Comments on: Message to T-Mobile: You don’t know how to sell the G1

By: Frank Wales

Frank Wales — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:23:39 +0000

So, is there anywhere online that has an authoritative answer to how many tariffs T-Mobile are offering the G1 on? I’m currently on a £30-ish per month tariff, including a modest data plan, and I’m happy to stay at that level, or even drop back a bit, since I don’t need lots of prepaid minutes or texts.

I’d be really narked if I got a G1 at £35 or £40 a month, then found out I could have had a £20 or £25 tariff with fewer bundled minutes, if only I’d asked the right person in the right way.

It’s as if T-Mobile think it’s someone else’s job to buzz up the G1 (Google’s? HTC’s?), because apparently it’s not worth it to them to be doing it.

I’m actually half-interested in the 3 INQ1 now, simply because it’s dirt cheap, even on PAYG, and supports being a data modem to another device without any stupid contractual hassles. A cheap phone for twittering and e-mail, bonded with my existing Asus netbook for fancier stuff, sounds like a workable solution to me.

By: Nik

Nik — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:52:38 +0000

Speaking to my dad today he reported spending a quite unhealthy amount of time in mobile shops, and that 8 of 10 experiences were terrible, including the staff not having the products in a suitably demo-able condition. E.g. not being loaded up with sample contacts so you can’t demonstrate the contact book usefully.

He was also speaking enthusiastically about the E71, so I really should check that out now.

By: Dave Cross

Dave Cross — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:44:29 +0000

I’m finding pretty much the same experience whenever I try to find anything out about it. I read a blog where someone had got a G1 on a £25/month tariff having paid £70 up front for the phone. But when I asked about that option in the Balham shop I was told that the phone would cost £200 on a £25/month tariff. And, as you say, the web site is no help as it only pushes the two (different?) £40/month plans.

I did get to actually play with the G1 though. But the sales assistant made no effort to sell it to me.

It seems that T-Mobile have made no attempt to make sure that their staff know how to sell this phone. Perhaps they thought that it would just become an instant hit in the same way as the iPhone. That, obviously, hasn’t happened.

Currently I’m leaning to sticking with Nokia and getting an E71.