Here’s an introduction to Daniel Pullen — a new recruit to Mobile Industry Review. Daniel is shortly heading off to Uni and I’ve asked him to give us a horse’s-mouth style viewpoint on just how the mobile operators pitch him during the Fresher’s Week (the introductory shenanigans popular at most UK Universities). Plus, I’ve tasked him to monitor the mobile trends he sees amongst his fellow students, so standby for more from Dan in the future.
Over to Dan:
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Hi all — I’m Daniel Pullen; I am 18 years old and currently living in Suffolk near to Norwich. I will soon be attending Sussex University in Falmer, Brighton, where key events such Fresher’s Week means that — in particular, Mobile companies — along with banks, sports brands and so on will be lining up to offer discount rates and freebies to new students. I am aiming to bring you reports of these across the coming months.
Over the last few years I have had a great deal of experience with mobile phones and other portable devices from brands such as Sharp, Motorola, Archos and Apple.
My current mobile contract is a Vodafone £35 a month price plan purchased from Phones4U with an LG Prada KE850 handset. My experience of the phone has been generally positive. The build quality is of a very high standard, demonstrated by the solid construction and reflective black touch screen.
The user interface has been relatively responsive and intuitive largely due to the large 3-inch screen and touch icons. The phone also has good quality music player, which is aided, by the micro SD slot, which can support capacities up to 8GB. However while using the phone I have become frustrated with the relatively poor camera (2 megapixel). Even my old Sharp GX took better pictures! Another issue is the phone’s occasional tendency to freeze after excessive use of the phone book application. Other drawbacks also include the lack of 3G support, tendency to pick up scratches and illegibility in heavy sun light.
I am very excited to be working with Mobile Industry Review and hope to have an exciting and productive input into the Website.
If any readers with University experience would like to offer me any advice, I’m all ears… Or eyes.
Daniel
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Thanks very much Daniel.
Now then. Advice.
I actually had a phone line installed into my room at University. Broadband didn’t exist and the halls of residences weren’t wired for internet. One or two were, come to think of it, but the connections were dirt slow.
So the first thing I did when I arrived was talk to the site administrator and get a BT engineer in.
And Rugby Shirts. I was absolutely amazed by the effect that a rugby shirt has on members of the opposite sex. Turn up to the Hall of Residence bar wearing a tshirt? Fine. Get ignored by every girl in the place. Buy a £20 Rugby Shirt in University colours and head off the bar… WOOSH. They’re on you like a flash.
One final thing. Practice your patter. The first thing everyone says to each other:
– What course are you doing?
– What A Levels did you study?
– What grades did you get?
– What hall of residence are you in / where are you staying?
Useful to have that speech all planned out.
By the way, here’s a picture of me and two of my good friends from Uni. We, er, weren’t studying on this particular day:
That picture is excellent!
A University education! Who can beat it?
Don't drink too much. Wear a condom. Attend at least a few of your lectures.
Brilliant picture Ewan!
😀
Ewan we actually have internet in every room in halls now. ;). Mobile operators well this year will be interesting as there is not dot mobile, who were heavily linked with NUS. Mobile broadband I *honestly* don't think university students are the right market, though 3 have tried to target us. Looking forward to Daniel's views.
Now advice, enjoy freshers to the max and defiantly think about joining a club and society.
Look forward to 12 hours of studying a week, lots of drinking, afternoon naps. Oh and an addiction to Facebook! 🙂
Daniel, you'll have a great time and as someone who has just graduated after four years of uni (and about to go back to do a PhD), I agree with some of the comments already made.
Use your first year to make as many friends as possible, people will certainly come and go throughout your uni career but it is valuable to do this from the beginning. Join a club, its a great way to meet people and it gives you something nice for the ol' CV.
I know that 3 are pitching to the student mobile broadband market, but I agree with Ricky, I am not sure if its worthwhile for them as a.) Most unis are covered with wifi hotspots and b.) halls have been wired up for quite a while now.
It is certainly interesting times ahead as students are not known for being financially focused, the handset models may matter more than the price of the contract that they are on. However in the current financial climate (slump, increase in living costs and topup fees), I wonder if ASDA Mobile or any other provider aiming at the budget market will prevail? I suppose only time will tell!
PS. During Fresher’s Week, go to the Fresher’s Fayre (or whatever they call it at your uni) and get there early! The amount of random stuff ranging from dish towels to pot noodles that I picked up for free was amazing 🙂
Always wear flip flops (sandals, open heels, whatever you brits call them 😉 ) in the shower. Athletes fungus is a constant danger.
Never schedule a class before 9AM if at all possible. If you have to, just remember — it's easier to stay up until 9AM then to get up at 7AM.
At all parties, either stand back and watch in a very visible place, or be the loon running naked down the streets — one will get you noticed as in “who's that quiet, confident fellow”, and the other will get you noticed for, er, obvious reasons.
Remember that there are approximately 342 ways to cook Ramen noodles :).
Finally, ingratiate yourself with the University grounds keepers — they're less likely to report you passed out under a tree if you do!
(Just some reminiscent advice from my own days in college)
-olly
Last year I stayed in private halls, (Unite group). The Internet was shocking! 2MB connection for…. wait for it….. £6.49 a week!!!!! so roughly £28 a month… THE BIGGEST RIPOFF EVER!!!
Seriously wish I had gone for 3 mobile dongle, but this was before the half price discounts they now offer, though the limits were very restricting for the internet usage I normally accustomed to!
That is steep! Was it FAST though? Or was it just 'ok'?
ahh rubbish I got my 1.5mb but each tab makes a new connection. So therefore my speed is very fast! 🙂 Best thing it is included in my halls rent.
2MB was reasonable, but for the price I was paying it wasn't fast enough! pretty much had to leave my laptop on all the time to download everything I actually wanted.
Even worse was the fact I had to pay either upfront for 41 weeks or in 3 instalments, so the providers were loving the interest they were racking up from the 400 odd students in my building alone!
2MB was reasonable, but for the price I was paying it wasn't fast enough! pretty much had to leave my laptop on all the time to download everything I actually wanted.
Even worse was the fact I had to pay either upfront for 41 weeks or in 3 instalments, so the providers were loving the interest they were racking up from the 400 odd students in my building alone!
2MB was reasonable, but for the price I was paying it wasn't fast enough! pretty much had to leave my laptop on all the time to download everything I actually wanted.
Even worse was the fact I had to pay either upfront for 41 weeks or in 3 instalments, so the providers were loving the interest they were racking up from the 400 odd students in my building alone!