Advice on smartphones needed.

FOXGLOVE_2

Hi, I've been on PAYG for over 10 years and have been looking at going to a pay monthly plan. This is partly due to me wanting a smartphone and realising that the handset cost on PAYG is a little too much. I have a lot of questions as I don't want to end up in a contract this isn't suited to me or run up a huge bill cos I'm been naive about cost of using a smartphone.

Ok, first of all I see that most plans include a data allowance. I know this has something to do with using the 3G or internet but is this different to wi-fi? Does it work a bit like mobile broadband does in that if I'm near a wi-fi hotspot I can use that connection instead of the network and avoid charges?

Also, if I have downloaded apps into my phone, do I get charged when I tap into them, is this expensive or use up a lot of data?

Do different operating systems perform better?

I'm probably not gonna opt for an iPhone as the monthly cost is a little more than I probably use on PAYG, my budget is about £25 max, I like Samsung phones and would rather avoid Blackberry. I'm a stranger to HTC phones so not sure what to be looking for at all.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

kkkittehz

Hello :P

The data allowance that you might see on the contracts is the amount of data you can download while 'on the go' i.e. while you're sat on the bus you can be checking your facebook account or browsing your emails etc.

If you were to go somewhere which had a free wifi connection, then once you've connected you don't pay for the data you're downloading (though I would recommend turning the 3g function off, so it is retrieving data exclusively from the wifi. My old windows phone had a habit of ignoring the wifi and using the 3g).

When I say downloading that means web browsing, everytime you visit a webpage (such as this one) your computer downloads data that your web browser turns into a webpage. 1GB of data is enough to have your emails 'pushed' to you and light web usage, and most offer a system so you can see how much you have used. From exerience I can say that they arent superstrict about the cap, I have a cap of 500MB but have strayed into 1.2GB and o2 didnt say a word.

As for apps, there are loads of free ones, but some of course do require buying, the only ones that could cost you after the initial purchase are ones which browse the web, i.e. GPS software which needs to download the maps, but this doesnt use a massive amount of data. You can of course turn data roaming off if you get close to your limit.

Personally I have a HTC HD7 which runs Windows Phone 7. I really like the operating system, much nicer than the previous Windows Mobile 6.1 I had on my HTC Touch HD. Though I would say I do like HTC phones . Android is a good choice, as you can get a good phone at a reasonable price due to the high number of them in circulation.

Do remember to look on quidco etc. to see if you can get cashback on your contract, you can use that to pay for the mobile if the phone you would like has an upfront cost.

FOXGLOVE_2

kkkittehz wrote: »

Hello :P

The data allowance that you might see on the contracts is the amount of data you can download while 'on the go' i.e. while you're sat on the bus you can be checking your facebook account or browsing your emails etc.

If you were to go somewhere which had a free wifi connection, then once you've connected you don't pay for the data you're downloading (though I would recommend turning the 3g function off, so it is retrieving data exclusively from the wifi. My old windows phone had a habit of ignoring the wifi and using the 3g).

When I say downloading that means web browsing, everytime you visit a webpage (such as this one) your computer downloads data that your web browser turns into a webpage. 1GB of data is enough to have your emails 'pushed' to you and light web usage, and most offer a system so you can see how much you have used. From exerience I can say that they arent superstrict about the cap, I have a cap of 500MB but have strayed into 1.2GB and o2 didnt say a word.

As for apps, there are loads of free ones, but some of course do require buying, the only ones that could cost you after the initial purchase are ones which browse the web, i.e. GPS software which needs to download the maps, but this doesnt use a massive amount of data. You can of course turn data roaming off if you get close to your limit.

Personally I have a HTC HD7 which runs Windows Phone 7. I really like the operating system, much nicer than the previous Windows Mobile 6.1 I had on my HTC Touch HD. Though I would say I do like HTC phones . Android is a good choice, as you can get a good phone at a reasonable price due to the high number of them in circulation.

Do remember to look on quidco etc. to see if you can get cashback on your contract, you can use that to pay for the mobile if the phone you would like has an upfront cost.

Great, thanks! So if I was sat at home and wanted to check emails without firing up my laptop, I could connect to the wi-fi/my router and use it that way. Or if I was in the pub (or cafe) I could use the connection there?

Also, since I've never been on a contract I'm kind of concerned about insurance as I don't wanna end up paying a fortune to replace it if its lost. I understand that if it's lost I have to wait until the end of the contract before I get a new one. Any advice on decent cheapish insurance (would this depend on handset)?

Someone I know has told me that one of the networks declined them after running a credit check while another allowed them no problems. My credit history is mediocre so this is another thing I'm worried about. Is there anything likely to make it difficult to sign up - tarriff, handset or anything else?

I know I'm probably asking obvious questions but dont wanna end up stuck with something thats draining me money.

JJ_Egan

FOXGLOVE wrote: »

Great, thanks! So if I was sat at home and wanted to check emails without firing up my laptop, I could connect to the wi-fi/my router and use it that way. Or if I was in the pub (or cafe) I could use the connection there?

Yes any Wifi thats open or you have the code for .






Dont want to use mobile data turn it off unless required either via phone settings or an app/widget .


jje

kkkittehz

Hi again :P

Regarding email, I rarely use the email on my laptop anymore as it gets 'pushed' straight to my phone just like a text message.

Now about phone insurance, I wouldn't bother. My dad has been paying £10 a month for over a year and after looking at the fine print, there is very little that it actually covers. If you have home and contents insurance, your phone should be covered. Or if you looked into getting an additions type account with barclays or halifax etc. for £15 a month (that's for barclays I think) you get RAC cover, Gadget Insurance (i.e. covering your phone), Holiday Cover etc.

Hope ive helped (I know nothing about credit searches so whatever I said to you could be false )

Lewis

swimsink

I second the phone insurance thing - i insured my HTC for a year through fonesafe insurance for 9.99 a month - only to find when it broke it wasn't even covered! I also found out that as I have a premium paid for bank account with Halifax that phone insurance etc is inc. so you should definitely look into this but if not - and your not prone to losing/breaking phones it is an expensive i wouldn't bother with as over the 18 months or so of your contract, shelling out £180 in total you may as well buy a new handset should the unfortunate occur. The only thing most insurers cover you for is if you get mugged!

poison_ivy_2

Yeah, don't bother with phone insurance as reading the fine print, most of the time the insurance company can weasel their way out of paying you. If you're getting an iPhone, you can get Applecare for it to extend the warranty until two years but it will only cover you once your phone is broken and not lost but its still a good investment.

ovensnake

Insurance? It's my like buying another phone! Some banks offer free gadget insurance with their current accounts - this is a good way of being protected and not forking out skyward of £300 over the life time of the phone.

Avoid iphone as the glass on the iphone 4 smashes VERY easily.

zagubov

Don't assume that a smartphone on PAYG need be expensive.
The pulse mini (black/pink)'s £39.99 at Argos- I think you have to buy a £20 top-up for PAYG via T-mobile(the link's too long just visit the site and look it up).

And it's got a two--year guarantee.
Do check out whether you can get it cheaper elsewhere. And also whether you can use some of the credit for an internet booster package (I think it let's you have £20 credit over six months so it doesn't matter if you don't use it up fast).

You can check out giffgaff's deals as well if you're using voice/texts more than web. Remember though you can use a cheaper override for giffgaff as it doesn't charge for the freephone override connection

Guys_Dad

Also check out CPW Samsung Apollo at £49.99 plus top up. Better than the Pulse and then get a rolling contract, such a Giff Gaff or sim-free from one of the big networks.

Even 3 have a good deal and you can try them out when you get the Apollo as you have to buy a top up and 3 with their Eat as much Data as you can is a good cheap way to see how much you would use it.

Much cheaper than a £25 per month contract, although there are a better selection of handsets and better performing ones if you commit to 24 months. (But don't !!)

JazF

I am considering a deal with Talkmobile for the HTC Desire S through E2save. It costs £14.99 for the handset and £25/month for 12months. This comes with 1GB of data.
£315 for the year then drop down to sim only contract or GiffGaff.