Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today launched a new top tier ‘Ultimate‘ mobile plan, which combines the usual services with a range of benefits that are said to be worth more than £1,000 across the contract duration. Some of those include Ultimate cover, O2 Switch Up, an Extra from O2, McAfee Mobile Security Plus and inclusive roaming in 123 destinations worldwide.
The Ultimate Plan is available to both new and existing customers starting from £50.99 per month, which includes a data allowance of 30GB, unlimited calls and unlimited texts on a Pay Monthly tariff with a handset. This rises to £54.99 for 150GB and £59.99 if you want unlimited data. The price also includes the £9.50 per month cost of their insurance feature, which is covered below as one of the key benefits:
NOTE: Existing customers with a Custom Plan can upgrade to Ultimate Plan or a Plus Plan if they’ve already paid off their outstanding balance on their handset.
- O2 Insure – Ultimate Cover: A new level of insurance offering O2’s most comprehensive cover yet, including a 3-Year Warranty and unlimited claims against theft, loss, accidental damage and breakdown. Customers can also benefit from same-day delivery of a replacement device if the claim is successful before 12 noon, available Monday – Friday.
- O2 Switch Up: Perfect for customers who like to keep up with the latest handset, O2 Switch Up enables customers to swap their current phone for any of the latest and greatest, or one of O2’s Like New mobiles, every 90 days.
- Extras from O2: Customers can unlock even more value with an Extra included for the lifetime of their Ultimate Plan – choosing from options such as Disney+ Premium Plan, Amazon Prime and Cafeyn.
- Online Privacy and Identity Protection McAfee Mobile Security Plus provides comprehensive privacy and identity protection, including VPN, safe browsing and Text Scam Detector, an AI powered feature that warns you of suspicious links in texts before you click.
- O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate: Ideal for globe trotters, customers can roam freely in more countries than ever before (123 destinations worldwide), including the USA, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey and Dubai, usually £6 per day with O2 Travel. A 25GB fair usage policy applies on data.
- Priority from O2: For those that love getting more for their money, O2 customers can enjoy daily treats, experiences and early access to the most sought-after tickets in entertainment, with exclusive benefits worth nearly £500 a year according to Uswitch.
- Flexibility: O2 Pay Monthly customers can flex their plan to suit their needs by changing the amount of data they have and their contract length once a month (at no extra cost) via the My O2 app.
Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at VMO2, said: “Mobiles are essential to everyday life, so we’re putting the very best of O2 into one flexible plan, packed with perks for our customers to enjoy. With added benefits worth over £1,000, and carefully chosen based on what we know our customers want, Ultimate Plan offers enhanced value and freedom unlike any other mobile plan.”
A quick look at O2’s website this morning shows the plans, albeit at a different cost, with 30GB Ultimate starting at £32.49 per month, then 150GB for £35.49 and Unlimited for £44.49 on a 24-month term. But these prices are for the SIM Only service (i.e. without the O2 Insure feature and handset). You can of course still get one of their regular plans for a lot less (e.g. unlimited data can be had for £25 per month).
The prices they quoted were with a device for 36M, although the Airtime price won’t change if 3m or 36m. The ones you looked at on the website are SIMO, no device.
Honestly that looks like a terrible product.
You can get 30GB for £8 from O2 via Uswitch today.
From the o2 website: “Data speed capped at 2Mbps in our Inclusive Ultimate Zone”. So roaming outside of Europe is next to worthless?!
2Mbps, so customers feel right at home.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
No, I don’t think it is worthless for everyday use (WhatsApp, Facetime, etc)?
It’s unlimited and also includes calls from your phone to numbers in the destination you are in.
The need to add Morocco and Oman and that would be an improvement.
This is quite a thing.
2Mbps is pretty comical in 2024, on a 5G network. I mean, 5-10 should surely be a minimal starting point? In a world where people are starting to install 1800Mbps broadband at home (which is mad, but cool)….
I recently tested an o2 pay and go SIM to see how the data speeds and coverage compare to EE in my area and I wasn’t impressed as their network speeds were barely above about 5 Mbps unless I used the network in the middle of the night so I’m sure o2 customers would feel right at home with those speeds when abroad.
So what are they offering that I can’t get for £7 per month already?
Poor deal, I get 50GB , EU roaming (to 25 GB per month) with unlimited calls and texts for £10.
I mean, I won’t get this plan either, but you’re comparing two very different plans.
three won this battle, 160 countries on Value and Complete plans > 123 countries on ultimate only
Eh, at least calls can be made on O2 when it can’t on Three and it has no fair use policy.
I’m interested to see what the take up for this is anyways.
(hi )
Do they still not let you put SIMs in a router? IIRC their T&Cs state you can’t.
O2 are still living in 2002
Some people on the forums have had success with it but I don’t think the router policy has changed.
I wish they would concentrate on better coverage, as far as I am concerned as soon as my contract is up I’m off.
@shaun where?
@Admin Mark Jackson:
This article doesn’t seem particularly accurate: “A 25GB fair usage policy applies on data.” That is EU only.
Travel Ultimate bolt on is unlimited data in the ROTW that is covered.
Please can you reach out to o2 and see if they will catch up with Three who cover 163 countries or Flexiroam for example who providing roaming in around 200 countries. Thanks.
LEO satellite calling capable phones will leapfrog this headine grabbing attempt within 3 – 5 years for those few with the need.
But legislation will probably stifle things,given security worries, so perhaps it’ll work for some.