O2′s “Text and Web” PAYG tariff gives free, unlimited internet & texts
September 14th, 2009
O2′s “Text and Web” tariff provides free texts and internet with every top up. Best of all: you keep the credit as well.
photo: Snap®
Mobile network O2 has launched a new “Text and Web” tariff. If you’re on O2 Pay As You Go, it’s well worth signing up for this one – even if you don’t want to use the Web part of the tariff. Customers on other networks can grab themselves some free ‘Text and Web’ SIM cards.
The deal is:
- Top up between £10 and £14 and you get 300 free UK text messages and unlimited web browsing for a month
- Top up between £15 and £29 and you get 500 free UK text messages and unlimited web browsing for a month
- Top up between £30 or more and you get unlimited free UK text messages and unlimited web browsing for a month
As well as the freebies, you keep the credit you topped up to use for calls, etc.
photo: Cpt
How do I get Text and Web?
If you’re on O2: Join by texting TEXTANDWEB to 21300 or calling 2202.
If you’re not on O2: O2 are currently allowing you to order up free O2 ‘Text and Web’ SIM cards from the O2 website.
Do I keep the credit when I top up?
Yes. You will get your free allowance as well as being able to keep the credit you topped up for calls, etc. This is one of the main differences between Text and Web and Simplicity.
Is this the best buy?
It’s definitely the best deal for PAYG customers on the big networks.
However, Three’s 3Pay tariff is still the winner. You get your free texts and internet for a £10 top up – albeit you get 600 texts and 150MB internet so it’s not unlimited like on O2′s new tariff. However on 3Pay you’ll also have access to free Skype, free voicemail and the free allowance can last up to 3 months.
Article updated on the 8th January: Details of how new customers can join ‘Text and Web’
Article updated 13th November: O2 have extended this offer until 31st January
Article updated 7th June 2010: Updated allowance information; added info about alternative Simplicity tariffs.
About the Author: Hi! I'm Ken. I've been using mobiles for over 10 years and technology for a lot longer! I'd love to hear from you.
- Mobile , Pay As You Go , o2
- Comments(20)
Having been a loyal customer with O2 for years I was very excited to switch to this tariff which went live on my sim today.
Imagine my shock at the “unlimited” web actually having a 500mb cap, so on my iphone that is less than 17megs per day, which is sod all.
I’m rapidly loosing faith in o2′s ability to manage data on their network, and this has now pushed me to my limit.
Time to get my PAC number.
Article updated on the 13th November: O2 have extended this offer until 31st January
Will there be any higher capacity for iPhone users? 500MB just isn’t enough.
@ Ben RH
Why would higher data capacity be just for iphone users? I have a HTC Touch HD 2 and have just as much need for data as an iphone user.
If you look on o2′s site you’ll see theyhave extended this text and web offer until the end of Feb. Also parts of the site say that you get free web plus 300 texts at top ups over £10 – not £15 – as URL below
http://shop.o2.co.uk/tariffs/Pay_and_Go
Key benefits:
* Top-up £10–£14 and get 300 texts and unlimited internet
* Top-up £15–£29 and get 500 texts and unlimited internet
* Top-up £30+ and get unlimited texts and unlimited internet
BUT this is what it says under “My 02″ section
PAY & GO – TALKALOT
Text and Web: Tier 1 – £10.00 to £14.99 – 12000 UK texts OR Tier 2 – £15.00 or more – 12000 UK texts and 500 MB GPRS data.
It starts of with “Pay and Go Talkalot” – a tariff which no longer exists (I think) and then gives the 3 tiers of bonuses under web and text that don’t match anything else.
Good old O2!
My son signed up for this web and text offet via o2′s website and got a text within 24hrs from o2 confirming its set up and (since he topped up by £10) he has free web for the next 30 days and 500 free texts.
I’ve joined the unlimited texts and Internet before jan 31st. I’ve only just topped up £15 but i can’t use the Internet on my iPhone without connecting to a wifi network first?? I thought that it was unlimited Internet?? Please help, Jo x
Hi Jo,
Make sure you’ve updated your internet and MMS settings using this webpage.
http://getsettings.o2.co.uk/ServeSettingsWebApp/
Ken
Hi
why am i still being charged for unlimited web & text
hi. all you need if u have a iphone is the web and wifi bolt on. its only for the iphone and it gives u unlimited (and means unlimited) internet and free wifi and mycloud hotspots(weatherspoons, macdonalds) it costs a £10 a month but use this with text and web will get u 12000 txts to any network all just for a tenner bargin
[...] What is the fair usage limit? None specified for smartphone tariffs; 200MB for web bolt-on, 500MB for Text and Web [...]
just for your information, the tarrif has changed, its now 300 texts and unlimited internet for £10 and 500 texts and unlimited internet for £15.. its now £30 for both so the rate has now doubled…. thanks o2…. spoons.
hey basicli
i topped up £10 and got unlimited text and web but after it finishes in a months time should my money go the £10????????
i got 0p left im not sure if that shud happen
Updated with latest tariff info & new Simplicity tariffs
To Ken
i fort it used to be top up £10 and get unlimited texts PLUS the £10 credit to spend too? And also with o2 simplicity do you have to get a new special sim for it or is it like changing your tariff? Because i need it instantly!
Please help me Ken you o2 whiz LOL
Hi Monique,
Yes thats right and this is still the case with "Text and Web". "Simplicity" is different in that your credit actually gets used up. Some more info on the differences at http://cow.neondragon.net/index.php/o2-launch-sim... . To change to Simplicity, your best bet would be to give O2 Customer Services a call.
Ken
Your Credit of £10 should NOT get used and drop to £0.00 UNLESS you have made Chargeable calls from your handset.
Also a slight correction….
When you Top-up £10–£14 – Your supposed to get –> 300 texts <– Plus unlimited Internet…..
Not UNLIMITED Text & Internet (You only recieve this after a £30 top up)
So maybe your credit has gone due to additional texts u may have sent?
If you haven't made chargeable calls or sent more than 300 texts then Give O2 Customer Services a Call x
Hi Miss,
Some people with iPhones find that their credit disappears even if they don't make any calls or texts from their handset! This always happens if they haven't topped up in a month and hence have no free internet. The iPhone uses internet connectivity in the background even without you knowing.
The solution is to disable 3G connectivity in the iOS menus (iOS4 only)
Ken
Hey
i get 500 free UK text messages and unlimited web browsing for a month is it piossible to change the web browsing to free UK calls ?
This "unlimited internet" is really confusing. I have a contract phone (Dell Streak), which gives me Unlimited Internet. So far this months, I have used 4gigs of data (I do a lot of streaming TV shows etc…mainly as a test of this so call "unlimited" internet. I assume everything is okay, as I have not received a phone call or text. I have a another PAYANDGO sim card from o2, which states that for £10 top,i get "unlimited internet".
Well I began to use it, and check my credit, it shows the top limited in 500megs, and is "quickly" disappearing. When I check my tariff online, it tells me I have unlimited "Internet".
How can o2 advertise "unlimited", yet have different definition of "unlimited" based on the tarrif you on. I am pretty sure if the case is referred to the advertising standards, they will take case up, especially as o2 (after 24 June 2010) have now began to advertise "unlimited text" and "500 Megs of internet". They should be honouring their older deals.
SMARTPHONE is all the range, and pretty soon all upgrades will be for a SMARTPHONE. More and more people will be wanting more and more data, as they realise what the can do with their “new phones”. The current cap of 500megs is way too small for todays usage, let alone what we will be using in 6 months time, next years and beyond.
I intend to refer the issue to the Trading Standards, as they o2 are obligated to gives the products they sell us/give us..otherwise it will be false advertising..and I am sure they can be fined for such an outrageous action