Mobile Network Comparison

Thanks for stopping by for the final part in our series Does the mobile phone industry in the UK need a top-down shakeup. Please go back and check out the other posts if you haven’t read them then – there’s some great stuff to learn that can even save you money. In today’s edition, we’re looking at mobile data transmission and getting broadband internet on your phone.

If you enjoy this, please also take a look at the articles in the series:

• Part 1: Does the mobile phone industry in the UK need a top-down shakeup? – Contracts and new phones
• Part 2: Does the mobile phone industry in the UK need a top-down shakeup? – Repairs and unlocking
• Part3: Does the mobile phone industry in the UK need a top-down shakeup? – Roaming on holiday
• Part 4: Does the mobile phone industry in the UK need a top-down shakeup? – 4G and mobile data

Is unlimited data really unlimited?

As mobile phone technology has progressed in the last ten years, so have the networks, and services that we use on our handsets. In the last five years the biggest boom has been with using data services such as mobile internet. Some smartphones we now use are more powerful than PCs and they fit in your pocket.

The first fully-fledge internet phones provided a rather unpleasant experience – most had monochrome screens and expensive but slow WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) data. If you were online for 5 minutes you were charged for 5 minutes and 5 minutes was far from cheap. Nowadays, with modern handsets, you can access the internet and see exactly the same pages and layout as you would see on your desktop PC or laptop.

All major mobile networks have some sort of data bundle add-on; some are more generous than others. Some networks say that their data is unlimited with no cap, or fair use policy. This is not always true but with some networks it really is unlimited. However, some networks don’t allow you to stream or tether to a laptop or internet tablet. You can only use it for normal internet on the phone.

Other networks say their data is unlimited but, according to their fair use policy, if they deem you’ve been abusing their unlimited data they will either slow the connection or switch it off completely. Some Android phones have a portable wifi hotspot feature, so you can tether devices such as iPads or laptops. It’s a good idea to always know what exactly is included and allowed with your particular package on your mobile network.

4G LTE anybody? Just improving the 3G network would be a start

Sometime this year will be the end of the analogue TV signal as the country goes digital. Some regions have already completed the digital switchove. When the country has fully gone digital, the government will sell off the analogue spectrum, paving the way for 4G LTE.

4G is going to be very fast; even faster than some fibre optic home broadband connections. It is currently being trialled by mobile network operator O₂ in London. It will need new kit, such as new handsets etc. It’s supposed to be rolled out later this year. However, some people still can’t receive 3G; so wouldn’t it be better to improve the 3G infrastructure?

O₂ owner Telefónica has recently invested in mobile payments company Boku. Telefónica has not commented directly on how much they have invested but said it was less than £7 million. Boku has now raised a total of £22m in funding, including funds from New Enterprise Associates, Andreeson Horowitz, Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures, among others.

Telefónica has explained that the investment is a ‘significant development’ as O₂ becomes closer to launching its mobile wallet services, and Boku will become Telefónica’s preferred mobile payment system. Telefónica will be embarking on a global partnership with Boku to improve the overall payment experience of their future mobile payment system

Telefónica chairman and CEO, Matthew Key, has said:

Payments are going mobile and we want to be at the forefront of this trend. Boku has quickly established itself as a true innovator in the mobile commerce space and this investment gives us access to their tools, infrastructure and knowhow, ideally complementing our own mobile payments expertise. We are also embarking on a global partnership with Boku to enhance our operator billing capabilities and the overall payment experience through our future mobile wallet services.

The ‘mobile wallet’ is an interesting idea, and we’ve already seen advances from other companies in this mobile payment system.

Boku’s CEO, Mark Britto has said:

Payments is an industry that requires scale, and in the three years since Boku launched we’ve grown rapidly to partner with more than 250 mobile network operators, processing transactions in 67 countries all over the world.

With a vision on such a scale as this, Boku has demonstrated why their services would be perfectly fitted for a mobile wallet system for Telefónica.

Previously O₂ had a payment system using ‘Load & Go’ cards, which was powered by NatWest. This was then closed in anticipation of the ‘O2 Wallet’, which was announced for launch in the second half of 2011, since then it has been delayed to further improve the service. It wouldn’t be unlikely to see Boku involved in the ‘O2 Wallet’mobile payment system in the near future.

What do you think? Would you use a mobile wallet system? Do you think it’s the future of mobile payments?

Easter isn’t just about fluffy bunnies and gorging yourself on chocolate – it’s also a great time of year to treat yourself to a new bargain handset with the Orange Easter Sale that starts today. There are tons of great PAYG handset deals available but hurry because it’s only running until the end of April.

We’ve already checked it out and phones are selling out fast but here are a few of the best price cuts available:

The fantastic Orange San Francisco II which we absolutely love can now be had for only £89.99. You can beat the amount of phone you get for less than £100 with this beauty. This stylish smartphone will keep you connected with email, high-speed internet, WiFi and GPS. Watch your favourite videos on the brilliant 3.5-inch TFT widescreen display, or shoot the action on the 5 megapixel camera – great for snapping and sharing shots on the move. We previously took at look at it here. Compared to the previous version, there’s no denying that this is a significant upgrade in the hardware and the newer version of Android is also a huge bonus. Overall, if you’re looking for a budget smartphone on PAYG, you won’t do any better than this. In many ways, this is a better handset than much more expensive smartphones.

Another great offer is the cute little Samsung Galaxy Mini also for just £89.99. They say good things come in small packages…now say hello to the Samsung Galaxy Mini. What makes it even more tempting is that, during the sale, it comes with 12 months completely free internet! Don’t be fooled by the size, this pocket powerhouse has a plethora of features. The Android 2.3 operating system, 3.1-inch TFT capacitive touch screen and accelerometer sensor all combine well to create unrivalled usability and ease of use. Take photos using the 3.15 megapixel camera and share with friends via Bluetooth or simply relax with your favourite sounds using the FM radio and music player.

If that’s too pricey for you, check out the bargain Alcatel OT-355 which costs just £12.99. Light in weight, but not light on features, the Alcatel OT-355 has all you need. Type out quick text messages or emails on the QWERTY keypad and add in a picture taken on the VGA camera. Tune into FM radio with RDS or listen to your own music on the MP3 player. Enjoy function and entertainment with this stylish phone.