Three Review
In a nutshell: Three is one of the "big 4" mobile
networks in the UK and operates a purely 3G service.
Three is the newest of the "big 4" networks in the UK and
is the only network to operate a 100% 3G service.The network was launched
in 2003 and upgraded significantly in 2008 so that it now covers 97%
of the UK population. In addition to voice and data services, Three
also offer mobile broadband services
including mobile wi-fi.
Three User Reviews
Love your network? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the network that's best for them. Please do not review
this network if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a forum,
so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear words or
offensive language, and please, no advertising!
Average rating from 51 reviews: 
Reviewed by tony from uk on 2nd Jun 2013
DO NOT USE. I got a 3 dongle for my computer, it worked to start with
then it kept crashing. There call centres are in india and they will
not transfer to an english speaker and they are not engineers, they
also had a set speech, so I stopped paying because they did not provide
me with a service. They said they would not put me through to customer
service until I paid my bill, catch 22. Now they have debt collectors,
at one point 2 debt collector after me. (had to give 1 star because
thats as low as it went)
AVIOD.AVOID.AVOID.
Rating:  Reply
Reviewed by Tim from UK on 24th Mar 2013
ive been with 3 for many years now because of their excellent value
price plans and have always been really pleased. in 8 years i have only
had one experience of signal issues and that was due to them carrying
out work on a mast in the area. They refunded some of my monthly bill
for the hassle.
Ive just upgraded to the sony z on the one plan (i tether for my home
internet connection) and the signal is amazing. since they have started
upgrading the network to ultrafast (like 4g) i now get between 5-8 mg
speeds at night and in the morning i can get 13mbs!!!
The customer service has always been good overall and if you want additional
phones/tablets/dongles on another contract they do REALLY cheap deals-
if you do it through customer services and not in a 3 shop.
I used to be with vodafone and o2 in the past, but I wont be leaving
3 anytime soon
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by John Duffy from UK on 25th Oct 2012
I have been with 3 since Feb 2011 on a 24 month all you can eat data
plan with a free HTC desire HD now running 2.3.5 gingerbread. (HTC have
deemed not to upgrade the HD desire to ICS). 3 network in London & east
Kent, good, strong signal and mostly reliable. When we had a weekend
outage they immediately reduced the monthly bill. Service is good when
any query arises and all in all its probably the best of all the networks
I have been with (which is all!. I really like the all you can eat data
plan, when my BT broadband was frequently down, the portable wifi on
the HTC with 3 data plan meant I was never off line! I would recommend
the network, but am looking for a good deal in Feb to stay with them.
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by Steve from England on 14th Oct 2012
I moved from O2 to 3 when I got my Galaxy S3, the principle reason being
the All You Can Eat data with the contract. Had I read the reviews here
I would never had gone with this network but so far, it's all been positive.
Network coverage in my area is at least as good as O2 and in a lot of
places actually better. The contract I'm on could not be matched by
any other network and the data allowance really is unlimited! Fancy
streaming the football on Sky Go? No problem.
I had one slight hitch when there was a short delay transferring my
number from O2 to 3, but otherwise it's been great. I hope I'm not tempting
fate, but the service from 3 so far warrants five stars...
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by samjarno from Kent, UK on 27th Sep
2012
I have been with Three for 9 years and had the following phones: Motorola
E1000, LG CU500, LG U400, Nokia 6280, SE C902, SE K770i and the iPhone
3GS. I could never fault the price of the deals which is why I remained
with them for so long but the customer service is frustrating. Everytime
I have contacted them with an issue I have had to repeat myself over
and over again. They are based in India and read from a script. Whenever
my contract has been due for an upgrade they have been very pushy. They
have allowed me to downgrade my price plan due to poor quality of service
but only after several months of complaining. They were never going
to allow me to cancel my contract without paying them the full amount
even though I can not get a 3G signal within 50 metres of my home. The
coverage is OK in major urban areas but poor outside of this. They have
tried to charge me before for sending multiple text messages and for
making calls outside of my allowance. I have always disputed this and
have always been compensated.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Colin Redstone from Scotland on 7th
Sep 2012
I approached 3 to purchase a high spec smartphone for my son and two
lower spec ones for myself and wife. I was hoping for a single contract
and a good deal. 3 offered a good deal on rates for 3 units but refused
a single contract. The sales person insisted on 3 contracts and insisted
on 3 separate credit checks for each DD which were all on the same bank
account! Throughout our discussions I asked several times about upfront
costs and was assured there were none. Not until I had signed the contract
for my son's mobile and was about to sign contracts for the other two
did he say "Oh by the way there is a £150 deposit on these handsets".
Apparently it would have been refunded in 6 months time. You can imagine
my reaction at this attempt at the oldest trick in the dodgy saleperson's
book!
So I ditched the two low spec models and simply took the one for my
son as he was about to disappear off to Uni and despite my outrage was
still the best deal around. I complained to 3 (yes - a call centre in
India) who agreed to send me a written note on the results of our discussion
and surprise surprise the e-mail bears no resemblance to that conversation.
I shall be watching for price hikes as noted by other reviewers. My
strongest advice is avoid 3 if you possibly can and I am now really
nervous that they have a DD on my account. I keep kicking myself that
I kept my son's mobile and that I am their customer at all.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Dez from UK on 4th Sep 2012
It was good for the first few months.. However, the network connection
has been intermittent for three weeks now and I've already informed
Three tech support but there's no help at all!!!!
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by DR FL from UK on 29th Aug 2012
AVOID THIS RUBBISH COMPANY LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!! Do not be taken in by
any of the offers they appear to be able to provide...once they reel
you in there is absolutely no costumer service and you end up banging
your head against the wall speaking to some powerless call centre in
India with apparently NO ONE to speak to based in the UK. I have been
with them for 2 years now and have had nothing but trouble and will
be reporting them to OFCOM for taking money out of my account illegally!!
Stick to a reputable company like orange who have excellent customer
service and UK based staff!!
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by diane from neath on 29th Aug 2012
I too was caught with the price increase on a fixed term contract and
I was only 2 months into a 24 monthly contract. As I told the operator
on the line that at the moment I couldn not afford to pay it off but
that I would not be on a contract forever and I would remember when
it comes to renewing. The next time it will be a monthly rolling contract
that I will have. Three themselves are no better or worse than all the
other providers the signal where I live is ok and their unlimited internet
is good for a smart phone
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by John from Uk on 21st Aug 2012
Agree 100% with comment on price increase. Rang Customer Services who
said that all providers do this. I have never seen this before and will
look for another network at the end of my contract. Ps My son was on
Pay as you Go with three but has left to go to Tesco Mobile.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Roo from UK on 17th Aug 2012
Have been with 3 on a an "all you can eat" since Dec 11. My experience
is that mobile signal and 3G coverage is no better than average although
I've had no download issues when there is a signal.
My biggest issue is that 3 cannot honour the simplest term of their
contract - the price. They have imposed a price increase (yes on a contract)
within the first year. It may have gone up by only inflation but this
is within 8 months of the contract start. At this rate they can squeeze
in another 2 price rises before the contract expires.
Although their terms and conditions allow them to do this (well of course
they do!) while the customer has no recourse, it is a cynical and blatant
disregard for the spirit of a contract.
The very simple fact is if they could not afford to honour the contract
(hmm - just watch their profits rise) they should not have offered it
in the first place.
Their customer services aren't interested and the service they offer
is generally poor.
It's a personal choice who you go with on a contract but buyer beware
- you will have no idea how much you will end up paying with 3!
Rating: Reply
Reply by DRB from UK on 27th Aug 2012
They all do this. Orange have done it for all customers very recently.
Reviewed by zee from Birmingham on 1st Aug 2012
The worst network ever in my life. Weak signal, call dropping and no
signal at all at most places should be the logo for three. I have for
last 10 months and now having severe problems with network. I tried
to complain to network technical team about this and waited for 30 mins
for call to be answered and was fed up with there bullshit music, unfortunately
has to disconnect. My honest advice.... Go anywhere but not 3.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Mairi-Therese from England on 30th
Jul 2012
Recently moved from tesco sim monthly to three as I wanted a new phone
and feel its the worst mistake ive made. They said i had three bars
of signal in my area so should have no trouble calling or texting, and
that they had the fastest mobile internet out there topping that of
tesco or o2. Have found that I can get no signal what soever in my house
and very hard to get internet out and about which seems only able to
surf the web or stream low qualty youtube videos. At least my package
was reduced from £25 to £20 but found after calling support they said
wait a few days and theyd call me back to check, a week later they called
and guess whos stuck with the phone for 2years.... Don't waste your
time, tescos and o2 where ten times better for me.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by dom from central london on 20th Jul
2012
appalling coverage in london intermittent 6times its drooped service
without any explanation avoid this company like the plague they don't
care about service customer or fact no internet for days at the time
in central london just complain to ofcom which i intent to do for breathing
contract buy not providing service i am paying for how they will cope
with olympics is beyond me don't buy any smartphone from them if you
want to use it like it should be used.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Ray from England on 18th Jul 2012
I would never go with 3 again such BAD Manners and attitude.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Eric from Scotland on 9th Jul 2012
Three
I wish to be fair.
Three network especially in remote Scotland locations excellent even
3g web fab
Phones fab
Original prices fab
Thereafter poor, put price up on a fixed 24 month price contract citing
hidden small print that no sales person mentions when you sign up
Customer care - far off place EXCELLENT -UK diabolical
Rating:
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Reviewed by Jaz from Birmingham/england on 9th
Jul 2012
I use to be a 02 customer very good reception.came to end of contract
asked for a good deal they weren't interested at all was with the for
4 years.Wasnt keen with going to three network on two year contract
with the one plan but I gotta say I've been with three now for 5 months
and I am very impressed.Customer service ain't to bad could be better
but very helpful also.Alot of my friends have also joined three and
are very happy.So three keep up the good work and try to get even better.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by trevor from n ireland on 15th Jun
2012
having been with vodafone for years , was always generally happy , so
upgrade time again , ordered the s 3 , no stock for a month , so decided
to try three , spoke to a few already on it , good responses , sadly
it goes down hill , after 2 days , signal was non excistant, on web
and even calls and texts, luckly thy have a weeks return policy , conclusion
, the right area and three would be outstanding , otherwise avoid and
stick with with one of the big boys
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Paul Smith from UK on 2nd Jun 2012
Awful.
They have taken 3 months to return my phone from repair.
I have not got it yet.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Sam from UK on 22nd May 2012
I agree that the deals for existing customers are not very good. I have
been with them for 4 years. Tried to get a good deal on upgrade to top
of the range phone and would not match deals from other companies.
Then the guy on the phone resorted to telling me horror stories about
dial-a-phone and orange (who I was moving to) regarding the cost of
the deal I was about to buy trying to scare me into staying with three.
Bit patronising to say the least...
Coverage on three is no better or worse than the other major phone networks
as far as I can tell comparing with friends on O2, orange and T-mobile.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Stephen from UK on 21st May 2012
Fast customer help response, but the staff are under-trained. They constantly
ASK YOU to text about feedback, and give you an annoying amount of calls
about advertisements.
Coverage is pretty good.
Prices are BAD, for contract customers who have been with the network
for a while (especially). You will pay like £35 a month for a one plan
with any new phone & over 24 months. If you go sim only and simply buy
the phone, its far cheaper. Since the price, coverage, and customer
service is the only thing we can really rate a network on, it gets 2
stars.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by chris from uk on 19th May 2012
I live in a major city,and the coverage is very,very poor-the signal
vanishes daily,and the phone often runs only on edge or gprs-3g coverage
is intermittent at best.
Customer service has been poor in my experience-somebody with a very
sketchy grasp of English 'helped' me the first time I contacted them,and
then unsurprisingly the signal vanished so had to ring again and again
and again.
Avoid.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by diane from south wales on 15th May
2012
Had a phone from 3 for the last couple of months and find them great
had no issues with the signal or connection which I find is constant.
Did have a question so I used their on-line assistance and was rung
back within the hour with a friendly helpful gentleman who did have
a bit of trouble with my accent first of all but speaking slowly and
clearly got the issue sorted in no time. My experience has been a positive
one so much so that two of my colleagues have now gone with them
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Alex Evans from UK on 5th May 2012
3 are very adverage when it comes to signal I don't think I ever had
full bar signal in all the time that I was with them and I live in an
area that is good for signal! Costemour servaces are very poor. Even
when trying to get my number across to them it took what seemed like
forever. It was even worce when I was trying to take my number onto
my new phone on tmobile. I was on the phone waiting for about an hour
before anyone bothered to pick up the phone and then they truest to
give me offer after offer to keep me on the network. Overall a very
poor performance from 3.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by diane from south wales on 3rd May
2012
Have all you can eat data plan, coverage is brilliant and customer service,
when I've had to use them are helpful can't fault them on their assistance.
Much better that when i was with t mobile who over charged me twice
and more or less told me to wait for my cash to be refunded on a account
which had been closed for two months. They got told where to go in no
uncertain terms. Cant recommend three enough no problems doing that
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by struggs from UK on 17th Apr 2012
... Okay so I promised I would re-visit my revie I made last week. This
is earlier than planned as I have just stumbled across a huge chink
in the 3 mobile network... It has no GPRS network to fall back on. Now,
while this is no problem in a strong 3G signal area what happens when
you ate in between or worse completely outside of service? Apparently,
nothing!!!! You can still make and receive calls and texts but no Internet
or email!!!!!!! So not great for all smartphone users, that's iPhone
etc to you and me.
I did a quick google and discovered an article on electric pig article:
just google No Internet is better than GPRS
Although this has not turned me completely off 3 I think it is something
anyone should consider especially if you are entering into a 2 year
contract.
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by struggs from UK on 15th Apr 2012
I have been a loyal Orange customer for 12 years spending £45 plus every
month. My current iPhone 4 comes out of contract in two months so thought
I would see what offers Otange retentions could make. Well it appears
that 12 years and £6500 doesn't buy much retention! I walked past the
3 mobile store and noticed their one deal; all you can eat. I decided
to sign up on a rolling 30 day deal and 'beta' test their service. Paid
for orange to unlock my phone. (£20.54) and stuck the sim in. I have
had it in now for 3 days but all I can say is... Wow, what a difference.
Average of 3.5mb down and 1.5mb up. Constant 3G and the phone calls
seam clear enough. I went on a trip to the seaside yesterday and set
up a personal hotspot in the car. Both my sons started BBC iplayer and
watched it for 1hr 20mins. It did not skip a beat! I have not had any
experience of their 'customer service' so cannot comment but up until
now the phone/3G has been fantastic.
I can't wait until I can transfer my number over from Orange.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by michelle from uk on 14th Apr 2012
i think 3 are rubbish i asked for an unlock code so i can use my old
sim card was told they will ring me in 3 days as they had to send off
for it ( yeah right ) now they rang me and said it will take 2 weeks
as they have to get it off samsung i rang them they dont even have unlock
code its 3 that hold them all
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by ste from england on 10th Apr 2012
pro's of three.
cheap, always 3g, good selection of handsets.
con's
texts fail a lot because the signal drops a lot. If they improved signal
strength three for me would be the best.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Jess from England on 17th Mar 2012
For me three suck! I barely get a signal in my house and I live in a
medium/large town not in the middle of nowhere. My phone whichis coming
to the end of it's 2 year contract started to play up so we sent it
off for repairs, its been with them for 6 weeks now and they've told
us that it was dispatched a week ago but we've never recieved it and
someone is constantly telling us something different... Last time i
sent them my phone for repairs i recieved it within 2 days of sending
it off, they're definitely slipped since gaing popularity. .. My mum
has had loads of issues with signal as well and even though as a household
we spend nearly £100 a month on our phones they are unwilling to do
anything for us, luckuly my contract ends in April and I want to move
onto Tesco Mobile as they have amazing deals and have won awards.. I
only want my phone back now so I can sell it on and make some money
from it.. HOWEVER IF you live in a city i doubt you will have issues
with network coverage for me Canterbury and London and fine but I want
to be able to use my phone at home, not just at Uni.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Tris from UK on 10th Mar 2012
More like rubbish,rubbish,rubbish. I hava a nokia lumia that died and
wouldnt charge. They sent me a replacement which rebooted all the time
and had a weak battery. I sent that for repair only to be sent one back
that was damaged on the sim card slot and scratched and was sent with
the wrong charger, I also could switch it on because it had so little
charge it switched off on boot up. I phoned customer care who offered
me £5 off my next bill (I havent made or recieved a call for over a
month with this phone due to repairs). They have offered me a fourth
lumia and refuse to give me back all my money for the time i couldnt
use my phone. I have refused 3s offer and asked for a iphone or samsung
galaxy s2 as i have had enough of this lumia thing. As of yet its been
6 days and no one has contacted me with a answer of yes or no weather
this is posible. I tried to contact 3 about a replacement and all they
say is it is being delt with. I wonder how many reviewers out there
wouls put up with that!
Rating: Reply
Reply by Tris from UK on 16th Mar
2012
Three have contacted me after 8 days and offered me a htc desire s or
an iphone 3gs. Not really on par with a lumia 800. Three have stated
they will not refund me or give me a mobile of the same value or greater.
I accepted the 4th mobile and to my horror it has soft key issues and
connection problems. I have decided to buy an iphone cash and use a
different network. i have suspended all 3 accounts and have started
to put the contracts into credit to pay them all off in a few months.
Three have contacted me to tell me that they are very sorry for all
the problems and will give me options when i cancel the contracts. There
will be no options for me. All contracts with them are going and on
to rolling contacts with vodafone. That will be the end of three for
me. And very costly it was too!!!!
Reviewed by fran donner from engaland on 9th Mar
2012
We my husband and eye have been with three for 6years now and wouldnt
change. we find it to supply a very good service.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Music Lover from UK on 4th Mar 2012
I agree with the previous comment about the 3 music store downloads,
3gp video breaks up and the so called high quality version suffers from
constant and uncorrected buffering. Their music track downloads, mp3
and 3gp, often end up as the digital version of a stuck record with
the track freezing during playback and failing to finish because the
track is incomplete.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Steve from uk on 1st Mar 2012
One of the best networks going fantastic deals especially unlimited
data.customer services are really good and make it helpful by sending.
A jiffy bag to send the phone for repairs and allway s had the phone
back within 3to4 days and they txt to remind. You about what's happening
when phone is sent off.also reception is good with 3. Wiuld not swap
3 for any other network
Rating:
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Reviewed by Jon from UK on 17th Feb 2012
Really Great network but the customer service is still so very poor.
When closing my account for example the cs advisor said i will take
your addons off , its like closing your account. After over 30 minutes
of me telling the advisor that I just want to close the account he finally
got the message. This is just one of many many runins i have had with
three.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Brian from UK on 15th Feb 2012
diabolical customer service!Taken a year to be able to speak to someone
who will make a decision. Finally got out of the contract. Would NEVER
reccomend them EVER!!!!
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Daz H from England on 11th Feb 2012
I moved to Three (3) in December 2011 from being with Vodafone for 7
years. So far so good. I went with 3 as the address I moved to had poor
Vodafone reception. I get good full reception 99.9% of the time. The
deals are much better with 3. The staff in the 3 shop were very helpful
and not droids like p4u staff. Overall I'm happy but Ive had nothing
go wrong yet so when I actually have to phone customer services it might
be another story.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Simon from UK on 8th Feb 2012
I bought a £15 payg sim with all you can eat data to try out and i'm
gobsmacked !!
I'm on contract with Orange which are ok for calls and text but they
REALY suck with data connection, no better than dial up most of time
.
Where as the 3 sim downloads at about 6 meg with good connection ! I
can ACTUALLY use my phone for web browsing without battery going flat
waiting for Google page to load, music plays non stop and i can watch
a Youtube video without buffering .... buffering ... buffering ....
buffering ... like i get with Orange.
I wouldn't trust them with contract or bank details but as only Network
with truly unlimited web access without all BS about fair usage limits
/ caps you can't go wrong for that monthly money, also can put in tablet
too and completely unlimited use of net access !!
Rating:
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Reviewed by Shree Rai from UK on 8th Feb 2012
I have been with three network for almost 5 years now. Its network coverage
has been improved but suddenly at my area it is not as it used to be
& I don't know the reason. I don't mind the customer services although
its from India but one thing I wonder with three network is: It gives
unlimited internet data allowance with 'The One Plan' in iphone contract
but you need to buy extra internet add on (£5.00) for blackberry contract
although you have 'The One Plan' to use BBM.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Sunjay from UK on 3rd Feb 2012
I purchase my Samsung Galaxy s2 from three network and I am on the one
plan with all you can eat data. The internet speed I get can between
3 to 9 meg. This is much fast then my home broadband. As my tariff allow
me to connect my playstation 3 and pc to my mobile phone, I decide to
cancel my BT landline phone line and ADSL. The speed allows me to stream
movies via lovefile/Netflix and I can even watch BBC iplayer.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Jamie from Scotland on 2nd Feb 2012
Got a refurb HTC Desire on a 24 month deal at £15p/m from 3. The phone
is terrible, the only reason I got it was because the ad promised 2
months free Spotify (turns out, if you already signed up Spotify at
anytime in the past, you didnt get it...they never advertised that fact).
I hate the phone but the shining light was I could downgrade my £15
contract to £5p/m after a year...until I went to do this and got told
"we do not do this anymore...sorry". I can't wait to leave. DO NOT DEAL
WITH 3!!!!I cant stress this enough people. Smashed my phone off a desk
this morning in rage and going in to a 3 store tonight to get it fixed...as
you can tell I'm up for a fight.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Andrew Moncur from UK on 1st Feb 2012
Dont do business with 3. Customer service is appalling beyond belief.
I handed in a faulty handset to a 3 store more than 2 months ago. I
have called many times and fobbed off with a number of differing stories.
The handset is lost, the battery is faulty, the handset cannot be repaired>
Each time I call the staff who are based near Mumbai make promises of
callbacks which never happen. I have 2 phones and a dongle and have
been with them a number of years but not for much longer.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Jack from wales on 31st Jan 2012
HATE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Scott from UK on 31st Jan 2012
Yes their call centre is in india but they are never rude like the UK
ones can be, i find them very polite if i have to call them. Never really
have reception issues and being on The One Plan i tether away on my
laptop and never have to worry about limits. I always tell my friends
to move to Three and am more than pleased with the network.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Trevor from England on 2nd Jan 2012
I have had an HTC hero on a 24 month contract with 3 for 20 months months.
I find the network coverage not upto scratch in my area, in fact the
best reception I've had outside of London has been scotland. I have
had a lot of dropped calls & it doesn't roam well. 3 attract customers
with keen pricing & decent sized bundles but I won't be sticking with
them come April.
Rating:
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Reviewed by Richard from Great Britain on 2nd
Jan 2012
I Recently downloaded tracks and music videos from the 3 music store,
the quality goes beyond just poor as to be a complete waste of your
money I advise anyone reading this NOT to buy music from this network.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by MP from England on 29th Dec 2011
I never understood all the fuss & bad comments about the '3 Network',
I always found them helpful on the phone & the network was not too bad
either, granted the coverage isn't as good as Vodafone but I don't think
it is that bad.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Chris_M1BIK from England on 29th Dec
2011
I've been using 3 in the UK now for about six months using the One Plan
sim only tariff - used with a Viewsonic Viewpad 7 (better known as a
Contiva N700 i believe). I've never had to deal with anyone to do with
3 customer services since i've had no need to contact them, so i guess
i can't comment on the 'rude/unhelpful' comments of others experiences.
However, in six months, i've had zero issues where i use the VP7 (in
and around the Medway Towns, indoors and outdoors) - the only places
(very few in fact) where i had zero coverage were obvious places (i.e.
if you know about radio communications and propagation at the frequencies
in question, you'd know those places were gonna be dead coverage wise
anyway) and likewise, even where signal quality was poor (not necessarily
to do with poor signal strength), i always had some kind of useful throughput
data-wise and call-wise. Oh, and just to emphasis on that side of things,
most of the Medway Towns is very hilly and built up, so it used to be
horrendously poor around here many years ago, but the main 3 cell coverage
is pretty good now, and adding in the fill-in provided by the roaming
partners (T-Mobile is one that i know of, and their 2G/3G coverage is
good around here) and it's hard to find (excluding the obvious places)
a reason why you'd get a rubbish signal unless you are say in car with
thermal coated tinted glass (which is reflective to RF too) or indoors
behind similar kind of coated double-glazing, or down in cellar or suchlike.
Cost wise, nothing unexpected - using 3 for cellular data coverage mostly
(the primary reason for going on 3) on the all-you-can-eat and tethered
provision. It's cost me not a bean over the fixed monthly free. I'd
say, from experience of using most of the networks and also having been
around a bit in the radio world, that the difference between a good
data performance and a lousy data performance is a balance between how
good a coverage you have in the real world, how congested the network
is in your locale/use area, and how good/bad/indifferent the transceiver(s)
are in the phones/broadband modem transceivers etc. A poor transceiver
(i.e. with poor handling characteristics and poor sensitivity) as bad
in good coverage as it is poor in poor coverage - add in network conguestion,
and things really go to pot. A really good transceiver is pretty good
in all conditions and will handle congestion quite well (as well as
can be expected, in practise). Not all cellular radios are equal, in
that department. A good example of that is my old ZTE F102 (a cheapy
cheap chinese 3G Skype phone, also on 3) which is also a pretty sharp
performer with the 3 network coverage around here. What makes both of
them both shine and do their bit in the equation, is having good transceivers
built in. Returning to the business of 3 Network - I've seen between
2.5 & 6mbps out of the VP7 in tethered use on 3G (2.5 in poor locations
that were usable) - which i attribute to the combination of coverage
and having a good transceiver and lots of capacity on the network around
here. Needless to say, i opted for the Sim Only 30-day One Plan option
because i had already bought the VP7 and played safe on the 30-day option.
Six months down the line, i'm tempted to move to a long contract, but
there's pretty much zero reason to go there (aint after a new phone)
so leaving well alone and review the situation come June 2012 (12 months
down the line). 3 Network has provided the cellular coverage (hi-speed
data and voice/messaging use) i needed for portable data use and for
on-demand data requirements the VP7's sat-nav software needs and for
when i have to use the laptop tethered and when i have to do portable
video uploads and UStream live upstreaming and pre-recorded video uploading
to UStream and Youtube. So i may be incredibly lucky (but i doubt it,
luck aint my buddy in life), but between the skype use on the ZTE on
3 for two years, two years ago, and the last six months on heavy data
use, i'm not inclined to say it was a case of luck. So, am i a happy
camper in respect of 3 network usage..?? Just picture a novels worth
of smiles and you'll get answer visually.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Wael from Glasgow on 28th Dec 2011
They shoud change the name from 3G to 0g you can't get the net work
at all . They told me ( coustomer servise I need to change my address
if I want to get better service..... Rede clues .
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Tom from England on 12th Dec 2011
I bought an iPhone 4s with 3 two weeks ago, I have no issues with the
phone itself. I rarely reach 3g speeds above 0.5 mbps and I just signed
a 24 month all you can eat data contract =[. Ive contacted customer
services on multiple occasions and they were extremely unhelpful, occasionally
rude and were adamant that the issue was with the phone and not the
network. Ive been to the apple store and they have confirmed no issue
with the phone. I also returned to my local 3 store for a refund, staff
refused to do so. - That was earlier today. Avoid 3.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by dave murchie from uk on 9th Dec 2011
Mobile network three is absolutly useless, I have had nothing but problems
with them since starting my contract, I struggle to get signal, and
I live in a town centre, the help centre seem to give false infomation
to customers and sending your phone for repair takes on average a month
before even thinking of getting your phone back, and all they do is
fill you with excuses
Rating: Reply
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