Mobile phone operators in Switzerland

I started with MBudget pay as you go and found the network and prices pretty good, just over 6 months ago I went on a contract with Orange as I needed an upgrade / e-mail on my phone etc. for work.

Since then I have had nothing but problems: the coverage in my flat is terrible (400m from Geneva train station), I constantly get messages saying I have missed calls and I have had extortionate roaming charges - 14chf / minute on one call!! The customer service is very bad too- I have complained several times but not been refunded the charges. Every bill comes to about double my monthly plan price (mostly due to roaming charges, I travel a few days per month)

After my 3rd complaint about the network Orange finally admitted there is a problem close to my home and agreed to release me from the contract with no cost. It is such a relief to be rid of them though I am waiting for the change back to MBudget now and won't believe it's the end of the problems until I have switched over and paid the final bill.

In short- if you are deciding which network you want please save yourself a lot of problems and avoid Orange. Swisscom / MBudget is great, I've heard decent reports about Sunrise too.

Also beware of Lebara / Lyca etc -the per minute rate is great but they charge a "call set-up fee" for each call- typically 28 cents so fine if you talk to someone abroad for an hour, not so good for a series of 20 second calls to other swiss phones.

Why didn't you just switch roaming off? Do you really have customers in France?

Errr .... yes! France is 5km away and also located between Geneva and the UK, roaming is normally switched off- otherwise I would switch to a French network in my bedroom / parking place / favourite bar / Geneva high street shop.

I have a dual SIM phone - with Coop mobile (Orange) and Aldi mobile (Sunrise).

In nearly all locations, Aldi/Sunrise shows a stronger signal.

It is reputed that Swisscom has the better coverage throughout, but masts from everyone are popping up ten-to-the-dozen.

has anyone had any success with any pre-paid mobile with data plans? i am going to Neuchatel for 6 months and need to buy a sim card to fit my iphone 4s (just had it unlocked to work on other carriers). This has been the most confusing part. I don't understand what these "tariffs" are either. Sorry, ignorant American here.