Cheapest way to get broadband, tv, landline, ipod and mobile?

techphobe

I've just got a new place and am so confused abotu how to get fully teched up on combined packages at the cheapest price... any help would be much appreciated.

I want to get some sort of tv package although freeview would do. I'm out a lot and don't watch sport or movies - in fact I don't watch much tv at all.

The flat doesn't have a landline at the moment and my mobile contract which is how everyone contacts me is now at an end. I like the new iphone and my ipod is ancient so was thinking of getting a new nano anyway - is there anythign on a nano not on an iphone? I'm currently an O2 customer. Although I don't have a digital camera so perhaps I should get a phone with a decent camera and a music palyer built in.

I also need some kind of internet access - could i do that on the iphone or does that work out v expensive? I'm guessing you can't plug an iphone into a laptop (I don't have a laptop at the moment either but that's already on my shopping list!)

I went into the 02 shop today and saw in their magazine that they do mobile broadband as well as home broadband and currently if you sign up for mobile broadband you get home broadband for free.

I just can't figure out which items to combine in a package and what to do. any help and info on good deals will be gratefully appreciated

timbim_2

O2 broadband. Good deal and reputation. Wouldn't get the iPhone, but that's just me. There are cheaper alternatives. Samsung Tocco for example. Get BT to install a landline. Much cheaper to use traditional broadband than to use 3G if you intend to download music etc. For TV, get a set top box. Sky and Virgin are very expensive, one off fee and monthly bill.

M4RKM

if you did get an iPhone, you'd have a phone and a very good music player built into one.

you could also surf the internet on this, included in your monthly contract, at no extra charge, so it isn't expensive.

however, the screen is small, and probably not the best as the only device you use.

As you are/would be an O2 Customer, then O2 broadband is a good way to go, as you get a discount..

personally, don't go for the samsung tocco, it is a cheap alternative, and the screen isn't as good, and the phone feels cheap in the hand, maybe that's just me!

timbim_2

I just steer clear of the iPhone! Don't like the idea of the monthly contract. Also, never need half the features. As I say, for reasonably high use broadband, a landline would be better. Guaranteed a better speed for around the same cost too.

M4RKM

so, you don't steer clear of the iPhone, you steer clear of any mobile phone contract. This is something totally different...

techphobe

Ok so tv - freeview - I have a old freeview box already but haven't been able to figure out how to set it up yet!

phone / ipod on 02 would be £35 a month but I currently pay £30 a month anyway. so that would allow me to surf when out and about.

Home broadband from 02 is between £7.50 and £15 a month depending on if it's 8 or 20meg. What is meg? I'm in Central London - zone 1 if that's relevant... ok I see meg is speed - would I notice the difference between 8 and 20 meg? I'm relaistically only going to surf the net and occaisionally download music and possibly a film once in a blue moon...

So if I get home broadband I'm going to need a landline - just checked BT website and it seems to be £10.50 a month. Isn't that really expensive? Are there cheaper providers? Or could I combine landline and Broadband from BT and it would be cheaper than line from BT and broadband from 02?

This frazzles my brain...

timbim_2

For general surfing, the 8meg, £7.50 contract won't be beaten elsewhere. In reality, many servers will fail to match your speed for large downloads. As for freeview, should be as simple as plugging it in via scart and telling it to scan for channels.

M4RKM

techphobe wrote: »

phone / ipod on 02 would be £35 a month but I currently pay £30 a month anyway. so that would allow me to surf when out and about.

Yes.. you get your 3g data, and also wifi from BT Openzones, and The Cloud networks all included.. Now as you're in central london, you should be able to pick up hundreds of these wifi zones, and surf the net, check your email, watch you tube, go on facebook, etc etc etc.. and it is all included in your monthly contract.

oh, and as for line rental on your phone line, you might get deals at around £9.99 a month, but that is really the cheapest that I know of.


M

[Deleted User]

Use this site to work out if you can get O2 broadband - http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

I've got it on £7.50 a month (you need an O2 mobile contract also). Line rental is about £11 a month for BT - don't think i could get that cheaper. I've got sky, so evening calls are free. My wife can natter to her mother as much as she likes and it doesn't cost anything extra.

Best place for an Ipod? Dixons Tax free, at the airport. I love my 80gb Ipod Classic.

techphobe

I guess £35 for iphone and £18 for landline / broadband ain't bad.

The problem with the TV is I haven't found the remote for it yet and am struggling to tell it to search for channels without it! I do need the tv remocte to do this and not the freeview box remote don't I?