Leave the hoover, get a phone!

[smallblueplanet]

Okay Grapes, thanks for the hoover info.

Now who's gonna recommend a PAYG mobile phone to buy please? Don't use them a lot so don't want a monthly contract. But what should the phone do - sing, dance, etc. Anyone got any recommends for a relatively cheap phone?

[Pootle]

Sorry - we both have reconditioned Virgin mobile ones because we don't use them much! Not sure if they still do them, but it might be worth checking out their website.

[smallblueplanet]

Yeah we've got a Virgin one atm, they've got new ones - but which one?

[Two_Sheds]

I love mine. Nokia 2310, with T-Mobile PAYG, about £20. (It came with Vodafone but I just bought a T-Mobile SIM card).
It's a basic call/text phone, no camera, but it does have a radio so you can listen to Gardeners Question Time on the lottie!
The battery lasts me 4 days or so.
It's got basic games on it, if you're bored in a meeting.
I don't make calls, just texts ~ they cost me 3p each (text appeal option).
Nokia 2310 : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk

[HeyWayne]

Don't get a Samsung. I've got a U600 (I think) - it's a slidey one, on contract, but aside from all that the texting (if you use it) is a pain in the @rse!

Battery doesn't last very long either.

I chose this one because it is quite slim (fits in the pocket nicely) and the keys are quite large (handy when you're larger than average - or blind).

[HeyWayne]

Just flicking through the local rag and there a leaflet in it from Netto. They have a Nokia 1200 mobile phone with T-Mobile for £9.99. No idea if that's of any interest to you?

Looks a bit basic.

[smallblueplanet]

Just flicking through the local rag and there a leaflet in it from Netto...

We've not got a Netto round here.

I'm not sure what features I might want to use a phone for - does anyone send email?

[Shortie]

How about this one on Three as PYG for £40. You can make free Skype calls on it if that's of any interest too

Take a peek if you're interested, it's quite a nice little handset.

Welcome to Pay As You Go > Shop

Not sure good the tarriff is, I'm on Three as a contract and only looked at this phone recently becasue I broke my contract mobile that wasn't insured

[SarzWix]

Things I use on my mobile, apart from the obvious text/call:
Camera - Indispensible for me, I use it loads, kids, dog, sunsets, lottie progress, individual plant photos, pest/disease pics to identify when I get home. Nearly all new phones can be plugged into a USB port & downloaded straight onto the pooter (like a flash drive)
Internet - (3G is quicker), great for checking weather forecast (BBC mobile is good), lottery numbers, eBay Mobile (so you can see if you've won/sold something, or even bid/buy), or checking out the 'Vine if you're bored somewhere.
Radio - I usually put it on in the shed while I'm making a brew, and mine has a speaker so the kids can listen to it in there too.
Games - I have both Brain Training & Solitaire on mine, both great for when you're waiting ages for Dr's/hospital appointments etc.

Things I don't use much; photo-editing software, pre-loaded ringtones, video calling/messaging, email (far too much faff setting up the account & then you download half a ton of spam by accident when your home PC would have filtered it out )

I've had a Sony Ericcson for my last 4 phones & I really like them. I wouldn't have a Nokia personally, as I don't like the button setup for texting, but the new ones have some good features - Jez's has "Opera Mini" on it which is a great mobile web-browser & I'd love that!!

[Kristen]

"I wouldn't have a Nokia personally, as I don't like the button setup for texting"

I've only ever had Nokias, can you explain that a bit for me enlightened please?, thanks.

[smallblueplanet]

"I wouldn't have a Nokia personally, as I don't like the button setup for texting"

I've only ever had Nokias, can you explain that a bit for me enlightened please?, thanks.

And me please, I've never had a Nokia but their battery life looks good. Looked at the cheaper Sony Ericsson too.

[Two_Sheds]

Mr Sheds has a Nokia N95 like they used on The Apprentice.Nokia UK - Nokia N95
He doesn't use any of it's groovy functions, he just makes calls. Total waste of money! (the SatNav option is £5 a month extra ... we've used it 5 times, and it's gotten us lost every time).
He can check his emails (it costs extra), but the buttons are too small for him to type replies.
The camera is a good one, but he never uses it.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I've been with virgin since 1995 as "pay as you go" never had any probs, would recommend them. Have a look on their website. Bernie

[SarzWix]

"I wouldn't have a Nokia personally, as I don't like the button setup for texting"

I've only ever had Nokias, can you explain that a bit for me enlightened please?, thanks.

The '0' button is for 'space' (my S.E. has space on # button), the '*' button is to scroll through spelling options on predict text (these come up automatically in a pop up list on S.E.) and the '#' button changes between Caps/Lower Case (my * button does that). Apart from some other quirks which only come to light while your trying to text... Very confusing! The OH reckons you get used to it, but I've never had one long enough to find out

[willowstar]

I've had nokias, SE and samsung and have just gone back to a SE, just fit with me better. I mainly text and occasionally call. i use the camera and video option when my own camera battery runs out. I have downloaded freecell and a couple of other games that are handy when stuck on a long journey or whatever. I never use email or the internet as I refuse to pay the extra every month as I would only ever use it occasionally. I am with vodafone, they are mostly OK but I have had problems with them sneakily charging me for things I had cancelled, such as insurance and the internet.