Issah, the SMS Text News youth reporter (aged 15), is back today with a fascinating look at what the 13-19 year olds in East London think about their mobile network provider. I asked Issah to pose the following question: What mobile network provider do you use and why? (With a follow-up question, will you be staying with them, or ‘how much do you spend’ depending on answers).
I wasn’t aiming for quantitative statistics. What I’m interested in the quality and, in this case, what the youth are thinking about their mobile operator. This makes fascinating reading. The respondents are all from the East London area and known to Issah.
Here we go:
Zain Shahzad: I use T-Mobile and the U-Fix offer because it was the best deal but I am about to change to 02.
Nina Smith: I’m with Orange on one of their contracts because my I was with them on my last phone but I think I will change to T-Mobile.
Nayeem Hussein: My service provider is T-Mobile, because lots of my family and friends use it and so it’s cheaper for me, and I’ll definitely be with them for the rest of this year.
Gurdial Ralez: I’m with Orange, because they gave me lots of texts in my contract. I don’t know if I’m going to be with them for the rest of the year.
Saif Janab: I’m on O2’s network because it came with the phone I guess. Yes, I’ll be with them for the rest of the year.
Nhung Vu: I am using Orange on contract because they offered the best deal with the phone I wanted. I don’t know if I’ll be with them for the rest of the year.
Arron Johnson: I use Pay As You Go on T-Mobile and would usually put about £10 credit a month.
Lewis McCarthy: I’m on Pay As You Go with T-Mobile, topping up around £20 a month. I will stay with them for the rest of the year provided no better offers come up.
Junior Teriba: I am using a phone with T-Mobile’s Pay As You Go. I top up £10-£15 a month. I just got this deal and I’d be happy to stay with it till the end of next year!
Yusuf Bello: I use pay as you go because it is simple to use top up and then use my credit. I put about £20 each month and I can’t see any need to change anytime soon.
Harshil Desai: I use T-Mobile Pay as you Go because it doesn’t involve bills and contracts or any nonsense like that. I top up about £10 a month and will stay with them for as long as possible.
Leevan Blackwood: I have a phone with T-Mobile’s U-Fix contract because my Mum got it for my birthday and she thought it was the best plan but I would prefer pay as you Go. I will stay with them for the rest of this year.
Jeremiah George: I’m on T-Mobile U-Fix because it gives me complete control over what my contract involves. I will stay with it for the rest of the year because it suits me perfectly.
Shahin Islam: I’m on T-Mobile Pay As You go because I heard it was good. I put £20 credit on my phone monthly.
Mahammed Abdillahi: I use T-Mobile because most of my friends use it so it’s cheaper for me to call and text them. I top up about £25 each month.
Colin Mukasa: I use T-Mobile on Pay As You Go because it has cheap rates. I top up about £10 every month. I’ll stay with T-Mobile to the end of the year and next year because I don’t think other companies will offer better rates.
Kido Uzoka: I’m on T-Mobile Pay As You Go because if I don’t my friends are all on it. I top up about £20 a month. I’ll stay with them for the rest of the year.
Aleksandras Alaburda: I’m with T-Mobile on Pay As You Go because I heard about it on T.V. I don’t know much about phone offers so my big brother sorts it all out for me. I usually have about £50 credit on my phone each month. I suppose I’ll stay with them to the end of the year.
Steven Ablitt: I’m on a T-Mobile contract and I have to pay £15 a month. I don’t know if I will stay with them for the rest of the year.
Sandra Adusei: I’m with T-Mobile’s U-Fix £15. I’ll stay with tem till the end of the year because it suits me fine.
Corine Mbaki: I am on T-Mobile, Pay As You Go, because it is cheap. I will be with them until the end of the year.
So. No mention of 3UK or Vodafone at ALL. T-Mobile seems to have cornered the marketplace with o2 and Orange getting a look in.
Issah will be back shortly with some more raw opinion. If you’ve got a particular issue you’d like me to get Issah to put to the youth of East London, mail me and we’ll see what we can do.
I’m really surprised at 3 not being in here too as I’d always though their very low-cost tariffs and mobile-music store would appeal to this demographic…
Interesting to note how little network-loyalty there is here and the disappearance of any stigma that pre-pay once had. A good handset deal or cheap tariff is all it will take to get these kids to switch.
Look at those names – where else in the world would you get such a variety of ethnicities grouped together. London is the best city in the world, period.
The lack of Vodafone isn’t a suprise their PAYG rates aren’t particularly good.
My daughters on T-Mobile PAYG and looking around it’s hard to find a deal that’s better for her, maybe Tesco’s value if she’d be willing to give up MMS (but there’s no chance of that!)
the question is how cool is tesco mobile? I have a feeling not very… lol
I think that 3 isn’t mentioned at all as this demographic want cheap calls but they aren’t stupid, and 3’s terrible network coverage is common knowledge among this age group