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I'm a mobile phone newbie I guess!
After being so impressed with my daughters HTC Wildfire running Android I'm thinking of getting one for myself. I might end up with a Desire but the Wildfire is great to use and does everything I want for half the price of the Desire and fits into your pocket better.
Looking at mobile packages and comparing 'sim only' deals doesn't seem to stack up - unless I'm missing something.
i.e.
On VirginMobile you can get the phone for free with a £15 monthly package (24 months).
Or if you buy the phone (around £200 on Amazon) you could buy a Virgin sim for voice/data/text for around £15.
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
Thanks,
After being so impressed with my daughters HTC Wildfire running Android I'm thinking of getting one for myself. I might end up with a Desire but the Wildfire is great to use and does everything I want for half the price of the Desire and fits into your pocket better.
Looking at mobile packages and comparing 'sim only' deals doesn't seem to stack up - unless I'm missing something.
i.e.
On VirginMobile you can get the phone for free with a £15 monthly package (24 months).
Or if you buy the phone (around £200 on Amazon) you could buy a Virgin sim for voice/data/text for around £15.
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
Thanks,
[s]Hmmm...[/s]
Thanks for the replies everyone :¬)
Looking at other SIM only deals it looks as if I want a 'data' allowance, which I do, then £15 with Virgin (including the HTC Wildfire) looks like the one I'll go for.
I'm in no hurry, so I'll keep looking.
NB.
Re coverage. This is a useful site to find and identify the providers of local masts: www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk
Looking at other SIM only deals it looks as if I want a 'data' allowance, which I do, then £15 with Virgin (including the HTC Wildfire) looks like the one I'll go for.
I'm in no hurry, so I'll keep looking.
NB.
Re coverage. This is a useful site to find and identify the providers of local masts: www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk
[s]Hmmm...[/s] 
Bear in mind I was just going with the example pricing and the handset,. which can be quite expensive on its own.
Hmmm... wrote:
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
The best option will depend upon your usage (both volume and type). As you probably realise, the phone cost is subsidised by the contract cost anyway. So it can be worth buying a phone and getting a sim only contract. And when you're in the low usage bracket, things like O2 simplicity or Giffgaff make better sense than contracts.
Also its worth following the mobile providers on twitter. Very often they offer deals better than published on their websites.
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
The best option will depend upon your usage (both volume and type). As you probably realise, the phone cost is subsidised by the contract cost anyway. So it can be worth buying a phone and getting a sim only contract. And when you're in the low usage bracket, things like O2 simplicity or Giffgaff make better sense than contracts.
Also its worth following the mobile providers on twitter. Very often they offer deals better than published on their websites.
pb wrote:
Main thing, though. Always check how good the coverage is wherever you'll be using the phone from the operator before choosing them.
Doesn't always ring true pb, but I can partly agree. In my area, I can walk a few yards and receive 3G, walk back 1 yard and loose it. O2, TMobile, Vodaphone all share the nearest mast. All three claimed 'minimal coverage' last August...now, it's not even a problem and very quickly sorted. WiFi is also available and if you've got 'access' - no probs :¬)
EDIT: Three 3G capable phones in the household....Galaxy S and Blackberry - no probs, iPhone - no chance :¬)
Main thing, though. Always check how good the coverage is wherever you'll be using the phone from the operator before choosing them.
Doesn't always ring true pb, but I can partly agree. In my area, I can walk a few yards and receive 3G, walk back 1 yard and loose it. O2, TMobile, Vodaphone all share the nearest mast. All three claimed 'minimal coverage' last August...now, it's not even a problem and very quickly sorted. WiFi is also available and if you've got 'access' - no probs :¬)
EDIT: Three 3G capable phones in the household....Galaxy S and Blackberry - no probs, iPhone - no chance :¬)
Contract is always the best way as long as;
a) you know you can afford the payments
b) you won't need to get a new model before the contract expires.
What's more, you often get good deals on new phones when the contract does run out.
Main thing, though. Always check how good the coverage is wherever you'll be using the phone from the operator before choosing them.
a) you know you can afford the payments
b) you won't need to get a new model before the contract expires.
What's more, you often get good deals on new phones when the contract does run out.
Main thing, though. Always check how good the coverage is wherever you'll be using the phone from the operator before choosing them.
Evening Hmmm,
Can understand your confusion and I've no vast knowledge of the mobile market but it would seem that if you want a particular phone and your 'chosen' supplier doesn't offer it, then you have no choice but to buy it - if you see what I mean - generalisation I agree :¬)
I got the Galaxy S last August - my provider for many years (Virgin) didn't offer it at the time ... so I went to Tesco and picked up the phone and contract from TMobile (who I had been with before Virgin). The contents of the package was ridiculous but nonetheless I never use a landline now, texts are never a problem and internet is totally, and I mean totally unrestricted. Virgin do offer it now but with an extremely limited package by comparison. Swings and roundabouts I guess.
In the past, I have always bought my phones in the USA and just added my existing SIM - never a problem - except I have always been sent new mobiles on expiry of the contract - at least Mizuma has been kept busy :¬D
Can understand your confusion and I've no vast knowledge of the mobile market but it would seem that if you want a particular phone and your 'chosen' supplier doesn't offer it, then you have no choice but to buy it - if you see what I mean - generalisation I agree :¬)
I got the Galaxy S last August - my provider for many years (Virgin) didn't offer it at the time ... so I went to Tesco and picked up the phone and contract from TMobile (who I had been with before Virgin). The contents of the package was ridiculous but nonetheless I never use a landline now, texts are never a problem and internet is totally, and I mean totally unrestricted. Virgin do offer it now but with an extremely limited package by comparison. Swings and roundabouts I guess.
In the past, I have always bought my phones in the USA and just added my existing SIM - never a problem - except I have always been sent new mobiles on expiry of the contract - at least Mizuma has been kept busy :¬D
I'm a mobile phone newbie I guess!
After being so impressed with my daughters HTC Wildfire running Android I'm thinking of getting one for myself. I might end up with a Desire but the Wildfire is great to use and does everything I want for half the price of the Desire and fits into your pocket better.
Looking at mobile packages and comparing 'sim only' deals doesn't seem to stack up - unless I'm missing something.
i.e.
On VirginMobile you can get the phone for free with a £15 monthly package (24 months).
Or if you buy the phone (around £200 on Amazon) you could buy a Virgin sim for voice/data/text for around £15.
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
Thanks,
After being so impressed with my daughters HTC Wildfire running Android I'm thinking of getting one for myself. I might end up with a Desire but the Wildfire is great to use and does everything I want for half the price of the Desire and fits into your pocket better.
Looking at mobile packages and comparing 'sim only' deals doesn't seem to stack up - unless I'm missing something.
i.e.
On VirginMobile you can get the phone for free with a £15 monthly package (24 months).
Or if you buy the phone (around £200 on Amazon) you could buy a Virgin sim for voice/data/text for around £15.
So apart from not being tied into a contract going 'sim only' it looks like a bad move!?
Have I missed the point why people like to buy the phone outright?
Thanks,
[s]Hmmm...[/s]