HTC 10 on Vodafone

[LordLanky]

So, exciting news about the HTC 10 yesterday.
The leaks left me doubting if the device was good enough, but initial reviews suggest it might have got it right.

In the meantime TechRadar suggests VF are sitting on the fence about whether to stock it.

I'm sure a helpful VF member of staff will point us to the pointless "Coming Soon" page. Thanks for that.

Meantime here in the real world who would like VF to stock the HTC 10?
Is it incredible or even possible that VF are considering to NOT run with it?

[jacippet]

As I understand it it has 2GB of data and can use as per on home network upto limit ie unlimited

"A monthly allowance of minutes and texts to use exclusively in our inclusive roaming zone ations [PDF: 620KB]) without incurring roaming charges. Includes calls and texts to standard UK mobiles and landlines (starting 01, 02 and 03), and to standard mobiles and landlines within the 40 destinations."

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With inclusive roaming, you’ll get unlimited minutes, texts and picture messages and up to 4GB of data to use in 40 European destinations [PDF: 620KB]. Plus, you’re opted in to WorldTraveller, so you can use your UK bundle in a further 58 destinations [PDF: 772KB] for just £5 a day.

[bizarre_adz]

My word of caution.... Be VERY careful during your renewal deal. VF are the only major network which add any existing contract time on top of the renewal period. As an example, if you take a 24 month renewal with 2 months left to run on your existing deal then you end up with a 26 month term. This is great if you have a better tariff but it sucks if you've had to pay more like what happened to me.

If you think I'm mistaken, then you should know that I've spent 4 hours with online chat help over the past few days as well as 2 phonecalls to vodafone.

My argument was that if they were going to make me see out the remaining time then they should honor the original contract for it's full term (they weren't having any of that!) or they should reduce the contract length as per the terms and conditions I signed with a 3rd party (again they weren't having any of that). Finally got it sorted now with a refund on 2 1/3rd months of contract, but I still get stuck with a 26 1/3rd month "renewal" length. Food for thought on anyone thinking of upgrading elsewhere in order to get the HTC10

[jeffkinn]

All networks work in the same way. Vodafone is more generous than others in this element as they will allow you to upgrade to a lower price plan and enjoy two or three months at a lower price point. EE for instance doesn't allow that.

[bizarre_adz]

@jeffkinn If you renew early then yes EE require equal or higher tariff, but they do not add any remaining time to your renewal deal once you are within your allotted renewal period. Nor do 3 and nor do O2. I don't think VF are generous at all in that they do not reward loyalty to their customers unless you take a lower priced tariff than what you currently have. Otherwise you are immediately put onto the new tariff to the end of your existing contract and then have the renewal part added on the end. You think this is generous??

[bizarre_adz]

Also for the record EE offer renewals if they choose to. Their terms and conditions basically say it's up to them if they offer a renewal and at what price, but IF they do "Your new minimum term will start from the date that we process your upgrade or renewal" as opposed to VF who state "The minimum period begins when we change your price plan and continues for the remainder of your previous minimum period plus any new period of time shown on the changed price plan". That's the difference.... One company adds time on to account for any existing time remaining whilst the others ignore the remaining time and starts the clock again with the discounted remaining time treated as a reward for loyalty.

However I do conceed that IF VF offer a renewal deal that is cheaper per month then you start paying the cheaper price immediately, albeit for a longer period.

[jeffkinn]

I'm not sure where you are getting your information from but you are are wholly incorrect. I've reached out to people who are on EE and the remaining days definitely get added on to new contracts. 

If you have any direct or specific evidence to the contrary I'd like to see it.

[bizarre_adz]

@jeffkinn No disrespect intend here mate, but if i was "wholly incorrect" then i wouldn't have been given a £79 refund for months incorrectly added to my term. I got my information from FOUR HOURS of online chat with VF assistants and a further 3 hours of reading through my contract carefully as well as the T&Cs of the other networks.

If you read the T&Cs (all available online) of the other major networks, including EE, then you can find that none of them say anything about adding time on top of the new minimum period agreed. Only VF do. Even the VF representative i spoke to today was amazed that time is added on for a renewal within the allowed renewal period (not an early upgrade which is something completely different). For the record, my GF recently renewed 7 weeks early (albeit on a higher tariff to get an iPhone 6s) and the 7 weeks were not added to the length of her 24 month renewal, but EE does state in their terms that the new minimum term is of their choosing. Maybe she got lucky?

So staying on topic, a lot of people have expressed interest in renewing as fast as possible to get the HTC10, and as i said before, please be cautious with this. Make sure you read your T&Cs carefully to make sure you are getting the correct renewal length that you expect to get.

[jeffkinn]

You're right - EE's T&Cs don't make it clear but are ambiguous on the point . VF does make it clear.

All networks make commercial decisions on this type of thing from time to time but the industry all works on the basis that the days left over from an early upgrade are added on to the new contract. 

Vodafone is no different and, as I've already said and recently taken advantage of, they allow early upgrades to a lower price plan.

Now back to the HTC 10 .....

[bizarre_adz]

Indeed..... Amazing phone:
Build 9/10
Audio 9/10
Camera 8/10
Screen 8/10
Incl Apps 7/10 (i dislike some of the stripped down options)
System Software 10/10 (love the slimmed sense UI)
Battery 7/10 (i blame the screen!)
VF availability 0/10 (LOL!!)

Overall i reckon 9/10 as i'm an audio over camera guy. If camera is your thing then 8/10 on this one is fair i think. For the record i would never give any phone a 10/10 and scores drop over time due to new tech advances.

Here's the real question.... Even if not available in stores, why can't VF have an online only option (at a premium in needed) and deal with these case by case?

[burso83]

I agree with the rating, I would give screen a 9, and I guess the battery a 9 as I can see a way to squeeze 4 hrs of screen on time. I only use WiFi or Data, not both at the same time and it hold now much better than my M8. I had not the best of impressions after the first few days, but it has gotten better. Quick charging and advertised 50% in 30 mins it's a joke. Best achievement was 38% in 30 mins with phone turned off. I have received my Spigen Ultra Hybrid case today and will keep it on until it goes yellow, I will then slap on the Rugged Armor. The transparent case shows off the beautiful back of the carbon grey model. Both cost me under a tenner in total, so no complaints here