Mobile Phone Question(s)

[Ouya Mellsa]

Right.....I was going to post this on a relevant mobile phone expert forum, but after reading a couple they were full of techno-jargon which I'm useless at. I've only just got a DVD player/recorder!

(I'm only in my 20s, too!)

Anyway, I am currently using a very cheap 'pay-as-you-go' thing, but it is dated and I feel left out of all the social-networking/texting that goes on in my circle of friends. Plus, at the moment texts cost 15p EACH!!!

So, I'm going to get a better phone on a contract. I would like to spend no more than £12.50 per month, and it seems this is possible on some networks.

Questions:

1- Do you get a certain amount of free texts on contracts?
2- Is internet access free on contracts? (obviously a limited amount!)
3- Can you recommend one meeting my requirements, please?!

[Florence Fennel]

Unlike you OM, I'm well past my 20s, but not yet in my dotage, and I have only recently bought a Pay As You Go that has internet access and a camera! My granddaughters have all singing, all dancing, contract phones on Orange and tell me it's a good deal. Have you googled?

[Ouya Mellsa]

Yep, I Googled, but it is all techno babble to me! All wi-fi this, or 500mb that!

Help!

[Florence Fennel]

I know just what you mean! Someone techy will be along soon I'm sure and although they are very clever, they'll tell you in jargon you can understand!

[Florence Fennel]

Just wondering if you might get some advice if you do a search on Recommendations?

[Ouya Mellsa]

Good idea.......*off to Google*

[Glutton4...]

I think your £12.50 budget may be a bit, erm, light? Try your local independent Mobile Phone store?

Good luck!

[WendyC]

I'm on O2 pay as You go simplicity tariff which I only pay £5 a month for unlimited texts. Picture texts and phone calls cost extra. As I mainly text it has saved me quite a bit. Must change younger son's phone over as I keep having to top his up. I've also found our local Carphone Warehouse very helpful (and not patronising) but then I guess branches will vary. It's a bit of a minefield out there. Good Luck!

[Incy]

I would recommend a trip to carphone warehouse. My experience is that they are helpful and knowledgeable. They also seem to be able to speak in plain English
If you tell them what you need they should be able to recommend a suitable package. I think you should be just about ok on your budget if it is contract rather than pay as you go. Contracts tend to have a number of texts/minutes talk-time built in and will cost more or less depending on how much you opt for. Be careful though as they are also direct debit and if you go over will be charged in addition to your contract price.

[lizzylemon]

I just had a quick look on the Carphone whare house site and i think you'll need to up your budget by 2.50 up to 15 quid a month. The best phone for your money will be Blackberry Curve - on trend and has all the net work apps you want already installed. It's touch screen and has a built in querty key pad for easy typing. But there are lots of others available too - no iphone tho Tarrifs aren't brilliant but i have seen unlimited texts, 100 free mins (no one is doing wifi or on-line time with those) for 15 quid. anything else will cost more, 20 - 25 see lots of good tarrifs. the guys in the shop might be able to get you a better deal though. Hope that helps shed some light

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am on a rolling monthly contract with Orange for my £15 I get 600 anytime any network minutes and unlimited texts.

Son is on 3 pay as you go bought his own phone and gets his texts phone minutes and limited internet access for about £15 a month you might want to have a look at 3.

Colin

[Ouya Mellsa]

Thanks for all the info guys and gals!

I really appreciate it.

*More research*

[jojo2910]

I pay £12.50 a month and get unlimited texts and calls (including 08 numbers) and unlimited internet on my current contract. Its with T-Mobile and I have been with them a long time so I get some discount. A lot of contracts at the moment are 2 years, make sure whoever your provider is they allow some flexibility and you can change tariff in that 2 years, in case your circumstances change.

Also if you sign a contract and want to get better value for money at the end of it mention that you want to leave or were thinking of cancelling and you often find they give you better offers that way.

In terms of phone I would ask yourself what you want e.g. phone, camera, internet options and take it from there. A lot of smart phones offer this, plus much more. Also bear in mind that the more you use the extras on your phone the more battery life you will use and the more you will need to charge it. So try to go for one with a good battery life.

If you want to compare phones I find Reevoo UK: Cheapest electricals and sales deals with best price guarantee offers good advice.

If you budget is limited you may want to consider PAYG. I think Tesco offer pay £10 and we'll triple it so you get £30 credit for £10 spend. As I've never used it I 'm not 100% certain on this.

Finally, do your research before going to any shop as the assistants will try to sell you a particular model or get you to spend more. I fell into this trap and ended up with a phone that was highly unsatisfcatory for 18 months.

Hope this helps.

P.S My parents ended up taking a Carphone Warehouse to court to get some money back after they refused to give some money back!

[Ouya Mellsa]

Great post, jojo!

[Two_Sheds]

I have a phone that calls, texts, takes photos & short videos, has a radio & a small MP3 player - but no internet access. It's £8.50 a month

Mr TS has an iPhone which I said he'd never use properly - well, I'm very pleased to have been proven wrong! It does brilliant things with all the apps: we even had one that translated Spanish to English for us (you just hover the screen as if taking a photo and it translates in front of your eyes, brilliant)
I have no idea how much he pays though, probably about £35 a month. He also had to pay for the phone, because Vodafone wouldn't release him from his contract early even though the previous phone, Nokia N97, was faulty)


(we each decided which phone we want, then do a google for the cheapest deal. I'm on Virgin, he's with Vodafone)