new mobile phone

buildersdaughter

Hello, I would really appreciate some advice. I've searched, but I have a few non-standard issues and would love to hear others' experience.
We have a poor mobile signal at home - not a problem, we prefer a landline, and get a decent package with broadband etc.
We use a mobile when out for emergencies. I use PAYGO, and spend a few pounds a year + maybe £10 when on holiday and using data. Even before 2020, my annual cost was £20-30.
5 years ago I bought a Fairphone 2 outright as I understood I could 'update' it. It has been fine.
However, I now find that banks are wanting to use mobiles and my family situation has changed. I want to be able to use 'hands free' facility with Bluetooth when driving, and I want to be able to use my WiFi at home to route the mobile calls. FP2 supports neither of these and cannot be upgraded to enable them. 
So, I could buy another phone outright, but when will it become out of date? FP3 looks good at the moment, but I thought that before!
I could pay a monthly plan, which ends up being expensive for me.
I could - and I am reluctant to do this - re-consider the entire package, and look to use a mobile routed through WiFi as my main phone, and only use my landline occasionally. That would make paying for a mobile phone more cost-effective, but feels uncomfortable. I haven't properly costed it.
I would prefer a phone that is as ethical as possible, but I feel maybe I'm not savvy enough for Fairphone. Doro is another possibility (as you may gather, I'm 'older'). I am looking for longer term 'value for money' rather than the very cheapest in the short term.
Thank you so much in advance.

CoastingHatbox

All credit to you for making ethical and long lasting purchases.

Your Fairphone has bluetooth. So it is the WiFi calling feature you are missing?
If the phone otherwise still works, you could look at getting a femtocell instead? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femtocell
And then maybe a low cost sim only contract?

I always think, it is always better to buy a phone outright than have it on a contract. And I don't think it is necessary any more to spend large sums on flagship phones. That said, it looks like your Fairphone has lasted well!

Neil49

There are a few important issues that you need to be aware of. 
For wifi calling you need 
1. A phone that supports it (and many don't) 
2. A mobile phone network that provides it (and once again, many don't).
Unfortunately android phones only get operating system and security updates for 2 to 3 years. Apple supports their models for longer but they cost a lot more.

I suggest that you check to see if your network provider supports WiFi calling and which models of phone will run it. This information should be on their website.

I'm on Three network and they only support wifi calling on one model of Doro phones. Some networks will only support it if you buy the phone from them.

Hope this helps. 

J_B

Never heard of Fairphone, sorry. I see that FP3 looks like an adequate phone for you, but there are plenty of Android phones for about a third of the price and this is MSE   Can your existing phone do what you want to achieve in the short term as you find your way with your preferred 'system' (then you won't be worrying whether it's "out of date"  ) But then I see that you say FP2 doesn't do bluetooth - really???

You are usually better off getting the phone and a sim-only contract separately

There are several sim-only contracts available for under a tenner a month https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-sim-only-contracts/ but you will need to chose the one with the best signal for your area. We use Three and have one of their signal boosting boxes which connects to our internet.

We still use the landline because SWMBO prefers it

buildersdaughter

Thank you all. This is helpful.
Coasting & JB - Fairphone does support bluetooth, but FP2 does not have the phonebook / contacts feature (FP3 does). If i m the only adult in the car (childcare support bubble with my grandchildren) I can receive calls but not make them hands-free. I don't make calls in principle when I'm driving, but the ability to say 'we're going to be late' quickly would be useful!
Thank you, I will look at Femtocell, and Neil, thank you for pointing out issues I would have missed.
JB - Fairphone is the most ethical of mobile phones (see ethicalconsumer.org) using recycled materials and ethical labour. Our ethos as a family is to live as ethically as we can. So sometimes we pay a bit more if we think it is worthwhile.
I don't mean to get 'soapboxy' about it - we all make different choices! And Fairphone are not endearing themselves to me!
I did have a SIM only deal with The Phone Co-op for £7.50 a month, but unless we are on holiday, I don't even spend £1 a month on PAYGO. 
It may seem odd that I want these features when I use the phone so little, but I am driven by the example above, and that 'verification codes'  when internet shopping are so often texted.

I am very grateful to you for taking the time to explain and help me make decisions.

mobileron

Who is your bband with, im with bt they will give u a 50% discount on there basic mobile plan,they also do wifi calling thru the home router.Sky may be even cheaper?.

buildersdaughter

Thank you mobileron. I am with BT and will try that.

CoastingHatbox

Neil49 said:

There are a few important issues that you need to be aware of. 
For wifi calling you need 
1. A phone that supports it (and many don't) 
2. A mobile phone network that provides it (and once again, many don't).
Unfortunately android phones only get operating system and security updates for 2 to 3 years. Apple supports their models for longer but they cost a lot more.

I suggest that you check to see if your network provider supports WiFi calling and which models of phone will run it. This information should be on their website.

I'm on Three network and they only support wifi calling on one model of Doro phones. Some networks will only support it if you buy the phone from them.

Hope this helps. 

The Fairphone 2 was released with Android 5. There have been updates made available for it through Android 9, so far. Fairly impressive. Yes you need reflash the phone, but I presume, Fairphone being Fairphone, this is well documented.

I know support for WiFi calling is much broader than that. Running a WiFi network with 120 users, I've seen all the sessions get opened up through the firewalls for the WiFi calling traffic. The feature is supported on both my work Galaxy S8 and my personal Xiaomi phone.

Retired_at_55

This may not apply regarding the important ethical issues, and it may not be up to date, but, in case it helps:

An elderly relative struggled both financially and with hearing loss.  He described his then 'new' mobile 'phone as transforming.  He bought it 'outright' from EE - Moto G7 Power (may be a more up to date version now) and was pleased with EE £5.50 per month 12 month contract.  I think it went up, not by much, after a year.  Mostly unlimited calls  (not some such as 0845 numbers) and 2GB internet access.  His 'normal' BT landline still receives all in coming calls free as well as being able to make free 0800 and free phone number outgoing calls. His landline bill for calls became very low because of the free mobile outgoing  calls.

He says the battery charge is long and he can hear very well on this 'phone. I don't know about how long updstes will last but he is very pleased with it.

I hope this helps.

Retired_at_55 

buildersdaughter

Thank you again.
I have just called BT and they no longer make boosters available (why?!)
Fairphone have just stopped making updates available for FP2, which is annoying those of us who believed we could simply continue updating. I, and others are sending them complaints.
Retired - thank you. I have tried to buy ethically for most of my adult life, but it is complex, and we can only do the best we can. 

glennevis

You mentioned investigating the femtocell.

If you have a Three mobile contract and the signal at home is poor they will provide you with a Home Signal Box for free.
That is a femtocell.

I used to have one and it works.