Learn about Three's Smarty and Vodafone's Voxi mobile networks

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Smarty buys back data you didn't use, Voxi boasts of free social media data use.

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Read more.

Looks like I might be moving from Vodafone then - need to see what EE's coverage is like in my area first though (and their roaming charges)

Voxi should be be boycotted and have their network shut down. Offering "free" data for specific services is the beginning of "you need to pay more to get better/faster services with other systems". Some people will disagree with me that it's not the same as ISPs being able to make "fast lanes" for specific services unless the provider pays more money, but it's a start.

What about those people who use Google Hangouts for Social Media? Did Google just not pay enough to get in that clause?

An entire contractual framework has been written up to provide better service to those that pay the most. I would also bet that bandwidth is given priority to those services as well.

Same with o2 providing free access to itunes (i think) and a couple of other organisations doing similar for Spotify and some other bits and bobs.

Plusnet Mobile (who operate on the EE network), until yesterday were offering 5Gb Data, 1500 min and unlimited text for £10 a month, 30 day contract. Believe it's reverted to 4Gb now, still a great deal.

This explains Vodafone's shutdown of Talk Mobile then.

I'm tempted by the small smarty, it's a 4-fold increase in data for 50p more than my (12 month) contract (and probably will be cheaper given I'll have data spare each month).

Am I the only one who thinks it doesn't look attractive ?
My current EE SIMO contract is £5/m and gives me unlimited mins, unlimited txts and 4GB 4G data. My Sanatander current account gave me £50 cashback. So, I am paying £10 for a year's contract!

My other Virgin SIMO is also attractive as I get Unlimited verything and 8GB 4G data but costs £10/m

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Originally Posted by Tabbykatze

Voxi should be be boycotted and have their network shut down. Offering "free" data for specific services is the beginning of "you need to pay more to get better/faster services with other systems". Some people will disagree with me that it's not the same as ISPs being able to make "fast lanes" for specific services unless the provider pays more money, but it's a start.

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Whilst I agree with you - I'm worried that we're already heading down the slippery slope, I think Virgin were the first to do something like this back in the 3g days with Facebook and Twitter - so it's not really a new idea.

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Originally Posted by Tabbykatze

Same with o2 providing free access to itunes (i think) and a couple of other organisations doing similar for Spotify and some other bits and bobs.

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In recent times, lots companies offering services like this have offered free trials to tempt you to use their services and then you stay because you forget to cancel or you do actually like the service - like Amazon prime.
Also like google play or amazon offering the first episode of a series for free - they want to you get interested and pay to watch the rest of the season!

Here's a question for Saracen regarding VOXI. In the T&C's it states :

"You can become a VOXI customer if you are 25 years old and under. When activating your VOXI SIM card, we will ask you for identification to confirm your age."

Does this not contravene the UK's Equality Act 2010???

"The Equality Act 2010 includes provisions that ban age discrimination against adults in the provision of services and public functions. The ban came into force on 1 October 2012 and it is now unlawful to discriminate on the basis of age unless:

the practice is covered by an exception from the ban
good reason can be shown for the differential treatment (‘objective justification’)"

I don't see anything that in exemptions that covers a mobile phone service apart from an exemption for "clubs and associations concessions" and I would hardly term a mobile phone service as either of those.

Saracen I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter..........

This is a step back from the net neutrality laws that were set in the US. They are basically giving fast lanes to those services that they deem worthy of no data usage which is wrong.

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Originally Posted by NitrousX

This is a step back from the net neutrality laws that were set in the US. They are basically giving fast lanes to those services that they deem worthy of no data usage which is wrong.

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It isn't necessarily faster access - its just not charged as part of the bundle data allowance.

Which may as well be faster access to anyone trying to get a new social network off the ground - if your competitor is free, you've got a much steeper hill to climb to get people to join

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Originally Posted by Xlucine

Which may as well be faster access to anyone trying to get a new social network off the ground - if your competitor is free, you've got a much steeper hill to climb to get people to join

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I don't think that data caps are be the first thing that everyone thinks about when they try a new app.
People with lower caps, yes, maybe... But I'm sure there are plenty who go over their cap each month too!

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Originally Posted by iamlorro

I don't think that data caps are be the first thing that everyone thinks about when they try a new app.

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It'd be one of the first things i'd think about if i were writing that new app.

Net Neutrality (and in fact general openness if the internet) is important and most people on this site should be agreeing on it, were it explained properly.