iPhone SIM only - can you beat the system?

benadd

I'm looking to get a SIM only deal for my iPhone as my contract is coming to an end, and I've found something interesting. It seems that some networks offer two kinds of SIM only deals - one for iPhones, and one (seemingly) for every other phone...

Taking Tesco Mobile for example - they offer:
£ 10.00 for 500 mins, 5000 texts, 500 MB - Standard SIM only
£ 17.50 for 500 mins, 5000 texts, 500 MB - iPhone SIM only

As you can see - they offer exactly the same, except the iPhone deal is £7.50 more expensive.

Do you know if you were to use the 'non-iPhone' SIM in your iPhone it would work?

I'm aware the iPhone uses a microSIM, and it's dead easy to cut around the chip of a standard SIM to make it compatible with an iPhone - perhaps that is the difference?

grumbler

benadd wrote: »

Do you know if you were to use the 'non-iPhone' SIM in your iPhone it would work?

It would. You'll have to cut the extra plastic from the sim if it's iP4.

benadd

grumbler wrote: »

It would. You'll have to cut the extra plastic from the sim if it's iP4.

So you're telling me these networks are charging you an extra £7.50 a month just because they're doing it for you?! Seems unbelievable...

madison-nyc

You can buy a micro sim cutter off ebay for £3.50 with free p+p , makes it really easy to cut your sim down rather than trying with scissors ;-)

ahxcjb

You need to get yourself over to here asap: http://!!!!!!!/j7wR5D

T-Mobile
£7.50 pcm
600 mins / 500 texts / 500MB FUP Internet.

NB: Internet is restricted to 3G speeds. Negotiate with them to get the Web N Walk+ bolt-on added for free (it's usually £5 extra) which will give you tethering, 3G FUP & HSDPA speeds.

Superb deal!

ahxcjb

Well, that's just ridiculous! Not being able to post URLs!

Try: http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/t-mobile-half-price-sim-only-7-82-600-mins-500-text-booster/954944?page=1

ahxcjb

Oh, forgot to add, the reason there are 'iPhone' specific contracts is PURELY because they include WiFi hotspot access. Complete con in my opinion, as HSDPA is just as fast as most wifi hotspots, and far more reliable.

Wintermute

ahxcjb wrote: »

Oh, forgot to add, the reason there are 'iPhone' specific contracts is PURELY because they include WiFi hotspot access. Complete con in my opinion, as HSDPA is just as fast as most wifi hotspots, and far more reliable.

O2s iPhone specific tariffs offer call merge and visual voicemail, I'm not sure if any other providers offer these as O2 had an exclusive for these for a while.

If you're using an iPhone on a non-iPhone tariff you'll probably need to change the APN settings too otherwise you could get charged more or might not be able to access the internet.

ahxcjb

Good point re VV and call merge, forgot about those. Still disgraceful that O2 only allow 3-way calling to be available for iPhone customers. Vodafone and Orange have allowed 3 way calling on standard tariffs for 10+ years.

poppysocks1

I am using the £10 goodybag tariff on my iphone 4 and bought a sim cutter for £4.99 on amazon, seems good so far - 250 mins, unlimited data, texts etc.
http://www.giffgaff.co.uk/