Is a PAYG 'phone locked?

LadyDee

This is going to sound really stupid so I'll get the apology for my numptiness out of the way now, and just dive in:

I have a PAYG mobile phone that I pay on an O2 card, plus my phone says 02 when I switch it on.

I need a new phone. I want to use my existing sim because I have all my contacts saved and I want to keep my number.

Can I buy any PAYG phone and put my sim in, or does it have to be O2 PAYG? I just need a pretty basic phone with a camera, and I'm looking at http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-2435.aspx but it's 'Orange' - does that mean it's locked to Orange?

TIA

custardy

its likely to be locked to Orange

LadyDee

custardy wrote: »

its likely to be locked to Orange

Thanks, that's really the information I need. So basically, if I want to keep using my existing phone I either buy one that's advertised as 02 or have to have a new phone unlocked. Are there any problems with unlocking phones?

custardy

you want an 02 phone or one that states sim free/unlocked
some phones come that way but less so PAYG
they lock the phone as they want you topping up on their network

emc

Most phones can be unlocked in a shop or market stall for about £10.

Alternatively you can transfer your contacts from your sim to the new sim, and you can also transfer your existing number to Orange, who will pay you £10 for the transfer.

grumbler

custardy wrote: »

its likely to be locked to Orange

Many PAYG phones are unlocked, especially those sold by CPW and subsidiaries, P4U, d-a-P,...

It is very easy to check by inserting a sim card from another network.

JJ_Egan

My last two O2 also came unlocked though shop said locked .

jje

Techhead_2

grumbler wrote: »

Many PAYG phones are unlocked, especially those sold by CPW and subsidiaries, P4U, d-a-P,...

It is very easy to check by inserting a sim card from another network.

Checking after purchase is not the best way.

Most pay as you go handsets are locked. Many of the pay and go handsets from CPW and some from Phones4U are unlocked. But from anywhere else will very probably be locked.

grumbler

Techhead wrote: »

Checking after purchase is not the best way.

The OP has the handset already, but doesn't know if it is locked.

meer53

grumbler wrote: »

The OP has the handset already, but doesn't know if it is locked.

The OP says they need a new phone which is why they're asking the question.

grumbler

Ah, I see. In this case I'd suggest the following "basic phone with a camera" (almost definitely unlocked):

http://www. mobiles.co.uk/pay-as-you-go-mobile-phones.html

Nokia 2330 Classic Refurbished
Samsung C3050 Refurbished
[IMG]http://!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/images/big-nokia-2330-classic.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/images/big-samsung-c3050.jpg[/IMG] £4.90+£10.

Several touchscreen handsets are £29.99+£10

And you can get £6 cashback through TCB/quidco