the mobile phone user guide
Buyers Guide : Networks : O2
O2
O2 is 50% owned by British Telecom and is the newest name for BT Cellnet. O2 has always been just one step behind Vodafone in terms of subscriber numbers.
O2 was a profitable part of British Telecom before bing floated off as a separate company, and offers comprehensive mobile phone solutions.
Costs and call charges
O2 offer contract, bundle and PAYG connections and a range of price plans. See the O2 pages of the Costs section for details.
Roaming
O2 offers a fixed tariff for roaming, so that you can predict what the roaming charges will be. Unfortunately, the charges seem high.
Coverage
O2's coverage is widespread in the UK, claiming over 99% population coverage. See here for more information about coverage.
Email to mobile
The O2 service is available to all mobile phone users.
It allows you to have an email address that delivers messages to your handset by SMS. When you register, you get an email address in the format: yourusername@o2.co.uk. There are several ways you can filter incoming email, including sending the subject and the first part of the text as a text message to your mobile phone.
O2 also provides online news, sport and financial news - including the ability to create a stock portfolio which is updated automatically online, get customised job news and more. Messages seem to cost 13p each, charged to your mobile phone bill.
In practice, the O2 alert service is usually rapid, but at times it becomes overloaded, when there can be delays before messages are delivered, particularly at weekends.
Traffic Line
Location specific, in car traffic reports, direct to your phone.
Traffic Line alerts you to traffic congestion up to 15 miles or at least 2 junctions ahead of major motorways and helps you to avoid troublespots and delays.
It provides fast-dial access to detailed reports via your mobile phone. Just dial 1200 for more traffic information (this is chargeable, though).
Further Information
O2 Tariff Information: see the O2 pages of the Costs section
O2 Web Site: http://www.o2.co.uk
Call a O2 operator from a landline: 0990 214 000
Directory enquiries: 192 (40p per 30 seconds)
O2 Customer Care: 0990 214 000, or 100 from a O2 handset
O2 Fax, Data & SMS Helpline: 0345 196 000 or 1960 from a O2 handset
Cost of Calling 0800/0500 "free" numbers: Same as national voice calls on your tariff.
To see the latest O2 or 02 mobile phone deals - visit MobileShop.com.
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