Giffgaff or T Mobile or Other for iPhone 3GS?

megrim

Hello all, am thinking of finally joining the 21st century with an iPhone, primarily for light call / text usage, being able to use email, and being able to use for music, games etc.

I'm thinking that an iPhone 3gs would do the job, but not sure whether to buy an unlocked iPhone and go with Giffgaff as their £10 goodybag has sufficient call minutes and texts plus unlimited data, or to go with the T-Mobile 24 month deal for £15 / month with 500 meg of data, sufficient calls and texts and free phone - any advice?

Thanks in advance.

grumbler

A new sim free phone costs £320 from Apple store.
It will be difficult to beat 24x£15=£360 contract that includes airtime, especially if you take £70.70 cashback into account. However, you will be tied in this contract for 24 months.

megrim

Hello Grumbler, where is the cashback bit from please? The guy at the T-mobile store was a bit vague about everything.

grumbler

I meant Topcashback, but it is for online purchases only.
Be very careful with the 'guys' in shops. Get everything in writing and check it.
Online this phone is available for 24x£15.32 with just 50 minutes.

megrim

I'm leaning towards the T-mobile deal, but I'm not sure what my data usage would be. I'm not planning using any apps that are especially data hungry (anything with maps for instance), and not planning to use for watching videos or facebook or downloading music, so hoping that 500 meg would be sufficient? Would be using wifi at home.

grumbler

Only downloading/streaming is limited by 500Mb at T-mobile. General browsing (including maps) is unlimited.

Alisha2008

I bought my mobile 2nd hand on ebay and went for giffgaff, didn't want to be tied up for 2 years.. don't have to worry about internet usage as it's unlimited, and coverage is very good.

Sublime_2

T-mobile are very competitive, offer great upgrades, and have great signal coverage, which also gives you access to oranges signal if you sign up for. I'm with T-mobile, bought my nokia N8 in the shop, as offer a better , more personal service.

megrim

I don't call or text that much (been on PAYG for the last 15 years and don't spend much at all), tend to use landline for chatting as I work from home. Another option is with 3G, with 100 mins and 5000 texts and 500 meg data for £20 / month, or all-you-can-eat data for £23 / month?

grumbler

You don't need all-you-can-eat data and if you "don't call or text that much" why would you pay £23 instead of £15?
Don't know about £20 if you really need 100 minutes, but paying extra £5 for 50 minutes with an older phone seems too much to me.

megrim

So I can go on-line and browse on T-Mobile and it doesn't eat into the data allowance? I know the T-Mobile signal is good here (as is the Orange signal).

All too confusing these days, maybe I should stick to a couple of tin cans and a piece of string.