Mobile for the kids

sjpkgp

Can anyone help ? I don't know much about mobiles.

I want to get a mobile phone that I can phone my kids on when they are out and about on our hols (UK). The parameters are:

- it doesn't matter how old or untrendy the phone is (in fact, not trendy or stealable would be good)
- they don't need to make any calls (just receive mine) - in fact better if they actually CAN'T make any
- it shouldn't matter too much if they lose the phone
- i don't want to enter into any sort of monthly contract (however good the cashback)
- it has to cost me next to nothing (i don't mind the cost of me calling them)

I had a vision of getting an old phone from ebay, getting a payg simcard, then NOT paying as I go (as no calls will be made from it). Does this sound logical ? What am I looking for ? I am a bit worried I will buy the wrong thing or I won't take something into account.

Advice gratefully received.

Thanks

mak_attack

hi,

the ebay route is quite good but check this deal out:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000816MDK/qid=1117144138/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/026-2929444-9745254

it includes a phone and orange sim. It also comes with £10 call credit and if you are quick 1000 free text message. all for £19.99 inc del.

if you fancy going ebay route a phone will still cost you between £10 - £30 for an old one / £10 ish for a sim card etc

PinkPig

Out of interest may I ask how old the kids are?

Just that by the time that I felt I needed (or wanted) a mobile phone I would absolutely not let my parents make me walk around with a £19.99 phone from argos.... perhaps too much teenage pride in me.

Edinburghlass_2

Have to say I wondered that one myself I can see where the OP is coming from but if they are teenagers there is "street cred" to be taken into account

However, if you are looking for a couple of 02 sim cards I can let you have them if you pm me.

sjpkgp

Luckily, they have not got to that age yet !! - they are 9 and 8.
But they have got to the age where they desperately want to go to the park on their own in the holiday place we are at (no problem with this per se - it is safe enough) and as we have another little one and a baby, trogging out to call them in for their tea/going somewhere/the other things you want kids for is a half-hour-getting-the-little-ones-ready job.

We have tried the walky talky route but we keep getting the bouncers at the local club who are not best pleased with "will you two come back in for your tea, and wash your hands on the way" !!

Edinburghlass_2

See where you are coming from then, so you want something that it doesn't matter when it gets left in said park as no doubt it will :rotfl:

First phone my daughter had she left in the play park at the caravan site we used, first thing I knew was a phone call the following week as they had phoned the home number stored in the phone to trace me.

I said nothing and waiting until my daughter went searching the house for her phone. Eventually she asked if I knew where it was and I told her yes, it was now in the safe at the caravan site. Oh, right well thanks was the reply

Will one do or do you want one each? And does it matter what supplier?

PinkPig

Crikey, shows how the world's changed in the 10 years since I was 8. I suppose that is just about a reasonable use of a phone, as long as it's only occassional.

Steve.W_2

If they are only going to be a short distance away why not get a cheap pair of PMR radios from Argos, Lidl Etc. We have used them for a while & they are great when you get lost shopping + you only pay for the cost of recharging the batterys!

barjam_2

Steve.W wrote:

If they are only going to be a short distance away why not get a cheap pair of PMR radios from Argos, Lidl Etc. We have used them for a while & they are great when you get lost shopping + you only pay for the cost of recharging the batterys!

those radios are great my kids have them (but soon got sick of them) i think its cos everyone can hear the two way conversation

bbb_uk

I'd stick with a basic Nokia phone like the 3410 which is available for around £25. It doesn't have any features as you requested. Nokia phones can be easily unlocked so that you can use a different networks' sim in it (see this thread).

You can buy the 3410 from Comet for £24.95 on T-Mobile and comes with free texts (I believe they only last a certain period though).

If you were certain you didn't want them having any credit then you simply just don't top-up (though I believe you would probably have to top-up within 6months to avoid it being cut-off).

Alternatively, as they get older and you allow them to use their phones you could get the o2 online PAYG SIMs. o2 Online PAYG sim's have a range of inclusive free mins/texts to choose from all for just £10 (or sometimes £15) top-up each month and you still get to keep the £10 (or £15) top-up as credit to spend on what you like. Eg, 300 free texts per month or upto 100 anytime anynetwork minutes and/or upto 100free texts per month for £10 top-up and, as mentioned earlier, you still get to keep the £10 as credit.

For more info on what you can get for the £10 top-up (or £15 top-up) see this thread. PM Edingburghlass (as mentioned in an earlier post) or myself for some o2 sim cards (I believe I may still have some consecutive numbers left).

sjpkgp

Have done a search for 3410s on ebay and there are plenty at good prices (obviously they are simply not trendy enough any more - great, their loss is my gain !!). Have got a few bids in, some for 2 phones, some for a single phont. Will unlock them using the limk above and will pm to find about sim cards.

Thanks to everyone who has answered, never thought it would be this easy !