topic Re: More Three - O2 merger news in Discussions & Feedback

More Three - O2 merger news

adamtemp64 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 11:44:39 GMT

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/4500272488/Three-chairman-promises-five-year-price-freeze-after-O2-merger

Could help users will costs

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

Bambino — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 12:41:43 GMT

I saw the same in another article a couple of days ago.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/508f3a12-ca95-11e5-be0b-b7ece4e953a0.html#axzz3zOFxf8ct

I think a price freeze, should the merger be approved, will be cold comfort to Three customers who are on legacy tariffs and are about to see those tariffs double.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/06/three-mobile-customers-100-per-cent-price-rise

I'm predominantly a Three customer (and O2 P&G), although I'm sim only, so I don't think it will have much affect on me. I'd be happy if they froze the sim only tariffs too, but that hasn't been made very clear. My main concern with the merger is if Three will keep the Feel At Home perk that I currently have, which gives me free roaming in many other countries for calls, texts, and data. I'm wondering if they would find it financially viable to extend that perk to the 23 million O2 customers that they will be taking on?

Also interesting to see that Virgin have given the merger their blessing, but I think there's an ulterior motive in that.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/02/05/virgin_gives_its_blessing_to_o2three_merger/

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

Cleoriff — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 12:51:21 GMT

I read that article @adamtemp64 I tend to think it was a 'sweetener' to gain Ofcom approval. They seem to be stalling on a decision. I know they don't like the idea.....stating we need 4 networks to make sure all is kept competitively fair for customers...

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 14:31:55 GMT

I've been having a little deeper think about this today and I think the merger in a way could be a positive thing in terms of pricing.

Okay, so at the moment we have Vodafone, Three, o2 and EE all as the main players. If the merger were approved we'd then have Vodafone, EE and The New Network.

The fact there is less networks does mean less competition yes but then it could make the other 2 networks act that little bit more competitive as there are less other deals to compare them alongside and let's be honest, no network wants to absolutely shine through as the most expensive.... whereas at the moment with there being the 4 networks, there are a vast range of different tariffs to try and compare deals to.

I know it might sound a bit long winded but I hope the point I'm trying to portray is coming across

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 14:36:42 GMT

Yeah, I'd agree with that.

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:18:06 GMT

Tyne main question is not will the merger be given the go ahead but more to the point, what will happen if it doesn't, to a network already a shadow of what it once was?

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:23:07 GMT

You can guarantee Telefonica will try to offload O2-UK somewhere else regardless, but maybe try and sell it independently rather than a merger.....?

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:26:23 GMT

I'm sure they will. Maybe we can form a buyout group

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:28:26 GMT

There's a few changes needed

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:31:19 GMT

Almost an impossible task for a company that's not already in the business.
Any that are will likely get blocked, so the future ain't too bright as it stands currently.......

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:39:04 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
Almost an impossible task for a company that's not already in the business.
Any that are will likely get blocked, so the future ain't too bright as it stands currently.......

It certainly ain't orange.....

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:42:59 GMT

Maybe one of the European networks might be interested but they are all way more expensive than we are in UK so that's not good either.

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:09:57 GMT

I can always remember my first pay as you go was with o2 back in the day.... think it was genie sim it was called? Was it Telefonica that owned o2 back then.... was before I was clued up on everything.

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:11:13 GMT

No, from memory that was back in the days of BT....?

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:13:36 GMT

Some history here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telef%C3%B3nica_Europe

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:13:25 GMT

I worked for o2 at the time. It was Cell net then became BT Cell net and that was when Genie was introduced for their first WAP enabled phones. Around 1998/99...

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:15:52 GMT

@jonsie wrote:
I worked for o2 at the time. It was Cell net then became BT Cell net and that was when Genie was introduced for their first WAP enabled phones. Around 1998/99...

Hmm, it must have been a bit later than that then.... I would have been 6/7 in those years and don't think I'd have had a mobile as early on as that 😛

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:21:12 GMT

The Genie brand ran until 2006 when Telefonica bought it from BT.

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

jonsie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:22:45 GMT

Some Genie legacy tariffs are running even now. ....

Re: More Three - O2 merger news

MI5 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 16:24:33 GMT

Legacy yes, but not for new connections.