Three offer to unlock phones for NOTHING

Having a locked phone can be rather annoying, not only do you often have bloatware to contend with, it can also be tricky if you want to swap to a different network at the end of your contract. You’ll also have problems if you want to sell the phone on.

Previously Three used to charge you £15.32 for the privilege of unlocking your device but no more – it is now free, nothing, nada, zilch. Note it needs to be the original account holder who gets the device unlocked.

This brings them in line with O2 who have offered free unlocking for some time for contract phones and means they are considerably cheaper than the £20 charged by Orange and T-Mobile. Vodafone charge £19.99 in first year of contract but nothing after.

Whilst they haven’t publicised this yet, it has been confirmed by their Twitter team and the Three site no longer mentions a fee, although the summary text in a Google search does.

If you’re on Three and want to unlock your device then call 333 – option 3,3,1 or head over to the Three website here

Sources: Hotukdeals and Twitter

iPhone’s on Three start getting carrier updates

Three officially started to roll out 4G today to a select range of customers. They will continue to add more over time until everyone gets 4G enabled and just lives in a 4G area.

One step to allow 4G access on an iPhone is a carrier update which is a range of settings sent to your device and also to allow the option to toggle on and off 4G access.

Until now this was missing on iPhones using the Three UK network, however reports tonight are that this carrier update (15.6) is now being rolled out to customers on iOS devices and once accepted will indeed allow 4G on the device.

Please remember though this is just one step, you still need to have 4G enabled on your SIM which will take time. You will also obviously need to be in a 4G coverage area to use this service.

However one hurdle is now overcome when it comes to getting your iPhone closer to 4G on Three

Three pull out of Carphone Warehouse.

Those Carphone Warehouse people will have one less network to offer soon. Three are pulling out and have chosen instead to focus on their own Three stores as a sales channel.

The network has already stopped offering their plans to Phones 4u, and they’ve revealed that 89% of their customers are from direct sales. Three will not be offered in Carphone Warehouse stores after December 4th, so if you want some Three action, go to a Three store… or, quite possibly, buy one of those SIM-free packs from the checkout at Lidl.

Via – Mobile Today

Update to Android 4.3 with the HTC One on Three

Three have announced that their HTC One handsets will be getting Android 4.3 today, so go check for updates if you’re still waiting.

If you have problems, check this Three support page for help and guidance through the update process. It’s also probably best to use WiFi to grab the software.

Let us know how you are getting on with this new update.

Three confirm Nexus 5 availability

UK network Three known for their AYCE data plans have just confirmed to us they are to stock the just announced Nexus 5 from TOMORROW!

The Nexus 5 features the latest version of Android, 4.4 Kitkat as well as some impressive specifications:

Three to range the new Nexus 5

The impressive new Nexus 5 smartphone is Google’s first smartphone to run on the latest Android KitKat operating system, and is now available online and from Three stores. Plus, it is 4G Ready, so you will be able to access an even faster internet experience when Three’s 4G network begins to roll out, at no extra cost.

The Nexus 5 boasts a colourful five inch HD display and an advanced lens with some innovative new photographic features such as optical image stabilisation, HDR+, so you can take amazing 360° panoramas with its eight megapixel camera. Plus every photo and video is automatically backed up and enhanced so every memory is fully captured.

The Nexus 5 handset is £49 if you opt for Three’s One Plan for just £35 month on a 24 month contract. Alternatively you can get the phone on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan for £29 per month and an upfront cost of £49 that gives you 500 minutes, 5,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data. Or the Ultimate Internet 1000 plan that costs £49 upfront plus £32 a month for 1,000 minutes plus 5000 texts and all-you-can-eat data.

For a free phone on The One Plan that costs £40 a month

It is also available for £399.99 on pay as you go, with Three’s market-leading rates of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p per megabyte of data.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said:

“The Nexus 5 has been designed to provide a fantastic Android experience in a light, slim and well-designed smartphone. It gives the user a great experience and with our all-you-can-eat data plans, you can truly make the most of being connected and sharing your latest photos and videos with ease.”

The Nexus 5 also comes with great new software features such as matching incoming phone calls to friends or businesses, even if they’re not already in your address book. The smartphone also helps you get to where you need to be faster, featuring dynamic re-routing if there’s traffic and suggesting faster travel alternatives, with just one tap on the redesigned Google Maps app.

Key features:

·         The latest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system

·         4G Ready with 2.3 GHz Quad Core processor

·         Photo Sphere Cam enabling 360° images

·         16GB internal memory

·         Available in black or white

iPad Air available on Three tomorrow – All the details

Hey dear reader. It’s cold, it’s Autumn and it’s a minute past midnight. What are you doing up at this time? ;) Well, don’t worry, tomorrow is Friday and it’s November 1st. Pop down to your local Three store and you can buy yourself an iPad Air. There’s a range of plans available and we’ve just got the full details…

Three will be offering the iPad Air with WiFi and GSM. We’ve got the full details on the iPad Air which includes a 9.7? Retina display and a thinner and lighter design. Three will also be selling the iPad mini with the same WiFi and mobile data capabilities later in November. Once Three turn on their 4G data network you’ll also be able to connect to that for no extra cost too.

Three to Offer iPad Air in UK on November 1, 2013

UK, London — October 29, 2013 —Three today announced that it will offer iPad Air with Wi-Fi + Cellular in UK on Friday, November 1, and iPad mini with Retina display with Wi-Fi + Cellular later in November. Three will offer these new iPads with a range of attractive data plans that will allow customers to connect to its fast DC-HSDPA+ 3G network and its 4G network that will be available at no extra cost, in December.

iPad Air features a stunning 9.7-inch Retina display in a new thinner and lighter design. Precision-engineered to weigh just one pound, iPad Air is 20 percent thinner and 28 percent lighter than the fourth generation iPad, and with a narrower bezel, the borders of iPad Air are dramatically thinner—making content even more immersive. iPad mini with Retina display brings all the pixels from the 9.7-inch iPad to its 7.9-inch screen, delivering razor sharp text and detail in the same amazingly thin and light design. The new iPads feature the powerful and power-efficient Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture, ultrafast wireless with faster built-in Wi-Fi and expanded LTE cellular connectivity, and the newly-designed iOS 7 featuring hundreds of great new features.

Customers can buy iPad Air with Wi-Fi + Cellular at all Three retail shops, online or by calling 0800 358 8460, beginning November, 1. For complete details on pricing and pre-registration, please visit www.three.co.uk.

Underwater for more than three months, Nokia Lumia continues to work

Drop your phone in a lake and, well, you’re pretty much stuffed. However, Roger Nilsson found his Nokia Lumia again some three and a bit months later.

There it was, jammed between two rocks at low tide. Roger snapped a picture of it and sent his story to the Nokia Sweden Facebook page. He tells us that…

I took it home and started to clean it as best I could, (there were) shells and sh*t on (the) display, green goo around the entire phone and some other stuff. (I) let it dry on a radiator and then I put the charger cable in..

Imagine my surprise when it boots up as usual! Everything works just like before, the camera is great, battery life is two days and so on.

Now, this is a phone which isn’t sold as being waterproof, and to retrieve if after so long then have it work perfectly – well, that’s something quite surprising indeed.

New Nexus 7 now on Three.. WiFi-only version though

Three have just sent out a press release confirming the latest Nexus 7 tablet is now available in the UK via their network.

This is the WiFi model costing £199.99 and can be paired with either a PAYG or Contract MiFi for browsing access.

Wait, you want to know more? Have a read of our earlier article to get the full run-down on what to expect.

Here is the full press release ..

Powerful and portable, the all new Nexus 7 arrives on Three.

Featuring the world’s highest resolution 7-inch display with over 2.3 million pixels, the new Nexus 7 is now available to buy on Three in-store.

The Nexus 7 is available for £199.99 as a WiFi only tablet. Or you can combine the Nexus 7 (2013) with a pocket-sized Huawei E5220 MiFi. This creates a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and gives you the freedom to connect your tablet to Three’s award-winning network to stay in touch when out and about.

Building on the success of its predecessor, the Nexus 7 is thinner, lighter and faster and the first device to run the latest Android 4.3 operating system. A powerful quad-core processor also allows people to smoothly switch between apps, tracks, games and maps for instance.

Dual stereo speakers and surround sound add finely tuned, rich and immersive audio to your music and with built-in wireless charging, you can simply charge it whilst on the go*.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: “The Nexus 7 has incorporated the latest technologies into an affordable tablet that is fast and looks impressive. The new lightweight design and wireless charging means you can take it out and about with ease. Combined with a MiFi it’s a great tablet option to make the most of downtime when commuting, whether that’s catching up on work emails or simply playing your favourite game.”

The Huawei E5220 MiFi is available for a one-off upfront cost of £29.99 on a one-month rolling contract at £15.99 per month including 5GB of data or from £49.99 on Pay As You Go with 1GB of data pre-loaded.

Key features:

The world’s sharpest 7-inch tablet screenWi-Fi connectivityAndroid 4.3Thinner, lighter and faster than the previous Nexus 7Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor2GB of RAMWireless charging with a case

LG G2 Now available on Three

With it’s 5.2? screen and rear volume rocker, the new flagship powerhouse from LG, the LG G2 is now available from 3 stores or online.

The handset features a full HD 1920 x 1080 screen, a 13MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation, is 4G ready and combines a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.3GHz quad-core processor with 2GB RAM.  Running Android 4.2.2, the G2 comes complete with Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and Miracast.

An upfront cost of £49 on a 24 month contract means that you can pay £29 per month for the Ultimate Internet 500 plan or £32 per month for the Ultimate 1000 which are both available with all you can eat data.

LG’s most advanced smartphone yet is now available from Three stores and online. The stunningly designed 5.2” full HD screen combined with its power and efficiency means you can make the most of Three’s all-you-can-eat data packages without worrying about battery life.

This powerhouse of a phone offers low power consumption and is also 4G Ready, so you’ll be ready for faster internetting when Three’s 4G network starts to roll out and at no extra cost.

Three is offering the LG G2 with an upfront cost of £49 on a 24 month contract plan. Choose from £29 a month for the Ultimate Internet 500 or £32 a month for the Ultimate Internet 1000 which are both available with all-you-can-eat data. Otherwise for £35 per month you can opt for The One Plan that includes all-you-can-eat data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts.

Alternatively you can buy the device for £399.99 on Three’s market leading Pay As You Go rates of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB of data.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three said: “The G2 has got some interesting new features and a slick design. It’s also got some cutting edge technology that means it will be an attractive option for those that like to multi-task and stay constantly connected, especially with our all-you-can-eat data packages.”

Key features:

5.2” Full HD IPS display with narrow bezelStunning 13MP OIS CameraUltimate battery power4G Ready and a Qualcomm 2.3GHz quad-core processorInstinctive design with refined rear key

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 available on Three

Now, if you’re in the cool gang and follow us on Twitter, you’ll already know that we’ve had a full hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. You’ll also know that it’s popped up on Three already, but we’ve now got the official press release, which is brimming with pricing detail.

There’s an up-front £99 cost for the phablet and you can then pay £34 per month for the Ultimate Internet 500 plan or, if you fancy, £36 per month for the Ultimate Internet 1000.

Want more data? £38 per month gets you “The One Plan” for all-you-can-eat-data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts. If you want some 3-on-3 action it’s a 2-year deal on all these.

Multitask with ease on the powerful new Samsung Galaxy Note 3, available on Three.

With a larger screen and a more powerful processor than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 can easily watch vibrant HD content and play your favourite tunes simultaneously.

With a network built for the mobile internet and Three’s all-you-can-eat data, Three is the ideal partner for Samsung’s Group Play, which allows people to share and play videos, music and games with friends, direct from their phones. Plus, as it’s a 4G Ready phone, you’ll be ready for faster internetting when Three’s 4G network rolls out and at no extra cost.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is available from £34 a month for the Ultimate Internet 500 or £36 a month for the Ultimate Internet 1000. Or for £38 per month you can opt for The One Plan that includes all-you-can-eat-data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts. All these plans are based on a 24 month contract with an upfront cost of £99 and come with all-you-can-eat data.

Reinventing the classic note-taking experience, the new S-Pen now comes with Air Command, which has been designed to eliminate endless toggling between screens, shortcuts and menus. One of the features this brings to life is Action Memo, which allows people to handwrite a note that can then be used to automatically activate a call or search the web.

Three is also stocking the new Samsung Galaxy Gear wearable device in its retail stores. You can buy the Galaxy Gear at a reduced cost of £249.99 if you buy it with your Galaxy Note 3 or you can buy it in-store for £299.99 as a standalone product.  You can stay connected by making hands-free calls and checking your notifications direct from your wrist.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 also features a soft textured back cover with delicate stitching, adding a premium feel to this top-end smartphone.

Key features:

·         Advanced S Pen functionality
·         5.7” Full HD Super AMOLED screen
·         Up to 32GB internal memory
·         13-megapixel rear camera
·         4G Ready
·         Seamless multitasking

Three confirm iPhone 5s Pricing

Three have finally revealed to us the pricing for the new iPhone 5s. It comes on the day that the handset goes on sale across the country.

Three are the last of the networks here to announce their pricing. It’s perhaps because many are interested to see what they can offer and their free 4G offer and unlimited data includes tethering on certain deals. Buy an iPhone 5s on Three and you’ll know, come December, that you won’t be paying any extra for the 4G service.

iPhone 5s and 4s Pricing

Three today announced it will offer iPhone 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, and iPhone 5c, the most colourful iPhone yet, beginning Friday, September 20. iPhone 5s will be available starting at £99 and iPhone 5c will be available starting at £49 on a 24-month contract from Three stores, online at three.co.uk or by calling 0800 358 1799.

“We are very excited to announce that the much anticipated iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are now available on our network,” said Thomas Malleschitz, marketing director at Three. “iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, along with our commitment to provide 4G at no extra cost, means that our customers can look forward to an even better network experience. We will also continue to offer all-you-can-eat data, so customers can truly enjoy the full capabilities of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c without having to worry about exceeding their data allowance.”

£99 upfront + £37/mo for 24 months£99 upfront +£39/mo for 24 months£99 upfront + £41/mo for 24 months£99 upfront + £42/mo for 24 months£99 upfront +£44/mo for 24 months£99 upfront + £46/mo for 24 months£99 upfront + £47/mo for 24 months£99 upfront +£49/mo for 24 months£99 upfront + £51/mo for 24 months£0 upfront + £27/mo for 24 months£99 upfront +£30/mo for 24 months£0 upfront + £33/mo for 24 months

 Your thoughts? For me the £37 per month package with only £99 up-front is the best offer we’ve seen so far for the iPhone 5s 16GB model, and you get unlimited data, which has to be a huge bonus. No need to worry about your data use and no need to think about how much extra 4G will cost in December because it’s all included.

Xperia Z Ultra now on Three

Three have just sent out a press release confirming the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is now available on its network.

The Z Ultra is a massive device both size and spec with a huge 6.4? display, 2GB ram, 16GB storage and an 8 megapixel camera. You can also dunk it in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water if you feel like it :)

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is also 4G ready, so you can enjoy even faster speeds on the up-coming Three 4G network. Price-wise you can pay an up-front cost of £99 on a 24 month contract plan then choose from £34 a month for the Ultimate Internet 500 or £36 a month for the Ultimate Internet 1000. Both of these plans include the all-you-can-eat data. You can, should you wish, notch it up to £38 per month for The One Plan which has all-you-can-eat-data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts.

Here is the full press release..

The sleek Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra on Three offers a rich mobile entertainment experience anytime, anywhere.

10 September 2013

With Sony’s largest HD smartphone screen yet, at 6.4”, the lightweight Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra smartphone on Three is perfect for those that want to enjoy entertainment on the move and is available now from Three stores.

The Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra is 4G ready and when Three rolls out its 4G network, a simple, free software upgrade will mean the speedier technology will be available to customers at no extra cost.

Three is offering the Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra with an upfront cost of £99 on a 24 month contract plan. Choose from £34 a month for the Ultimate Internet 500 or £36 a month for the Ultimate Internet 1000 which are both available with all-you-can-eat data. Otherwise for £38 a month you can opt for The One Plan that includes all-you-can-eat-data, 2000 minutes of talk time and 5000 Three to Three minutes, plus 5000 texts.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: “The Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra is an exciting addition to our growing range of 4G Ready devices. Its stunning screen and suitability for watching movies or playing games means you can make full use of Three’s all-you-can-eat data plans and enjoy an immersive entertainment experience without being tied to your living room.”

The hardwearing device is dust resistant and *waterproof and you can even write or draw on the screen using any stylus or pencil allowing you to watch, read, write and play anytime and anywhere.

The Sony Xperia™ Z Ultra will also be available to order online from October 18 at www.three.co.uk.

Key features:

•6.4 inch Full HD Triluminos™ display to maximise the viewing experience in stunning clarity
•Thin and lightweight
•*Waterproof and dust resistant
•8MP HDR camera with Exmor RS sensor

Sony Xperia M coming to Three

Three have just confirmed that they will be taking one of the latest Sony phones, the Xperia M on their UK network.

For £149.99, customers can now get their hands on this device in store with online orders available from 11th October for some reason (we have asked Three to confirm this).

Specifications include a 4 inch 480 x 854 resolution display, 5 megapixel camera with 720p recording, 4GB storage and a 1GHz Dual-Core processor all powered by a 1750 mAh battery to get you through the day.

The Sony Xperia™ M, an elegant and affordable smartphone with a bright 4-inch display and simple to use one-touch sharing, is now available from Three stores.

The device is available on Three’s new market leading Pay-As-You-Go rates of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB of data for £149.99. For even better value, Add-ons are also available such as the ‘All in One 15’ which costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or ‘All in One 25’ which costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

The one-touch sharing function makes it easy to share music, photos and videos with friends and family across various other Sony devices such as headsets or NFC-enabled BRAVIA TVs for instance.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: “The Xperia™ M is perfect for those that want an impressive device that they can personalise to reflect their taste. It offers great value for money from a trusted brand, and combined with our market-leading Pay As You Go rates, it makes it a great choice for those that want a capable yet affordable phone to stay in touch.”

The Sony Xperia™ M makes use of Sony’s many years of audio expertise, with xLoud enhancement providing crisp sound quality that makes this phone great for listening to music on the go. A light at the bottom of the phone also notifies the customer of any text messages, missed calls or social media updates so you don’t need to constantly check your phone to stay in touch.

The Sony Xperia™ M will also be available to order online from October 11 at www.three.co.uk.

LG Optimus L1 II now available on Three

Back in August it was revealed that Three would be the exclusive carrier for the LG Optimus L1 II.

Well, the smartphone that has one of the weirdest sounding names ever is now available both instore and online.

The low cost handset is available from £49.99 on pay as you go while price plans start at £11 per month.

Running Android 4.1, the L1 II is a solid entry level device that runs a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor and has 4GB internal storage and 512MB RAM.  This combined with the 2MP rear camera leads to a handset that one isn’t going to hesitate to give to their children to take to school.

The smart LG Optimus L1 II offers a fantastic introduction to the smartphone world and is now available on Three both in-store and online at Three.co.uk.

LG’s latest affordable smartphone is available exclusively to Three customers. It comes with various convenient features such as QuickMemo to capture and share handwritten ideas using just a fingertip, and Safety Care which can be programmed to contact a loved one in case of an emergency.

Pay As You Go customers can enjoy the handset on Three’s market-leading Pay As You Go rates of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB of data, with an upfront cost of £49.99.

Alternatively the phone is free if you sign up for a 24 month contract and it comes with a variety of monthly price plans to suit all budgets. Price plans start at £11 per month for the Essential Internet 100 and go right up to the Ultimate Internet 1000 plan at £23 a month for the more data heavy users. Or you can buy The One Plan that gives you all-you-can-eat data, 2000 minutes and 5000 texts, plus other extras.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: “For those who are thinking about upgrading a basic handset to a smartphone, LG’s Optimus L1 II is a great solution. Its 3-inch touchscreen is easy to use and allows users to interact with apps such as Facebook or their email, with ease.”

The LG Optimus L1 II has a simple design, runs on Google’s Android Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system, and has a long lasting battery to provide plenty of multitasking power so you can keep up to date at all times.

Currently using a Nexus 4 and Nexus 7, proud father of three boys and a massive Liverpool FC fan.

The only thing that I have more passion for than tech is music!

Note 3 United Kingdom three 16 September next.

 

The Galaxy note 3 is rumored to make his debut in the presentation of Samsung IFA 2013, next week Sep 4th and a display of the system carrier leaked inventory shows us that Samsung does not have much more to announce the device.

The above image was leaked by Engadget, is supposedly carrier three UK and shows the upcoming releases for some devices including Galaxy note 3-16 September - and Sony Xperia Z1 (aka "Honami") - 24 September.

We can not be sure that the release dates will be accurate for all regions and carriers nowadays, but given that we immerse ourselves well in IFA the next week and a large UK carrier is willing to sell the phone quickly after that, we must quickly assume will be available.