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UK carrier O2 dropping its mobile wallet service after less than two years
O2 UK's carrier-independent Money mobile wallet may have proven a little too ambitious. The network is shutting down the service on March 31st so that it can investigate "new and better ways" to handle payments -- in other words, it's not satisfied with Money's performance. Both the market and O2's parent company Telefonica have changed in the past two years, the provider tells Computerworld UK. We can't say we're shocked by the closure when there are now many more ways to pay with your phone in the country; it's a fiercely competitive space. Still, the news will be disappointing to shoppers who were hoping that O2's clout would give Money an edge over its rivals.
You can now tweet O2 for account information thanks to #Tweetserve
Here's an interesting, if somewhat unusual, approach to helping customers: European mobile service provider O2 is rolling out a "Tweetserve" program to provide assistance to users on Twitter. Once you've followed @O2 and tweeted "#TweetServe" at the company, you'll be followed back and receive a direct message with a verification code. Send that PIN to O2 via SMS, and you're now able to DM the company with nine preset hashtags, including #charges, #minutes and #offers as well as #android, #windows or #ios (for info on software updates). The #charges and #minutes commands, which show your current bill and remaining minutes, respectively, look to be the most helpful. If you have a more complicated query about your account -- such as a billing dispute -- we imagine Tweetserve isn't going to replace a phone call to customer service. The program appears to be available to users in the UK for the time being; click the source link for more info.
O2 reprices 4G contracts, 1GB plans now start at £17 per month
Now that O2's caught up to its UK competition with the launch of pay-as-you-go and data-only 4G plans, the network's revisited its standard contract tariffs and taken some sting out of those monthly charges. Two-year contracts now start at £17 per month for 1GB of data (unlimited everything else) and go up to £27 per month for 8GB. These are O2 Refresh plans, mind, so there's an additional monthly bill that goes towards the 4G handset you've opted for. In comparison, the cheapest 24-month contract we could find with EE was £19 per month for 500MB of data, 1000 minutes and unlimited texts, as long as you stump up £30 for an Alcatel One Touch Idol S. O2's altered its one-year SIM-only plans, too, now offering 1GB of data for £21 per month, 5GB for £26 and 8GB for £31. Monthly damage on EE for the same data caps are £21, £31 and £41, respectively. O2's revamped tariffs benefit new customers, sure, but there's something in it for existing ones, too. Anyone already on a 4G plan will get a bump to their monthly data limit, and those with 3G contracts can now jump seamlessly over to 4G, as long as their plan is for at least 1GB and they have a 4G-compatible phone. And, if they need to upgrade to an LTE handset, they can leverage a 25 percent saving on the outstanding line rental. We know you love tables, and you'll find one breaking down all of O2's new prices below the fold.
Nokia Lumia 1520 reaches the UK on December 6th, starting at £80 on a £38 per month plan
Brits who've been yearning for the Nokia Lumia 1520 will soon get their chance. The supersized Windows Phone is now due to reach the UK on December 6th, when it will be available through O2 at retail and Vodafone through the web. Third-party retailers like Carphone Warehouse and Phones4u will also stock the 6-inch flagship. While the exact pricing will vary, Vodafone will sell the phone for £80 when it's attached to a £38 per month plan and a 2-year contract; it will be available for free if you subscribe to a beefy £47 plan. The 1520 will undoubtedly be one of the more expensive handsets in the country, then, but it may be worthwhile for those who want one of Nokia's most powerful devices.
Vodafone UK fails to reach imposed minimum 3G coverage, will fix by 2014
If UK folks on Vodafone find themselves without 3G in some places, it's because the telcom has failed to reach the minimum geographical coverage imposed by Ofcom. In 2010, the government-directed mobile regulator required the expansion of 3G networks until they cover the area where 90 percent of the population lives come 2013. While O2, Three and EE all passed muster after the June 30th deadline, Ofcom has discovered that the British-owned telcom missed the goal by 1.4 percent. The watchdog's report didn't detail why the carrier failed to meet the target, but it was implied that the company made a faulty estimate on how many 3G-capable mobile masts it needed. Worry not, o ye Vodafone faithful -- the provider plans to convert roughly 100 more 2G sites to 3G in order to comply to Ofcom's standards (and avoid paying penalty) by January 2014. [Image credit: Iain Patterson, Flickr]
O2 launches convoluted 4G PAYG option, data-only plans due next month
Pay as you go used to be a simple concept. Top up cash, spend cash, top up again; maybe you'd get a free text or two if you plumped for a voucher beyond the bare minimum. 4G is relatively new to the UK, and as such, we're seeing carriers experiment with different tariffs that are supposed to be simple, but often aren't. Yesterday, EE launched its PAYG handset plans, littered with bolts-on and bundles, and today O2 is following suit, hitting us with the most complicated PAYG scenario man has ever conceived. Let's ease into it with the phones. There are 19 to choose from right now, starting at £150 for Nokia's Lumia 625 (matching EE's price) and topping out at £600 for Sony's Xperia Z Ultra. You also get a SIM of course, which you add money to for texting, calling, browsing, etc. Now comes the fun part.
O2 plays Willy Wonka with 18-carat gold HTC One
Mobile phone makers are really going for the gold lately, and some in a more opulent fashion than others. In keeping with the gilded trend, UK provider O2 is giving away an 18-carat gold HTC One to one lucky customer. Each HTC One sold at O2 stores between today and Sunday will come with a golden ticket containing a code that can be entered online to win. More details after the break. Oompa-Loompas not eligible to win.
Pinterest launches an Android widget, but only for Telefonica customers
If you can't stop checking Pinterest while on the road, today's your lucky day... provided that you subscribe to the right cellular carrier, that is. Pinterest has just released an Android widget that's available exclusively to customers on Telefonica's networks, including O2, Movistar and Vivo. The portal shows both personal feeds and popular items, letting users pin their favorite things from the home screen. At present, the Pinterest widget is available only as a download for O2 UK customers. Telefonica will start preloading the software on O2 phones within a few weeks; rollouts to the brand's other carriers are coming "in due course."
Ofcom considers quadrupling mobile operator license fees (updated)
It currently costs the big four of EE, Vodafone , O2 and Three UK £64.5 million a year in licensing fees to do business in the UK, but Ofcom is currently weighing-up plans to quadruple those charges. After calculating the value of the spectrum based on the bids received in the 4G auction, the regulator wants to increase Vodafone and O2's annual rent to £83.1 million, Three UK to £37.5 million and EE to a whopping £101.7 million. Of course, the plans are currently in the consultation stage, which'll run through to December 19th, but we hope that someone points out the likelihood of the cost being passed down to users. Update: Ofcom has gotten in touch to add that the new tariffs were calculated in proportion to the payments received for the 4G spectrum auction.
O2 announces iPhone 5s pricing plans and they aren't cheap
O2 has officially announced its price plans for the iPhone 5s -- and they aren't pretty. As noted by Cnet, O2 now breaks up its tariffs for all phones sold under the "Refresh" plan, as the iPhone 5s will be. The tariffs are split between the cost of the phone and the airtime plans you purchase with the phone. To get 1 GB of 3G data, unlimited texts and messages will cost you £17 GBP. But that's just for the data plan. If you want a free 16 GB iPhone 5s with that, it will cost you £42 per month. The price goes up to £47 per month if you want 1 GB of 4G data. Customers can get the plan price down by paying £320 upfront for a 16 GB iPhone 5s. In that case, the monthly plan price drops to £32. But considering you can buy an unlocked 16 GB iPhone 5s from Apple for £549, it might just be better to do that and then buy one of the pretty reasonable Three data plans, all of which offer unlimited data. For example, the unlimited data plan I have from Three costs me £21 a month. O2, like other carriers, is not offering pre-orders on the iPhone 5s. It will go on sale on O2's website at 12:01 AM on September 20.
The iPhone 5s and 5c in the UK: what you need to know
The dust has settled on Apple's 2013-era iPhone launch, so it's time that we delved into what the damage is here in 'ol Blighty. EE, along with its buddies Orange and T-Mobile, has confirmed that it'll carry both the iPhone 5s and 5c from launch. LTE contract users who are six months into their EE deal will also be able to take advantage of the conveniently-announced Swap service. O2 has said that customers will be able to use O2 Refresh to upgrade their handset from launch, and Vodafone and Three have both given the thumbs-up to carrying the pair of handsets. No-one's talking about specific contract pricing, but we expect carriers will drip-feed this information in poker-faced chunks between now and the September 20th launch date. iPhone off-contract pricing (UK) 16GB 32GB 64GB iPhone 5s £549 £629 £709 iPhone 5c £469 £549 N/A Prices subject to change
Nokia Lumia 625 reaches the UK on August 28th with LTE on three networks
Brits who've wanted Nokia's budget phone ambitions writ large -- namely, the Lumia 625 -- won't have to wait much longer. The 4.7-inch Windows Phone will be available on August 28th through EE, O2, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U. If you're interested, you can pick up the device for free on a £21 per month contract, or buy it outright for £179 on pay-as-you-go service; early adopters get a second colored back as a bonus. EE, O2 and Vodafone should all support the Lumia 625's LTE either immediately or the day after, so it's just a matter of choosing the 4G network you prefer.
LG G2 confirmed to arrive on Three and O2 in the UK (updated)
Following the formal reveal of the LG G2 yesterday, UK network Three was quick to report its plan to offer the handset "soon," so we thought we'd follow up with all the other major providers to see where else you'll eventually be able to find one. O2 is also on board, although it would only commit to a vague release window of "later this year." Vodafone said it currently has no plans to offer the G2, and while EE has "nothing to announce," we couldn't get any assurance that it wouldn't show up on its 4G network, or on the Orange or T-Mobile brands. Retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a tentative October arrival date on its website, and although we're still waiting on a response from Phones 4U, you'll more than likely be able to find it there, too. So, if you've developed a particular taste for the slim bezel design and quirky button placement, you'll have at least a few options come launch time. Update: We assumed wrong -- Phones 4U has gotten back to us to say it won't be stocking the G2.
O2, Vodafone launching 4G in the UK on August 29
Up until now, those with an iPhone 5 or compatible iPad who wanted 4G service in the UK could only get it from one provider: EE. But thankfully that will change at the end of the month, as O2 and Vodafone have announced they will be offering 4G service in the UK come August 29. On O2, 4G will at first only be available in London, Leeds and Bradford, though the company plans additional city rollouts by the end of the year. O2 hasn't announced all of its pricing plans yet, but 4G plans are rumored to start around £26 a month. O2's 4G network actually won't work with the current iPhone 5 as it runs on the 800 MHz spectrum, which Apple's handset does not support, but the CEO of O2's parent company told the BBC that he would be shocked if Apple's next iPhone does not support this spectrum. As for Vodafone, its 4G service will run on all iPhone 5's and 4G-compatible iPads. For £26 a month, users who already own a 4G device will get unlimited voice and text with 2 GB of data. It will cost users £36 a month to get a device with their 4G plan. That plan would offer unlimited voice and text with 500 MB of data. Once the 4G rollout of O2 and Vodafone are complete, the next major UK carrier to offer 4G service will be Three, which it says it will rollout by the end of the year.
UK's O2 launches 4G service August 29th in London, Leeds and Bradford (updated)
Soon enough, the UK will have more than one choice for 4G data. Come August 29th, O2 will offer LTE in London, Leeds and Bradford, with expansion plans for an additional 13 cities by year's end. Rates start a £26 per month -- current provider EE's cheapest is £21 -- and you get a 30 day "Happiness Guarantee" when ordering directly from O2. If that isn't enough of an incentive to buy direct (and pay a higher monthly price), the service provider is throwing in 12 months of free music content too. Keeping with the music theme, the telco is hosting a launch concert at its Sheperd's Bush Empire venue, and will stream it to billboards across London. Who's headlining the event is anyone's guess at this point, as are full details on data package speeds, bandwidth caps and other pricing tiers. Update: In case you were wondering, those who use O2's network via Tesco Mobile or Giffgaff will also get the option of LTE, according to CNET, although it's apparently too early to say when or for how much.
HTC One mini launching on almost all UK carriers around August 9th
We've reached out to all of the usual suspects, and only one of them hasn't stuck a thumb up and winked when we've asked if it'll be carrying HTC's "diminutive" new smartphone. O2, EE, Vodafone, Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse have all confirmed that they'll carry the One mini, while ThreeUK has yet to get back to us. There's no solid information on how much the device will cost on a monthly or one-off basis, but Carphone Warehouse is already accepting sim-free pre-orders for a very plausible £380. That same retailer is also saying that the phone is due to arrive on August 9th, but we'll take that assertion with a pinch of environmentally-friendly salt.
Nokia Lumia 1020 to launch in the UK this quarter on O2 and Three
That 41-megapixel Windows Phone you've been hearing all about? Well, despite the NY launch event, it will indeed launch in the UK. In fact, it'll get here later this quarter. O2 and Three have announced that they'll be offering the Lumia 1020 in stores and online and while both networks currently aren't running an LTE service, Three has promised the phone it offers will be Ultrafast ready, broadly meaning it might run on 4G, but it'll certainly offer up to DC-HSPA speeds at launch. Telefonica, the parent company of O2, has promised that an "exclusive variant of the device" will make an appearance in select European and Latin American markets. More news from the other networks when we hear it. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!
Nokia 'Eros,' Mars, HTC One Mini and One Max name checked in O2 document
Is the 4.7-inch HTC One not the right size for your hands? Do Nokia's latest Lumia phones not appeal to your design sensibilities? Well, a leaked document from O2 Germany lists four unannounced devices reportedly coming out later this year that just might satisfy your very particular tastes. The HTC One Mini is on there (a 4.3-inch phone we're already well familiar with) as is the One Max, which rumors suggest will have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 and a 5.9-inch 1080p display. Moving on to Nokia, there's the "Eros," though that might be a typo for the 41-megapixel "EOS" that's expected to be announced on the 11th. There's also the "Mars," which is the first time we've heard that name. Check out the full list after the break.
3DS owners get the gift of free WiFi from O2 in the UK
3DS owners in the UK will have at least one less thing to gripe about starting today: connectivity. Not that the British arm of the gaming giant hasn't been incredibly proactive about lining up WiFi partners, but the deal struck with O2 grants customers free access at yet another 7,000 hotspots. That includes major chains such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Toby Carvery, not mention several major venues and arenas. This expansion of Nintendo's gratis network keeps DLC and new games within easy reach at almost all times, since the country's major airports, hotels and a few other fast food chains are already covered. Now Nintendo just needs to strike a deal with a few of the nation's optometrists. All that extra play time is certainly going to strain a few eyes.
Vodafone UK scores 32GB Lumia 925, O2 gets dibs on white model for June 13
Now that Nokia's launched it's metal-accented Lumia 925, you may want to know where to grab one. Well, in the UK, Vodafone will start carrying a 32GB version of the handset exclusively next month, while O2 said it'd be the only UK carrier with a white model -- which you'll be able to grab on June 13th. As for the others, Three confirmed via a tweet that it'd carry the new handset and that it would be compatible with its Ultrafast services, while EE and Orange have yet to announce anything. Meanwhile, we heard from T-Mobile that it will be the exclusive home of the 925 in the US, at least at launch. We've touched base with all the carriers for more info, so check back to see if you'll be able to grab one from your provider of choice.
