Choosing a new phone / tariff

Dreaming_2

How do you go about it? Theres more tariffs than animals in a zoo, and I really don't know which one is best for me. I could just stay on PAYG, I'm currently on o2 genie sim with 300 free texts, but most months I go over my allowance and its very expensive after that (past 2 months have topped up in the region of £60!!). I was looking at getting a new phone anyway, if I get a contract I'll get more texts, + minutes, + the phone for a relatively smaller price. I.e.

Nokia N70 on O2 Online 100:

£25 per month (over 12 months) -> £300

500 inclusive text messages

100 inclusive any network minutes (o2 phones + landlines)

minus the cost of the phone which comes in around the £270 mark sim free! So that's £30 (effectively) for the texts / minutes, if I assume I would have bought the phone anyway.

Vs. currently PAYG

£10 per month

300 inclusive text messages

£10s worth of credit (doesn't go far @ 12p a text and high rates except after 7pm).

However, being tied into a contract isnt exactly fun - and whatsmore, I could go for an 18 month contract and get even more texts / minutes. I've never had a contract before but feel like its worth it - looking at the numbers it seems to make sense.

But how do other networks compare? T-mobile, orange, vodaphone...

Mobile_Mole

Dreaming wrote:

past 2 months have topped up in the region of £60!!

Blimey! If you are spending that much using PAYG then you should definitely consider a contract.

Dreaming wrote:

Nokia N70 on O2 Online 100:

£25 per month (over 12 months) -> £300

500 inclusive text messages

100 inclusive any network minutes (o2 phones + landlines)

You will get an even better deal if you go for a cashback deal via a third party retailer.

Dreaming wrote:

However, being tied into a contract isnt exactly fun - and whatsmore, I could go for an 18 month contract and get even more texts / minutes.

Don't let the word 'contract' put you off. The savings will be massive and you could even end up paying nothing for 12 months if you go for the right cahsback deal. But I would avoid an 18 month contract if I were you. Read my lengthy post on why here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2061338&postcount=6

Dreaming wrote:

But how do other networks compare? T-mobile, orange, vodaphone...

Before anything else, make sure you choose the network that is going to give you the appropriate coverage for where you are using your phone the most. Do not rely on coverage maps provided by the networks. There are black spots everywhere so make sure your home, place of work etc all have a strong enough signal.

In terms of which network is the best, I still recommend O2 above all others primarily becasue 0800 / 0845 / 0870 are included their tariffs.

Hope this information is of some use.

Cheers
Mark
Mobile Mole