FIRST SMARTPHONE

amstel2

Hello

Any advice on this would be appreciated. 

My mobile is a Nokia 1315 with a Virgin PAYG sim that I have used for several years. However, with what’s going on re having to download apps etc just to go the pub I think I am going to have to tackle my Technophobia & get a smart phone. 

All I have stored on my phone are my contacts that are stored on the phone & the sim. 

I want to keep my existing number as I don’t want the hassle of contacting everyone to tell them I have a new number but if this is the only way i will have do it. However, one problem is that the sim card is a micro sim & is too large to fit into a smartphone. 

I contacted a local independant phone shop who do lessons (on hold at the moment) & for advice re the sim. They said to contact my provider for a new smaller sim & bring that with the phone in when I am ready. 

I am wondering though how do you get the data from the old sim on to the new smaller sim. Also as I understand it I would need a code to transfer the number & this shop doesn’t do Virgin Mobile. 

I have been on the Virgin Big Talk tariff for years & pay £15pm & think am paying far too much on this deal compared to what friends with smartphones pay with other providers. Also I have a credit of approx. £40 would I be able to get this back. 

Also can anyone recommend an easy to use smartphone. 

I know this all sounds a bit thick but the government seems to assume everyone is tech savvy.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil_Jones

You changing your phone is a simple case of going from one handset to another.  That phone will take an old school SIM (ie a big one) and you can normally just phone your carrier up and request a new (blank) Sim which is a "three in one" style, you just press out the size you need (most likely Micro or nano), and then ask the provider to transfer the number to it for you.  You should keep your credit, but on those older phones because you're changing the Sim your contacts won't come over, you'll have to add them manually to the new phone.

However if you get an Android phone, all your contacts will be synced to your Google account and then you can change the phone in the future, just sign in to your Google account on the replacement phone and your contacts will magically reappear on the replacement phone.

If you want to change network in the future, you just get what's called a PAC code from the old network, a new sim from the new provider, fill out a form on a website and the transfer happens for you.  On PAYG you will lose any credit you have if you move away so if you do decide to switch provide you will have to use it or lose it.

virginblue4

Yes, you’ll probably have to add contacts manually to your new phone. 

If you were to purchase an iPhone, all the contact would be saved to your Apple account, so similarly they will sync over to any future iPhone you purchase. 

If you are not very tech savvy, I’d say an iPhone would be the better choice as they are simple and easy to use and will also accommodate your needs if you potentially find yourself wanting to do more with your phone in the future. there is also less ‘managing’ to do with an iPhone when compared to android as thing generally just work. Obviously they have a higher starting price than the cheapest android phones, however you may consider going second hand? Or if you want brand new, you can get the iPhone SE for £429 if you buy outright or on contract for approx £25-£30 per month. 

poppellerant

You may be able to transfer the contacts to the SIM card, have the SIM card trimmed down to suit your new phone, insert the trimmed SIM card and transfer the contacts from the SIM onto your new phone.

Personally I'd type all of the names and numbers into notepad, then enter them manually.  If nothing else, the exercise will help you become familiar with the touch screen.

At least if you did sift your contacts manually, it would give you a chance to get rid of any "dormant" contacts - ie: ones with the wrong numbers, deceased or people you have no desire to make contact with in the future.

RumRat

All smartphones are easy to use, you just need to give yourself some time for the learning curve. There are plenty of how to videos and articles for every phone.
I'd go for an Android phone, you will get more choice and some decent phones in the mid budget range. 
I would also ditch the tariff you have for a decent one. Nearly all the  current ones have unlimited calls and texts and a usable amount of data for less than a tenner. So buy the phone outright and get a separate sim only deal.

Tiexen

To save all the hassle I'd ring Virgin mobile, they can supply a phone with a monthly plan for not much more than your paying now explain about the sim i'm sure they can supply the new size with your old number:

Samsung Galaxy A51  Monthly price from £16.50

Apple iPhone 7 Available from £0 upfront £16 a month

RumRat

Tiexen said:

To save all the hassle I'd ring Virgin mobile, they can supply a phone with a monthly plan for not much more than your paying now explain about the sim i'm sure they can supply the new size with your old number:

Samsung Galaxy A51  Monthly price from £16.50

Apple iPhone 7 Available from £0 upfront £16 a month

That Samsung Virgin deal only comes with 1GB of data which will soon be used up each month, next plan up is better with 3GB for £19.50, or, 8GB for £20.50. Still good deals though.
The iPhone is an old one where as the Samsung is current and a very good phone for the price.

jonnygee2

I have no idea why the OP would need anything near as expensive as the Galaxy A51, let alone an iPhone SE? 

I do think buying new with Android pays off, because they drop support so early. I like the Huawei phones, I've used the Huawei P Smart 2019 and it's decent (and far more sensibly priced than an iPhone!). Getting a case that makes it easy to hold is really important in terms of making it easier to use.

I have been on the Virgin Big Talk tariff for years & pay £15pm & think am paying far too much on this deal compared to what friends with smartphones pay with other providers.

I agree it's far too much! Take a look here https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-sim-only-contracts/ 

I think you should get the Lebara £3.99 / month deal as your usage will be likely be very low given what you have said. If you use it at home, make sure you use your home wifi. If you find it is not enough data, you can step up to the 2GB plan for £5 / month which I am fairly certain will be enough.

RumRat

New Huawei phones don't have access to the google store and it's apps which may or may not be a downer for a first time owner.
The OP doesn't seem to be a serial phone changer, so, getting one at a decent level will give them a bit more longevity. They haven't given a budget, so difficult to say why they would want anything. However, they did ask for recommendations and a mid range phone is a good recommendation.

Farway

I've just bought this https://www.mi.com/uk/redmi-note-8-t/ new, £119 at check out full google store access & good camera

Cheap enough & a few years of updates as required.

jonnygee2

 However, they did ask for recommendations and a mid range phone is a good recommendation.

I respectfully disagree, a £300 smartphone is overkill in my opinion. I do agree about Huawei though, but there's also the Oppo A5 at just £130, or the redmi just posted.

I don't know why you think the expensive phones offer better longetivity either? The Huawei, the expensive Samsung, and now the Oppo all have similar processors and RAM, storage and battery life, I think they will all last about the same amount of time.