Talkalot - is it changing like my 3G phone?

[koala321]

Hello, is O2 Pay and Go Talkalot, which I've been on since 2006 going to go the same way as Text and Web and change to Standard PAYG Plus or is it here to stay? I'm still on it.

This Talkalot phone is my spare phone I use for dirty work. Now, when I say dirty work I mean for use outside gardening and weeding - I don't mean bumping someone off or looking at naughty bits! 🤣

This phone isn't used a lot so it remains on Talkalot, but I'm surprised it hasn't changed this year with some of the other older tariff changes.

Also, my main phone and Mum's phone got texts last week to say 2G and 3G are being switched off with all 3G mobile phones being made redundant by the end of this year. So more electronic devices being wasted.

This reminds me of the analogue television switch off when everyone had to buy new digital televisions. It gave the television manufacturers a much needed boost in the t.v sales market and I expect mobile phone manufacturers will also get good profits this year by the time it's finished, as people have no choice but to ditch their 3G phones and switch to 4G.

It means a trip to the Recycling Centre. And I can't sell a 3G phone as it's no use to anyone.

🤪

Another waste of gadgets.

[Enlli]

O2 is the last to remove 3G in the UK. It is outdated technology that uses a lot of resources. Compared to 4G it is power hungry and uses frequencies that can be put to better use.

2G will continue for a while but O2 want to move people off.

Whatever we think technology moves on.

You mention analogue TV. I remember 2 channel 405 line Black and White!

As to PAYG, I doubt traditional PAYG will last

[koala321]

Thanks for your reply @Enlli, but your last sentence 'As to PAYG, I doubt traditional PAYG will last'

I've noticed a few comments similar on the Community about this. What makes you think that? Why would PAYG not last?

I hope PAYG is here to stay.  Why would 02 get rid of it and lose customers who prefer to pay by cash?

[MI5]

Because iy costs more for them to keep PAYG running that they make from it. Especially those customers who only spend £20 a year on it

[madasaf1sh]

PAYG is a loss leader, and it makes no money to keep it going, also mobile networks use a thing called ARPU (average revenue per user) and PAYG is near to nothing where as Pay Monthly is in the 10's of £'s

I can see 3 dropping it and Vodafone and moving customers to Smarty and Voxi and o2 to giffgaff. 

Also to add the likes of 1p mobile have now changed there PAYG product top up requirements as they weren't making any money and people where topping up the minimum 

PAYG as we know it is nearly dead an buried... 

[koala321]

Not everyone can afford £10 a month. And I pay £120 a year on £10 Data Big Bundle on top of my other phones, which are all PAYG

It was PAYG that got the mobile phone market going for ordinary people that couldn't afford mobile phones. Before then only people in business had mobile phones who could afford them. But topping up £10 whenever you liked gave ordinary people would couldn't otherwise afford mobiles a chance to have one.

If PAYG go, they will lose a lot of customers. 

[madasaf1sh]

@koala321 

They wont though, as PAYG in the classic sense is I assume a low number of customers, and no offence you are been ripped off on o2 as for less than that and using Uswitch you could pay £81 a year for 16Gb per month of data ..
I can remember selling PAYG when it first appeared on one2one and Orange, and it was popular but pay monthly was still the most popular.. 

As I said classic PAYG is dead and the bundles are a contract in one way shape or form... 

[Enlli]

"If PAYG go, they will lose a lot of customers."

That will be the same for all networks. However, where PAYG may have opened mobile up to a different demographic, I doubt many of them will do without a mobile these days. People will find a way. 

And remember, if it's just calls some people want a number of the MNVO networks do that for a fraction of the cost of renting a landline

[Oxonian]

The only problem with the demise of PAYG @Enlli would be for the tiny proportion of customers who either cannot have a contact or need anonymity ; criminals, victims of domestic violence, bankrupts and those who do not have a bank account. 

However, most will acquiesce and take a contract and the small number who do not will not interest the likes of O2 anyway. 👍