Help a mobile phone numpty please!

Katie-Kat-Kins

Hi,

I've now reached the end of my mobile contract with orange and I want to upgrade my phone but to be honest I'm a bit of a numpty about the different phones and usually just accept what ever is free with the contract.

I currently have a nokia, and have mainly had nokias. I have had a motorola in the past and whilst it was a nice phone the way predictive text worked irritated me. DH has a samsung at the moment and that is horrible.

I'd like to get a smartphone, as I like being able to access facebook and the internet. I also like using the orange maps satnav but find the screen a bit small on my non-smart phone. I'm not that bothered about a camera as I have a decent digital camera, but I do want an MP3 player (the one on my phone is the only one I have) and a radio.

I'm unlikely to pay much over and above the contract price for a phone so no suggesting an iphone or other mega pricey models!

I really hate talking to the mobile companies about upgrades as they will never confirm the deals in writing or by email and I never have a clue what phones they are talking about so I'd love some pointers before I phone up.

I have two phones on contract one on Racoon 25 (100 texts, unlimited land line and 300 cross network minutes) the other on Dophin 25 (unlimited texts 200 cross network minutes) both get a £5 discount for loyalty. DH isn't that bothered about the features of his phone but would find satnav and internet useful (his current phone bought as an interim measure doesn't have any extras at all).

The orange website is showing very little choice of free phones but one or two other sites show much better deals with vodaphone or T-mobile. I have seen the Nokia 5230 free on a similar priced contract and I believe that is a smartphone. Ideally I'd stay with orange on my current plan and upgrade the phones so I plan to ask them if they will match the deal vodaphone will offer.

Any tips, any other phones to consider or check out? Trouble is if they say that they can offer me a deal with an alternative phone while I'm on the call I won't have a clue whether it meets my criteria!

Cheers!

chunder

best thing to do is get yourself down to the shop first, get some brochures with all price plans in and look at the phones themselves give yourself poss three different phones you like work out what you want it to do, how many free calls/messages/internet you want, see what sort of price it is around, then go to the shop and haggle them down:D most times you get better deals from the shop than on the phone. unless you can screw orange down for the more of everything and get a free smart phone thrown in,thats what i did with vodafone

maxepotter

I've now reached the end of my mobile contract with orange and I want to upgrade my phone but to be honest I'm a bit of a numpty about the different phones and usually just accept what ever is free with the contract.

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Katie-Kat-Kins

maxepotter - glad I'm not the only one then!

chunder - hadn't thought of going into the shop! Doh! Will try that. I'm not bothered about getting more of anything, I'd rather have a discount or a better phone and the same minutes/texts.

robbies_gal

i wouldnt say its any better in the shops but u can try also have alook at the phones theyve got there ask if u can see a working one of something you like