Ipod Touch - Tethering v MiFi OR Buy Smartphone

-F*Dragonfly-

I'm looking to get someone an Ipod Touch for Christmas so she can have the same gadget as her boyfriend for various things. She wants to Imessage him, Skype, plus she loves the app store.

He has an Ipod Touch, now I know this has WiFi as I have one too, but you have to be around a WiFi spot to use this.

My question is about things like MiFi devices/portable routers out there - how good are these, are they expensive to run?

We have a few old mobiles around so was wondering about tethering as well, we have a Orange Vegas, Motorola Razr and another 3network one I can't remember the make of right now, plus a Nokia one, all have Internet access. Was wondering if it would be cheaper to give her one of these with a data sim as well so she can tether to the Ipod for Internet access out and about.

If the above could work okay and not cost loads or drain both batteries within hours then I'll get her an Ipod Touch this weekend instead of going into the realms of below.

All that seems like a lot of trouble to me though so:

OR

What are the smartphones like in comparison to the Ipod Touch. Meaning do they have their own messaging system like Imessage that you don't need to pay extra for to send each picture or message?
And can you use any app like Imessage to chat/send pictures between a smartphone and Ipod Touch, maybe WhatsApp Messenger / ChatON or something similar? Also I'm presuming that they all have an app store too like Apples but on Android?

I was thinking about the HTC or a Samsung mobile, but some of them seem pricey and my limit is no more than £200 so not sure what to look at or go for there's that many out there.

She wants, among other things: Internet/good size screen. Touch Screen Preferable. Okay camera for pictures and Skype. Be able to message her boyfriend on his Ipod Touch without incurring charges as you do via texts/pic messages. Apps. Pay as you go most probably.
She wouldn't be using it for calls or texts I don't think, mostly Internet and chatting with her boyfriend/friends and social networking etc. Possibly be able to use WiFi when possible to save her data allowance.

If anyone knows anything that I might be looking for I'd be very grateful for any advice, as I've totally confused myself now (well done to you if you're still following) and there's that many things out there I could spend the next two months looking through them all. I have to get this over the weekend and have already been Googling like mad for days now.

I'm off to feed the puppy and go to do some Tae Bo now, will check back later and hope for a miracle.

Lifeforms

Does she already have a phone?

Basically there are apps over both OS. like apple store, google play (android store) so skype, facebook, email etc for the better ones. iMessage is apple only, but there was whatsapp that does free messaging over likes of wifi/internet.

There are some reasonable budget smartphones out there (not immediately known brand names) that are quite cheap compared, but you'd also need to provide a sim too? So would she sign up for a contract, or would you, payg is pretty pants for data essentially, which she'd need if she was a reasonably heavy user. The other thing is, if she's skyping with vid over a mobile signal it will eat data too.

You can buy mifi devices quite cheap off ebay and such, but data will still cost on top, are they prepared to do this themselves?

-F*Dragonfly-

Thank you very much for your reply.

She does have a phone but not an Internet one at the moment, which is why if any of the mobiles I have hanging around will do the Tethering trick she can have one of them.

I found this off GiffGaff: http://giffgaff.com/goodybags/3gb-mobile-broadband

If this was put into say the orange vegas phone (if this phone would do this) would it work as a Tethering device or would buying a MiFi unit be better for giving an Ipod Touch WiFi outside?

I don't think that she would want to spend loads per month on a contact but I have no idea of how fast Data usage is used up on PAYG as I just use free WiFi when out and about.
Though looking at the GiffGaff one above it gives you 6,000 Emails (with attachments) and I presume she would want to use Imessage and go on a few of her favourite websites while she's at work, but she probably wouldn't be wanting to use it for hours per day, plus they have WiFi at their house so she'd use that when at home.

I have no idea what to get when I go shopping tomorrow. An Ipod Touch would be the easiest for me as I know what I'm getting but it's just the WiFi issue needed sorting somehow.

Im_just_careful

For simplicity I would go down the MiFi route with "3" PAYG SIMs with 3GB of data and the data lasts for 3 months.

There are lots of other options but this is the easy one that will actually "just work".

For example - Huawei E5331 Value MiFi White. Pay As You Go +3 £59.99

chrisw

I use a t mobile mifi which was about £30 from Argos ebay outlet and a tmobile sim card off ebay for £15 with 12 months free internet. It has a monthly download limit which once exceeded you can only use it for emails and surfing until the following month, but I've never reached it as I use home wifi for 90% of the time.

NiftyDigits

Im_just_careful wrote: »

For simplicity I would go down the MiFi route with "3" PAYG SIMs with 3GB of data and the data lasts for 3 months.

There are lots of other options but this is the easy one that will actually "just work".

For example - Huawei E5331 Value MiFi White. Pay As You Go +3 £59.99

Too expensive that way. Here for £30.
3GB/3 month Prepay SIM separately for £11 or use the included 5GB per month SIM on a rolling 30 day contract.

Cheapest option is the O2 Hotspot in conjunction with CashBack(£25). So from only £10.10. Plus another £5.65 to unlock to all SIMs.

Im_just_careful

Wherever you buy a MiFi, PAYG is the way to go for light use in my view.

Also better as a gift.

-F*Dragonfly-

Thank you all for your replies and help with this, you're all very kind

Well today is the day I'm off shopping and think I'll get the Ipod touch and wait a few days to get the MiFi until I find a good/not expensive one as I have no idea which to get at the moment.

She will most probably only want to use it on her breaks at work which add up an hour I think at most 5 days a week, occasionally outside maybe but not often.

Is it worth getting a PAYG one then if it's only this light use? Would the data work out okay and not go in minutes if going on a few websites and chatting over IMessage etc?

NiftyDigits

-F*Dragonfly- wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies and help with this, you're all very kind

Well today is the day I'm off shopping and think I'll get the Ipod touch and wait a few days to get the MiFi until I find a good/not expensive one as I have no idea which to get at the moment.

She will most probably only want to use it on her breaks at work which add up an hour I think at most 5 days a week, occasionally outside maybe but not often.

Is it worth getting a PAYG one then if it's only this light use? Would the data work out okay and not go in minutes if going on a few websites and chatting over IMessage etc?

You have already been shown the two cheapest options. Both can be run with PAYG SIMs.
Do not buy the Three MiFi in-store. Have it delivered. Use it with this SIM if you don't wish to use the contract SIM within.