Ricky here!
Ewan and the podcast team have been giving Orange a hard time recently about mobile data, especially about their unlimited Bebo. You can read about his rant’s here, here and here.
It seems that Orange have listened to its customer and is now offering all £35+ plans unlimited free data which is 500mb fair usage. This is available to existing customers as well; all eligible customers will be migrated on their July bill date and be sent an SMS and information in their bill. If you want to be upgraded straight away just give customer services a call, and you account will be upgraded to include the extra benefits. There have been reports that some operators are telling customers it is only on new connections, this is NOT true and ask them to check with someone senior. My understanding is this is also applicable if you receive a discount on your tariff i.e. retention offer or online discount as long as your plan is a stupid animal and then 35 or higher you will be eligible.
Not only have Orange improved data on their tariffs they have also altered some of their other plans. The Racoon Plan (god these names are stupid) will get an increase of 75 and 100 minutes respectively on the £25 and £30 tariffs. Canary Plans will increase the amounts of texts by 100 to 500 texts.
Wow, what an improvement last month they were offering customers 30mb for £8 a month, and now they are including data in all their higher tariffs. I am sure the podcast team will be discussing this in further detail, but it seems that orange have now started to take data seriously. Let us know your how you get on upgrading to the new tariffs especially if you are having trouble.
So the new 'Unlimited' is 500MB? What's next? 'Free' =
Mike,
From what I have heard that although it is 500mb, unless you are taking the mickey you will no be charged and you will be contacted first. In that sense the offer seems to be more similar to vodaphone's the say the likes of three. –
I want this! I'll be calling them today for that!
I wonder what package they offer for PAYG customers. Their current “Unlimited” data package is limited to (unbelievable) 2MB!
You guys should also check their T&Cs, last time I checked, unlimited did not include streaming and Instant Messaging. Ridiculous.
I couldn't bring myself to check the Ts&Cs Stefan. I simply couldn't…
I've called. They were *not* able to update the plan immediately to the 500Mb inclusive web browsing. They weren't able to add it as a bundle either.
What they did was change my plan to the new one as shown in your screenshot, effective from my next bill.
Almost useful, David… at least NEXT month you'll be ok … deary me
I just rang them – I am currently on a “talk 400” plan, costing me:-
Just to clarify a point that is a little misunderstood. I work in Orange Retail, so I thought I'd clear it up.
500mb is classed as unlimited as it is subject to a fair usage policy. All mobile networks operate the same standards of 'unlimited' advertising.
It is designed to make sure that people, usually business users (large businesses it has to be said), aren't abusing the system and using ridiculous amounts, which is harmful to the mobile networks business model.
Orange have consulted Trading Standards and relevant agencies before they attempted this advertising campaign and have been allowed to continue, as the terms and conditions of sale clearly state it is a fair usage policy, not a capped allowance, or it would be advertised as such.
Thanks.
On the phone to Orange sorting out my free browsing thanks to @smstextnews http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/07/7035.html
All sorted, the guy I spoke to thought that it was only 250MB free as oposed to 500MB (although even that would have been better than me paying
those of you who got this offer well done, because orange have now stopped it! Idoits!
those of you who got this offer well done, because orange have now stopped it! Idoits!