O2

About O2

O2 is a high quality provider, with a range of packages to suit everyone including Pay Monthly and Simplicity options.

The company offers competitive rates for UK calls, text messages and international calls as well as a reward scheme whereby extra minutes, texts and VIP tickets are awarded to loyal customers.

O2 is one of the largest mobile phone providers in the UK, with its impressive growth driven by innovative services and easy to comprehend tariffs. The company is renowned for its excellent standard of customer service with calls to relevant bodies free of charge for most contract customers.

The firm offers a range of sought-after handsets on contract and pay as you go tariffs and is famed for its comprehensive network coverage across the UK. Such has been its success in the UK mobile phone market that it was named Best Network in the Mobile Choice Network Awards 2008.

History

O2 is the brand name of the European telecommunications giant Telefonica Europe and in July 2008 had around 43.8 million customers in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.

In 2007, the company was awarded a prestigious exclusivity deal for Apple’s iPhone under which it has the sole right to provide network services for the multi-media communications device. The same year also saw the launch of the company’s own branded music headset the O2 Cocoon, which was regarded by many as having set new standards for phone design.

With the purchase of UK firm Be, the company’s UK division made its foray into the broadband market, and has since launched its own ISP which offers discounted broadband to O2 mobile phone customers.

Customer service

All calls made to O2’s customer service helpline are free when made from a pay monthly handset. This is applicable both in the UK and abroad. The service is open between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00 am and 6:00 pm at weekends.

For Pay Monthly customers who bought their phone in an O2 branch, the service number from a landline is 0870 241 0202. Alternatively, you can call 202 from your mobile.

If you purchased your mobile through O2.co.uk, the company’s customer service department can be reached on 0870 600 3009 or by calling 202 from your handset.

O2 customers benefit from free delivery on the latest handsets, the company’s O2 Reward Club scheme as well as exclusive invitations to O2 events. Visitors to the company’s entertainment-outpost the O2 arena can even access exclusive content when they are there.

The O2 website is home to a range of how-to guides to help you to deal with everything from getting the most out of O2 services, setting up your mobile phone, billing and procedures for when your mobile phone is lost or stolen.

Tariffs

The company operates a free customer service line, which can be reached by dialling 150 on your pay monthly phone or on 07973 100 150 from any other phone.

Pay as you go customers can call 450 from their pay as you go phone or 07973 100 450 from any other phone.

O2 also pledges to give you up to a minute of talk time back in the event that you are cut off during a call.

The company’s website offers customers the chance to manage their account online and houses a number of mobile guides covering matters such as what to do if your phone lost or stolen, understanding your bill and getting the most out of your mobile phone model.

Coverage

O2 is regarded as offering the best signal coverage in the UK and has fulfilled its contractual obligation to roll out 3G services to 80 per cent of the UK population. The company operated the first HSDPA network in Europe on the Isle of Man and has since been extensively involved in the development of this technology as well as with advancements in 4G.