buying mobile phones outside networks

grognon_lion

Hi

I want to buy a new mobile phone that is not tied to a network or contract deal.

Does anyone within the Community have any experience - good or bad - they can pass on to me?

Many thanks

Guys_Dad

grognon_lion wrote: »

Hi

I want to buy a new mobile phone that is not tied to a network or contract deal.

Does anyone within the Community have any experience - good or bad - they can pass on to me?

Many thanks

No problem. Go to a reseller like Carphonewarehouse. Tell them you want an unlocked handset - they do have some that appear cheap but they are locked to 3 - and you will get a decent handset without network-specific software installed.

Put your own sim in - keep the compulsory £10 PAYG sim you get as a spare.

Good luck.

BikerEd

There are a number of reliable vendors for sourcing unlocked phones e.g. Amazon, play.com, Clove Technology. Then there's the less reliable / riskier purchases like Fleabay. Obviously you will pay a lot more for an unlocked phone because the mobile phone company isn't subsidising its purchase price.

MillicentBystander

Which is why it's probably best to get a locked one (PAYG not contract!) that you know you can get an unlock code for from ebay at a reasonable price. It's easy peasy to do, just a matter of inputting a 12/13 digit code into the phone, when prompted.