Category: Networks / Carriers

Vodafone changing Global Roaming in May

Vodafone have always had some great roaming offers, and they often get quite public about being the best network for roaming. They’re are not just just great on their pricing abroad, they offer the most locations for 4G roaming from any UK network, and when I tried in …

Three help ease roaming fears

When it comes to taking a break abroad, it is so easy to take your eye off the ball and a simple error could because a massive headache. From passports getting lost to wallets getting stolen, there is lots that can happen out of the blue and turn …

EE SIM Only deal. Watch that price halve with the magic code!

You’ve got an iPad, perhaps you’ve got a MiFi or you just don’t like talking to people and you only want to use WhatsApp or something else to communicate. If text messages and old-school phone calls aren’t your thing, you can get a great deal on this EE …

O2 refresh plans and add better roaming

O2 have announced a new range of pay monthly plans for customers, with allowances ranging from 1GB up to 50GB. These plans are flexible and allow customers to switch between plans when needed, giving them better value for money. Better news for some though is the fact they …

EE filling in more not-holes

In the last year EE have successfully filled in some 12,000 square kilometres of mobile not-spots. That works out 4633 square miles, which is almost the size of Connecticut (4,845) in the USA. That’s basically all of Devon and all of Norfolk plus some change. This has all …

Find your local mast, the 2018 version

Every time I check the site stats, there’s one post in particular which is always massively popular. This mast finder article from 2011 is causing the most amount of interest. It’s understandable really. People obviously have coverage maps from their network, but finding out how close masts are is …

#MWC18 – Cellhire mobile data and Mifi hire

So this is going to be my last #MWC18 related article. However, it is one that has been very important. Why? Well, we were actually able to deliver the content thanks to this very gadget. Oh, and we were on a boat. A boat. We needed a solution …

#MWC18 – Vodafone announce 4G coverage… on the MOON

Yes, the moon. The actual moon. Methinks they’re going to need a bigger coverage map. They’ll be using “Ultra Compact Network” kit, the lightest ever developed. It weighs less than a bag of sugar. In a partnership with Nokia, the Vodafone 4G network will enable the first live-streaming …

#MWC18 – #EE confirm that they will range to Galaxy S9 and S9+

This just in and, as we watch the live stream, we’ve got prices and further details on the Samsung Galaxy S9 on EE. You can also pre-order them both right now www.ee.co.uk/thenewgalaxy. Plus, there’s some deals available. Uf you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ on a …

Ofcom tells BT to share telegraph poles

Getting broadband into your home can be done one of two ways. First, you can push it through the air. More and more networks are doing this and, as EE showed us fairly recently, it doesn’t matter too much on your location. The second option, of course, is via …

Truly unlimited everything with Virgin Media

It looks like Virgin Media are keen to get noticed. The caveat to this particular offer, though, is that you’re already a Virgin Media broadband or TV customer. If you are, listen up. First, the facts. Virgin Media use the EE masts, so coverage is very good indeed. …

Want better coverage? Go to church.

Getting coverage into rural areas is a constant challenge for the networks. We’ve seen EE using an innovative home-broadband solution for rural homes and Vodafone have their Sure Signal kit plus new mini masts. However, the problem with planning permission and fierce opposition to unsightly large masts in …

Moto Z2 Play coming to Three UK

Three emailed us recently with some exciting news for gaming fans, but with the mass emails for Mobile World Congress it looks like it was overlooked. Thankfully the news is that the Motorola Z2 Play will be coming to Three UK in April, with an exclusive gamepad thrown …

EE to increase prices for many customers

Next month millions of EE customers will see their monthly contracts cost 4.1% more. Customers are being contacted about the increase, which will kick in on March 30th. The rise is based on the December RPI figure and affects all pay-monthly mobile customers apart from those joining or …

Vodafone test 4G mini mast

Filling in those problem signal areas is easier said than done for a lot of networks. The restrictive planning legislation is a massive blocker, but then you also have to consider power, backhaul and buying or renting the land to put the mast onto. All that, plus the …

EE launch a rural broadband fixer

Long-time, handsome, intelligent readers will know that Vodafone have a solution for rural signal issues. It basically involves installing a ramped-up version of their Vodafone Sure Signal into rural communities to enhance the coverage. Now EE are on a similar mission, but with 4G home broadband antennas sitting …

Ready for 5G? You’re going to need a bigger package.

Consuming lots of data on 4G? Have you got a large package to cope with the action? Well, according to this giffgaff research, you’re going to need a hefty tariff in a few years time. Customers on the network used an average of 1.72GB of data monthly in …

EE announce new monthly plans

The UK’s largest mobile network, EE, has today announced a shakeup of it’s pay monthly plans, including some new extras. Plans are now split into Essential, Max and SIM Only, and offer different benefits depending on your needs. All plans now include unlimited minutes and texts, making it …

Sky TV. The end of the dish is coming..

It’s good news for those with fast internet connections, but perhaps not an option for those living with poor internet speeds. With Sky already providing on-demand content through their boxes, the company is now looking to put their entire suite of channels online too. That’ll mean that you …

£9 every month for 4GB of data

If you want a big deal, get over to our friends at Total Phone Deals. They always have the latest offers, whether you’re looking for a contract deal or a SIM only one. Right now we’re looking at SIM only offerings, and for just £9 of your hard-earned …

Three and EE 5G legal battle gets decided

Spectrum is what all networks need plenty of to be able to offer the best speeds and services possible. With 4G well underway, networks in the UK are looking towards 5G as the next milestone. This is where the arguments start, both EE and Three lodged a legal …

Switch mobile networks without fuss. Coming soon!

Many people have likened their favourite mobile provider to their bank, and they’ll stick with that same provider for some time. Loyalty, though, doesn’t always get you the best deals or the best coverage, so it’s good to try comparison sites and look at the options. Now Ofcom, …

Whoo oo oo ooo! Can you feel the Force ?!

Just a couple of weeks back I posted about the new Z2 Force arriving soon on Vodafone. Well, guess what guys! It’s now landed and you should be able to click this magical link to get it. The Moto Z2 Force can be purchased on the network for …

Three ditches roaming charges in 11 more destinations outside Europe

Whilst not everyone will be heading to Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Vietnam or Mayotte; those that do will now benefit from worry-free roaming on the Three network. The UK network now has an impressive 71 destinations worldwide included in their “Feel …

Bye bye O2 TU Go

Got a patchy signal and on O2? Don’t worry! You can call over WiFi! Well, up until now you’ve had to use a separate app, but TU Go did let you make and receive calls in areas you weren’t able to before. However, here’s the bad news. Tomorrow …

The Razer Phone has arrived. Here is our unboxing

We have had something very special arrive at Coolsmartphone Towers today. At least, it’s something that I have been looking forward to for a few weeks. Today we’ve got one of the boldest new phones to come out this year (IMHO). Yes, it’s the Razer Phone! You’re obviously …

Three warn customers over call scam

Mobile phone scams are on the rise, and scammers are thinking of new ways to trick consumers out of their money. One of the latest is where customers get a missed call and then call back to a premium number at a cost… And an expensive one at …

Plusnet Mobile SIM Only deals.. GO!

There really shouldn’t be much of a reason NOT to go with a “virtual” operator nowadays. Take Plusnet as an example. They use the EE masts so the signal is going to be flippin’ good. Right now they’ve got some deals which, if you’re quick and you want …

Vodafone updates plans to make life simpler

After the launch of the O2 Generation Flex and their very own “Youth network” (Vox), Vodafone have announced a new set of fresh ideas to add a bit more flexibility. First, something called “Vodafone Passes”. These let contract customer use some data-intensive apps without chopping away at their …

Planning a break abroad? Check out Data Passport on Three

With the summer well and truly over here in the UK, some people including myself still plan on a well earned break abroad. Roaming has been a big topic of discussion this year with networks scrapping their EU roaming rates. Three UK were one of the first to …

Three receive criticism over £117 iPhone contract.

Think about what you could actually buy for £117 per month. Well, I’ve had my eye on this Citroen C4 lease agreement. Sure, you’re not going to end up fully owning the thing unless you pay a big balloon payment later, but for this sort of money, you …

O2 launch Generation Flex plans

For many people picking the right data package on their phone can be a hassle. I mean who uses their phone the same way every single month? Back in 2013, O2 shook up the contract market here in the UK with ‘Refresh’. It’s a clever way to split …

EE introduces new Fibre Max plans

The largest mobile network, EE, have announced some big improvements to their home broadband offering. Fibre Max will cost you £45 a month (£52 if you also want EE TV) and,on top of super fast fibre speeds up to 76mbps, you also receive free landline calls, calls to …

Mobile networks overcharging loyal customers

It’s fairly obvious to many. You go and buy a new mobile phone. It’s on a two year contract. You probably pay about £38 per month for it. As you near the end of the two years, you’re itching to upgrade to the latest handset. Unless you’re with …

Got a fiver? Grab a SIM-only 1GB plan here.

OK, I’ve got to be quick with this one as iD Mobile have, after pushing out lots of bonkers adverts, gone a bit nuts with this one particular deal and I’m going to make the most of it. If you’re looking for a low-cost SIM-only plan for a …

EE sticks a mast in the sky to cover biking event

Yesterday things weren’t going so well for EE. They had problems routing calls to other networks all day and it seemed to be causing quite a bit of grief for their customers. They can, however, boast about their coverage. They’re aiming for 95% 4G coverage by 2020, and …