Well after 1 day of 'testing' my new HTC Desire is being returned to 3.

Fantastic phone but absolutely no reception when I'm at work. Not even a single bar. Just a big red X.

Our office is a bit of a phone reception killer but still you get enough signal on O2 and Vodafone to get a text.

Ah well.

I would never buy a mobile on a contract, be it 12, 18 or 24 months.

I always buy them sim-free (outright) that way I can swap sim-cards as I want to, so if I know that Vodafone has no or next to no coverage in a certain area where I maybe staying, then I can swap it (Vodafone sim) out & slip in another (PAYG) sim-card (Orange/O2, T-Mobile etc), it may be an odd way of doing things, however it does mean that I can usually get a signal... Well except in a tunnel or cave, gorge etc.

Edited 6 July, 201016 yr by Evening Star

Had my Desire on Three for over 2 months now and not had any problems.

Three have an agreement with Orange and T-Mobile to allow three handsets to 'piggy-back' their netoworks when little/no three coverage.

Guess it's just how it has turned out for you.

I have had phones on contracts for many years now as it works out at better value once you have factored the handset and call charges etc.

Shame you have had to return it... it's a fantastic handset!

Yeah it's a pity because it is a great handset. At home the 3G reception is fantastic but at work it just tails off to nothing. Outside it can grab a signal but I think my office has been constructed by Faraday!

I'll just have to plod along with Vodafone and an unloved handset for a little longer. Such is life!

Always had a contract phone and I'm a pretty good haggler when I come to renewing so I generally get a good deal. Just picked the wrong handset (samsung jet) last time and didn't realise my mistake until too late.

Why not get it on O2 or Vodafone then?

You can get a sim-free HTC for around £389,00 now & you're not tied into a contract, you can get a £20pcm - 30day contract with Vodafone that's got 300mins, 3000 txts & 500Mb of Internet use.