity becomes the driving factor. But I did hear of a vicar who would give permission for a rooftop cell only if it could be guaranteed in writing that the traffic carried by it would absolutely not contain any adult content...

I'm telling you this is how something was achieved friend, fact despite what you've heard


May the network be with you