2G or not 2G? That is the question.

[#1]

Just an update relating to my ongoing experience of using a found 2G Nokia 105 TA-1010 'burner' phone, 'powered' by a SIM from a company (RWG) that appeared to have gone AWOL. It's all going just fine!

Not used very often for outgoing calls, nevertheless, may have to get around some time to topping it up with another fiver. Dare I use the RWG website for this, as I did last time? It then needed a call to NOW support to get it kicked through, though that was at initial SIM activation. Perhaps safer to use a Tesco POS terminal?

I did notice a balance inquiry text seemed to be charged at 10p - supposed to be 5p for Texts and 5p per min for calls. Then I noticed a rather funny mistake by me: I had accidently Texted 'BAL' to 269 (the voice mailbox number) rather than the correct 669. Curiously it still returned my balance! Albeit with the anomalous 10p charge.
Use the correct number and sanity returned.

I said previously there appeared to be no time synchronisation on the network, even though Automatic Update was set in the phone. But after using the phone for a while it seems it is somehow keeping time remarkably accurately for a cheap mobile phone.

BTW, many people believe RWG has gone out of business, however their website remains intact and was even updated: wrt 5G, plus VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling in March. I looked up their company registration number at Companies House and the company behind the RWG brand (IWITHACIRCLE Ltd.) is still listed as an operating company. Who knows?

And then... Signs of life! The RWG website has been revamped today: https://www.rwgmobile.wales/

[#2]

...Uh, oh! Rates have changed: National Call Rates | RWG (rwgmobile.wales)

Now showing 10p pm for National Landline calls, 15p pm for Other Mobile Network calls! - Was 5p pm for calls.

I take it those are NOW mobile rates? 2G or not 2G? That is the question. - Page 3 - Plusnet Community

Time to reconsider?

[#3]

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@pvmb wrote:

I looked up their company registration number at Companies House and the company behind the RWG brand (IWITHACIRCLE Ltd.) is still listed as an operating company. Who knows?

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As I have mentioned before, I'm with RWG, so I had a closer look at the T&C page to see if anything else - apart from the increased call charges - had changed.

I spotted this:

1) About Us

RWG Mobile is operated by Nowtel Distribution Limited

I don't recall seeing this on the old website, but I may have missed it. So maybe "IWITHACIRCLE Ltd" is now a silent partner.

[#4]

@Xanadu_2 wrote:

As I have mentioned before, I'm with RWG, so I had a closer look at the T&C page to see if anything else - apart from the increased call charges - had changed.

I spotted this:

1) About Us

RWG Mobile is operated by Nowtel Distribution Limited

I don't recall seeing this on the old website,but I may have missed it. So maybe "IWITHACIRCLE Ltd" is now a silent partner.

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Yes, it has been recognised for some while that NOW mobile (Nowtel Distribution Limited, one of RWG's original MVNOs) was picking up the RWG 'support' and the new RWG website has formalised this.

The RWG brand tariffs are now NOW tariffs:

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/rates/national
https://nowmobile.co.uk/rates/national

So calls to mobiles have tripled from the old RWG 5p pm to 15p pm. Making them more expensive than my old Tesco Mobile Lite tariff of 8p pm. Um...

Is cheap genuine 'PAYG' available anymore these days?

Not sure if the new tariffs only apply to newly ordered SIMs and my existing RWG SIM will continue at the old rates. Time will tell.

The new website requires re-registration of your online account, which I have done successfully. However, to access your online "dashboard" they ask for your credit card details to store, which I don't like and haven't done. So, no "dashboard" for me, seemingly. However, I tried a simulated online top-up, was (obviously) asked for credit card details however you could tick whether for a one time or to store with account. So I could still do purchases online, or just stick to a Tesco POS terminal.

Oops! Just had thought: I hope my account re-registration hasn't switched my SIM from old to new rates! 😒

[#5]

I haven't tried logging in on the RWG portal recently.

I just checked my 'other' phone with a '£5 UK FREE' SIM installed; balance showed as £5, with 50 each of texts and minutes (per month) unused.

I then made a call and sent a text, both to myself, and rechecked; balance still showing £5, with 49 each of texts and minutes remaining.

All seems to be well, for the time being at least.  🤞