[PettsWood]

If the company is paying for you, go for 1010 (a brand under CSL) 'cause it is aiming at the corporate market with all the extra services throw in (such as oversea phone replacement when stolen etc.). If you are paying for it and want comprehensive coverage, use One2Free (another brand under CSL). They actaully share the same network (transmitters etc.) but only use different brand name to target different customers segments.

People, Sunday and NewWorld are relatively small in comparison to CSL, Smartone and Hutchison (3) and that's why their prices are more competitive.

I am not getting any commission from CSL, by the way...

[discobay]

True. If your company is paying it and can afford it and you want the best go with CSL's 1010 service. They also offer a BlackBerry data service should you feel the need.

[Levi]

Man, I'm glad I stumbled onto this thread...

I am seriously considering changing my mobile provider. I currently use New World Mobility and find that their service... sucks. Their coverage is limited, and the sound quality is average AT BEST. I sometimes even have trouble hearing local calls clearly. And that's after I've cleaned the wax outta my ears.

I got New World based on one reason: the recomendation from my now ex-gf; she said everyone she knows uses NW and that they are very cheap compared to other providers. Plus, since I originally signed up in her name (as I don't have a HKID), I got a $1000 discount off the Motorola V3. Which, btw, sucks as well (sound quality and user interface). There is nothing good about it except for the looks. But, I digress. That's for another thread....

Well, I'll have to admit, you can get a lot of minutes for not a lot of money, but if you can't can't a signal in your own f-ing apartment, or you can't f-ing hear what the other person is saying, what good are all those minutes?

So, I've been looking into CSL (both 1010 and 1-2-Free) and 3. I'm also interested in Smart Tone/Vodafone too, but I can't seem to find their website, so I'll have to stop by the shop and talk to them directly.

Basically, here are my needs: not a huge amount of local minutes (maybe 800-1000 max), probably less than 30 SMS per month, and all the other basic stuff that you usually get for free (Caller ID, Voice Mail, Conference Call, Call Waiting/Forwarding).

Actually, for these things, I can just compare the plans on my own, which I'm doing now.

The most important thing for me is to have CLEAR IDD service. I call the US, Europe, and Japan quite frequently, so I need clear voice quality. 1678 (New World) is dirt cheap for calling the US and Japan, but the voice quality SUCKS ASS. Right now, I'm using a CSL prepaid card, and the sound is much better, although still sometimes garbled with my V3.

Can anyone recommend a provider whose IDD network can give me better reception and in general better coverage? I'm willing to pay a little more per minute for IDD; if CSL is indicative of what is considered "expensive", I don't mind sticking signing up with one of their providers.

Also, I don't have my contract in front of me, and I didn't see anywhere in the Terms of Agreement from the website, but anyone know if there is a cancellation fee if I quit New World?

Thanks.

[discobay]

Details of offers currently available are essentially what you see on the respective websites.
Small "telecoms" shops offer additional discounts but may tie you into contracts or buying higher usage plans.
With regards to IDD I use PCCW's 0060 service. You just register your landline and mobile numbers with them and can benefit from great rates and call quality. I regularly ring the U.K. and occassionally France and Australia with no problem with connections, background noise, echo or clarity. Their U.K. rate is 17 cents for 1 minute.
Can't comment on NW's termination penalty but didn't you say the contract is under your ex-gf's name?

[claireabella]

I am also needing to go and get a phone (this lunch if poss!) work keep telling me to go to CSL 1010 but I will be paying myself, so is it really a lot more expensive (and better) than Smartone? (which was my intial plan)

thanks
Claire

[saltwater]

Levi, you can find smartone / vodafone at www.smartone.com.hk/

Or you can try their stores in person. Best to try at non-lunchtimes where you'll get much better service.

[discobay]

I changed over to Sunday last night. It all depends on what specifics you want.

If there are none then go on network and price.

CSL's networks are supposedly the best but I have been using one2free for the last few years and recently (this year) I have experienced difficulty getting a line and receiving late notifications (from 1 hour to 1 day) that I have voice mail.

Next would be 3 and SmarTone then New World, Sunday and Peoples in terms of popularity.
I do hear alarming stories of 3's poor reception and ability to hold on to a call. Their customer service is probably one of the worse I have dealt with (caveat I used them over three years ago though). Friends also don't recommend SmarTone because of poor reception and are looking to change.
New World is so-so if you read the above posts - I can't comment.
Sunday and Peoples get varying reports mostly bad. Saying that PCCW has just bought a majority share in Sunday and as they and Peoples are the only networks to offer an unlimited GPRS plan I decided to go with them (Sunday). Chepeast voice monthly plan with them is $50 for 550 minutes.

[Levi]

Hmm, so what I'm hearing is...

One2Free is starting to get worse in terms of coverage...
3's reception is poor, as reported by some...
Smartone's reception is poor as well, as reported by others...

Hmmm, anyone have anything good to say about 1010?

Or should I just stick to using CSL's prepaid SIM for my IDD? Or should I explore trying some other prepaid SIMs, for example, Smartone's?

It's just that I hate having to switch out one SIM card with another simply because I want to make an IDD call. It kills me that I have to do this now.

Oh, yeah, I changed the account name over to mine when me and my gf broke up. Easier that way. She was getting my bills while it was under her name.

Bad thing is: I lost my IDD service with NW because I don't have a HK credit card and I don't want to pay the ridiculous deposit they ask for. I suppose I'm going to run into this problem trying to register with any IDD number, yeah?

[discobay]

Surely you have your own address and bank account now?

[Max]

you're not alone, dbay.

I'm starting to have problems with CSL as well. It was never like this before. (I have been using them for 5 years-since 2000) Ironically, the hitches started only after Telstra took over from PCCW. Hmmm...ulterior motives there, i suppose?

On another note, China Mobile has just expressed an interest to take a majority stake in Peoples Telecom.

After all the M&A dust settles, here's what the situation is going to look like this:

3 - owned and operated by Hutchison (a.k.a. Mr. Li senior)
Smartone - owned and operated by Vodafone
Sunday - owned and operated by PCCW
CSL - owned and operated by Telstra (though that could soon change....a little bird told me)
Peoples - owned and operated by China Mobile
New World Mobility - owned and operated by New World Group

stay tuned....