Which operator do you all recommend, i.e what are your experiences with swisscom, orange, and sunrise?
I am about to get a mobile phone subscription with a mobile phone operator in Zurich.
Swisscom.
I prefer 079 to 076.. just kidding (seriously though.. I do.. )
Jokes aside, I have never had any issues with Swisscom. Been with them for 10 years and haven't bothered changing over to Sunrise or Orange as the service I receive from Swisscom is really good.
We have had Sunrise for over 10 years and are happy with them. Albeit, horror stories can be heard about all three major carriers. Swisscom was the monopoly and remains the giant in the land of Swiss. However, you do have a larger selection of mobile carriers today. It probably depends on what you are looking for, and what "bells and whistles" you need or would like to have along with regular mobile phone service. Probably on the least expensive spectrum is the M-Budget phones and service plans from Migros. But at that level, you also have Aldi and COOP.
If you just want to get some information on many of the different plans, most bigger post offices have a variety of free literature covering pricing plans for Swisscom, Orange and Sunrise, along with other competitors in the Swiss mobile world.
Can you get Lebara up there?
I am on Orange and was happy with my abbo until I went home and when I should have had an international roaming option switched on resulted in a 500 plus bill oops
sometimes it is useful to have more than one* operator/SIM cards.
for example swisscom for your calls from <-> to switzerland. and maybe another SIM for sms or international calls.
the choice also depends on your habits and with which operator your friends (those you call the most) are. same operator = lower costs per minute.
i would recommend swisscom. they aren't cheap (hey, we are in switzerland! ). best coverage in CH and good after sales service.
*samsung has some dual SIM phones.
I've had M-Budget pre-paid since I arrived in the country. Works well, good coverage, and I don't pay that much - but then I rarely make long calls and send a relatively small number of texts. Oh, and the international roaming rate is not horrible, if you only make infrequent trips overseas.
From memory, 0.28 / minute for calls (no flagfall - I've made CHF 0.05 calls at times), 0.10 per text; outside Switzerland, 0.70 per text, 0.80 / minute for calls, 0.40 / minute to receive calls.
Oh, and afaik the phone credit doesn't 'expire' if left too long - I can recall going almost five months without recharging the credit once ... and atm, you can get nanos when you recharge your phone credit!
Been on Orange for two years now and have been 100% happy with them
For sure I do not recommend Orange. When we arrived in Switzerland we found their offer very attrative. Since last two years, we have been cheated several times and are just waiting that the contract ends. Definitely I DO NOT RECOMMEND TO START WITH ORANGE !!!!
I am facing the same problem with Sunrise. For the last 3 years I'm trying to cancel the contract and they always find an excuse. It's ridiculous!!
You have to cancel in writing (registered letter) a minimum 1 month before the contract end. They are then legally bound to honour your request. If you didn't do that then they won't.
If you don't know the conditions for cancelling your contract then ask at your network provider shop !
Expensive handys are not given away, if you sign up for a 2 year plan then you have to pay for two years!
I have been with Orange since 1999, no problems at all. In the early days Swisscom coverage was better, today they are similar.
I keep a pre-paid SIM for when I am travelling in my "home" country.
I signed for a 2 years contract with them, no mobile phone on the deal, nothing. I contacted them last year they told me there is no need for a letter but I have to call 3 months before (I called a month and a half before my contract ends). My contract finishes in October and now I am ringing them up every day. I called them yesterday too,but when I was transferred to the contract department they didn't answer.
I just had another conversation on the phone with one of the staff at Sunrise who told me I can terminate the contract even tomorrow if I want to against a fee but she needed to confirm with the contract department... which, guess what... doesn't answer!!! Now I am waiting to be contacted by them, hopefully to finish this mess.
Then just send a registered letter, it can't be argued with and job done.
Thanks. Indeed, that I should have done from the very beginning...
If you happen to be under 26, Orange does a pretty good deal. 29 per month (or 19 if you already have a phone and just want a sim card) for free worldwide text, free calls to orange and Swiss landlines, 1GB internet and free spotify subcription. Have not had any trouble with coverage at all.
Tip - I managed to avoid the 40fr sign up fee because initially I had purchased a 10fr pre-paid sim card with them and then changed over to the plan about a week later when I discovered I could have a plan for only 12 months.
I'm still on my UK contract with ThreeUK and wife is still on UK Orange.. We're infrequent users, few txt per day, hardly any calls and with wi-fi at home and in the office..
Usually costs me about 15 gbp per month total. IF a new iPhone comes out I might jump to a local contract.. But doubtful, i'd likely just buy the phone and use current SIM.
I started with a Lebara Sim card for my US unlocked iPhone 4. Once I had B permit in hand, purchased an iPhone 5 with Swisscom. I didn't research first (hits self on back of head) but went with Swisscom as they made the Lebara switch so easy. Customer service sold me. And fortunately, extremely happy with them.
I now have a contract with Swisscom, but did pay as you go for a while with Lebara, Sunrise and Swisscom. Swisscom was the easiest to do business with and I do not see that they are any more expensive for payg. Coverage is better and most of my calls are within Switzerland. If I need to call overseas I use voip over wifi.
Local staff were good and any customer service calls were very professional.
I like Orange as I am elible for OrangeYoung which gives me a good deal - I pay 45 CHF a month for unlimited texts (to all countries), Free swiss landline calls and 3GB of data.
It's almost criminal how much of a discrepancy in price there is between the Orange Young and normal contracts.