T-Mobile UK's Capped Data Rate actually is ...

Since WebNWalk [& later its offspring] was first launched some 5yrs odd years ago, Capped Data Rate has referred to the speed at which your data connection is throttled - not any volume usage limit [the latter having varied extensively from 10GB/3GB/2GB/1GB/750MB/500MB/50MB/ to 40MB dependant on tariff].

The standard handset connection has always been limited to 3G speeds, irrespective of whether there's hsdpa coverage].

The WebNWalkPro/Plus/MobileBroadbroadPlus tariffs were enabled with full available hspda [speeds of 3.6-4.5MBps d/ld & 1-2MB/s up/ld; irrespective of whether tethering handsets as modems, or just the [currently more usual] usb modems.

With the introduction of Android, the d/ld CPR for WebNWalkPlus variant handset tariffs was reduced to 1.8MB/s max, and at some point last year [I would hazard a guess to align with the introduction of iPhone to the network, though it may have been earlier] the up/ld data rate was throttled to 3G speeds of approx 384KB/s max.

I hope this provides some clarity.

No more @giffgaff guff ...

My initial enthusiasm has been all but extinguished for the new "social community" MVNO giffgaff .

I continue to appreciate their conceptual appropriation of Lebara Mobile & 3-UK's free intra-network calling, Asda-UK's service pricing, and a similar free data offer to that with which O2-UK introduced GPRS [well, actually O2's was twice as long].

However the reality is that a half a month on, not only has original sim not been delivered but nor has its replacement. It's not as if the address is a fishing boat in the North Sea - giffgaff's parent [O2] has been sending phones/sims/bills there for two decades!

Perhaps this new mobile network is not ready to serve urban - as opposed to metropolitan areas - yet. Certainly if their infrastructure cannot support simple physical service delivery, then one cannot have confidence that more complex intangible facilities - such as billing - will be correctly implemented.

Regrettably, I have seen no option but to issue their Support Agency with the following directive:

"Sirs,

Please cancel my purchase order, and reimburse my credit card with the amount you withdrew on 26/11/09.

You have failed to supply both the original sim and its replacement [to an address O2 have been delivering bills/sims/mobiles to for 2 decades].

I have no further time to devote to this issue, nor evidence to recommend your service in its current state.

Regards".

Hopefully others' experience will be better, but I relate mine in warning.

 

A fresh [?] mobile network ...

New O2-UK MVNO, giffgaff launched today. So payg simcard order placed, and I appear to be customer No 520.

With free on-net vid/voice calls & sms, may have to consider extending business mobiles to shopfloor - or at least parents [though they wouldn't look forward to being taught to use handset pop3 email, afforded by giffgaff 's free data introductory offer.

Good to see a network [re-]introducing free 0800 calls for mobiles - a value Ofcom has never pursued in the interest of the public.