richard_munro@yahoo.co.uk

Evening all,

Hope someone can help me out with some advice (or ideally
experience...) Here's the situation:

I'm at the end of an O2 contract.
I have a Samsung i620, which I bought SIM-free, so it's unlocked and I
am free to move to whichever network I like.
I don't want to use any other phone.
I'm not too bothered about entering into a contract (18 month if need
be), though if I can avoid it so much the better.

What I'm after is:
About 200-300 minutes per month
About 50 texts per month
A big fat pipe for data, both to use with the phone, and occasionally
with a laptop (connected via Bluetooth).

As I see it, the ideal tariff is the 3 (three) Mix & Match 500 tariff
at £18, plus the Broadband Lite add on at £10, giving me 500 minutes/
texts and 1GB of data. Broadband Lite specifically includes use with
a laptop as a modem, so I think I should be fine on that score.

The only difficulties I foresee is that I don't want to use a Three
phone. Is this going to cause me a problem? Given that the data
package is designed to be used with a laptop, I presume (always
dangerous) that it's just an open internet connection, so I should be
able to use my Windows Mobile apps as well as a laptop. I know Three
used to object to people using non-3 phones (I believe due to people
roaming onto O2), but I will be using a 3G phone so I don't see a
problem for them. Also, they are now encouraging people to bring
their own phone to 3 Pay as you go, so I presume they have relaxed
their stance on this.

Is there any special software, or some sort of certificate, on a 3
phone that is necessary to use Broadband Lite? Are the 3 internet
settings available (I can only find automatic configurators for Nokias
etc on their web site)?

The other possibility might be one of the T-Mobile 'Just SIM'
tariffs. The £20 is fine from a minutes/texts point of view, but can
one add Web 'n Walk to one of those tariffs?

Any comments very welcome.

Thanks all.

Richie

Ian

On 27 Nov, 22:57, richard_mu...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

> The only difficulties I foresee is that I don't want to use a Three
> phone. Is this going to cause me a problem? Given that the data
> package is designed to be used with a laptop, I presume (always
> dangerous) that it's just an open internet connection, so I should be
> able to use my Windows Mobile apps as well as a laptop.

I wouldn't bet on that. The "unlimited internet" package for the phone
is different from the "broadband" packages. I've never seen anything
to suggest that broadband access gives you phone data - but then I've
never seen anything to the contrary either, so confirmation would be
good.

As far as I can tell, signing up to Broadband just means you get
access to *99# when you use the phone as a modem.

They sell sim-only packs in their shops, so I can't see your phone
being a problem.

Ian

richard_munro@yahoo.co.uk

On 27 Nov, 23:57, Ian <ian.gro...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On 27 Nov, 22:57, richard_mu...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>
> > The only difficulties I foresee is that I don't want to use a Three
> > phone. Is this going to cause me a problem? Given that the data
> > package is designed to be used with a laptop, I presume (always
> > dangerous) that it's just an open internet connection, so I should be
> > able to use my Windows Mobile apps as well as a laptop.
>
> I wouldn't bet on that. The "unlimited internet" package for the phone
> is different from the "broadband" packages. I've never seen anything
> to suggest that broadband access gives you phone data - but then I've
> never seen anything to the contrary either, so confirmation would be
> good.
>
> As far as I can tell, signing up to Broadband just means you get
> access to *99# when you use the phone as a modem.
>
> They sell sim-only packs in their shops, so I can't see your phone
> being a problem.
>
> Ian

Thanks Ian. I'm pretty confident about the laptop thing - I think
it's new. On their 'Add-ons' page there is an 'Internet Max' package
at £5 which gives 'Unlimited' internet access on your mobile, and also
a 'Broadband Lite' pack at £10. This is described as:

'Browse the internet, read your email and download large files while
you're on the move. Mobile Broadband gives you access to the internet
at speeds of up to 384 kbps on our 3G network, and at broadband speeds
when you covered by our Turbo network! All this without the need for a
fixed line connection or an expensive datacard.

Customers with Add Broadband will also be able to access mobile web
sites on their 3 mobile using their data allowance.

Add Broadband Lite costs £10 per month for 1GB of data and 10p for
every MB of additional data used. '

That's the one I'm looking at.

To be honest, it's more the difficulty (or otherwise) of finding the
right settings that I'm concerned about. Agree that the SIM-only
packs make it seem unlikely that they'll be fussed about me using a
non-3 phone these days.

Ian

On 28 Nov, 00:10, richard_mu...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

> Thanks Ian. I'm pretty confident about the laptop thing - I think
> it's new. On their 'Add-ons' page there is an 'Internet Max' package
> at £5 which gives 'Unlimited' internet access on your mobile, and also
> a 'Broadband Lite' pack at £10. This is described as:
>
> ...
>
> Customers with Add Broadband will also be able to access mobile web
> sites on their 3 mobile using their data allowance.

Ah-ha. I hadn't seen that bit. Thanks - got a url?

> To be honest, it's more the difficulty (or otherwise) of finding the
> right settings that I'm concerned about. Agree that the SIM-only
> packs make it seem unlikely that they'll be fussed about me using a
> non-3 phone these days.

What setting do you need? From my brief fiddle with their version of
the Huawei 220 modem, it's dial *99#, access point three.co.uk and
that's it ...

Ian

steve

In article <730a6e2b-ad7f-4846-a554-fcd45e750713
@g30g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, richard_munro@yahoo.co.uk says...
>
> The other possibility might be one of the T-Mobile 'Just SIM'
> tariffs. The £20 is fine from a minutes/texts point of view, but can
> one add Web 'n Walk to one of those tariffs?
>

Well "Just SIM" replaced "SIM only" which was £7.50 a month but only 50
minutes and no texts.

If it is like "SIM only" you can add Web 'n' Walk either by ringing
customer services (which costs 50p a minute on SIM only) or online.
There are options to add all three options on my account though I use
the now withdrawn Web 'n' Walk Pro myself.

You'd need the Web 'n' Walk plus or max to use the phone as a modem.

The services you can use depends on the Web 'n' Walk flavour. On some
they do port blocking (I can't use IM on Web 'n' Walk Pro) and all have
a proxy for images.

Steve.

richard_munro@yahoo.co.uk

On 28 Nov, 12:19, Ian <ian.gro...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On 28 Nov, 00:10, richard_mu...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>
> > Thanks Ian. I'm pretty confident about the laptop thing - I think
> > it's new. On their 'Add-ons' page there is an 'Internet Max' package
> > at £5 which gives 'Unlimited' internet access on your mobile, and also
> > a 'Broadband Lite' pack at £10. This is described as:
>
> > ...
>
> > Customers with Add Broadband will also be able to access mobile web
> > sites on their 3 mobile using their data allowance.
>
> Ah-ha. I hadn't seen that bit. Thanks - got a url?
>
> > To be honest, it's more the difficulty (or otherwise) of finding the
> > right settings that I'm concerned about. Agree that the SIM-only
> > packs make it seem unlikely that they'll be fussed about me using a
> > non-3 phone these days.
>
> What setting do you need? From my brief fiddle with their version of
> the Huawei 220 modem, it's dial *99#, access point three.co.uk and
> that's it ...
>
> Ian

Hi Ian,

The closest I can get URL wise is http://three.co.uk/personal/products...s_/add-ons.omp
That brings up the whole page of add-ons. You'll need to click on
'Broadband Lite' to see that text.

I decided to test that water by buying a PAYG SIM from 3 (and put on a
one month internet add-on). No major problems so far - I can access
the web, sync over the air with Exchange, download files etc, so all
OK.
My one attempt to use as a modem (so far) hasn't worked, but I think
that could be as much to do with me not setting the phone up correctly
(it's a new phone, too) as anything else - plus modem use isn't really
supported on PAYG so it could be that.
As you say, it basically seems pretty simple. No access to the 3
'Portal' but then I didn't want that anyway.

Thanks for your help by the way.

Richie

richard_munro@yahoo.co.uk

On 28 Nov, 13:26, steve <st...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> In article <730a6e2b-ad7f-4846-a554-fcd45e750713
> @g30g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, richard_mu...@yahoo.co.uk says...
>
>
>
> > The other possibility might be one of the T-Mobile 'Just SIM'
> > tariffs. The £20 is fine from a minutes/texts point of view, but can
> > one add Web 'n Walk to one of those tariffs?
>
> Well "Just SIM" replaced "SIM only" which was £7.50 a month but only 50
> minutes and no texts.
>
> If it is like "SIM only" you can add Web 'n' Walk either by ringing
> customer services (which costs 50p a minute on SIM only) or online.
> There are options to add all three options on my account though I use
> the now withdrawn Web 'n' Walk Pro myself.
>
> You'd need the Web 'n' Walk plus or max to use the phone as a modem.
>
> The services you can use depends on the Web 'n' Walk flavour. On some
> they do port blocking (I can't use IM on Web 'n' Walk Pro) and all have
> a proxy for images.
>
> Steve.

Thanks for that info Steve. It sounds like a good option actually as
it wouldn't involve a contract. Not too keen on the proxy for images
though. I'll give them a call to make sure that it is still possible
to add those options.
I was sort of aware of the restrictions on IM/VOIP etc, which is one
reason for preferring the idea of 3, but then maybe T-mobile are just
being a bit more upfront about it

Cheers,
Richie

richard.munro@gmail.com

Hi all,

Bit of an update to my (currently) sorry saga - maybe someone can
offer some advice.

Being slightly wary of trying to use my i620 on 3 due to the reported
issues around some phones not working etc., so I bought a 3 PAYG SIM
first to see if it would work. No problems - everything I needed
(WAP, Web, calls, texts etc.)

So then I took out a Mix & Match contract (300 mins one) and added the
'Broadband Lite' add-on - £10/month for 1GB of data, including laptop
use. When I first used the SIM card in the i620, I got a message
saying 'Incompatible Handset', but if I clicked OK, then it went
straight through to the home screen and all was well. Calls/texts/web
etc all worked.

This lasted for about 3 days. However, when I turned on my phone this
morning, I got a message along the lines of 'Refreshing SIM data',
which wouldn't go away. Turning it off and on (several times) made no
difference. If I put it back in the 3 phone which came with the
contract it was fine. Willing to try anything at this point, I used
the 3 phone to turn on the PIN request. When back in my i620, it now
asks for and accepts the PIN (so it can obviously see the SIM card),
but then says 'The SIM card is missing or not valid...' If I go past
that, I get the home screen but with 'No SIM' where the operator logo
was.

If I put the SIM back in the 3 phone all is well. I can still use the
3 PAYG SIM in my i620 no problem. By the way, the i620 is a 3G/HSDPA
handset, and I haven't set it to use 2G only.

Why are the g*** doing this? And more importantly is there anything I
can do about it, or am I best off cancelling my number port before
it's too late, cancelling the data add-on, getting a T-Mob Just SIM +
Web 'n Walk and writing off my £15/month as an (expensive) learning
experience? (All on the principle that there is no way I'm not going
to use my shiny new i620!)

Cheers all,

Richie

Ian

On 3 Dec, 12:30, richard.mu...@gmail.com wrote:

> Why are the g*** doing this? And more importantly is there anything I
> can do about it, or am I best off cancelling my number port before
> it's too late, cancelling the data add-on, getting a T-Mob Just SIM +
> Web 'n Walk and writing off my £15/month as an (expensive) learning
> experience? (All on the principle that there is no way I'm not going
> to use my shiny new i620!)

Have you phoned their technical help people? If have found them to be
pretty good.

Ian

richard.munro@gmail.com

On Dec 3, 11:47 pm, Ian <ian.gro...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On 3 Dec, 12:30, richard.mu...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Why are the g*** doing this? And more importantly is there anything I
> > can do about it, or am I best off cancelling my number port before
> > it's too late, cancelling the data add-on, getting a T-Mob Just SIM +
> > Web 'n Walk and writing off my £15/month as an (expensive) learning
> > experience? (All on the principle that there is no way I'm not going
> > to use my shiny new i620!)
>
> Have you phoned their technical help people? If have found them to be
> pretty good.
>
> Ian

I tried this evening - got the standard 'It isn't guaranteed to work'
response. Funnily enough, I did randomly manage to turn it on
successfully at that point - only once though.
I've cancelled the number port for the time being as I don't want to
risk it. I will keep phoning the technical people though as they do
at least seem friendly. If some of the other networks (here's looking
at you, Orange) are anything to go by, I'll more than likely get a
different answer next time!

Thanks for your input Ian - I'll update the thread with how I get
on...

Richie