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Smartphone unlocked?

Ok, I am a) nearly 50 and b) a female, so I'm not very techie minded, so please be nice and try not to laugh.

My daughter wants a new phone for her birthday and I said I would buy her the one she wants from Amazon. It's the Samsung galaxy 3. I was reading through it and it says 'smartphone unlocked'. What does this mean?
Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
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Comments

  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Means the phone can work with any network sim card.
  • lyniced
    lyniced Posts: 1,880 Forumite
    OneADay wrote: »
    Means the phone can work with any network sim card.

    So it will work with her current orange contract?
    Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 6 September 2012 at 10:44AM
    lyniced wrote: »
    So it will work with her current orange contract?

    Should do - if it does not, send it back to Amazon but can't see why it would not.

    Amazon is not always the cheapest for mobiles - worth looking at some other retailers online. You can get some cashback too with quidco/topcashback for pay and go purchase.

    Also cheaper to get monthly contract rather than pay and go - as long as your daughter can control how much she spends per month.
  • lyniced
    lyniced Posts: 1,880 Forumite
    OneADay wrote: »
    Should do - if it does not, send it back to Amazon but can't see why it would not.

    Amazon is not always the cheapest for mobiles - worth looking at some other retailers online. You can get some cashback too with quidco/topcashback for pay and go purchase.

    Also cheaper to get monthly contract rather than pay and go - as long as your daughter can control how much she spends per month.

    Well she has a contract (24 months, I think) and her current phone keeps turning off, but she is not due for a new one for 8 months, but has had her eye on this phone for a while. Is this still ok to do?
    Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    lyniced wrote: »
    Well she has a contract (24 months, I think) and her current phone keeps turning off, but she is not due for a new one for 8 months, but has had her eye on this phone for a while. Is this still ok to do?

    Personally I think its too expensive on pay and go £480 on Amazon. Even for a birthday its way too much for a mobile like that.

    Might be worth asking Orange for an early upgrade if you pay off existing contract. Or getting the iphone 5 which is due out soon, though that would be even more expensive, maybe iphone 4s. I would never pay £480 for a phone (contract or pay and go).

    And networks can offer refurbished phones to buy if your existing handset is out of warranty and not working. If the existing phone is not working, check warranty maybe - so many options to consider.
  • lyniced
    lyniced Posts: 1,880 Forumite
    OneADay wrote: »
    Personally I think its too expensive on pay and go £480 on Amazon. Even for a birthday its way too much for a mobile like that.

    Might be worth asking Orange for an early upgrade if you pay off existing contract. Or getting the iphone 5 which is due out soon, though that would be even more expensive, maybe iphone 4s. So many options. I would never pay £480 for a phone (contract or pay and go).

    I know it's a lot, but I have the money, and she is my only daughter and my carer and I want to buy it for her!
    Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    lyniced wrote: »
    I know it's a lot, but I have the money, and she is my only daughter and my carer and I want to buy it for her!

    Oh that is ok then :-) If you have money, please get me one too ! :eek:

    Actually I would consider the iphone 5 which is due out soon if you are going to spend that sort of money. But then its your daughter's choice in the end.
  • lyniced
    lyniced Posts: 1,880 Forumite
    OneADay wrote: »
    Oh that is ok then :-) If you have money, please get me one too ! :eek:

    Actually I would consider the iphone 5 which is due out soon if you are going to spend that sort of money. But then its your daughter's choice in the end.

    Ok, what do you want? My daughter is 20 and has a job, so she pays for her own contract - don't be silly I'm not paying for that as well! Anyway she is a real diamond as I'm in a wheelchair and looks after me and what the hey, I love her!

    Well I have the iPhone 4gs and love it and have been trying to steer her that way, but she says she wants that one. Actually when is the iPhone 5 out?
    Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    lyniced wrote: »
    Ok, what do you want? My daughter is 20 and has a job, so she pays for her own contract - don't be silly I'm not paying for that as well! Anyway she is a real diamond as I'm in a wheelchair and looks after me and what the hey, I love her!

    Well I have the iPhone 4gs and love it and have been trying to steer her that way, but she says she wants that one. Actually when is the iPhone 5 out?

    Its rumored to be released 12th September.

    http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-iphone-5-release-date-news-and-rumours-721534

    Never had an iphone myself and always been anti Apple but have to admit they are easy to use (my sis from US bought her iphone 3gs over and it was by far the easiest touchscreen I have used so far).
  • lyniced
    lyniced Posts: 1,880 Forumite
    OneADay wrote: »
    Its rumored to be released 12th September.

    http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-iphone-5-release-date-news-and-rumours-721534

    Never had an iphone myself and always been anti Apple but have to admit they are easy to use (my sis from US bought her iphone 3gs over and it was by far the easiest touchscreen I have used so far).

    I have an iPad, iPod and iPhone, and was always anti-apple to, but I have to say I come over to the dark side. The only thing that annoys me is apple doesn't support flash. So frustrating at times!
    Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
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