Is O2 Refresh here to stay?

[Anonymous]

We all see contract deals come and go but do you all think O2 Refresh or the concept of it is here to stay?

[adamtemp64]

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2013/11/08/o2-refresh-tariff-drives-growth-for-operator-in-q3/

With it being a sucess so far I think it will stay

[gemz4the1]

We are all customers here and therefore we cannot tell you with certainty whether O2 Refresh will stay or go.

Things may change.  Something may replace O2 Refresh.  Nobody knows what the future holds....

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think that refresh is going to change things, but over a period of time.  Right now, its swtiching O2 from subsidising handsets to not.  Eventually...where I see it going is that O2 will stop selling handsets completely and be a sim only network, without stores. 

You'll buy a phone from apple, or carphone warehouse, or phones 4u and the airtime will be handled by O2.  Maybe other networks will follow suit, maybe they won't, but I think refresh is the first baby steps in that direction.

[perksie]

Well it will stay for the next two years at least, guaranteed!

[Anonymous]

Subsidising handsets involves billions of £ of subsidy and cashflow. Mobile operators have, across the globe, been trying to find ways to reduce subsidies.

I don't think o2 will stop supplying handsets but I do think the days of free handsets may slowly come to an end in return for cheaper airtime agreements.

O2 refresh I think is the start of this process.

[Anonymous]

As Perksie said it's here for the next 2 years weather it will still be owned by O2 in that time we don't know I still suspect a 3 takeover

[Anonymous]

A 3 takeover could be game changing in the UK.

3 have a 41% market share of data on their 3g network. Not surprising given they offer unlimited data.

But Tekefonica owe around €50bn in debts and are a net seller of assets. .....

[Anonymous]

Yeah I'm not keen on it myself I had a contract with 3 once never again worst customer service you could imagine and you have to learn a new language to understand them

[perksie]

A 41% share of what data?

They only have a 10% overall share of the UK market.

There is also competition to be considered, Ofcom may not be happy either.

I'll suggest an approach from across the pond, maybe AT&T.