Cheapest iPhone discussion

TommyPB

libbyjade wrote: »

Thanks Max
I've got an N95 and I'm fed up with it now, well outdated in comparison to the new smart phones.

I've just spoken to them and still no re-boxed ones in - there's a surprise!

Can anyone advise what the difference is between the cap on data from O2 & vodafone?
Retentions just told me Vodafone is 1gb data but it is not unlimited wifi, unlike 02, but their cap is 500mb.

Never having had an iphone, I've no idea which would be better - any help please??

If that is the case, then I'd personally say that O2 offer the better package. Generally with O2, it's advisable to download large apps and email attachments etc over Wi-Fi as there is no limit and therefore no additional fees. It is also generally quicker. On an individual level, it obviously depends on how much you will be downloading onto your iPhone but if you watch videos regularly on YouTube or stream TV or radio, then on top of email attachments, webpages and apps, you can quite feasibly use more than 1.5GB of data in a month (through both Wi-Fi and 3G).
So I would personally say that O2's way is better as it gives you unlimited data (albeit only through Wi-Fi).

As an example, I have been using my iPhone for 4 days now and by no means has my usage been typical - having downloaded a few dozen apps (a lot of which were downloaded via 3G), streamed video and done some extensive internet browsing (basically just playing with all the phone's features) - but I have downloaded about 150MB of data in that time.

libbyjade

Thanks Tommy,

Therefore (sorry for sounding daft) I am assuming as I have sky wireless broadband at home, I can download to my iphone songs, movies and apps, etc and this will be classed as wifi useage? Same if I am in McDonalds etc?
With this in mind, I am assuming when using the data with O2 out and about, I should try to just limit this to web browsing?

In addition, is there loads of places that offer free wifi or is this a gimmic and not in many places? (still sounding daft)

TommyPB

libbyjade wrote: »

Thanks Tommy,

Therefore (sorry for sounding daft) I am assuming as I have sky wireless broadband at home, I can download to my iphone songs, movies and apps, etc and this will be classed as wifi useage? Same if I am in McDonalds etc?
With this in mind, I am assuming when using the data with O2 out and about, I should try to just limit this to web browsing?

In addition, is there loads of places that offer free wifi or is this a gimmic and not in many places? (still sounding daft)

Libby,

So long as you are connected via Wi-Fi and not 3G, then you can download to your heart's content. 500MB is still a lot of data, so you don't need to feel restricted when connected via 3G, but it's obviously worth monitoring your usage (a post above explains how you do this on the phone) and any big downloads do over Wi-Fi if possible.
Wi-Fi hotspots are real and available in a number of public places, but, as I said, don't feel that you need to connect to a wirless network in order to use the internet.
Hope that helps.

libbyjade

Can someone advise what dropping down a tier is please? Does this involve ringing the provider every month and haggling? Is it something you automatically get the right to do?

thanks

chriz1000 wrote: »

Actually I don't believe buying the phone outright is the cheapest option.

See this spreadsheet I made (PDF Format) http://dl.dropbox.com/u/674427/iphone4_Costings.pdf

As you can see the cheapest way to get your hands on a new iphone is to take on an 18 month contract with 100 mins, total cost £749.

However the most savvy way of getting the iphone is to take on 600 min contract, after 9 months drop down a tier then another tier after 10 months. which will give you loads more mins for the first 10 months and cost you a total of £754.

Buying the iphone 4 for £499 and going onto simplicity 15 will cost you £769 over the course of 18 months.

Heres the original speadsheet if anyone wants to check my formulas are correct:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/674427/iphone4.xls

alba37

libbyjade wrote: »

Can someone advise what dropping down a tier is please? Does this involve ringing the provider every month and haggling? Is it something you automatically get the right to do?

thanks

Hi Libbyjade

It means half way through your contract you can drop down one level and you can do it every month after that. So if you start off on a £40 a month contract for 18 months, you call them after 9 months and you can go down to £35 (the level below) - no haggling.

I have been trying to get 3gs from O2 retentions for 2 contacts that are up now, but they have not offered anything worth going for. It's only £60 more over the 18 months for a 4g. Anyone have any idea what you could expect to get a 3Gs for? I asked for the 2 PAC codes this morning. Think I would prefer to wait for Tesco and do a 12 month contacts with them.

Thanks

matty_art

For me, Three 24 month contract looks like the best deal as I am likely to keep the phone that long and the additional £20 per month for the extra year on top of the Tesco contract seems reasonable value. As I'm already a Three customer, I guess there's no way of getting additional cashback (Quidco etc either from three or third party) for an upgrade? (Unless I do some number porting fiddling which got a bit tricky last time I did it).

Oscar_The_Grouch

TommyPB wrote: »

Libby,

So long as you are connected via Wi-Fi and not 3G, then you can download to your heart's content. 500MB is still a lot of data, so you don't need to feel restricted when connected via 3G, but it's obviously worth monitoring your usage (a post above explains how you do this on the phone) and any big downloads do over Wi-Fi if possible.
Wi-Fi hotspots are real and available in a number of public places, but, as I said, don't feel that you need to connect to a wirless network in order to use the internet.
Hope that helps.

The other thing to remember is that O2 gives you free access to BT Openzone. For anyone that doesn't know, the BT Home Hub transmits a separate wi-fi signal called "Openzone". This allows BT or O2 phone users (with the wi-fi add on) to connect to the internet through the Home Hub for free.

The new Home Hub is "n" rated so transmits the signal over a much greater area than "g" rated routers. I can get just as good a signal from my neighbour's Openzone as I can from my own router!!

The benefit of this is that if you are in a residential area with no hot spots, you will often be able to find someones Openzone signal and connect to wi-fi rather than 3g. It costs the other person nothing for you to use the signal and as it's not connected to their network (it's a completely separate signal), there's no risk to you.

libbyjade

Thats very good additional info - many thanks Oscar.

So, I have sky broadband at home. Does that mean it would allow me to use my signal for my iphone and this would be classed as wifi?

As it's sky, I'm assuming to to get access to openzone I would need to go back to BT (something I don't really want to do) although I'm sure sky use BT's phoneline (maybe irrelevant)

It does sound really good though that you can conect via other peoples openzones though. I assume then that you won't need the network key?

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

The other thing to remember is that O2 gives you free access to BT Openzone. For anyone that doesn't know, the BT Home Hub transmits a separate wi-fi signal called "Openzone". This allows BT or O2 phone users (with the wi-fi add on) to connect to the internet through the Home Hub for free.

The new Home Hub is "n" rated so transmits the signal over a much greater area than "g" rated routers. I can get just as good a signal from my neighbour's Openzone as I can from my own router!!

The benefit of this is that if you are in a residential area with no hot spots, you will often be able to find someones Openzone signal and connect to wi-fi rather than 3g. It costs the other person nothing for you to use the signal and as it's not connected to their network (it's a completely separate signal), there's no risk to you.

libbyjade

I've been on 3 website as many people are saying they have the best deal. There are no iphones showing as being available to purchase or order?

How bad is their coverage? I've looked at the map and mine shows as indoor and outdoor useage. But it is on their website, so they're hardly going to put you off buying with them. I was told by a 3 salesman that they are looking to piggy back onto orange's and vodafones network therefore they will have the best coverage - is this just sales talk and not likely to happen?

If I got one, and the coverage was awful, I assume you could just send it back within 7 days?

matty_art

libbyjade wrote: »

I've been on 3 website as many people are saying they have the best deal. There are no iphones showing as being available to purchase or order?

How bad is their coverage? I've looked at the map and mine shows as indoor and outdoor useage. But it is on their website, so they're hardly going to put you off buying with them. I was told by a 3 salesman that they are looking to piggy back onto orange's and vodafones network therefore they will have the best coverage - is this just sales talk and not likely to happen?

If I got one, and the coverage was awful, I assume you could just send it back within 7 days?

My Three coverage is generally good and does revert to Orange/Vodafone where not available. It is however rubbish in one particularly area of Cardiff (Penarth) but I presume Orange is bad there as well. Not too sure about the rules on sending it back.

I registered my interest with 3 via inputting my number on their website and they texted me saying I had a phone upgrade reserved from 17th July. I hadn't actually ordered anything, just registered interest to receive information...