Advice on mobile phones - please!

[Blenky]

I’ve never really paid much attention to mobile phones, so now the Mrs wants a new one I'm unsure what is best. The wife and I have one mobile between us, an aging Vodafone Pay as you Go.

The wife wants a new phone for her Birthday but wants to keep the same number. We don’t want to get on a contract as we are very light users.

I was wondering what my options are?

Can I simply buy a new Pay as you Go phone and swap the SIM from the old to the new? If so do I have to make sure the Pay as you Go phone is on the same (Vodafone) network?

Also where are the best deals?

Thanks in anticipation. :p :thumbs:

[Blenky]

Bump

Anyone - thanks

[jam83]

I was wondering what my options are?


Depending upon your budget, and taste you can get pretty much any phone that you like. If the phone is locked to a different provider then it is very easy to get it unlocked. In this scenario google is your friend...


Can I simply buy a new Pay as you Go phone and swap the SIM from the old to the new? If so do I have to make sure the Pay as you Go phone is on the same (Vodafone) network?


Yes you can. If you would like to move to a different provider, then you would have to obtain a PAC code from Vodafone.


Also where are the best deals?


Depending on what phone you are after, and what featues you would like this is a very open option. If you could specify what type of features you are after then we could try and narrow down your search. Also if you specify your budget, then we could have a better idea.

If you have any further questions then please ask away.

:)

[Blenky]

Thanks for the advice jam83.

So let me get this straight. we currently have a Vodafone PAYG. Staying on a PAYG I have two options if I want to retain our existing number

1) I could buy another PAYG by another operator and get the current number transferred using the PAC code from Vadafone. However this in effect would leave us with one phone.

2) I could buy another Vodafone PAYG and swap SIMs with the old phone leaving us with two PAYG phones but with the wife retaining our current number.

Have I got that right?

My budget is around the £100 - £150 mark. Phone should be stylish -as its for the wife. She likes the ones that flip open and should be small. It should have a camera but aprt form that no other real requirements. Any suggestions?

Cheers

[jam83]

So let me get this straight. we currently have a Vodafone PAYG. Staying on a PAYG I have two options if I want to retain our existing number


If you were to take out a contract then you could still keep the number. The bottom line is, you do not have to lose/change your number if you don't want to.


1) I could buy another PAYG by another operator and get the current number transferred using the PAC code from Vadafone. However this in effect would leave us with one phone.


I don't get this. :?: Do you mean that you will have one phone number left? If that is what you are trying to say then yes.


2) I could buy another Vodafone PAYG and swap SIMs with the old phone leaving us with two PAYG phones but with the wife retaining our current number.


I think that it would be best if you stayed on the same network because it will cost you less to call each other, due to the fact you are low users. Again I think it would be cost effective for you to stay on PAYG. I could be wrong but ain't Vodafone doing an offer, pay for the first 3 minutes and then get 60 minutes free (off peak)? Or something along those lines. O2 have 300 texts, or, 100 minutes, or x amount of picture messages free a month as long as you top up by £10 a month. The possibilities are endless. Just do a bit of research and you will be okay.


My budget is around the £100 - £150 mark. Phone should be stylish -as its for the wife. She likes the ones that flip open and should be small. It should have a camera but aprt form that no other real requirements. Any suggestions?
Cheers

I would recommend you go into a phone shop and see what is available. Then you can have a look and feel which mobile is best for you. Personally I think the Samsung E720 is a very good phone :thumbs: . It fits the bill perfectly for your requirements. I have had this phone in the past, and I would highly recommend it. The Samsumsund Z500 is also a decent flip phone. My sister has this phone and I quite like it. The added bonus about this phone is that it is 3G enabled.

There are many ways to obtain a free sim card so don't pay the RRP for one (usually between £10-£15!). If you can't get it free, try ebay. It shouldn't cost you more then a few quid. Also shop around for the phone. Try online or in a shop. Don't worry if the phone is locked to a particular network. It is very cheap (sometimes free) to get it unlocked. Again google is your friend... ;)

If you have any further questions then please fire away. Glad to be of service.

:)

[Blenky]

Again thanks for all the advice - really appreciated.

Trying to take all this in. :dork:

I see that by unlocking your phone you can then buy a SIM pack from any operator. However that would mean a different phone number for each SIM pack? Can you tranfer your number from one to naother

I've found some sites that offer free PAYG SIM packs - why are these free? I don't get it :thinking: :?:

I think our current phone is unlocked as I'm sure we bought it SIM free some years ago. How can I check?

So my plan is

1) Look for the cheapest PAYG price on the phone we want - irespective of the network.
2) Get the new phone unlocked.
3) Put the SIM from the current phone into the new phone giving the wife the same number she so desparately wants to keep :shrug:
4) Put the SIM from the new phone into the old phone.

Does this sound feasible?

[neilalford]

I've found some sites that offer free PAYG SIM packs - why are these free? I don't get it :thinking: :?:

Because once you have the sim you start paying for calls, the stores supplying the free sims will get a commission from the mobile network.