Upgrade or get a new number?

gino_76ph

Hi There!

I am at the end of my 18-month contract with Orange and i was told that i am due for an upgrade. I am currently using an HTC Incredible S and i would really want a new-ish phone to use & play with.

I don't want to leave Orange simply because i know they are a good network and besides i can use T-Mobile's 2G & 3G network if my signal is weak.

Currently i'm paying £25 per month (down from a high of £30 a few months ago) on unlimited text, 300 minutes (anytime) and a 500MB of internet; i don't use much of my minutes but i would say i use slightly a lot of my text allowances (tho still within the limit) and i'm able to "stay" within my 500MB internet.

I made some bits of research but i want to know wether it's worth upgrading (and renewing) my contract or will i generally get a cheaper monthly payment and some good deals if i totally change numbers or network even?

I thought upgrading to a new phone (and renewing a contract) would get you better deals than getting a new phone number but when i checked Carphone Warehouse's website it wasn't the case.

any advice please...?

grumbler

Generally you can get a new contract and keep the old number. That's what PACs exist for. Theoretically, you can even get a new contract with Orange and port the old number to it in two steps.

So, just do your recearch, request the PAC 30 days before the min term expires. Then make your decision based on what their retentions department offer you.

mikegahan

Hi- If you decide to move to another network it is relatively easy to transfer your number to your new supplier. it is called "porting across". It is a legal entitlement and fairly easy. Assuming you are happy with your current handset you could look around for a "SIM only" deal either with Orange (they will want to retain your custom" or via someone like Carphone Warehouse). Or you could go with another network, but then you would have to have your phone unlocked, or you could get a cheap handset with another network and then get a sim only deal on that network. Also look at Giff Gaff, who offer good value sim only deals without contract - they use the O2 network

Quentin

02 will now happily let you get a new (o2) connection and transfer your old o2 number to it without the PAC to another network's PAYG SIM and back trick, so maybe Orange will do the same nowadays??

gino_76ph

I can't afford a SIM-only deal at the moment because i have no money to buy a standalone SIM-free phone.

I want to stay with Orange but i'm stuck wether to upgrade or get a new monthly contract with my old number p[orted over to the new one?

Or is O2 a better network?

grumbler

gino_76ph wrote: »

I can't afford a SIM-only deal at the moment because i have no money to buy a standalone SIM-free phone.

What's wrong with your Incredible S?
If it's OK, I'd say that in fact you can perfectly afford a sim-only contract, but cannot afford a new handset.

Re what network is better, then for me it is very simple. It is the one that offers the best deal - provided that their signal is fine in my location(s).