o2's iPhone unlimited data = unlimited! WOO!
Now this is a bit good. As you know I’ve been giving o2 a leeeeeeeeetle bit of a kicking for quite a while about their Unlimited Data plans (or lack thereof) and when they introduced the 200mb unlimited option, well, I just rolled my eyes.
I was so downright disappointed, I took to naming o2 customers, affectionately, as ‘chumps’. (Here’s a list of SMS Text News posts featuring coverage of o2 chumps).
But there’s life, Jim!
Oh yes, there’s life!
I talked with o2 this morning and I got this quote from Sally Cowdry, o2’s Marketing Director about the news that they’re scrapping the 200mb limit for iPhone data usage and making it properly unlimited:
“When we announced our new iPhone tariffs back in September we broke new ground for O2, introducing unlimited use of mobile data services and The Cloud’s public Wi-Fi network. The iPhone offers the best internet on mobile experience in the market and we want customers to enjoy this without limit or worries about being charged a penny more.
To avoid abuse of this offering, a fair use policy was set in place at an amount that’s miles beyond expected average use. This policy was intended to prevent commercial exploitation or using the iPhone as a modem, both of which would put everyone else’s experience at risk.
We now appreciate that having set limits as part of the fair use policy conflicted with our objective of encouraging internet usage on the iPhone. People don’t speak in megabites and customer feedback has been that if we say unlimited, it should be unlimited.
We have listened to our customers and will be lifting these limits so that our original intention – for you to use your iPhone to your heart’s content – is what it’s all about with no confusion or distraction.
We look forward to our customers enjoying the fantastic internet experience on their iPhone when it goes on sale this Friday.”
That’s fantastic. Absolutely fantastic news.
a) It demonstrates proof-of-life at o2 headquarters
b) Most people won’t be using anywhere near 200mb+ of data; it’s just nice to know that, as long as you don’t take the mickey, you won’t be nailed by o2. This brings o2 into closer alignment with 3UK and T-Mobile.
c) I confess I’m surprised and delighted at the warm language used by Marketing Director, Sally Cowdry. It almost makes me want to go out and buy an iPhone right now. I’ve felt that personal connection — the fact that there are actually people at o2 who actually care about your experience — had been missing for quite a while.
It’s important to be clear that this news relates to o2 iPhone users only at the moment. I’ll need to get the status for standard o2 users.
But it’s a momentous change that will, no doubt, attract keen attention from other UK operators who’re sat in no small amount of panic as iPhone day approaches.
