Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

Orange UK and data. Absolutely ridiculous. Again!

So here I am again commenting on Orange and data.

Whilst we’ve had some educational fireworks with Vodafone over the past few days, at least it works. At least the company is committed to mobile data. At least they’re talking about it — more than that, they’re advertising the hell out of it.

Orange, on the other hand. Dear me. I went into the Orange shop again. I’m a strong believer in paying for stuff (especially if I’m going to be hammering it here on the site). I should, I reckon, at least experience it, no? I’m going to pop into the shop downstairs later and get an N82.

Dan Ilett, editor of Greenbang and my partner in blog services firm, Tollejo Media, sits opposite me. When he’s not writing for the FT or The Telegraph, he’s doing media training or advising clients on how to manage their blog relations. He’s got an Orange-branded Nokia N95. It works. It’s got a data capability. He doesn’t like the Orange interface that they’ve invented and stuck over the standard Nokia one. But he appears satisfied. The only issue, when I see him QIKing I have a virtual heart attack wondering what crazy amounts of money it’s costing him.

Because data clearly isn’t Orange’s forte. Not at all. I picked up a copy of their brochure when I was in the store earlier. I’ve just had a flick through it. Shocking. Hardly a mention AT ALL of mobile data or even mobile browsing. This is MAY 2008. It’s all about text messages and minutes. I find this unreal.

Orange

So much so I’ve used The Flip to do a video to show you how crazy it is:

19 COMMENTS

  1. Britain's Got Talent? Either you're making some analogy between a dancing kid and Orange or you've embedded the wrong clip! Don't you mean this one?

    🙂

  2. I'm ditching Orange as soon as I can. As a customer of over 8 years who spends on average well over

  3. I was in pretty much the same situation as you. Upgraded a few times a year, recruited all my friends to Orange etc etc…. not anymore.

    I'm now on Three, PAYG….. their “stretch your top up” feature fits my lifestyle just right at the moment, plus I'm not restrained to a contract anymore, so if they piss me off, I move networks.

  4. Obvious? Ewan we have all laughed for what nearly two years (I know you and I have) at the foolish incompetence of the Networks at not addressing our discussions which are legitimate issues and so forget glorifying Vodafone, they dragged their heels.

    I would say that thanking them for stepping up to the long vacant plate is more than enough.

  5. Here's all the data related lines from my bill….

    Orange World Browsing : 17 May – 16 Jun 6.81

    Data charges 0.00

    Data Summary
    Total megabytes 18.8435

    Orange World Browsing : Unlimited browsing
    Megabytes available at beginning of period 1000.0000
    Service Plan megabytes next period 1000.0000
    Megabytes available next period 1000.0000

    data charges
    Originating network Place called Call class Megabytes Cost
    Orange Orange Internet Data 18.8435 0.000
    Total exc. VAT

  6. It's nuts – that's what it is.

    Orange, one of the biggest mobile providers in the world, fails to keep up with some of the best tools available on mobile phones – QIK being the most recent example.

    The company's data rates are expensive. For some reason Orange has disabled half of the functions on my Nokia N95 – and now I've been in Ireland for a week, I'm dreading the phone bill for the little bit of roaming I did.

    First chance I get to move networks, I'm off. The is question – where?

  7. Ah, appears Orange is one of those old school operators where data is this horrible new fangled thing you don't want to worry about, sir … have a look at this SMS and call package instead. Internet on phones eh? Whatever next!? But still, if you MUST have it, well, it's a premium service, very expensive to provide and new and complicated. That'll be

  8. I never really liked their animal pricing, it doesn't give you any info. Imagine how a NORMOB feels when looking through their price plans? Instead of simplifying it, they've complicated it even more.

  9. I never really liked their animal pricing, it doesn't give you any info. Imagine how a NORMOB feels when looking through their price plans? Instead of simplifying it, they've complicated it even more.

  10. Ah, appears Orange is one of those old school operators where data is this horrible new fangled thing you don't want to worry about, sir … have a look at this SMS and call package instead. Internet on phones eh? Whatever next!? But still, if you MUST have it, well, it's a premium service, very expensive to provide and new and complicated. That'll be £100 per kilobyte sir, and think yourself lucky!

  11. I never really liked their animal pricing, it doesn't give you any info. Imagine how a NORMOB feels when looking through their price plans? Instead of simplifying it, they've complicated it even more.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...