Cheapest Iphone on Orange?

Eliza_2

My current phone is well out of contract now. The actual contract phone (can't remember what it was) died ages ago and a friend gave me an old iphone which I'm very pleased with but it is now also on the way out, a very broken screen, missing volume switch and so on, also I would like to be able to facetime with my grandchildren and this phone can't.

My last three phones of varying kinds were all on 18 month contracts and every phone died before the contract ended, touch screens seemed particularly vulnerable - hopefully this won't happen again and I know I would have to get a long contract just to get the phone.

I live in a rural area and can only get Orange where I live and spend my time, even though there's hardly any signal in the house so I don't use it there other than texting which I do quite a lot. I did hear there was a way of making calls using the wifi signal or linking it to the home phone but not sure about that.

So basically I'm asking for advice on where to get an iphone on Orange with plenty of text allowance, unlimited data but not bothered about a high call allowance.

Usually I just go to the Orange website and buy on there but suspect there are better ways of doing this. Any help would be so good.

Thank you

Liz

gjchester

Eliza wrote: »

So basically I'm asking for advice on where to get an iphone on Orange with plenty of text allowance, unlimited data but not bothered about a high call allowance.

Apple control the iPhone cost so there isn't much wiggle room by any network.

Orange and T-mobile merged so you can consider T-mobile too and use the Orange signal.

The only really unlimited data option is the Full Monty tarrif from T-mobile, They start at £36 a month and go up. The iPhone 5 is due soon so don't get the 3GS as thats likely to be dropped, prices have been trimmed a little latey but have you consaidered simply buying the iPhone up front? They are around £500 new and unlocked and then get a Sim only deal that starts at £21 for unlimited data.

That said the same applies wait a month and the iPhone 5 is due out..

NFH

Pay the full price of £500 from Apple and get a cheap SIM-only contract from Orange, i.e. buy the goods and service separately. You'll almost always pay less overall than a bundle of goods and services together.

Eliza_2

Many thanks - I will look into the T Mobile option, I hadn't realised that. I'm afraid I couldn't possibly pay out £500 all at once just for a phone. Or just for anything I'm afraid. It would take longer than an 18 month contract to get that back.

Will go and look at T mobile now. Thank you.

gjchester

Eliza wrote: »

Many thanks - I will look into the T Mobile option, I hadn't realised that. I'm afraid I couldn't possibly pay out £500 all at once just for a phone. Or just for anything I'm afraid. It would take longer than an 18 month contract to get that back.

Will go and look at T mobile now. Thank you.

You are very unlikely to get a free Iphone on most networks, the T-mobile £36 a month plan has a £50 charge for the phone.

Although £500 is a lot in one go, it's very similar overall. The £36 plan is 24 months to a total outlay of £913 over the two years. whereas buying a phone Sim Only works out at £1000, but your only on a 12 month contract so could change after a year to a cheaper plan.

You can get cheaper deals on T-mobile and Orange but as you want unlimited data thats the sticking point. You do realise you cannot tether another device (say a laptop) to the phone and use the data that way, the data can only be used on the phone.

baby_frogmella

You're better off buying a sim free iphone and then a sim only plan from Orange. However no need to pay £500 to Apple, you can buy a brand new (sealed) iphone 4S for £380 on ebay...chances are it will come with 12 months warranty and seller has 100% positive feedback so very unlikley to be scammed:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-iPhone-4S-Latest-Model-16-GB-Black-Orange-Smartphone-/180951426726?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item2a218ba6a6#ht_697wt_1139

For orange sim only plans, their business plans (can be used by residential customers) are currently half price:
http://business.orange.co.uk/home/soletrader/plans/standard-plans/business-sim-only

Eliza_2

gjchester wrote: »

You are very unlikely to get a free Iphone on most networks, the T-mobile £36 a month plan has a £50 charge for the phone.

Although £500 is a lot in one go, it's very similar overall. The £36 plan is 24 months to a total outlay of £913 over the two years. whereas buying a phone Sim Only works out at £1000, but your only on a 12 month contract so could change after a year to a cheaper plan.

You can get cheaper deals on T-mobile and Orange but as you want unlimited data thats the sticking point. You do realise you cannot tether another device (say a laptop) to the phone and use the data that way, the data can only be used on the phone.

I thought I could - why-ever not? I'm sure I've done that in the past with other phones. I would only want to do it occasionally when away camping. I've had a dongle in the past but it didn't seem to work that well.

I would still want quite a lot of data though, if unlimited isn't possible. I only put that because I thought that was fairly normal. I have 500mb on my current contract and have gone over sometimes.

Oh dear, it's so complicated!!

Thanks for all the advice.

ps am I likely to get a better deal as a business user I wonder? I run my own business.

DUTR

In the Metro news, there is a 4s deal 16gb , 24 months £29 per rmonth, 600mins unlimited text and 1gb data, no upfront fee.

NFH

Eliza wrote: »

I'm afraid I couldn't possibly pay out £500 all at once just for a phone. Or just for anything I'm afraid. It would take longer than an 18 month contract to get that back.

In that case, may I suggest that you opt for a cheaper phone? If you can't afford to pay for it now, then you are effectively getting an expensive loan from Orange to pay for it later in monthly instalments.

Eliza_2

NFH wrote: »

In that case, may I suggest that you opt for a cheaper phone? If you can't afford to pay for it now, then you are effectively getting an expensive loan from Orange to pay for it later in monthly instalments.

Yup - that's fine and the necessary penance. Alternatively is there another phone that does facetiming?

buscape

T-Mobile do the iPhone 4 for £26 per month on a 24 month contract plus £29 up front for the phone with 2000 minutes and unlimited texts, internet and calls to T-Mobile phones.