The mobile phone network Three is also more commonly known by the number 3. This is largely because its logo pictures the number rather than the letter.
So what do we know about them? Who owns 3? And are they likely to be around in years to come? We can only speculate of course but there are many mobile phone networks that arguably have more ‘clout’ than this one does.
Let’s see what we can discover about 3.
Where can I find their website?
Their main website for the UK is at www.three.co.uk.
Are they fairly new or have they been around for a while?
You really have to dig around a bit to find out a lot of information about 3. First of all you will notice that right at the bottom of the site there is a copyright symbol followed by the name Hutchison 3G UK Limited.
The UK part of 3 is owned by a company called Hutchison Whampoa Limited. As you might guess this name has an Asian origin. It comes from Hong Kong, where it has been in existence – the name and the company – since the 19th century.
3 really got started here in the year 2000. It successfully put in a bid for a licence to run a 3G service – and indeed that is what 3 is best known for.
Where did this provider originate?
As we have discovered, its origins are very definitely not British! But this company now has a presence in many countries, including Italy, Ireland and Denmark.
Can you find out more about the company on their website?
Yes, they have a comprehensive section that tells you a lot about where they came from and how they operate.
The usual place for finding more information about a particular company is at the bottom of a website. And it is no different with 3. If you go to that location you will be able to see a link on the far left which says ‘company home’.
You can find out what they do, what they are planning to do and what they are all about by going here. There is also a link to the parent company Hutchison Whampoa should you feel the need to read more about them as well.
The tab ‘Who is 3?’ is particularly worthwhile exploring because it tells you about how the company works and what it is working towards. In particular they provide a lot of information about the 3G network that they are built on.
Do they offer a lot of different plans?
Yes, and as with many other mobile providers they can provide several different types of plan to suit your own type of usage. Some are designed to appeal more to people who text a lot more than they make calls, for example. In the reverse there are also plans for those who like to call and rarely text. And with the 3 network you know you can buy a phone from them on a plan that will get you up and running straightaway.
They also helpfully provide a ‘coverage checker’. This enables you to check to see how good the coverage is from 3 in your area. After all, you wouldn’t want to buy a plan from them if the coverage is poor. And they obviously have the same idea.
What is this network provider known for with regard to their services?
Well the 3G aspect is what they are all about, so that would definitely have to be a big plus. But you can also mix and match what you want from their plans when you go with 3, which is another great asset. Just go to their Mix a Plan option and you will be presented with a rather funky soda machine!
This mixes the number of minutes and texts you would like each month, and you will then be shown what plan is best for you. It is certainly a quirky and memorable way to figure out what you would benefit from the most.
In conclusion
3 is clearly a big company – or at least it is part of a big company. But in addition to that it is also brimming with offers and deals that make the most of the network you are signing up to use.
When you take a look back at its history you can see why 3 was formed in the first place. And that gives you a unique look into its 3G future as well.