Comments on: Vodafone’s missed opportunity, and the iPhone’s gain http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/ Tracking European web and mobile start-ups Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:42:25 +0100 hourly 1 By: Sam McLean http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-168521 Sam McLean Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:52:54 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-168521 I signed up with O2 a few months after the ifone came out at £35 a month. A bit steep but I'm an avid online user. Then O2 changed the package by doubling the talk time and giving unlimited texts, at which point the deal became unbeatable as online usage is unlimited. Vodafone still hasn't got its act together as they're determined to put add ons onto every price plan offered and their connection rate is very poor. Customer service is poor too but I don't blame the call staff, they're only implementing company policy which appears to be screw the subscriber for all they're worth. Don't take my word for it, thousands of other bloggers have expressed the same concerns and their churn rate reflects how poor their service has become. My advice is go with O2. You know exactly what you're getting with their deals and they represent the best value for money. I signed up with O2 a few months after the ifone came out at £35 a month. A bit steep but I’m an avid online user. Then O2 changed the package by doubling the talk time and giving unlimited texts, at which point the deal became unbeatable as online usage is unlimited.

Vodafone still hasn’t got its act together as they’re determined to put add ons onto every price plan offered and their connection rate is very poor. Customer service is poor too but I don’t blame the call staff, they’re only implementing company policy which appears to be screw the subscriber for all they’re worth.

Don’t take my word for it, thousands of other bloggers have expressed the same concerns and their churn rate reflects how poor their service has become. My advice is go with O2. You know exactly what you’re getting with their deals and they represent the best value for money.

]]> By: Jez http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-105902 Jez Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:34:21 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-105902 Mike.. recently came to the end of my contract with Orange. So called them up to cancel, but you know I will listen to the retention plan. It may be worthwhile.. "What do you need Mr Jez?" .. I need a REALLY good dataplan - give me a contract with free data please.. "I'm sorry Mr Jez, we aren't going to do that; but we will offer you a M3100 smartphone for £149" How about you look at the phone I bought 18 months ago? I got the M3100 Smartphone FREE OF CHARGE for a new Orange Contract... unbelieveable At least Vodafone, o2 , T-mobile and Three recognise the fact that affordable and worthwhile dataplans are VERY IMPORTANT in any mobile contract in the UK. Why can't Orange??? Mike.. recently came to the end of my contract with Orange. So called them up to cancel, but you know I will listen to the retention plan. It may be worthwhile..

“What do you need Mr Jez?” .. I need a REALLY good dataplan – give me a contract with free data please.. “I’m sorry Mr Jez, we aren’t going to do that; but we will offer you a M3100 smartphone for £149″

How about you look at the phone I bought 18 months ago? I got the M3100 Smartphone FREE OF CHARGE for a new Orange Contract… unbelieveable

At least Vodafone, o2 , T-mobile and Three recognise the fact that affordable and worthwhile dataplans are VERY IMPORTANT in any mobile contract in the UK.

Why can’t Orange???

]]> By: Vodaboy http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-105393 Vodaboy Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:07:23 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-105393 Just to pick up the point from Prashant - I think the £8.50 is excluding VAT, and the £9.99 is with VAT. Just to pick up the point from Prashant – I think the £8.50 is excluding VAT, and the £9.99 is with VAT.

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-105222 Mike Butcher Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:10:31 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-105222 Pat - Good point. I guess if Nokia could strike a better deal they could really nail the iPhone. It's all about the mobile browser now... Pat – Good point. I guess if Nokia could strike a better deal they could really nail the iPhone. It’s all about the mobile browser now…

]]> By: Prashant Agarwal http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-105200 Prashant Agarwal Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:41:30 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-105200 The new monthly price is a pretty good deal at 15GBP. But they increased the flat-rate roaming from 8.50GBP to 9.99GBP per 24 hour period. At the same time the list of countries looks longer than before: http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/local_press_releases/uk_press_releases/2007/vodafone_uk_unveils.html The new monthly price is a pretty good deal at 15GBP. But they increased the flat-rate roaming from 8.50GBP to 9.99GBP per 24 hour period. At the same time the list of countries looks longer than before:
http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/local_press_releases/uk_press_releases/2007/vodafone_uk_unveils.html

]]> By: pat phelan http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/comment-page-1/#comment-105199 pat phelan Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:41:29 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/01/vodafones-missed-opportunity-and-the-iphones-gain/#comment-105199 Whilst I bet Vodafone are depressed regarding the home broadband sign ups Mike, I feel personally the the iPhone issue is a red herring. I would love to see the churn rate on users. Every O2 user that signed up to iPhone is a substansial loss in revenue to O2 due to the kickback to Mr Jobs and Co which is spoken in hushed terms to be 18%-21%. Obviously users from other networks signing up to the iPhone package is a serious gain for O2 but I think you are going to see carriers seriously evaluate this year the gains or losses for the network due to the incredible demands placed on them by Apple for acquiring the franchise Whilst I bet Vodafone are depressed regarding the home broadband sign ups Mike, I feel personally the the iPhone issue is a red herring.
I would love to see the churn rate on users.
Every O2 user that signed up to iPhone is a substansial loss in revenue to O2 due to the kickback to Mr Jobs and Co which is spoken in hushed terms to be 18%-21%.
Obviously users from other networks signing up to the iPhone package is a serious gain for O2 but I think you are going to see carriers seriously evaluate this year the gains or losses for the network due to the incredible demands placed on them by Apple for acquiring the franchise

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