'Droid On A Budget! Alcatel OT-983 1GHz Android PAYG Phone, £39.99 At O2 Shop

sillygoose

No flash, but supports tethering according to the manual.

http://www.alcatelonetouch.com/global-en/downloads/manual/onetouch-983-user-manual-english.pdf

LouLou

There's a ton of torch apps on Google Market though it doesn't seem to have an LED, judging by the illustration in the manual. Had a quick read through it.

Looks as though the Alcatel has Touchpal keyboard installed too, which is a bit like Swype, which is a nice extra. Had a go of it on the Huawei G300 and it's pretty good.

Someone on the Hotukdeals thread has Dropboxed a link to the root details: http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/alcatel-ot-983-android-payg-39-99-shop-o2-1366627?page=26#post163735... (Remember to give Andyzyxk a Like out of courtesy!).

LouLou

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

So, has anyone ordered and received? If so, is there any kind of torch on it and can it be used to wirelessly tether to another device?

I got one delivered on Friday but it was sent to my mum's..I'll get my hands on it tomorrow and I'll update with my thoughts on it.

Got it without the £10 top-up via the O2 website, instore you have to buy a top-up.

LouLou

Was away for a few days but got to use the Alcatel for a while.

What a great phone! Really well-made, robust, little thing (was expecting it to be flimsy) and it's definitely a capable Android phone.

Comes with a 2GB MicroSD card. The only problems I can see are the lack of flash on the camera and the resolution on the screen can be a little blocky with one or two images (say, people's avatars) but it really is a pleasure to use.

Definitely worth £40 and I'd be delighted if it was my first smartphone. Apparently it doesn't support (Adobe) Flash according to HUKD but I've tried browsing some Flash-heavy sites and it seems to cope just fine. Edit: Actually on sites like b3ta.com it doesn't load certain things.

The 3.5" screen can be limiting at times, say, when replying on Facebook Messenger and obscuring the screen a bit, but I think it's a cracking bargain. Amazing how phones have evolved so quickly and cheaply!

metal.mickey_4

got one about a month ago. nice little phone for the money but had to send it back eventually as i couldnt find anyone who could unlock it.

O2 wont unlock handsets until its been used for a year and at a cost of £15 for the privilage.

nice design and well built.

MM

LouLou

I know it's too late for you metal.mickey but on the HUKD thread they said O2 will provide an unlock code free if you already have an O2 contract.

"o2 Contract customers can unlock their phones for free by filling in this form to receive an unlock code via email roughly 24-48hrs after: https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form" (from member hajj_3).

Might help someone.

Gromit1234

I tried one of these in the O2 store and found the ringing volume was very low you could barely hear it - even the salesman remarked how low it was, any one found a problem with this?

LouLou

taffy222 on androidforums has kindly linked to some Alcatel OT-983 screen protectors/gel covers from ebay Spain: http://androidforums.com/alcatel-ot-980/665474-cases-newly-released-alcatel-one-touch-983-ot-983-a.html#post5602081

Link to gel cases/protectors here: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/t-Toys/_i.html?_nkw=alcatel+983&submit=Search&_sid=74562196

Hope it helps someone !

LouLou

Also, the phone is now available on other networks (the O2 shop has put the OT-983 up by £10 to £49.99, but you don't have to purchase a top-up voucher):

Orange: http://www.prepaymania.co.uk/mobilephone/alcatel-ot-983-orange-pay-as-you-go-mobile-phone-black.html (£49.44)

T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/alcatel-one-touch-983 (£49.99)

Also at Argos (£49.99):
Orange: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5189029.htm

T-Mobile: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5189036.htm

Unfortunately you have to buy a £10 top-up at the other vendors, unlike the O2 shop.

sillygoose

LouLou wrote: »

Also, the phone is now available on other networks (the O2 shop has put the OT-983 up by £10 to £49.99, but you don't have to purchase a top-up voucher):

Orange: http://www.prepaymania.co.uk/mobilephone/alcatel-ot-983-orange-pay-as-you-go-mobile-phone-black.html (£49.44)

T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/alcatel-one-touch-983 (£49.99)

Also at Argos (£49.99):
Orange: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5189029.htm

T-Mobile: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5189036.htm

Unfortunately you have to buy a £10 top-up at the other vendors, unlike the O2 shop.

Also worth trying for Cashback, even though the cashback site may not mention PAYG handsets specifically. For example I saw someone recently bought a PAYG from the Vodaphone site and Topcashback tracked a decent cashback payment for them!

O2 are offering £5.55 cashback on a PAYG handset on TCB.

prepaymania look like offering £5.05 on pre-pay handsets, T-mobile direct might be worth a try on cashback as your ordering a prepay sim with the phone in effect so may get something.

Unlock seems to be available at £9.99 but maybe a better deal elsewhere, of course if you buy one on the network you intend to use unlock won't be needed.

O2 for £45 and a Giffgaff sim as it wouldn't need unlocking (Giffgaff runs on O2) looks hard to beat.