I have a 3G S on SIMplicity; what'll be cheapest/smartest way to get the next iPhone?

Ringmaster_J

Heyo! I know general forum etiquette is that you should lurk, lurk, lurk, then post, so I'm sorry for posting this right after I've joined. Rest assured, I'm a big fan of Martin, and a loyal MSE reader.

Anywho...

I have a 32GB iPhone 3G S (in black, for full disclosure). I bought it outright after losing my uninsured 16GB 3G, which I got on a £35/month 18 month contract from O2. The contract ended last month, and I switched to SIMplicity 25, which is essentially the same thing as before, only month-by-month and £10 cheaper.

The new iPhone will probably be announced at WWDC on July 7th, and I already know I'll want it. What, in your vast collective wisdom, would be the cheapest/smartest way of getting one? Given that unlocked 32GB 3GSes can sell for £500 on eBay, could I just sell my current phone and buy the next-gen one outright, keeping the same plan? Does saying I'm going to switch from O2 have much effect if I'm on SIMplicity? If so, is it better to do it in store or in person? Any advice or anecdotes would be very much appreciated!

parallax_20

I've not read much about the iPhone 4G, but if its anything like their past releases, it will be another small increment in features already available on other smartphones with a minor change to the casing. Hardly worth spending the extra money to be honest. I doubt there would be anything major in the new version that the current 3GS can't do with the next firmware update.

The smartest way would be to keep using your 3GS and using it on SimOnly. The new iPhone will be expensive simfree when it comes out and the price of your 3GS will also drop inline with the new pricing. So if you're planning on selling, do it before the new iPhone is released and get the new version on contract.

Toe-Jam

Ringmaster_J wrote: »

Heyo! I know general forum etiquette is that you should lurk, lurk, lurk, then post, so I'm sorry for posting this right after I've joined. Rest assured, I'm a big fan of Martin, and a loyal MSE reader.

Anywho...

I have a 32GB iPhone 3G S (in black, for full disclosure). I bought it outright after losing my uninsured 16GB 3G, which I got on a £35/month 18 month contract from O2. The contract ended last month, and I switched to SIMplicity 25, which is essentially the same thing as before, only month-by-month and £10 cheaper.

The new iPhone will probably be announced at WWDC on July 7th, and I already know I'll want it. What, in your vast collective wisdom, would be the cheapest/smartest way of getting one? Given that unlocked 32GB 3GSes can sell for £500 on eBay, could I just sell my current phone and buy the next-gen one outright, keeping the same plan? Does saying I'm going to switch from O2 have much effect if I'm on SIMplicity? If so, is it better to do it in store or in person? Any advice or anecdotes would be very much appreciated!

I would sell your 3GS on Ebay NOW while they are still going for a top price and then you can put the money towards the new one which you can buy when it is released, you'll be able to keep your cheap tariff and thus save money over the duration of the contract. It means being without the 3GS for a few weeks but it will work out in the long run. (i'm assuming you have some plastic toy phone you can put up with for a few weeks)

eurorrocket

Parallax_20 I think you are wrong on this one. The new iPhone has a new processor (A4 or A2) and is streets ahead of the current 3G S. There's good intelligence on this if you know where to look and a lot of the power of the iPad is in the new phone.
I'm also on a 3G S and a SIM only deal (with Vodafone) and my plan is to wait until the new phone is released and sign up for a subsidised phone with whoever wants me more whether Vodafone or O2, although probably I'll go for O2 because they will unlock it so I can use my other Sims in other countries.