O2 Standard Broadband

Review of O2 Broadband Standard

STOP PRESS 1! Free O2 Broadband setup until 30/06/08!

STOP PRESS 2! O2 Broadband is offering a 50 day moneyback guarantee on this package, so you can truly try before you buy!

STOP PRESS 3! Are an O2 pay monthly mobile customer? Are you about to switch to O2 to get the iPhone? If so, you can get this package for £5 less per month!

THE rollout of new broadband services in the UK has traditionally been a chest-beating, gung-ho affair that ends in tears (we're talking about you TalkTalk and Virgin Media!), but mobile provider O2's considered approach to their new broadband service is a breath of fresh air.

We have a feeling O2 broadband, with its low-key marketing and company ethos of under-promising but over-delivering, is going to gather a heap of fans over the next year or so, rather than dancing the crisis-management two-step.

O2 mobile customers

Riding on the back of the Be network (which O2 quietly purchased in 2006) this O2 Standard Broadband - like all the O2 broadband packages - is aimed squarely at O2 mobile customers as a sweetener to keep them with the network by slashing the monthly cost for them by a full £10.

Non O2 mobile customers pay the full amount.

That is not to say that the O2 Standard Broadband package is not suitable for non-O2 customers - it is still exceedingly good value for money, and is indeed a brilliant and highly recommended broadband package.

We'd still advise non-O2 customers to look instead at the Be packages which are practically the same, but marginally better value.

Good deal

So what makes the O2 Standard broadband package such a good deal?

You'll get speeds of up to 8Mb on O2's ADSL2+ network which currently covers 50% of the UK. You get unlimited usage, but a fair use policy does apply.

The free included modem is the O2 wireless box, which is essentially a souped-up ADSL2+ router.

Nice little touches

In addition to the totally free UK support, there are some nice little touches such as 100 free texts per month to send from your PC, and online backup of your O2 mobile contacts (in case you ever lose your phone or drop it in the bath).

There is also a superb email-to-mobile service for O2 customers where up to 1000 emails per month can be sent to your mobile phone like a text message.

If you've ever wanted a Blackberry but didnt fancy the cost or the bulge in your pocket, O2 have the answer here.

Try before you buy!

Did we mention you get to try it before you buy it too?

O2 Broadband offers a 50 day moneyback guarantee. That's the longest money back guarantee we have seen from any broadband provider. O2 Broadband obviously aren't worried about anyone being dissatisfied with the service.

Clear winner

O2 has created a highly recommended broadband package here which, if you live in an O2 broadband-enabled area and are an O2 customer is a clear winner.

Non-O2 customers won't get quite the same savings (the package costs £5 more than what O2 Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go mobile customers pay), but will still enjoy the excellent features, superb priced broadband and the reliable O2 broadband support.

	O2 Standard is currently offering FREE connection.

A little more detail

Broadband

			Special Note..	Any good?
Package Name:		Standard	-
Connection Type:		ADSL	-
Max Speed:		8Mb	-
Usage Limit:		Unlimited	Fair use policy applies
Hardware:		O2 wireless router	Free when you sign up online
Anti-virus Protection:		Yes	McAfee Internet Security Suite free for the first year
Firewall:		Yes	McAfee Internet Security Suite free for the first year
E-mail Account:		Yes	Up to 10 email addresses. Only as part of security/email/webspace bundle (£2 per month)
Webspace Provided:		No	-
Domain Included:		No	-
Backup Dialup:		Yes	-
Consoles Supported:		All major consoles supported	-

Payment, Installation and Contract

Payment Method(s):		Direct Debit / Credit Card
Activation Fee:		£0
Installation:		Free
Minimum Contract:		12 months
Line Rental:		BT line rental required
Support:		24/7 free-phone customer service

Actual User Ratings

At a Glance

Our Rating
Max Speed	8Mb
Usage Limit	Unlimited
Monthly Price	£12.50
Set Up Cost	Free
Min. Contract	12 months

	Bundle details:
	Phone: Not included
	TV: Not included
	Mobile: Not included

	It is best suited for:
	O2 mobile customers who want a fast and super-cheap broadband package. Still unbelievably good value for non-O2 customers too.

Customer Reviews

Add your own review of O2 broadband...

Remember, the customer reviews below are subjective (and are not the opinions of ChooseISP.co.uk).

W.Maxwell from Edinburgh writes... 17/04/2008

"Nearly triple the speed of my old ISP for half the cost per month, thats good. Dont waste your time using the set up CD, connect up the router,swich it on and enter the wep password and away you go. Dont install McAfee security software, it caused severe problems with my PC. Works well with Zonealarm security suite. The O2 technical helpline is very good and it's free but god help you if you have a billing problem. When I set up the order I ported my mobile number over to O2 to take advantage of the discount being offered. When the online bill appeared they were charging me £5 too much. After many calls and assurances that it was fixed they still took too much. Suffice to say their billing department are useless. A pity really because it is really an excellent deal."