WhatsApp - Any Cost in Data Allowance?

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

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.

I think I might end up going for the Nokia Lumia 520 as it is a more up to date phone and as you say gives the opportunity for further updates.

I did see this one and wondered if you thought it was a good buy :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nokia-Lumia-520-Sim-Free-1GHz-DCore-Windows-8-5MP-4-0-Black-8GB-/371079694769?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item566612c9b1

By the way, when you stated "You can buy a £20 T-Mobile topup for as little as £16....reducing the cost to £2.66 per month for all the data you would need for using WhatsApp and Viber." Where do you buy it from as the web page you indicated, the plans are for £10, £15, etc.

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

I think I might end up going for the Nokia Lumia 520 as it is a more up to date phone and as you say gives the opportunity for further updates.

I did see this one and wondered if you thought it was a good buy :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nokia-Lumia-520-Sim-Free-1GHz-DCore-Windows-8-5MP-4-0-Black-8GB-/371079694769?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item566612c9b1

Where is the warranty? For £70 I would want a full warranty.

Otherwise, why not just get the 'locked' model from Carphone Warehouse at the same price?

Just yesterday, you wanted a basic phone. Now you want one that may be able to afford you the latest updates.

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

I think I might end up going for the Nokia Lumia 520 as it is a more up to date phone and as you say gives the opportunity for further updates.

I did see this one and wondered if you thought it was a good buy :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nokia-Lumia-520-Sim-Free-1GHz-DCore-Windows-8-5MP-4-0-Black-8GB-/371079694769?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item566612c9b1

By the way, when you stated "You can buy a £20 T-Mobile topup for as little as £16....reducing the cost to £2.66 per month for all the data you would need for using WhatsApp and Viber." Where do you buy it from as the web page you indicated, the plans are for £10, £15, etc.

It stated "T-MOBILE £10 TOP UP CREDIT VOUCHER " £8.49

So two of those would cost less than £17.

Apply them to the independently purchased SIM and you'll have £25 worth of credit.
Otherwise you can just buy one and apply it to the £10 worth of credit on the SIM supplied by Carphone Warehouse.
Then you apply for the Internet or Blackberry package. leaving you with £5 or no credit respectively.

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Where is the warranty? For £70 I would want a full warranty.

Otherwise, why not just get the 'locked' model from Carphone Warehouse at the same price?

Just yesterday, you wanted a basic phone. Now you want one that may be able to afford you the latest updates.

Yes I suppose you are right, but it is unlocked so offers the alternative to switch to a better deal on another network presumably, plus it was £79.99 for a phone from CPW on T-Mobile (a switch from my orange network so £20 more). I know what you mean about the choice of phone but I was looking at the price difference and for the extra £20 between the Blackberry and the Nokia Lumia, the Nokia has obviously a lot more software for the added money don't you think?

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It stated "T-MOBILE £10 TOP UP CREDIT VOUCHER " £8.49

So two of those would cost less than £17.

Apply them to the independently purchased SIM and you'll have £25 worth of credit.
Otherwise you can just buy one and apply it to the £10 worth of credit on the SIM supplied by Carphone Warehouse.
Then you apply for the Internet or Blackberry package. leaving you with £5 or no credit respectively.

Sorry I must be thick or clicking on the wrong link. This is the one I was looking at which states £0.99 for the sim with £5 credit and a top up of £10, 15 or £25. So for £0.99 you are getting £5 free and paying an additional £5 for the £10 Top-Up etc., so £5.99 credit against a £10 Top-Up but isn't this (albeit cheaper) the same as buying the top-ups in shops which pays for texts, calls etc., I thought you were talking about something different when you said you buy data instead of the normal top-up ? I am sorry for the confusion but as I said I am a techophobe and don't understand the difference between buying Top-Ups and Data or are they the same thing, i.e. you use the Top-Up to use data only (as in Whatsapp connections) or use it for data, calls and normal network texting all through the network?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231166984041

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

Yes I suppose you are right, but it is unlocked so offers the alternative to switch to a better deal on another network presumably, plus it was £79.99 for a phone from CPW on T-Mobile (a switch from my orange network so £20 more). I know what you mean about the choice of phone but I was looking at the price difference and for the extra £20 between the Blackberry and the Nokia Lumia, the Nokia has obviously a lot more software for the added money don't you think?

You are not reading the posts. It shows clearly here that the price is £59.95 + £10.

The Nokia is definitely the better phone. But you started this thread by telling us that a phone for you was a necessary evil. Not a problem. My mum takes to these things like a duck to water.

This Blackberry Curve 9320 at £40.84, will do what you need and has a physical Qwerty keyboard. They are also cheaper to unlock. Costing less than £1 here

The Nokia will do what you want and perhaps play more nicely with your laptop, though it will be locked to one Network and may cost up to £30 to unlock it.

I know it's a lot of info. But better you have it and have time to digest it than to be rushed into a purchase in a shop.

I would recommend that you buy online anyway. Just go to the shop to get 'hands on', but buy and get it delivered via an online order.

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

Sorry I must be thick or clicking on the wrong link. This is the one I was looking at which states £0.99 for the sim with £5 credit and a top up of £10, 15 or £25. So for £0.99 you are getting £5 free and paying an additional £5 for the £10 Top-Up etc., so £5.99 credit against a £10 Top-Up but isn't this (albeit cheaper) the same as buying the top-ups in shops which pays for texts, calls etc., I thought you were talking about something different when you said you buy data instead of the normal top-up ? I am sorry for the confusion but as I said I am a techophobe and don't understand the difference between buying Top-Ups and Data or are they the same thing, i.e. you use the Top-Up to use data only (as in Whatsapp connections) or use it for data, calls and normal network texting all through the network?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231166984041

You are only buying the SIM. The other info does not pertain to you.

Though of course if you buy the phone from CPW, you don't need to buy another SIM, but you should ensure that they do not apply a package to your SIM. As you want to apply just the Internet package within my link in post #52.

Think about it as if you are loading up a prepaid VISA/Mastercard and then using that card to purchase a service.

Leodogger

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You are only buying the SIM. The other info does not pertain to you.

Though of course if you buy the phone from CPW, you don't need to buy another SIM, but you should ensure that they do not apply a package to your SIM. As you want to apply just the Internet package within my link in post #52.

Think about it as if you are loading up a prepaid VISA/Mastercard and then using that card to purchase a service.

Yes I see what you mean in Post 52, this is a £20 internet "Booster Package" that you can apply yourself after buying the phone which is a good idea. I thought the CPW price was BASED on taking the Top-Up package with it ?

NiftyDigits

JWhite wrote: »

Yes I see what you mean in Post 52, this is a £20 internet "Booster Package" that you can apply yourself after buying the phone which is a good idea. I thought the CPW price was BASED on taking the Top-Up package with it ?

I have no idea. It says Top up, but you should enquire beforehand as to whether they apply a package. It's not the end of the world if they do, as you can then apply the six month Internet package once that first month is up, after topping up £20 worth of credit. You could take that month to get the phone set up in the way that suits you best.
But ideally you would like to use the credit in the way that you choose.

If you buy from CPW and they don't apply a package, once the phone arrives, you can take it to the shop and get them to turn Diverts off immediately and to apply the Internet Booster in post #52 for you( Text 6MONTHWEB to 441), if you are unable to do it yourself.

NiftyDigits

Neglexted to mention....if you look at the SIM card link in post #52 you'll note that apart from the Smart packs on offer(which are not of interest to you), there are two other basic plans on offer; A Text Plan and an International Plan.

The Text Plan gives you Unlimited UK text messages(SMS) for the next month if you top up at least £10. So if you top up £10 in June, you get unlimited UK text messages in July.

If you choose the International Plan, you get 70 International minutes (useful for calling your daughter in Spain) if you top up at least £10. Again, this will apply from the next month. Top up in June and you can use the calls in July.

These are completely free. It does not affect your top up credit.

So this is another decision that you would need to make, then to enquire with CPW as to whether they can apply the plan of your choice before they apply the £10 Topup.

If you choose text messages(SMS), you'll get 100 UK text messages this month and then unlimited the next month.
If International, just 70 international minutes from the 1st of the next month.

Get them to apply an extra £15 of credit on the spot and then to apply the 6 Month Internet package on page #52.

Complicated eh? But perhaps an unexpected bonus.