Bringgg Bringg with Asda! (Asda Mobile Network)

Member Name: nickbrown60

Product:	Asda Mobile Network
Date:	29/05/09 (587 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super prices, superb network coverage and even better service!

Disadvantages: None at all

Hello everyone and welcome to this review!

I recently switched from the T-mobile to the Asda Mobile network due to the poor service I was receiving from T-mobile. Also finding that I was spending over £100 a month on mainly text messages!! I thought of all the lovely products I could go out and buy to review here on Dooyoo and decided.. Something must be done about it!


I was on a search for a new network until I went to buy some bananas.

Network information?
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One day I was in Asda looking for bananas when I saw this new network being advertised. This was around 9 months ago when the network was first launched. The network is called an (MVNO) - Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Basically they are a network using another networks masts (Antennas) and those antennas belonging to the mobile giant Vodafone. Now basically the mobile usage such as signal and top-up would be exactly the same as Vodafone pay as you go but one obvious difference.. That being the price, the customer service and the 'ASDA MOBILE' printed on your mobiles screen.

Asda seemed to be the best network for both price and offers as I browsed through the numerous sim cards belonging to all sorts of networks. For anyone that doesn't know, a sim card is a small chip that is inserted into your phone to allow you to use a certain network. Every network has their own sim card that are sold to the customer or given away free in some areas.

What are the costs?
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Well the joining and the using costs of this mobile network are extremely low. I picked up the sim card in an Asda store for only 50p! This even came with £2 free call time credit. How kind! At the time I bought my sim they were giving £5 free credit a week for a whole month as a promotion.. Fantastic!


Once I got my sim all I had to do was pop it in the back of my phone by removing the battery and I was ready to go. It's also recommended that you call Asda mobile to register your details. These are used to transfer your mobile number and credit to a new sim card if your phone is lost or stolen. Well I am always losing phones so this feature is great for me

The registration was painless, called them up, they answered after the first ring (That Brur Brur noise) and just asked for my address, Done! They were also very friendly and professional. They even gave me £1 free credit and 50 free minutes for doing this! Yayy

So what are the costs??
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Very simple!
All Calls in the UK are: 8 pence per minute
And all Texts in the UK are 4 Pence Each!
and Picture messages in the UK are 25 Pence each.

That's it! Very simple. They do also offer a video calling service which I believe is 50 pence a minute, also internet (WAP) that I am charged the rather low cost of 25p per MB! Bargain.


Top ups seem to last ages with Asda mobile. Topping up is also very easy, just pop into any shop that displays the green sign, a cash point or you can do it online at their website. Top ups over the phone are also available, just call the customer services and they will assist you.

Top ups start from £5 to £100 going up in 5's. It's great having top-ups available from £5 because it makes my wallet a bit lighter. I always have too many £5 notes.


Asda mobile signal coverage
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This is just fabulous! I cannot believe just how good it is. Well they do use Vodafone after all, they seem to be the best for coverage. Unfortunately I cannot comment of the 3G coverage as my phone is 2G, but if I ever get a new phone I will keep you all updated. But to be honest I have never been without a bar of signal. Oh I lied, I went in a cave down a beach and lost it But I shouldn't have been in the cave in the first place? Cavemen never had mobiles!

Calling from abroad
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Now the actual calls from abroad are very clear on Asda mobile. I have taken it to Corfu and Orlando and it was great. But! The prices are a bit too high. When I went I was paying £1.40 per minute on calls and 40p a text. Its okay I suppose but T-mobile were a lot cheaper on the abroad side of things. Even cheap than using in the UK in some country's.


Top ups for Asda mobile are not available when you are abroad, however you can still top-up over the internet or over the phone using your card. Mind you I don't think you can top-up any other networks while abroad. Another little tip is to buy a few vouchers to take with you, if your top up runs out, grab your voucher, type in the code and away you go.

Customer Services
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Oh I must say... Their service is absolutely Fabulous, honestly! Every question I've asked has been sorted very quickly. The queue's on the line really are non existent! I have never had to wait more than 10 seconds for the 'Hello welcome to Asda mobile, how may I help?'.

Overall opinion
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Well my overall opinion off this service is just FANTASTIC! I have never had a major problem with this network. Infact I have not had a minor problem! They are super cheap compared to most of the other networks and their top-up cards are pretty! haha, I would highly recommennd that you switch to Asda if you are on pay as you go. They will also help you keep your existing number, even If you are on a different network.

Thanks for reading and I hope I have helped you.
Nick

Summary: A fantastic network