Help Required -No Idea about New Mobile Phone!

bankbalance

Hi. I'm thinking of buying a new phone but haven't got a clue where to start. I would like to be able to talk, text, and receive email and would also like a fairly decent camera. I won't be using it heavily but want to able to use as I need without being put off by heavy call charges (does that make sense?!)

Can someone give me the pros and cons of pay and go and pay monthly? Any recommendations as to brand and model of phone would be great too - I really am clueless!

Also, will I be able to transfer my current number, which is on pay and go phone, over to my new phone. I've only just started to know it by heart!

I'm relying on you - so thanks in advance!

AMO

There's a lot you seem to need to know. Until you find out more yourself and more importantly how much you are willing to pay a month, I can only really give the following advice:

1) If you are not going to be using a phone heavily, PAYG is the best way forward for most people. It depends on how you define heavily.

2) The cheapest way to run a contract for medium users is via cashback contracts, but this has risks and for someone that doesn't appear to know much about phones, its probably not the way to go yet.

3) The Pros of PAYG is pay nothing if you use nothing but a high rate when you do use it alongside no subsidies towards a phone. Vice-versa for a contract phone.

4) Transferring a number is fine so long as you go to a different network. To stay on the same network, simply to port to another network and then come back.

5) There are hundreds of phones out there - its up to you to find a phone that you like. The best way to start is going down to each of the major network operators / retailers websites and look at the latest phones. Most phones will do what you want, but you need to test the phone to see if for example you will be happy texting from it.

Questions:
a) How much are you willing to pay per month?
b) On average how many texts do you send per month?
c) On average how many minutes do you use per month during office hours?
d) On average how many minutes do you use per month during evening and weekend hours?
e) What network are you on at the moment?
f) Which networks do you know you do not want to be on because of poor reception in your area?
g) How much do you currently spend per month on your PAYG phone?
h) What phone do you currently have and why are you not happy with it?

AMO

gaming_guy

i would recommend sony ericsson phones as i find them easy to use and they also have a good range of features.

the only problem with s/e phones are the ones with joysticks (k750i, k800i etc). dust gets into the joystick mechanism and makes the joystick less responsive. the w810i solves the unresponsive joystick problem as the 810 has a d-pad

and yes, you should be able to port your number (transfer to another sim/network)