Gloria,
Unfortunately, you cannot reliably identify which network operator is associated with which number anymore. This is because, to increase competition numbers were made fully portable between networks. So, you can change network operator and keep your number.
The number portability system here works pretty well. Anyone can change network, including pre-pay customers, and the process typically only takes between 10 and 30 mins and has proven to be extremely popular.
All you can tell is that if an Irish number starts with 83,84,85,86 or 87 that it is a Mobile.
As for the costs:
The networks are all very compeditive, so it would be impossible to say that one was cheaper than the other as it would depend very much on your pattern of usage.
Vodafone and O2 are the dominant players with more than 80% of the market divided equally between the two networks.
Meteor's small but very agressivly taking customers at the moment.
and "3" is a fully 3G network and is only in the early stages of rollout here.
[This message has been edited by djk (edited 01-12-2005).]
