Cheapest unlocked/freely unlockable mobile phone?

earthmother

The kids want to go to the cinema a couple of times over the holiday, there are free orange SIMs in the News Of The World today - but neither my nor hubbys phones can be unlocked with free codes.

So - does anyone know where the cheapest unlocked or freely unlockable PAYG mobiles are right now - I buy a phone so rarely I don't know where the good sites are (have checked Tesco already though)

speedy_gonzalez

Give Carphone Warehouse a ring or drop them an e-mail. A lot of their clearance models are unlocked and if you ask they'll let you know which ones.

ptyks

These phones might not be the cheapest ones or best deals, but just want to give you some choices.
Motorola F3 Sim Free £17.99 free delivery
Nokia 1200 Sim Free £24.99 Free Delivery

Alternatively, you can choose other models you like with more expensive price from play.com.

imho

have a look in Poundstretcher as they have those Motorola F3 in there for £6.99 unlocked to any network so i been told .

Sagz_2

You could try asking on Freecycle for an old orange phone

Dee140157

Have you looked on the orange website for a phone, there are some for £9.99 although I am not sure if you have to buy the £10 top up as well.

toomuchcash

Motorola Motofone F3 *Unlocked* £6.99 instore @ Poundstretcher

These come with a Virgin SIM but are unlocked so will take any SIM card. It is dual band so won't work in the US, but should be fine around most of Europe, so great if you are going on holiday abroad!

If you haven't heard of the F3 before it is just a phone, with basic text messaging abilities. It calls, it texts, and it doesn't do much else! It has a high visibility OLED display and voice prompting so is great for people with limited technical ability (i.e. my mum!).

Here is a good review: http://www.cneophytou.com/2007/02/19/motorola-motofone-f3/

In summary:
- You can call people
- You can text people
- It has an alarm
- Its unlocked

stpandp

toomuchcash wrote: »

Motorola Motofone F3 *Unlocked* £6.99 instore @ Poundstretcher

These come with a Virgin SIM but are unlocked so will take any SIM card. It is dual band so won't work in the US, but should be fine around most of Europe, so great if you are going on holiday abroad!

If you haven't heard of the F3 before it is just a phone, with basic text messaging abilities. It calls, it texts, and it doesn't do much else! It has a high visibility OLED display and voice prompting so is great for people with limited technical ability (i.e. my mum!).

Here is a good review: http://www.cneophytou.com/2007/02/19/motorola-motofone-f3/

In summary:
- You can call people
- You can text people
- It has an alarm
- Its unlocked

and in terms of going on holiday, holds a charge for a long time.

earthmother

Thank you all for your replies. I did try to reply last night, but for some reason couldn't.

I put a request on freecycle and have been offered a phone - going to pick it up this evening. I had wondered about asking, but wasn't sure if it would be a bit too much of an ask, so glad you prompted me to do so.

If for some reason it falls through, I'll see if I can track down the Poundstretcher/Instore deal - otherwise it's the Play.com one (although I will admit I'm being tempted by a clamshell on carphone warehouse for £23 inc credit *slaps wrists*)