Can Anyone Help?

tiredofpoorservice

I'm sorry, I have no interest at all in mobile phones and it is next to impossible to get proper information from phone websites all of which assume that you understand what they are talking about.

My oldest boy (aged 11) wants a phone for Christmas. We do not really want him to have internet access, essentially because we don't want him to be committing to paying roughly £15 per month (from what we can figure) for a service that he will hardly in practice be using (he has internet access at home and at school). We would rather he just had Pay As You Go for just calls and texts.

He wants the phone to make calls and texts and to play games, music and video clips. Does he have to have internet access to do the latter or can we download these at home and then transfer them? What should we be looking for? I'm really sorry but I just don't have a clue.


Many thanks in advance


TOPS

Herongull

You are being very sensible in wanting to use PAYG. Do not be tempted to get a contract for him.

I would get him an Android smartphone, but tell him to switch data off (unless he actually wants to use it).

There are lots of cheap but nice Android phones around. People on this forum seem to like Huawei G300 which can be had for around £65, but if you want something cheaper you can get an Android with a more basic spec for between £30 to £40.

If there is WiFi at home or school he can use the internet via WiFi without paying for data. If he wants to watch video or download games he will need internet (but can access via WiFi).

In terms of PAYG phone company, consider:

1/Giffgaff
http://giffgaff.com/index/pricing

or

2/ Nowmobile. https://secure.nowmobile.co.uk/nowmobile/rates.jsp

If he was older, I would recommend Ovivo as they give you free monthly bundles of calls, texts and data, but Ovivo is only available to over 18s.

DUTR

Seems you do have a clue, as there are many that find out after they have made the purchase.
Yes you can do the things you wish via wifi at home or on the go, if you do not wish to use any data allowance over the mobile network.

tiredofpoorservice

Thanks for both these replies.

So with an Android smartphone he can turn data off, have PAYG calls and texts and access the internet via our WiFi at home. Can he save video clips and music to the phone to play later? Similarly with games?

I'm really sorry for being so clueless.


TOPS

DUTR

tiredofpoorservice wrote: »

Thanks for both these replies.

So with an Android smartphone he can turn data off, have PAYG calls and texts and access the internet via our WiFi at home. Can he save video clips and music to the phone to play later? Similarly with games?

I'm really sorry for being so clueless.


TOPS

Wifi and data access can be enabled and disabled via the handset, 'safest' way for video and music is to downlaod the files via the pc and transfer them to the handset. Not sure what type of video clips he wishes to download.

JethroUK

don't switch off data

you should buy a cheap smart phone (Wi-Fi / internet enabled) so he can use it just for free internet access via wifi at home and school and MC Donald's etc

but get payg sim with no internet/data included just calls and messages

I don't think he'll thank you if he can't access internet at all

Guys_Dad

It has to be PAYG if you want to avoid unexpected bills, or a capped contract such as Tesco.

Reason? Anything you can switch off on a handset can be set back on by son, even by mistake.

If you want him to have a decent smartphone experience, then he needs data. This can be via free wifi at home or elsewhere as said previously, or by using GiffGaff as a PAYG supplier that gives you "free" data but no big bills.

WallyBird

I am very interested in this too. Please could some experts post links to exactly which phones/providers they would be considering? (I am over 18!)

grumbler

You can't be serious.
There are dozens of phones around that are worth considering - depending on your requirements that you failed to post. The same applies to providers, although their number is smaller.

Herongull

Guys_Dad wrote: »

It has to be PAYG if you want to avoid unexpected bills, or a capped contract such as Tesco.

Reason? Anything you can switch off on a handset can be set back on by son, even by mistake.

If you want him to have a decent smartphone experience, then he needs data. This can be via free wifi at home or elsewhere as said previously, or by using GiffGaff as a PAYG supplier that gives you "free" data but no big bills.

As I understand it, he doesn't need (or want to pay for) data. He will use WiFi instead. On Android phones, data and WiFi are two completely separate settings. If he has WiFi at home and school, he doesn't need data.

So you will need to ensure he keeps data switched off. Most PAYG mobile suppliers come with data (which will eat up any money on the phone if it is not switched off). Giffgaff doesn't come with free data (although I believe it used to once).

If you tell us how many calls, texts he makes (or wants to make) each month, we can point you in the direction of the most appropriate PAYG mobile company.

WallyBird

grumbler wrote: »

You can't be serious.
There are dozens of phones around that are worth considering - depending on your requirements that you failed to post. The same applies to providers, although their number is smaller.

Same as original poster (apart from my age). I am so overwhelmed by the dozens that I have no idea where to start!