Rating: As phones get smarter, they also get temperamental
Nearly three quarters of UK smartphone users (71 per cent) have had some sort of problem with their hi-tech handset, according to new research from uSwitch.com amongst 2,101 respondents in January 2013. Apparently, the biggest gripe is short battery life (48 per cent) while almost a quarter (23 per cent) have had issues with their screens freezing. Somewhat surprisingly, even SMS and voice aren’t immune to complaints. 13 per cent have experienced calls cutting out; 15 per cent recurrent reception issues; and a fifth (19 per cent) patchy coverage for calls and texts. It seems that the arrival of 4G will also come as good news for many. – almost a third (31 per cent) have been let down by no internet or 3G signal while over a quarter (27 per cent) have experienced slow browsing speeds.
“As phones have got smarter, they have also got more temperamental,” observed Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert with uSwitch.com.
Significantly only 14 per cent smartphone users cited that software faults were causing them problems whereas slow browsing speeds were mentioned by 27 per cent but only 10.1 per cent said slow streaming speeds were giving them problems.
Given that 4G is already being rolled out in many major British cities by EE and the other network operators are set to follow by the Summer [2013], the importance of being ’4G-ready’ when considering buying a new smartphone was stressed by Doku.
He argues that, “It’s important that your next mobile is able to take advantage of superfast speeds if you want to put an end to sluggish surfing once and for all.”
The solution is to make sure that before signing up for a new phone deal that you compare the expected quality of coverage with the networks – both for calls and internet – where you live.
GoMo News is always surprised that many people don’t ask friends and family who visit how good the reception is for them when they subscribe to a rival network.
It’s also important to discover which physical networks actually host particular UK MVNOs.
There is one piece of good news, however. Almost one third (29.3 per cent) said, “I have not experienced any problems” when answering the survey, of course.
