topic 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading in Tech Support

3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

kevinr — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:09:44 GMT

I received a text message telling me that 3g is being discontinued and that as my mobile only works on 2G/3G you'll need to upgrade your phone - offering a Samsung A16 for £129. But why did I get this message? How does O2 know what phone I've got? To my knowledge both it and my SIM are 5g compatible, so why text me?

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

jonsie — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:20:42 GMT

O2 perhaps have an older phone registered to your account

And yes, your current phone is perfectly ok when 3G is switched off

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

Enlli — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:24:25 GMT

It's O2 shotgun effect. We may hit those that need upgrading but there will be some we missed. If already upgraded customers get in the way, no loss. At least we did something

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

jonsie — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:26:46 GMT

Yep, their one-size-fits-all approach...

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

kevinr — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:18:12 GMT

Thanks all, I was "hoping" it was a blanket message, but surely most people using mobiles now are at least 4? Seems a lot of nuisance to hit a tiny minority. And why promote just one smartphone? Is there a rake-off for O2 on Samsung sales?

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

jonsie — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:52:36 GMT

There are a whole older generation of elderly users who have probably had the same phone for 20 years

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

kevinr — Sat, 10 May 2025 17:20:53 GMT

You're right. An older generation would be elderly....

But would they have had an O2 sim 20 years ago?

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

pgn — Sat, 10 May 2025 17:33:13 GMT

Perhaps not a nano SIM, @kevinr - but definitely yes, if not O2 then Cellnet.

More? Yep: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/09/20_years_of_gsm_digital_phones/

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

Enlli — Sat, 10 May 2025 17:53:53 GMT

Still got some of them

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

jonsie — Sat, 10 May 2025 19:06:01 GMT

Don't you just love the grammar police....!

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

pgn — Sat, 10 May 2025 20:36:34 GMT

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

kevinr — Sat, 10 May 2025 21:52:42 GMT

Seems as if the "funniest post" member can't take a joke....

Must be a grim lot on here then

Re: 3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

pgn — Sat, 10 May 2025 22:19:59 GMT

You don't know the half of it, @kevinr 😬