WhatsApp - Any Cost in Data Allowance?

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

This is a really good website and allows you to sort on specific elements of cost with different mobile companies:

http://mobilenetworkcomparison.org.uk/compare/

Looks like "3" is the cheapest which is what Carphonewarehouse told me but when I went into the shop he told me they were all the same, I am wondering if he thought I meant the price of packaged texts rather than the cost of data for using Apps?

If you keep talking about texting, that is exactly what they think.

It is about data usage. You need the cost of data on Orange if you intend to stick with them.

Otherwise you will be paying £70 for the phone and SIM with any other network and then you will be stuck with that network too.

You can buy a monthly data package with Orange for £7.50. That is up to three times the cost of the T-Mobile package to which I have linked.

So some are suggesting that you avoid using mobile data altogether and just use it via WiFi, to keep costs down. This for me is to cripple the phone, as you won't be able to use the messaging apps outside of WiFi range.

anon_ymous

Doing the maths, it's around 2kb/message. Hardly breaking the bank

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If you keep talking about texting, that is exactly what they think.

It is about data usage. You need the cost of data on Orange if you intend to stick with them.

Otherwise you will be paying £70 for the phone and SIM with any other network and then you will be stuck with that network too.

You can buy a monthly data package with Orange for £7.50. That is up to three times the cost of the T-Mobile package to which I have linked.

So some are suggesting that you avoid using mobile data altogether and just use it via WiFi, to keep costs down. This for me is to cripple the phone, as you won't be able to use the messaging apps outside of WiFi range.

So you are saying to buy the phone without the Top-Up and just buy data instead as in your T-Mobile suggestion ?

NiftyDigits

waqasahmed wrote: »

Doing the maths, it's around 2kb/message. Hardly breaking the bank

The issue is not the cost of sending a single WhatsApp message without pictures and video, but also any other data usage that may occur.
Viber calls will certainly use more than 2kb....

So let's look at likely usage and worse case scenarios, rather than the unrealistic.

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

So you are saying to buy the phone without the Top-Up and just buy data instead as in your T-Mobile suggestion ?

If you have decided on that phone. Your outlay has risen considerably. You can't buy the phone without the Topup at CPW unless it's an upgrade.
Are you happy to spend that amount and are you happy to use the Touchscreen Qwerty?

Don't rush into anything. Wait until you have a solution that you are sure that will fit your needs and it is within your budget.

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

Just been into Carphonewarehouse who told me the cheapest texting option was with "3" and suggested I go to another shop a few yards away to ask them about the package with 3. I went there and they told me their texting charges using the apps and data works out about the same as other networks. So I popped into T-Mobile and guess what, they told me the same ! They said data costs are pretty much the same when it comes to using the Apps. The one at T-Mobile said the texting charge is only really affected by the "package" and what you get. They give you 250Mb and unlimited texts for £10 per month. She also said if you connect to the wifi you get them cheaper but as she said they are almost the same on all the networks for data usage.

Took a look at the Nokia Lumia 250, it looks good but the Qwerty keyboard is a bit on the small side as it only fills half of the screen, I think I would have to use a plastic stick until I got used to the size of the keys (lol). They do a next one up Nokia Lumia 625 (I think it was) which was a slightly larger phone with a slightly larger keyboard for £99.99 (a bit more than I wanted to pay).

Also at Carphonewarehouse, they said you get the "deal" price if you stay on your own network as a loyalty discount on the Nokia Lumia 520. If I wanted to swap to T-Mobile it would be £20 more expensive for the same phone.

Not true. £60 for Orange upgrade. £60 plus £10 topup for T-Mobile. £85 not locked to any network.

So £10 difference, but as you say, you can use the topup.... towards a T-Mobile six month Internet package for £20. So it is exactly the same price.
Just don't let them apply a package to the SIM that you get from CPW if you go down that route.

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If you have decided on that phone. Your outlay has risen considerably. You can't buy the phone without the Topup at CPW unless it's an upgrade.
Are you happy to spend that amount and are you happy to use the Touchscreen Qwerty?

Don't rush into anything. Wait until you have a solution that you are sure that will fit your needs and it is within your budget.

I haven't decided yet really, the Qwerty keyboard is a bit smaller than I would have liked but I didn't see any obvious alternatives there as the majority of Smartphones tend to be very slim. I am still considering the Blackberry. Decisions, decisions eh ?

NiftyDigits

In terms of pure cost, you can get the second hand BB and a year's worth of data for just the price of the Windows phone. But the Windows phone may have better support for applications in the future.

So it's not a straightforward choice. I prefer buying online, as it gives you an opportunity to evaluate the equipment.
You collect from a shop and it's difficult to return it if you don't get on with it.

Leodogger

If I buy a phone online, unlocked, how do I transfer all my contacts to the new phone ?

I presume if I buy the phone alone and the sim card off say eBay, can I go to a T-Mobile shop and buy the data separately if it works out the cheapest?

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

If I buy a phone online, unlocked, how do I transfer all my contacts to the new phone ?

I presume if I buy the phone alone and the sim card off say eBay, can I go to a T-Mobile shop and buy the data separately if it works out the cheapest?

You'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

No need to enter a T-Mobile shop to buy data. You can buy credit at a local convenience shop or various other outlets. Including eBay. Here is a typical link.

To apply the Internet package you follow the instructions in the link that I posted earlier(post #52), to do with the SIM and package.

The instructions that you follow will depend on the phone that you buy.

If you buy a BlackBerry, you apply the 6 Month BlackBerry package. If a Windows or Android phone, a 6 Month Internet package. Either will deduct £20 from your credit balance and give you six months worth of mobile data.

This way you can send and receive unlimited emails and use VIBER, WhatsApp and other compatible applications for the duration.
SMS is not included, as it is a separate service. You should still have a £5 credit left over for the odd text message and call anyway, if you go for the separate SIM.

Think about it, digest it and ask questions until you are sure that you are getting the right thing for your needs.