“The One Plan” from Three: Review & Comparison

April 21st, 2012

Three’s One Plan offers 2000 minutes, 5000 Three-to-Three minutes, 5000 texts, all-you-can-eat internet and tethering from £25/month.

Three‘s top-of-the-range flagship tariff, “The One Plan”, is best known for its generous allowance of minutes, texts and all-you-can-eat data with a free mobile broadband service through tethering. Starting from £25/month, the “One Plan” comes with 2000 cross-network minutes, 5000 Three-to-Three minutes, 5000 texts, and all-you-can-eat data with no download limits. The plan is available with a brand new smartphone when you commit for 24-months or if you already own your own handset and are looking more flexibility, as a rolling 30 day SIM Only contract instead.

With the second birthday of “The One Plan” fast approaching and with the popularity of the plan spawning offerings from rivals such as T-Mobile’s “The Full Monty” and O2′s “On and On”, we take a fresh look at The One Plan and look at how it compares to Three’s other offerings as well as rival offerings. We’ll also look at the range of devices available on “The One Plan”, what you can expect from “The One Plan” and how you can keep your existing phone number when switching to “The One Plan”.

What is “The One Plan” from Three?

“The One Plan” is Three’s flagship mobile phone tariff. It is essentially being marketed as a tariff where you can pay a flat monthly fee and stop worry about any additional charges: to that extent the tariff typically comes with a free handset as well as a very generous airtime allowance.

The inclusive monthly allowance on “The One Plan” is:

As internet on “The One Plan” is truly unlimited and does not come with download limits or fair usage policies, it is possible to use the full featureset of your smartphone and download apps to your heart’s content without having to worrying about additional data charges. Furthermore, as Three allow tethering on “The One Plan”, it becomes possible to use your mobile phone as a portable hub through which your unlimited downloads are shared with other devices such as a laptop, tablet, e-book reader or iPod Touch.

In terms of calls and texts, it is worth noting that “The One Plan” is not a truly unlimited tariff. You’re limited to 2,000 cross-network minutes and 5,000 texts per month (plus an additional 5,000 Three-to-Three minutes). Whilst this part of the plan is not truly unlimited, it still equates to making 67 minutes of outgoing calls and sending 167 text messages every day. As this is likely to be substantially more than most people require, we say that calls and texts are “essentially unlimited” for most practical purposes.

How much does “The One Plan” cost?

The One Plan is available in two formats:

  • 24-month Pay Monthly Contract (starting from £30/month with inclusive phone). This tariff is designed for customers who would like a new smartphone and would be happy to commit for 24 months. You’ll get a brand new smartphone – typically for free through a small charge can apply for some handsets. Popular combinations include the 16GB iPhone 4S for £34/month plus £49 upfront though some smartphones are available for free from just £30/month. The full selection of phones available with “The One Plan” can be found on the Three website.
  • 30-day SIM-only contract (£25/month). This tariff is designed for consumers who would like a bit of additional flexibility and who already own a smartphone they’d like to keep (e.g. iPhone, Android, Samsung Galaxy, etc.). Providing that your current smartphone was either purchased on Three or has been unlocked for use on Three, it is possible to switch to “The One Plan” simply by slotting the provided SIM card into your phone. You can keep your existing number using a PAC Code. 30 days notice is required to leave “The One Plan”.

Which handsets are available with The One Plan?

A large range of devices are available on The One Plan. Popular options include:

The full list of available handsets can be found on the Three website.

Is the 24-month Pay Monthly or the 30-day SIM-only version of this tariff more suitable for me?

It really depends on the flexibility that you desire from your handset and whether you’d like a new smartphone. There can be some exceptionally cheap devices available on the 24-month version of “The One Plan” – for example the Samsung Galaxy S II is available at £31/month plus £39 upfront. Over 24 months, this works out as being £183 more expensive than the vanilla £25/month SIM-only tariff, yet a brand new Galaxy S II can retail for around £400. For this reason, if you are happy to commit for 24 months we suggest it could be highly beneficial to upgrade your phone at the same time.

A full list of available devices can be found on the Three website.

Is there a micro-SIM version of “The One Plan” available?

Yes. If you opt for the 30-day SIM Only version of “The One Plan”, you’ll need to ensure that you receive a SIM card of the correct size for your device. The vast majority of smartphones accept a full-sized SIM card whereas the Apple iPhone (iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S), HTC One and Nokia Lumia devices require a micro-SIM card. If you are unsure about whether your smartphone accepts a full-sized SIM card (also known as “Mini SIM”) or a micro-SIM sized card, please check your manual. Regardless of the physical size of the SIM card required by your device, there are no differences in price or inclusive allowances.

How does “The One Plan” compare to rival offerings such as T-Mobile’s “The Full Monty” and O2′s “On and On”?

The popularity of “The One Plan” amongst consumers in the UK over the last 21 months has led rivals companies T-Mobile and O2 to launch their own competitors to the tariff. T-Mobile’s offering is called “The Full Monty” whereas O2′s offering is called “On and On”. Three’s offerings tend to be the cheapest of the 3 rival offerings. Notably, O2 does not include unlimited data on their “On and On” tariff – instead there is a monthly download allowance of 1GB per month (or 2GB per month with an additional charge).

The One Plan (Three) The Full Monty (T-Mobile) On and On (O2)
Network Three T-Mobile O2
Contract Length 24 months 24 months 24 months
SIM-Only Plan Length 1 month 1 month/12 months 12 months
Price From £25/month From £26/month From £26/month
Minutes 2,000 2,000 (£36/month)
OR unlimited (from £41/month)		 Unlimited
Same-network minutes 5,000* Unlimited* Unlimited
Texts 5,000 Unlimited Unlimited
Internet Unlimited (all-you-can-eat)
No fair usage limits		 Unlimited
No fair usage limits		 1GB as standard
2GB (extra charge)
Download Speed Up to 21Mbit/s with HSPA+
80% UK coverage		 Up to 21Mbit/s with HSPA+
Unknown coverage		 Up to 21Mbit/s with HSPA+
Unknown coverage
Tethering Yes, included Yes, included Yes, included
Voicemail Free Part of minutes allowance Free
BT Openzone Wi-Fi Not included Unlimited Not included

* The approximate market share of T-Mobile is 19% whereas the approximate market share of Three is 7%. On the face of it, this would make unlimited calls to T-Mobile numbers a much better proposition than unlimited calls to Three numbers. However, the high number of inclusive minutes on both plans means this is unlikely to make very much difference in the real-world.

For a detailed comparison of Three and T-Mobile’s respective offerings, we’ve got a detailed comparison of ‘The Full Monty’ VS ‘The One Plan’.

You can find out more about “The Full Monty” on the T-Mobile website and more about “On and On” on the O2 website.

How does The One Plan compare to Three’s other tariff offerings?

As well as “The One Plan”, Three also offers a range of other Pay Monthly tariffs including “Essential Internet” and “Ultimate Internet” tariffs. We’ve got a detailed review and comparison of these tariffs. “Essential Internet” tariffs come with a 250MB monthly download allowance whereas “Ultimate Internet” tariffs come with all-you-can-eat data. However, neither the “Essential Internet” tariffs nor the “Ultimate Internet” tariffs support tethering – one of the primary benefits of “The One Plan”. Tethering is only permitted on “The One Plan”.

More information on “Essential Internet” and “Ultimate Internet” can be found on the Three website.

Can I tether on “The One Plan”?

Yes. “The One Plan” comes with all-you-can-eat data and free tethering. This means you can share your high-speed 3G data connection with other devices such as a laptop, tablet (including wi-fi only iPad tablets), an iPod Touch, e-book reader or games console. Using this feature, all of your electronic devices can make use of “The One Plan” to access online content whilst you’re on the move – all they need to do is to be able to connect to a wi-fi hotspot produced by your smartphone.

In order to use this feature, you’ll need a phone which supports the mobile wi-fi hotspot feature. Most modern smartphones including the Apple iPhone and most Android devices now support wi-fi hotspot. For details of how to get it up and running, we’ve got a detailed guide on tethering.

Can I really use “The One Plan” as an alternative to a mobile broadband service?

Yes – in fact this is one of the primary benefits of “The One Plan”. We think that with all-you-can-eat data and free tethering, “The One Plan” is a great alternative to mobile broadband – using your smartphone as a mobile wi-fi hub will allow you to connect another 5 wi-fi enabled devices to the mobile internet too. We’ve got an in-depth guide to using “The One Plan” as a mobile broadband replacement.

Is it possible to get “The One Plan” on an 18 month contract?

No. Unfortunately it is not possible to get “The One Plan” on an 18-month contract. Three do not offer any contracts of 18 months duration. You must either opt for the 24 month version of “The One Plan” which comes with an inclusive smartphone or the 30-day SIM-only version of the plan.

Does “all-you-can-eat data” have a fair usage policy?

According to Three, there is no fair usage limit for all-you-can-eat data – nor have we received any reports of customers finding hidden download limits with all-you-can-eat data.

What type of download speeds can I expect on “The One Plan”?

Three offers a HSPA+ service across 80% of the UK meaning you can obtain download speeds of up to 21Mbit/s with a compatible smartphone (in reality most customers will receive around 4Mbit/s on HSPA+). If your smartphone is not HSPA+ compatible, you will receive download speeds of up to 7.2Mbit/s using older HSDPA technology.

What’s the coverage like on Three?

You should use the coverage checker on the Three website to ensure you can receive a signal from Three where you live.

How has “The One Plan” changed since its launch?

The One Plan originally launched in July 2010. All-you-can-eat data and free tethering was added for all One Plan customers in December 2010. The most recent update to The One Plan (May 2011) saw the SIM-only version of “The One Plan” changing from a 12-month contract to a rolling 30-day contract.

I’m switching to The One Plan. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Provide this to Three and they’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer a phone number. Our PAC Code Finder tool will take you through the entire process of switching networks step-by-step.

Where can I get this deal?

The One Plan is available as a SIM-only contract (30-day rolling contract) or standard 24 month Pay Monthly contract through the Three website.

    

About Ken
Ken Lo

My mission is to demystify the world of mobile technology for general audiences and to communicate how mobile technology can enhance every aspect of our daily lives. I've been maintaining the Ken's Tech Tips website since 2004.

I have experience communicating mobile technology and presenting new mobile products both online and offline, including at various trade shows and events. You can check out my profile or drop me an e-mail.

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  • Comments(25)

25 Responses to ““The One Plan” from Three: Review & Comparison”

  1. # mickyon 14 Jul 2010 at 1:15 pm

    On the "Three" One Plan it states 2000 min x network and 5000 texts or Or any combination of both. My understanding on this statement is that you should then have 7000 mins x network if you wanted, does this make sense ? !

  2. # kenstechtipson 14 Jul 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Hi micky,

    Where does it say it's a combination of the two? As far as I can see, you get defined allowance of 2000 minutes and 5000 texts with no flexibility to swap minutes for texts.

    Ken

  3. # mujon 22 Dec 2010 at 11:55 pm

    now internet is all you can it (unlimited) on the one plan

  4. # Kens Tech Tipson 23 Dec 2010 at 1:08 am

    Thanks for the heads up muj; we'll be updating this article as soon as Three post the updated terms and conditions on their website. We're reluctant to write anything about the changes until we've seen the small print to ensure we can write a comprehensive article. There are also a few things we want to check in the terms and conditions before deciding whether to recommend this tariff (mainly to do with what restrictions there are on data usage).

    Thanks

    Ken

  5. # Roxyon 28 Dec 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Be warned with the one plan contract, signed up for the £35 a month one and had my first bill with over £5 of VAT added! so my actual bill is £40, if you look on the websites small print says its subject to VAT change in jan 2011, well seeing as its just been made available and only lasts until begininning of jan this is clearly the biggest con ever, just say its £40 not £35 and in small print not including VAT!!

  6. # Kens Tech Tipson 29 Dec 2010 at 10:59 am

    Hi Roxy,

    All of the prices advertised on the Three website are inclusive of VAT at 17.5%. The VAT rise on the 4th January to 20% will increase prices slightly… more discussed at http://cow.neondragon.net/index.php/vat-increase-…

    However, this won't account for a £5/month increase. For some phones (e.g. iPhone), the One Plan is available in two variants: £35/month and £40/month. It is possible that you've either signed up for the wrong one or you've been placed on the wrong one so it's well worth double checking this.

    Ken

  7. # trebsoon 19 Jan 2011 at 10:31 am

    The iPhone 4 deal looks attractive until you see you get a 'refreshed' iPhone – ie pre-used. I'd be worried I'd getting one of the early iPhone4s with aerial trouble.

  8. # Amyon 21 Apr 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Hi Roxy & Ken this has happened on my £35 a month contract too. I got my bill today and it came out at £40 including the VAT! My mate has the same contract and his is £35 inc VAT so I'm going to query it

  9. # Kens Tech Tipson 09 May 2011 at 12:55 am

    9/5/11: Okely doke, article has all been updated for the latest "One Plan" changes. SIM only tariff is now a 1-month rolling contract.

    Ken

  10. # Peteron 06 Jun 2011 at 6:01 pm

    Just phoned Three, your price plan is inclusive of VAT..So if it's a £35 a month that's what you pay. The £40 would have been you started the contract inbetween billing dates, and the additional £5 was the additional days coverage. I.E £40 = an extra 5 days.

  11. # GERRYon 08 Jun 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Did anyone know that when you send a contact number by mms you get charged as a picture message,bad skills 3 nnetwork

  12. # Kens Tech Tipson 09 Jun 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Hi Gerry,

    MMS messages are charged as picture messages – you should opt to send this as a text message instead if at all possible :)

    Ken

  13. # Chris Ton 10 Jun 2011 at 5:07 pm

    Are there any picture messages free within the one plan?

  14. # Kens Tech Tipson 11 Jun 2011 at 12:55 am

    Hi Chris,

    Unfortunately not – these cost 25p on The One Plan. As an alternative, you could send the photo as an email attachment for free.

    Ken

  15. # Beckion 27 Jul 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Is the minutes/texts to any network? anytime

  16. # Kens Tech Tipson 29 Jul 2011 at 10:25 am

    Hi Becki,

    The One Plan features:
    2,000 cross-network minutes
    5,000 same-network minutes
    AND
    5,000 any-network texts

    Hope this helps,

    Ken

  17. # Maryon 20 Aug 2011 at 4:35 pm

    So sending a picture from the mobile to an email address (via mms and not through the email client) is not free?

  18. # Kens Tech Tipson 20 Aug 2011 at 5:24 pm

    Hi Mary,

    Nope – MMS messages are not included on The One Plan. E-mails sent through the e-mail client on your smartphone are totally free though – the picture should also be of a higher quality.

    Ken

  19. # Deniseon 22 Aug 2011 at 2:01 pm

    I'm quite worried about going to 3 as I've heard the reception isnt that great. I've checked the 3 website to check how my signal would be but it's not very helpful! I live in Bournemouth. Can anyone help with how the signal is with 3??

  20. # Kens Tech Tipson 22 Aug 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Hi Denise,

    A really good way of testing 3 signal where you live is to pick up a free SIM card from Three. You can do this at https://www.three.co.uk/Pay_As_You_Go/Free_SIM/Or… or go into a 3Store. Put the SIM card into your current phone and check to make sure you get signal where you live and work :)

    Hope this helps,

    Ken

  21. # Johnnyon 24 Aug 2011 at 1:26 pm

    Ken u are actually pretty ace. This site is loads of help. I was looking for the best mobile broadband I could find but all the networks seem to have hundreds of people complaining about their service or reception or something else. But as far as I can see what ur suggesting is that you can hook your laptop up to your mobile and surf from anywhere?

    Is that what tethering is? And do you happen to know if you can use it on ubuntu? Windows won't work on my ickle notebook here and I really don't want to go back to using it. Blugh.

    Thanks man, totally bookmarking ur site right now.

  22. # Kens Tech Tipson 24 Aug 2011 at 6:47 pm

    Hi Johnny,

    Thanks for your comments! You're right: you can if you're tethering. I've written an in-depth guide on how to do this over at http://cow.neondragon.net/index.php/how-to-tether… if you're interested. And providing you're using tethering over wi-fi, it will definitely work on Ubuntu – it'll work on any device which supports wi-fi. That could include your Kindle, your iPod Touch or whatever. No drivers needed.

    Hope this helps!

    Ken

  23. # Benon 21 Oct 2011 at 12:14 pm

    no its not, that is the bill for the first month. Three specifically tells you that you will be charged extra in the first month and then for the other months it goes back to £35 if you don't go outside your contract (mms messaging etc).

  24. # Imranon 05 May 2012 at 5:38 pm

    please compare costs of dialling non geographic numbers and 0800 numbers from these networks….not a lot of point having so many free minutes per month, if you get billed for using the phone to make customer-to-business calls…eg contacting your government by phone (HMRC)

  25. # ridetherhythmon 06 May 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Would be great to compare costs across these networks for making non-geographic calls (customer contact centres including those belonging to our government!). These calls aren't included in the all-inclusive call allowances on any of the mobile networks.

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