3G being discontinued - your phone needs upgrading

[kevinr]

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? 

[jonsie]

O2 perhaps have an older phone registered to your account

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

[Enlli]

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 

[jonsie]

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

[kevinr]

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?

[jonsie]

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

[kevinr]

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

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

[pgn]

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/

[Enlli]

Still got some of them

[jonsie]

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