3's Skype £10 a month offer

Solomon_Broad

I'm tempted by 3's new TV adverts. Spend £10 a month on the Texter tariff, and get:

• UNLIMITED Texts
• 75 any time any network minutes
• 18 month contract

I spend £10 a month on Orange's Dolphin PAYG. With 3, I could get a better deal, I think. I never use more than about 10 minutes of calls a month but I do send at lot of texts.

I have a few questions, though.

1. The first thing that is concerning me is the coverage. I wouldn't bother with a video call or anything like that, and very rarely use WAP internet. It's 99% texts. I've looked on the 3 website at their coverage map thing, and it looks pretty good. It seems I can send texts/make calls from anywhere (apart from the tops of mountains ). Is this the case?
2. I know I can make calls from a Skype-enabled phone to another for free. Does the same apply to a call from the phone to a computer running Skype? Does it make a difference if I call a SkypeIn/SkypeOut number?
3. With regard to the Distance Selling Regulations, could I return the phone and cancel my contract within 7 days, if I find that I can't use the phone because of coverage problems?

Im_just_careful

Free texts per top up, free mobile internet and calls at 20p a minute. This would give you 50 minutes for every £10 top up. You have to top up every 90 days or so.

There is little handset subsidy so you either have to buy a new handset (realistically £70) or unlock your old one (if it's a 3G handset) but on a continuing basis this may be better for you over more than 12 months.

Downside is that coverage seems less good than, say, Vodafone but generally fine in built up areas.