charged for receiving calls

[pin]

maybe in the UK in the near future:

Britons could be charged for receiving calls - Times Online

I don't think it will happen, because it will probably go down like a lead balloon there (and probably all of Europe).

Actually when I first came to HK I did find it strange that we would get charged for receiving and making calls.

[UK/HKboy]

it works out about the same because in HK the minutes are cheaper than in the UK. its just split between the caller and receiver whereas in UK it is all paid by the caller.

whilst it does make marketing calls more annoying... it also means you dont get anymore of those bloody cheapskate people who miss-call you so you have to call them back and pay for the minutes!

[sxc]

The system in HK works great. No exhorbitent charges for calling a mobile number, and 20+ hrs of talktime for less than GBP10/mth (or even less on some plans). Unheard of in UK or Australia.

[pin]

The system in HK works great. No exhorbitent charges for calling a mobile number, and 20+ hrs of talktime for less than GBP10/mth (or even less on some plans). Unheard of in UK or Australia.

Yes, but remember in the UK, you get the phone subsidised, something that doesn't happen to a great extent in HK.

[pizzalover]

Also the minutes are for local calls. HK is smaller than lots of cities.

Yes, but remember in the UK, you get the phone subsidised, something that doesn't happen to a great extent in HK.

[UK/HKboy]

Yes, but remember in the UK, you get the phone subsidised, something that doesn't happen to a great extent in HK.

they are subsidised if you join a plan. If you go to a Smartone, 3, CSl etc shop, they will have phones on display and there are usually 2 prices. one is if you sign up to a plan of about 12 to 18months, the other is if you just use it monthly.

and my network, Smarttone has just let me know that they are cutting my bill cost each month by about $50 and gave me an extra $60 credit this month, just because i have been loyal for the last year and without me even asking...

i cannot imagine any provider in the UK being so procactive about it. they usually only offer a discount if you call up saying you want to dsiconnect and join another network and then make it extremely difficult to terminate the contract.

[MovingIn07]

I guess HK must work really well. I never knew we were charged for receiving calls!

[imparanoic]

well, both hk and uk has benefits.

eg, if you ( like a lot of hk people) constantly annually upgrade phones ( or even worse ever few months, it's also not uncommon for orientals to have more than 2 uk contracts), however, the cost of line rental is pretty high, eg, 25 quid for 200 mins cross network, however, the benefit is the latest handset annually at no/little cost, nokia 5800 mx for 50 quid or free (min even on subsided contract in hk is around Hk$1500)

but if you rarely upgrade your phone, eg, new phone on average ever 3 or more years, its far cheaper in hk as the line rental is very cheap and that you never worry about insufficent minutes, however, flipside is that phone cost (even of subsided with a long contract) is relatively pricey, eg, nokia 5800 mx even on subsided contract (at around HK$150 per month) in hk is around Hk$1500

[atique]

i always have wondered what is the better. not to pay any money while you sign a contact (as i think happens for most of the phones in uk, not sure though) OR as in Hong Kong a thing called Prepayment and then rebate monthly in phone bill. The problem with later is that you have to give them, for example 2000 upfront.

[jimbo]

eg, if you ( like a lot of hk people) constantly annually upgrade phones ( or even worse ever few months, it's also not uncommon for orientals to have more than 2 uk contracts)

Whoah less of the Oriental as its pretty derogatory to use it to describe a person.

Use it to describe a rug or furniture but not people.