I feel like an adulterer...

[chrishansenhome]

I called Vodafone today to get PACs for our two mobile phones so that I can change to O2 and get (a) an iPhone, and (b) fast broadband. Sarah from Vodafone made a half-hearted attempt to interest me in a Blackberry Curve, but after the problems I've had with my current Blackberry, I wasn't interested. I should get the two PACs within 3-5 working days, and then the fun begins.

I will also need a MAC from BT to migrate my broadband over. I think I should call them and get that sent over (they're all good for a month, I gather) so that I can do the whole shebang at once. The want me to call and talk to someone, so I fear they'll try to put the hard sell on me. O2 says they can give me up to 16Mb download, while BT only gives me up to 8Mb, and that is sometimes slow.

My Vodafone contract is up on May 3rd, so that's the target date.

One does feel like one is cheating on a spouse when one changes telephone or broadband providers. I shouldn't, but I've been with BT ever since I was only getting dialup 512kb and with Vodafone for over 10 years. But, all good things come to an end, hopefully for better things to come.

Comments

[fj.livejournal.com]

My O2 box reports 10Mb/s speeds consistently on my 16Mb/s plan. And you get the bundling discount this way as well. After the crappy products and expensive I have used over the years in the US, this service is the best utility I have ever had.

[mrpandabehr.livejournal.com]

When I left Charter Communications for Verizon DSL, I proudly told the lady at Charter that I'm paying half the price ($40 to $20, exclude taxes & fees for both). I felt liberated and empowered since I wasn't being raped of cash anymore.

In 2011, the speeds offered to the iPhone are supposed to be really fast and if I'm allowed to teeter my iPhone to my Macbook for free then I might even cancel my home DSL connection.

[chrishansenhome.livejournal.com]

I agree--O2 is likely to save us some money, especially in fees for mobile broadband (which I was paying £25 for each month). In addition, the home broadband will cost £18 / month, and is free for the first 6 months. Not only that, but it's more than twice as fast as BT's.

Sometimes we have three or more computers using the Internet, so I would be loth to cancel DSL as I doubt that the iPhone could handle three computers at once.

Anyway, will continue to keep you posted on how it's going.

Guilt Feelings

[am0.livejournal.com]

"One does feel like one is cheating on a spouse when one changes telephone or broadband providers." Not I. A couple of decades back service was so poor I sometimes changed providers six or eight times in a year. That was in the dial-up days when the lousy service failed to justify even a low-cost plan. I even had one that vanished so completely that I was never able to contact them to cancel my service.

The same goes with banks. And any other business that I feel is out to get me.

Re: Guilt Feelings

[chrishansenhome.livejournal.com]

Well, had Vodafone been a complete f**k-up, I'd agree. In fact, I've been satisfied (for the most part) with their service. There was a little cock-up with the BlackBerry (http://chrishansenhome.livejournal.com/395442.html) after I returned from the US in September, but otherwise I was happy with it.

However, when I realised that I wanted an iPhone, I had to change providers as only O2 here in the UK provides them.

Vodafone's behaviour since then (not immediately providing the code to enable me to keep our phone numbers, and calling me but not saying anything at least once) has not been impeccable. It seems to be a pissy reaction to our leaving Vodafone. As a matter of fact we have been with them for around 10 years and in that time I would be surprised if we hadn't contributed close to £10,000 to Vodafone's gross income. They should be happy that I was happy to pay them, and be gracious in case O2 is a horrible provider and I wish to return.