Looking For New Quality Phone

Sylvester

A friend (who doesn't use this site, so I ask on her behalf) has come into a sizeable amount of money so wishes to buy a decent phone for using the internet (mainly facebook) and receiving twitter and facebook messages as her current model (Nokia 3220) is as advanced as she has ever been and is poor in receiving these messages.

Now, due to previous financial difficulties, she is unlikely to be able to get a contract (unless she would be allowed to pay in advance) so PAYG is her way forward.

Is an iPhone the best way to go, or are their better phones? Where is best to buy them, high street chains or online?

Money is of no real object, but i'm trying to push her towards value for money rather than wasting money on something, just because she has the money.

Any help would be appreciated.

BillScarab

A HTC Desire is cheaper than an iPhone and technically has a better spec than the current iPhone 3GS.

It comes with the twitter and facebook apps built in, including Friendstream that aggregates updates form both.

It also has Google Navigation built in.

It's well worth looking at and can be had for around £350-£400 on PAYG.

The HTC Legend is similar but slaightly smaller, with a slower processor but a far nicer body.

They both run the Android Operating System.

The iPhone has more apps available at the moment. Android has about 50,000 compared to 200,000 for the iPhone.

Jon_01

The new Nokia N8 looks very nice, but I'm not sure of the release date ?

Sylvester

BillScarab wrote: »

A HTC Desire is cheaper than an iPhone and technically has a better spec than the current iPhone 3GS.

It comes with the twitter and facebook apps built in, including Friendstream that aggregates updates form both.

It also has Google Navigation built in.

It's well worth looking at and can be had for around £350-£400 on PAYG.

The HTC Legend is similar but slaightly smaller, with a slower processor but a far nicer body.

They both run the Android Operating System.

The iPhone has more apps available at the moment. Android has about 50,000 compared to 200,000 for the iPhone.

The HTC Desire sounds promising. I don't think she'll require too many apps. Phone calls, texts and Facebook/Twitter are the main thing she requires.

At what rate on PAYG (approx as I appreciate tariffs vary) does internet eat up credit? I have no idea as I have never used internet on my phone and I have a nasty feeling she'll be using twitter and facebook all the time which may eat quite substantially into any credit.

Sylvester

Jon_01 wrote: »

The new Nokia N8 looks very nice, but I'm not sure of the release date ?

All I can find is 'coming in May', so assuming it's this year, not long to go, if it's not out already.

DUTR

Sylvester wrote: »

All I can find is 'coming in May', so assuming it's this year, not long to go, if it's not out already.

More like October for the Nokia N8, if you want the best phone, get a HTC Desire, if you want to follow the crowd, get an iphone. Simples :A

Sylvester

DUTR wrote: »

More like October for the Nokia N8, if you want the best phone, get a HTC Desire, if you want to follow the crowd, get an iphone. Simples :A

I'll pass the info on. cheers.

The difference of 150,00 apps is quite alot - even then the HTC Desire is a better choice?

Finally, where is the best (most reliable) place to buy this - online at somewhere like carphone warehouse or in a high street shop?

BillScarab

The number of Apps will grow for Android and there are some good ones already.

I've no idea about data usage on PAYG I'm afraid.

The cheapest place to buy it on PAYG was in a three shop but they're not keen to sell them on PAYG when they can sell them on contract.

Expansys have them for £400.

no_more_cards_for_me

HTC Desire. Just got one -amazing phone that does everything.

Far better than an Iphone.

Sylvester

BillScarab wrote: »

The number of Apps will grow for Android and there are some good ones already.

I've no idea about data usage on PAYG I'm afraid.

The cheapest place to buy it on PAYG was in a three shop but they're not keen to sell them on PAYG when they can sell them on contract.

Expansys have them for £400.

Found it on carphonewarehouse @ £400 too and it says "FREE Unlimited web at all price points"

That tells me free internet access via the phone, although i'm guessing it's not as clear as that and limits apply before you start getting charged.

Having passed on the details, she seems quite positive about the HTC Desire. It's now about buying it and getting the best deal. £400 sounds good to her and if this carphonewarehouse is reliable and it is free web as it suggests....then that may be a good place to buy.

Sylvester

Okay she's ready to buy the HTC Desire either today or tomorrow.

Is this the best place to get it on O2? http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/buy/HTC-DESIRE-O2PYG-WEB10

I looked on the official O2 site and it doesn't have the Desire on PAYG, let alone "FREE Unlimited web at all price points" so no idea what tariff she will be on, which is her main concern (with regards to cost of web access, not the cost of texts/calls etc which I see explained already)

She doesn't want any contract at all, just a basic top up of x amount per month with free/cheap web access and texts - will she get that simply by topping up say £10 per month?

Is the carphonewarehouse phone automatically coming on the O2 Text & Web tariff? http://freesim.o2.co.uk/D2FCkNdd

Sorry for all the Q's, i'm a novice when it comes to phones and so is the person who has asked me to research for her!