Comments on: Another Blasted iPhone Customer http://wombatdiet.net/2009/04/29/another-blasted-iphone-customer/ Powdered wombat guts and other sources of feelings of wellbeing Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eats Wombats http://wombatdiet.net/2009/04/29/another-blasted-iphone-customer/comment-page-1/#comment-29158 Eats Wombats Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:06:45 +0000 http://wombatdiet.net/?p=642#comment-29158 Can the French <em>really</em> be so backward? There must be a business opportunity... The wireless access points can be more trouble than they're worth. The iPhone tries to use one and if it's not open by default it doesn't fail over gracefully to cellular. I have had to switch wireless off in order to get on the web several times. Presumably this will be fixed. The next version is said to have 100+ improvements. The iPhone is now free here (8Gb model) on a 2 year contract. It's quite sensible to upgrade you and reset the contract. Can the French really be so backward? There must be a business opportunity…

The wireless access points can be more trouble than they’re worth. The iPhone tries to use one and if it’s not open by default it doesn’t fail over gracefully to cellular. I have had to switch wireless off in order to get on the web several times. Presumably this will be fixed. The next version is said to have 100+ improvements.

The iPhone is now free here (8Gb model) on a 2 year contract. It’s quite sensible to upgrade you and reset the contract.

]]> By: j http://wombatdiet.net/2009/04/29/another-blasted-iphone-customer/comment-page-1/#comment-29138 j Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:16:06 +0000 http://wombatdiet.net/?p=642#comment-29138 New phone every year - you've got to be joking - a free replacement if it breaks - of its own accord - within 3 months - after that it still costs £70 for the most basic model - £1 if taking out a 2 year subscription at the same time. French companies view their clients as hostages, and unfortunately the population haven't yet risen up à la Watchdog. PS I type fine on my laptop, though miss the numberpad, however the hernia is coming on nicely - c.5 kilos! PS Did get offered a cheaper deal on the phone if willing to switch solely to hotspots - glitch was there's only one within 30 miles! New phone every year – you’ve got to be joking – a free replacement if it breaks – of its own accord – within 3 months – after that it still costs £70 for the most basic model – £1 if taking out a 2 year subscription at the same time. French companies view their clients as hostages, and unfortunately the population haven’t yet risen up à la Watchdog.
PS I type fine on my laptop, though miss the numberpad, however the hernia is coming on nicely – c.5 kilos!
PS Did get offered a cheaper deal on the phone if willing to switch solely to hotspots – glitch was there’s only one within 30 miles!

]]> By: Eats Wombats http://wombatdiet.net/2009/04/29/another-blasted-iphone-customer/comment-page-1/#comment-29046 Eats Wombats Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:29:17 +0000 http://wombatdiet.net/?p=642#comment-29046 It could have been 30/month but I paid a little extra for a larger number of minutes (600 rather than 75) and texts (500 rather than 125) to ensure that I never went over the monthly bill. Unlimited web browsing, email and 20 mins of voice per day for less than the cost of a newspaper isn't bad, or wouldn't be if the device had any of the convenience of a newspaper! The latest tariff is a free 8Gb iPhone a with a two year contract--too long for me. Don't believe that guff about the EU. It's a regular whipping boy. The EU has just forced telcos to cut their international roaming charges in the teeth of their opposition. More needs to be done. Much, much more. Meanwhile, Skype (now on the iPhone as well as on Nokias) has to be pushing them to move toward better data tariffs. However, I'll be the first to admit that in practice I am now paying a huge premium for convenience. Previously I got by on a Pay-As-You-Go SIM and my mobile expenditures were very modest. A friend who is a diplomat is unwilling to sign a contract of any duration since he may be posted at any time. He is looking for a 2nd hand unlocked iPhone into which he can put his existing SIM. The other option is a "Turbo" SIM, a little device that fools a locked phone into thinking it's on the right network. BTW the iPhone is available unlocked in France, presumably at a hefty cost. However, the beauty of a subscription is that you get to hand back the phone and get a new one every so often (annually so far), albeit resetting the subscription. It looks like there will be a nice update in June -- better camera, video capabilities, unlocked Bluetooth etc. It could have been 30/month but I paid a little extra for a larger number of minutes (600 rather than 75) and texts (500 rather than 125) to ensure that I never went over the monthly bill. Unlimited web browsing, email and 20 mins of voice per day for less than the cost of a newspaper isn’t bad, or wouldn’t be if the device had any of the convenience of a newspaper! The latest tariff is a free 8Gb iPhone a with a two year contract–too long for me.

Don’t believe that guff about the EU. It’s a regular whipping boy. The EU has just forced telcos to cut their international roaming charges in the teeth of their opposition. More needs to be done. Much, much more. Meanwhile, Skype (now on the iPhone as well as on Nokias) has to be pushing them to move toward better data tariffs.

However, I’ll be the first to admit that in practice I am now paying a huge premium for convenience. Previously I got by on a Pay-As-You-Go SIM and my mobile expenditures were very modest.

A friend who is a diplomat is unwilling to sign a contract of any duration since he may be posted at any time. He is looking for a 2nd hand unlocked iPhone into which he can put his existing SIM. The other option is a “Turbo” SIM, a little device that fools a locked phone into thinking it’s on the right network. BTW the iPhone is available unlocked in France, presumably at a hefty cost. However, the beauty of a subscription is that you get to hand back the phone and get a new one every so often (annually so far), albeit resetting the subscription. It looks like there will be a nice update in June — better camera, video capabilities, unlocked Bluetooth etc.

]]> By: j http://wombatdiet.net/2009/04/29/another-blasted-iphone-customer/comment-page-1/#comment-29001 j Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:42:12 +0000 http://wombatdiet.net/?p=642#comment-29001 £35 a month! I have to pay that for an hour on a bog standard nokia. When I had a moan about the difference in (internet 504kb/£35) pricing between France and the UK was told that it was EU anti-competition rules that prevent them from lowering their prices! If it were'nt for the rain, and the small matter of the Grouch's job... £35 a month! I have to pay that for an hour on a bog standard nokia. When I had a moan about the difference in (internet 504kb/£35) pricing between France and the UK was told that it was EU anti-competition rules that prevent them from lowering their prices! If it were’nt for the rain, and the small matter of the Grouch’s job…

]]>