Low usage on old phone

goodValue

I have been given a Samsung T Mobile 1120 that had been collecting dust in a drawer for a few years.
I would go long periods without using it, so looked on this forum for the best firm to use.
From what I saw, there were firms recommended for occasional use, but this was for smartphones only.


What would be the cheapest way for very low usage, for an older phone?


(I didn't completely understand the difference between Sim only and Pay As You Go:
for Sim only, wouldn't you still need a firm to connect your calls,
and
for PAYG, wouldn't you still have to buy a Sim?)

cookie365

Sim only = you take out an airtime contract, but provide the phone yourself. You get billed for your monthly tariff plus any additional usage afterwards

PAYG = no contract, you provide the phone yourself, buy credit in advance, when it's used up you can't do anything chargeable any more. No bills because it's all prepaid.

You can get inclusive bundles on PAYG to make it behave a bit more like a contract, but again it's all in advance, no billing in arrears like with sim only.

You probably want pay as you go if you'll only use it occassionally

http://kenstechtips.com/index.php/compare-pay-as-you-go-networks

If it came from T-Mobile it may be locked to networks that run on EE. And some networks like Three won't let you use old (2G) phones so they won't be an option for you.

Asda mobile may be worth looking at.

esuhl

To use a mobile phone, you need the phone itself and a SIM card which essentially assigns a phone number to the phone and connects you to a network.

A SIM-only deal is one where all you get is a SIM card (as opposed to getting a new phone as well).

Then there are "contract" deals, where you agree to pay a monthly fee for a year or two, and "PAYG" (pay as you go) deals where there's no monthly fee and you pay in advance for calls, etc.

PAYG SIMs are good for low-usage as there is no monthly fee, however call charges are high.

AndyPK

An Asda SIM would be a good idea.

If your phone is branded T mobile there is a chance it is locked to the EE network. Therefore safe options are virgin, asda, vectone, EE.

Asda is the best value out of those. Get one from their website

goodValue

There's a lot of useful information in the link you sent.
I'll have a look at this in detail, particularly for Asda.

goodValue

PAYG SIMs are good for low-usage as there is no monthly fee, however call charges are high

So PAYG looks the best for me.


An Asda SIM would be a good idea.
If your phone is branded T mobile there is a chance it is locked to the EE network. Therefore safe options are virgin, asda, vectone, EE.


If I took the phone to Asda for PAYG, they would give me a SIM and unlock the phone from T Mobile?
Or, because the phone hasn't been used for a number of years, is it no longer locked?

Farway

goodValue wrote: »

PAYG SIMs are good for low-usage as there is no monthly fee, however call charges are high

So PAYG looks the best for me.


An Asda SIM would be a good idea.
If your phone is branded T mobile there is a chance it is locked to the EE network. Therefore safe options are virgin, asda, vectone, EE.


If I took the phone to Asda for PAYG, they would give me a SIM and unlock the phone from T Mobile?
Or, because the phone hasn't been used for a number of years, is it no longer locked?

T mobile morphed into EE, so in theory an Asda sim should work fine in it because Asda use the EE network

Asda, online, not in store, will send you a free sim, and best bit is it comes with about 50p worth of texts, call free on it

You can buy sim in store, for 50p I think, but on line is very quick, mine seems to be return of post nearly, if you applied now, today, I bet it would be there by Saturday

It will have a new moblie number to go with the sim

Just make sure you select PAYG when choosing the sim option from on line shop

PS if it doesn't work it will have cost you nothing and you are not commited to anything

AndyPK

Asda won't unlock it for you. And it doesn't unlock after time.

Order an Asda sim online

goodValue

Thanks again for this very useful information.
I have gone to the Asda Mobile site, but cannot find a PAYG option on the Ordering Sim page, even if I go to that page from a PAYG prices page.
The ordering page is always pre-populated with a Bundle option.
Does this mean that you cannot now get the free Sim with PAYG?

Shrimply

Just fill in your information on that page, the bundles are there for information only (you will not be asked for payment details).

Once you have the sim you can use it purely as PAYG or could buy whatever bundle you wished for a given month.

Guys_Dad

Just been in the same position as you today! I have an old Nokia 2330c which was locked to EE. Apart from EE having poor reception where I live, their non-bundle PAYG is 30p per minute, with swingeing charges for texts too.

I took the handset to a guy on the market. The 2330c is an old candy bar but one that needs an unlock code. The guy said "Give me half an hour" and when I went back, he had unlocked it for £10.

That left me free to put in a £10 O2 sim where the costs are 5p per minute and as long as you make a call every 6 months or so, never ending. Tesco also may be able to help if you ask for their Lite tariff which is 8p per minute.

And finally, you can get a locked Alcatel handset for a tenner from O2 and with a £10 top up, you are up and away.

Hope this helps.