Cheapest phone for 3 network ?

Daz2009

I am looking to get the cheapest mobile phone possible to leave at my mums house for emergencies.
I was planning on using it on 3's 3-2-1 payg tariff but am I right in saying they no longer support 2G ?

grumbler

You are right, and a cheap (~£20) 3g phone will be a smartphone - not the best solution for an elderly person and emergencies.

If EE signal is OK, Delight Mobile offer the same 3-2-1 tariff and have 2g.

Daz2009

Do any other networks offer payg that doesn't need using once a month or whatever.
The phone is for her carers to use in an emergency as neither have their own mobiles.Its an age thing

grumbler

All networks offer this, but typically you have to make a chargeable call at least once every 6 months (more often for some) to keep the SIM alive.

Daz2009

grumbler wrote: »

All networks offer this, but typically you have to make a chargeable call at least once every 6 months (more often for some) to keep the SIM alive.

So what I need is the network with the longest period of inactivity between calls and also has 2G,then I can get a non smart phone

geoffken

If it is only 3p to make a call put it in your diary to do that and THEN buy the cheapest rather than look for longest non-activation clause which could change anyway

grumbler

Daz2009 wrote: »

So what I need is the network with the longest period of inactivity between calls

As I said, it's 6 months for the majority. Check the T&C of your chosed network to make sure it's not shorter.

and also has 2G,then I can get a non smart phone

Yes. And it has to be not locked (or locked to your chosen network).
Check CPW. All their phones are not locked even if sold with some PAYG SIM and a top up.
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/deal-finder
Sort by price.
If you have some active PAYG SIM you can possibly qualify for a £1 phone without a compulsory topup:
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/deal-finder?PPAYUPG

Daz2009

I found this,don't know how up to date it is
http://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-inactivity-account-termination-and-credit-expiry
They're all very similar according to that although Asda have the longest cut off period and expiry of unused credit