Sponsored Links

New Your Way Plans (Three)

No mobile user needs 1.5gig speeds.

So a structured pricing plan and speed capped plans make sense.

Edit: I refer to mobile plans not home broadband plans, but those could also have levels as do our fixed line services.

So people can have unlimited data for £15 per month at 10meg for example. Far more sufficient for anything a mobile user needs.

Then you go into the 100meg and unrestricted levels because a user WANTS those speeds, but doesn't NEED those speeds. The reality is they'd never really use anything more than 5-10meg at any get given time as a mobile user, and that's very generous.

So those who WANT more should pay more for the extra unused/unwarranted speeds/bandwidth for no reason other than because they can.
I just hope mvnos won't be affected by this. As it stands now. Smarty seems a much better network than three it's self which is a shame. It is very much like this with Lebara and vodafone too.
 
Sponsored Links
I just hope mvnos won't be affected by this. As it stands now. Smarty seems a much better network than three it's self which is a shame. It is very much like this with Lebara and vodafone too.
Smarty are literally Three! See bottom of their website - SMARTY is a trading name of Hutchison 3G UK Limited.

The problem I have with Smarty is they don't allow access to 3internet APN, so there are certain services I need that won't work on a Smarty connection. All traffic seems to be routed via CGNAT regardless of the APN you use in the settings.
 
I'm not sure what Xcloud and Gforce are?

Computing requirements? Thats when things go beyond browsing or basic internet needs. Gaming is not basic.

I just checked, so yeah gaming would be next tier for browsing therefore my original post is correct.

You'd be in the want section that falls outside mobile data usage in general.

Nobody says you wouldn't be eligible for the high speed tariffs, youd choose what suits your requirements.

To use your phone, browse the web and watch a 420/720 video on Netflix, the lower package would be fine.

I've watched 720 on 3mbps before (good old TalkTalk ADSL) so it's possible.
Your logic is quite silly regarding want/need. if a user wishes to use Gforce now they NEED more than 10megabit, Its not 2009, smartphones are used for more these days than basic browsing. just because you dont use such services on mobile, doesn't mean others don't.
 
Smarty are literally Three! See bottom of their website - SMARTY is a trading name of Hutchison 3G UK Limited.

The problem I have with Smarty is they don't allow access to 3internet APN, so there are certain services I need that won't work on a Smarty connection. All traffic seems to be routed via CGNAT regardless of the APN you use in the settings.
I am more than aware smarty is "literally Three". I am referring to their features and pricing. For £10 on Smarty, you can get
30GB data
Unlimited calls, texts, picture messages
SMS Delivery receipts for free
Free EU roaming
VoLTE & VToW
no contract
on Three, for £10, you can get
25GB data
Unlimited calls next
No roaming
Picture messages 65p and SMS delivery reports 20p
24mth contract.
Smarty is just doing things better than three, despite them being the same company. This worries me because how long will this go on for
 
I guess the extra is to pay for the amazing telephone support you get with Three, verse the "chat support" with Smarty!

I am with both, but find that Smarty is actually slower, out and about. For example, I am usually on the 4GB for £6 plan and bumped my plan to Unlimited for £20 on a visit to see family in England. I wanted to use the extra data to send videos and watch content on the go. Almost everywhere I went, the speeds were pathetic and I couldn't do the things I wanted to do on it, even 5G if I could stay on it! The entire trip, into Heathrow, around London and I couldn't even use the 4GB quota I was normally on!

The only good thing about Smarty is the Wifi calling which then routes the call via my Three Internet connection and unlimited voice calls. I just can't seem to use the data, when I want to use it. Most of my data is used speed testing masts when I find them and uploading data to CellMapper. But when I do want to say watch a movie while waiting on someone at a hospital appointment, it's just never there! Which is in total contrast to voxi which was brilliant in built up areas, but couldn't get a signal where I live.
 
I am with both, but find that Smarty is actually slower, out and about. For example, I am usually on the 4GB for £6 plan and bumped my plan to Unlimited for £20 on a visit to see family in England. I wanted to use the extra data to send videos and watch content on the go. Almost everywhere I went, the speeds were pathetic and I couldn't do the things I wanted to do on it, even 5G if I could stay on it! The entire trip, into Heathrow, around London and I couldn't even use the 4GB quota I was normally on!

My experience in central London is similar between Three and Smarty. I never tested both side by side, but if there's a difference, it's not enough for me to notice.

I moved from Vodafone to Smarty recently, but only because Three has 5G almost everywhere I go (actually having 5G, not the phone reporting "5G" while only using LTE) and because I can force my phone to prioritise 5G ("NR/LTE") over the rest. They're not like EE where you don't notice the difference between 4G and 5G... on Three, you'll definitely know if you're using 4G because of bad it can be.

I've noticed that they now have B32 in two areas where 4G used to be really bad and it really helps. I hope they keep deploying it because it makes a difference.
 
Sponsored Links
Your logic is quite silly regarding want/need. if a user wishes to use Gforce now they NEED more than 10megabit, Its not 2009, smartphones are used for more these days than basic browsing. just because you dont use such services on mobile, doesn't mean others don't.
It's not general use when someone wants to play games on their mobile, it's a want, something someone chooses to do outside the ordinary.

If you needed more than 10meg because you WANTED to play games, as opposed to NEEDING to have connection for communication methods then you'd simply pay more because you WANT to game.
 
Your logic is quite silly regarding want/need. if a user wishes to use Gforce now they NEED more than 10megabit, Its not 2009, smartphones are used for more these days than basic browsing. just because you dont use such services on mobile, doesn't mean others don't.
10megs is probably enough for someone to play Gforce now on a phone, if there playing it on another device, or using it as home internet, then it's not that crazy to have them pay more for putting way more strain on a network than people who just use their sims in a phone

The bigger issue with streaming games on a phone is going to be latency, I've played gforce now on a 400/100 three 5g connection and the 35/8 wired connection that was available to me provided a much better experience.. the countries with the highest mobile prices are mostly the places with reliable and fast coverage, and not what feels like being part of a beta test (any uk network)
 
It's not general use when someone wants to play games on their mobile, it's a want, something someone chooses to do outside the ordinary.

If you needed more than 10meg because you WANTED to play games, as opposed to NEEDING to have connection for communication methods then you'd simply pay more because you WANT to game.
Using apps for communication is also a want, not a need. You have normal phone calls and SMS, so that's not ordinary use and you can send a WhatsApp message with 500Kbps.

What we need is a 1Mbps plan and those who want to use fancy messaging apps should pay a premium.

I never used any cloud gaming service or am looking for a fight Carl, but this is the problem with using our own needs as a baseline for everyone else. Gaming is a mainstream thing even if you and me don't play.

---

By the way:

> GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 FPS and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS [source]
 
Last edited:
Using apps for communication is also a want, not a need. You have normal phone calls and SMS, so that's not ordinary use and you can send a WhatsApp message with 500Kbps.

What we need is a 1Mbps plan and those who want to use fancy messaging apps should pay a premium.

I never used any cloud gaming service or am looking for a fight Carl, but this is the problem with using our own needs as a baseline for everyone else. Gaming is a mainstream thing even if you and me don't play it.

---

By the way:

> GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 FPS and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS [source]
Playing GeForce on a mobile network here is miserable
this is another mainstream cloud gaming provider that lets you check ping/jitter aswell before signing up, Three 5G fails on this
My FTTC connection passes everything just fine for 1440p streaming
And when would you be in a position to use a cloud gaming service when your not near a wired connection/public wifi that meets its requirements? Train/car? it's going to disconnect as you move anyway
 
Playing GeForce on a mobile network here is miserable
this is another mainstream cloud gaming provider that lets you check ping/jitter aswell before signing up, Three 5G fails on this
My FTTC connection passes everything just fine for 1440p streaming
And when would you be in a position to use a cloud gaming service when your not near a wired connection/public wifi that meets its requirements? Train/car? it's going to disconnect as you move anyway

Three is not great inside my flat, even by the window. It can't even finish the latency test:

aKOR5tO.png


EE has the speeds, but ping/jitter is 2x the max they suggest:

E4aJZxU.png
 
Sponsored Links
Playing GeForce on a mobile network here is miserable
this is another mainstream cloud gaming provider that lets you check ping/jitter aswell before signing up, Three 5G fails on this
My FTTC connection passes everything just fine for 1440p streaming
And when would you be in a position to use a cloud gaming service when your not near a wired connection/public wifi that meets its requirements? Train/car? it's going to disconnect as you move anyway
I have had good performance out of 4G in some areas when cloud gaming, others terrible, luckily the location i use it most performs well over 4G

As to your comment about WIFI, i often visit friends/family who's FTTC is much slower than the cellular, and my attempts to get Xcloud to work didn't go well.
 
Using apps for communication is also a want, not a need. You have normal phone calls and SMS, so that's not ordinary use and you can send a WhatsApp message with 500Kbps.

What we need is a 1Mbps plan and those who want to use fancy messaging apps should pay a premium.

I never used any cloud gaming service or am looking for a fight Carl, but this is the problem with using our own needs as a baseline for everyone else. Gaming is a mainstream thing even if you and me don't play it.

---

By the way:

> GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 FPS and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS [source]
Agree with you completely
 
Using apps for communication is also a want, not a need. You have normal phone calls and SMS, so that's not ordinary use and you can send a WhatsApp message with 500Kbps.

What we need is a 1Mbps plan and those who want to use fancy messaging apps should pay a premium.

I never used any cloud gaming service or am looking for a fight Carl, but this is the problem with using our own needs as a baseline for everyone else. Gaming is a mainstream thing even if you and me don't play.

---

By the way:

> GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 FPS and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS [source]
What to take from my original post is that is solely an opinion on speed limited plans, the basics and the needs/wants are subjective.

But I'm for a pricing structure that those who command more need pay more.
 
Ah. I was under the impression it was because when roaming is enabled, it's connected to the other countries calling system since you're assigned a foreign number + all calls are forwarded there (that's why you get the dialling sound of the country you're in when someone calls you). I also thought this as Orange FR's WiFi calling page says you have to enable Airplane mode for it to work in a different country which suggests it is something to do with the phone being registered in a different country.
Yea its actually pretty interesting. Even if you're roaming, when you the WiFi Calling service engages then your phone would act (and think) as though it's connected to your own network at home. There's a negotiation that happens with the phone and that WiFi Calling server prior to your phone connecting to it, where all UK networks refuse to connect if it's a non UK IP.

I found this out by experimenting as I spend a lot of time abroad and would love if my UK SIM would just work as usual - you can easily get it to work with VPN's/proxying but then it's not much use when you take the phone out with you.

There's not really any real excuse - I think the UK networks are just being money-grabbing. The American networks all do it and everyones happy.
 
The Speed limited plans on Vodafone are a load of nonsense.

Ofcom sets a minimum standard QOS for landlines of at least 10mbit/s to be met as a USO. Meaning that Ofcom would deem 2mbit/s as not being fit for purpose if it was possible to regulate mobile networks. (Which is clearly where Vodafone can find a loophole.)

The part that makes money in mobile networks comes from the volume of data not from the speed the network can achieve. Mobile networks make money from the airtime they give their customers, the overheads are completely minimal.

An argument can be made that it is reasonable to charge extra for speed unlimited plans but I’d disagree with those arguments. Mobile network operators already make enough money from the plans that they offer. Three has always been seen as a network disrupting force, they keep their costs down by cutting in other areas of their business whether that be outsourcing to India for call centres or managing their HR in an efficient way.

Consumers already pay enough for mobile plans. This argument of ‘Oh but if you want more you pay for more’ doesn’t really fly with me on this occasion. I am very unempathetic towards businesses who already make a profit on things but just jack up the prices just to make more profit.

Instead of trying to focus on how to make as much money from your current customer base as you can, how about focusing your energy on improving the customer service you offer, looking after the people who actually give you money that helps you grow and stop seeing your customers as pound signs. Vodafone are the absolute worst for this.
 
Sponsored Links
Those talks are in very early stages, i doubt an FUP has even been discussed.
Oh not saying it true , just stating it was said when they merged aka since merge not happen of course it won't happen at least going by what person stated it would .
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6026)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2721)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2146)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1901)
  10. 4G (1816)
  11. Virgin Media (1764)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1407)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules