O2 is a UK mobile telephone operator, which is part of Telefónica Europe.

I have recently rejoined O2, as most of my friends are on the network, and I would therefore benefit more.

How to join O2

Joining O2 is really easy. You can either become a Pay Monthly, or Pay as you go customer. You can ordered a sim card, from their website, should you wish to go pay as you go, using your existing mobile. Full details of current Pay Monthly plans, are available on their website also.
www.o2.com

Network Coverage

I have always found the O2 network coverage to be fantastic. I have never experienced a lack of signal, in the area that I live. Therefore, the O2 service, in my opinion is very reliable, as I always have an active signal, that is able to allow me to make calls and texts

Pay As You Go

When you order a sim card online, you are sent a sim card pack out via the post. When it arrives, you are presented with an envelope, which contains :

• Use me booklet- detailing everything you need to know about the service
• Go for it booklet- contains swipe card, and further info on activating sim card.
• Yawn booklet - booklet containing the small print
• Sim Card

Activating the sim card

To activate the PAYG sim card, you need to top up your phone, with £10, by either calling 4444 from your 02 mobile, going online, or using your swipe card. When you make your first paid call , your sim card is fully activated, and ready to use.

Call costs

Standard Landline UK Calls : 25p/min for 1st 3 mins, then 5p/min for the rest of the day
Other UK network mobiles : 25p/min
Voicemail : 15 pence per call
UK text message : 10p per message
UK picture or video message : 25p per message
UK Browsing : £3/MB ( this is dependant on your handset)
UK video calls: 50p per min ( this is dependant on your handset)
0500,0505,055,056,080,082 numbers : 15p/min
0844,0845,0870,07744,07755 numbers : 25p/min
070 numbers : 50p/min
0871 numbers : 35p/min

Tarrifs

With 'FAVOURITE PLACE', if you top up between:
£10-£14, you get 500 minutes to any UK landline or O2 mobile from a registered postcode.
£15-£29, you get 1000 minutes to any UK landline or O2 mobile from a registered postcode
£30- , you get Unlimited minute.
s to any UK landline or O2 mobile from a registered postcode

With 'TALKALOTMORE', if you top up between:
£10-£14, you get 50 UK off-peak minutes
£15-£29, you get 150 UK off-peak minutes
£30- , you get 300 UK off-peak mins

With 'TEXT ANYTIME, if you top up between
£10-£14, you get 300 UK texts
£15-£29, you get 500 UK texts
£30-, you get Unlimited UK texts

With 'O2 UNLIMITED', if you top up between
£10-£14, you get Unlimited texts to O2 mobiles
£15- , you get Unlimited calls and texts to O2 mobiles

With 'YOUR COUNTRY , if you top up between
£10-£14, you get 50 minutes to call international landlines and mobiles from the UK
£15-£29, you get 100 minutes to call international landlines and mobiles from the UK
£30-, you get 200 minutes to call international landlines and mobiles from the UK

Bolt-ons

Within PAYG, there are many bolt ons you can add to your account. These bolt ons include adding call time minutes, and or texts to your account, for a monthly fee.
Full details about these bolt ons, can be found at the o2 website.

O2 Lend us a quid

I think this is a handy feature, but can also be quite messy if not used properly. If you run out of call credit, and urgently require it, you can borrow £1 from O2. Next time you top up, O2 will deduct the £1 from your call value. However, if you do not top up, with a minimum of £10 within 7 days , you will incur an additional 25p.

My opinion of O2 PAY AS YOU GO

I think the O2 pay as you go service is very good, and it also has competitive calls costs, and a vast amount of features available. Being an O2 Pay as you go customer, also allows you to benefit from discounted broadband from O2, which will be discussed later on in the review.
I would definately recommend using O2 Pay as you go, if you want good call charges, and do not want to enter into a contract.

Pay Monthly

With O2 pay monthly, there are many different packages available. If you have a mobile already, and do not want to enter a contract in which you need a new mobile, the simplicity sim card is available.
Being a Pay Monthly customer, allows you to benefit from discounted broadband from O2, as well as manage your account online.
I cannot comment further on Pay Monthly, as I have no experienced the service first hand.
Do check out the o2 website for full information of the pay monthly plans: www.o2.co.uk

02 Home Broadband

O2 now offer Home broadband, to both O2, and non O2 customers. However, being an O2 customer, you benefit from a discounted broadband price. O2 Broadband comes in 3 packages

• Standard - up to 8mb (£7.50 for o2 customers, else £12.50)
• Premium - up to 16mb (£10 for o2 customers, else £15)
• Ultimate - up to 20mb (£15 for o2 customers, else £20)
  From what is being said online so far, O2 Broadband seems to be receiveing great feedback. This is one of the main reasons why I am considering joining the service.

When you sign up, there is no connection charge at the moment, and you receive a wireless box, plus a few more things, such as McAfee security, and the option to add a static IP address, for an additional £5 per month

02 Mobile Broadband

02 Mobile broadband is perfect for those who want to connect to the internet while on the move. There are 2 mobile packages :

• Personal - £20
• Business -£17

02 Business Broadband

O2 also offer business broadband.
This comes in 3 packages :

• Standard - up to 8mb ( £15 for o2 customers, else £20)
• Premium - up to 16mb (£17.50 for o2 customers, else £22.50)
• Ultimate - up to 20mb ( £22.50 for o2 customers, else £27.50)

The prices for Business broadband vary from Home Broadband

PayAs you Go customers

To benefit from the discounted price, you need to have made a minimum top of £10 within the last 3 months.
Therefore, to get a discounted price in JANUARY, you would have to have made a top up of £10 in either NOVEMBER,DECEMBER or JANUARY.

If you do not make a top-up in this time, you will pay full price for the broadband, for that time.

Pay Monthly

Pay montly customers automatically receive the discount, as they pay a monthly fee.

O2: My Overall opinion

O2 really have expanded massively as a company, as they now not only provide calls to mobiles, but now also provide broadband aswell. I also like the fact you get loads of treats and rewards for being a customer, and the idea of discounted broadband contributes to this also. I think the call rates are pretty good, and are at agood competitive price. The fact I have returned to this network shoud also emphasise to you, how much I recommend this network. Honestly, if you haven't tried O2, give them a try today, as I still consider it to be one of the best networks out there, that I just had to be a part of.

Contact information

WEB: www.o2.co.uk
PHONE : Numerous numbers, check website for full list