So, O2 have changed the data allowances on "smartphones" from June 24th, which is of course iPhone 4 launch day. Now, when I first heard this news, I thought it was terrible, and to an extent I still do, but I thought I would have a closer look at what this means, and possible ways around it. First off, for anyone that does not know, take a look at the new tariffs on the O2 website HERE for iPhone 4. It is also worth noting that as of posting this, 12th June 2010, the 3GS is still available to order, and still includes unlimited data. 

Before we go any further, do you know just how much data you currently use? Clearly, O2 are fully expecting usage to rocket with the release of phones like iPhone 4 and the Dell Streak, and that is why they are making these changes, but as an example, when I first mentioned this at work, five people with iPhones were up in arms about it, and a few days later, we have established that only one of them will be worse off, most of them assumed they were using way more data than they were, or rather, most of the data they use is on the company wi-fi router, not the cellular network.

On the iPhone, you can easily check your usage in Settings/General/Usage and then scroll up. At the bottom it tells you when the stats were last updated, and remember to add together both upload and download amounts.

So, if you find you are using GBs of cell data, what can you do to mitigate this new plan of O2's? First of all think VERY carefully before you "buy out" your old contract.  O2 have said they will offer all current iPhone tariff owners to "buy out" their current contract, to upgrade to new iPhone 4. But hang on, the current one is on unlimited, and must stay so until at least the end of your contract, and in fact, if any network makes any change that can affect the amount you agreed to pay when you signed up, you would be legally entitled to cancel the contract without any penalty, so I think we can assume they will not mess with current contracts.

So, if unlimited data is really important to you, you might be better off keeping your old tariff and cutting down your old SIM card to fit the new iPhone 4, all of which assumes we will be able to buy the new iPhone 4 on PAYG, which is not completely guaranteed at launch I suppose. We still of course do not know how much the next iPhone will cost, but we can hope against hope that with ALL UK networks selling this from launch day this time around, maybe some small competition will arise.

My next thought about this is to use a Data only SIM in the new iPhone 4. I have 2 separate 3 UK data SIM cards, one is a monthly contract of 5GB for £7.50 a month, and this one does allow texts and calls to be made, charged extra of course, but my use is so low now (40 texts and about 25 mins of calls per month!) this would not matter to me, and the advantage of this approach is you can use the phone to tether without worry and being found out, as that is the whole point of the Data SIM. I have another 3 UK data SIM the £30 off eBay 12month or 12GB pre loaded card I have been raving about, and this one does NOT allow calls or text, so it seems the networks might already be wise to this approach?

I also looked at the iPad SIM plans from O2, 3GB per month for £15, but as yet, can not find out if you can make calls or texts with these or not.  Maybe Skype will offer a way to use a data SIM only? It is certainly going to get a lot more complicated over the next year or so, and for some people a lot more expensive!

Oh well, from one depressing topic to another, England game is about to start!

First call is to my local store, not holding out much hope as this is the store that when faced recently with a clearly faulty Pulse (the chap admitted it was knackered) decided that "we never do refunds", and it was only my insistence that the OFT might be interested in such a flagrant disregard for consumer law that made him ring his boss, who correctly told him to sort the bloody refund (and although I did not hear that side of the call), probably told him to stop being so bloody stupid. So, not expecting much, I got even less!

ME: "Hi, I understand that you might be getting the HTC Desire in today" 

HIM: "No, its got loads of problems, it will be the end of April now"

ME: "Are you sure, your webstore is shipping them"

HIM: "Yeah, I am sure, we got an internal email about it"

So, a less then great start. OK, lets try calling T-Mobile Direct.

ME: "Hi, looking to buy an HTC Desire please"

HIM: "Phone number please"

ME: "I am not with you at the moment"

HIM: "Phone number please"

ME: "Um, I do not have a T Mobile phone at the moment"

HIM: "I can not help you then"

ME: "But I want to actually buy a phone"

HIM: "You want an iPhone?"

ME: "Um, no, I want an HTC Desire"

HIM: "Can I have your number please"

I hung up!

I like to think one of my better traits is my persistence in my goal of gadget satisfaction, so I redialed, hoping that the retard shift had ended by now.

So I joined the lovely automated system, please press 1 if you are nice, and press 2 if you are cold, now you have 456 choices, please press 2 if you are naked, you know the sort of delights, I finally got a message of , "thank you, we are now forwarding you to our direct sales team"

Awesome, it only took 7 different choices to be allowed to actually, you know, spend money with you T Mobile. All a bit premature sadly, after about 3 mins of the ringing tone, I had the pleasure of, "We are unable to take your call, please call back later"

So, in other words, "we really don't give a damn about your call, now piss off and leave us in peace"

Do I REALLY want to be a customer of this shower of crap???

Kev