Mobile phones

Hey everyone! Can anyone tell me if sim only contracts are worth using and which companies are the best in terms of signal and calling/sms charges? I'm thinking of bringing a spare mobile phone with me and only buy a sim card. Thanks!

Reply 1

username163729

12

Do you mean pay as you go? Yes they are worth it for emergencies yes, but you'll want a contract to get the most out of your provider really. I'd say O2 and Orange generally provide the best signal and coverage, Orange also works in areas covered by TMobile so it's win win there.

I've not had amazing experience with Vodafone and TMobile doesn't sound great on its own from what people have told me.

Reply 2

Andy Ftw

11

I definitely recommend giffgaff, 4p texts & 8p calls per min on PAYG, no contract, and also the option of goodybags which have some great deals such as £5 for unlimited texts for the month or £10 for unlimited texts, unlimited internet (no fair use policy) & 250 mins, and if you don't need it for the next month you can just go back to PAYG rates :smile:

They also run on the O2 network, so the signal is as good as O2 would be for you but it depends on the area. Personally I find them great :smile:

Check them out here: http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

Reply 3

missmarple

OP

Thanks! I mean pay as you go, yes. I think that there are a lot of restrictions and requirements when it comes to contracts, so pay as you go seems simpler!

Reply 4

Nokiacrazi

7

You can get a 30 day SIM only rolling contract from T Mobile. They're really good as you can customise mins/texts and also get booster type things for 30 days (again rolling).

Reply 5

missmarple

OP

Original post by Andy Ftw

I definitely recommend giffgaff, 4p texts & 8p calls per min on PAYG, no contract, and also the option of goodybags which have some great deals such as £5 for unlimited texts for the month or £10 for unlimited texts, unlimited internet (no fair use policy) & 250 mins, and if you don't need it for the next month you can just go back to PAYG rates :smile:

They also run on the O2 network, so the signal is as good as O2 would be for you but it depends on the area. Personally I find them great :smile:

Check them out here: http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

True, I just checked their website and it seems really nice!Great offers. Thanks a lot, I have never heard of giffgaff before! Do you have to visit their store in order to buy a sim card or do you just order it online?

Reply 6

The Real Quaid

16

Original post by Andy Ftw

I definitely recommend giffgaff, 4p texts & 8p calls per min on PAYG, no contract, and also the option of goodybags which have some great deals such as £5 for unlimited texts for the month or £10 for unlimited texts, unlimited internet (no fair use policy) & 250 mins, and if you don't need it for the next month you can just go back to PAYG rates :smile:

They also run on the O2 network, so the signal is as good as O2 would be for you but it depends on the area. Personally I find them great :smile:

Check them out here: http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

Utility Warehouse claims to be the UK's cheapest

Reply 7

Andy Ftw

11

Original post by missmarple

True, I just checked their website and it seems really nice!Great offers. Thanks a lot, I have never heard of giffgaff before! Do you have to visit their store in order to buy a sim card or do you just order it online?

They don't have a store actually, they run completely online on their forums - one of the main reasons how they keep costs so low. Also they have a system called "payback" where if you help out on the forums asking questions etc they pay you back some money for doing so, sometimes up to £30 a month! :smile:

To get a sim, I recommend going on the forums and ordering a sim via a link many users have in their signatures (or mine :wink:

). This means once you activate your sim (£10 top up) you'll get a free extra £5 (and so will the other user), where as if you order a sim directly from giffgaff then you won't get the free £5 extra :wink:

Original post by The Real Quaid

Utility Warehouse claims to be the UK's cheapest

Fair enough :smile:

Personally I have never used them or heard of them so I can't really say how reliable they are or recommend them though.

Reply 8

The Real Quaid

16

Original post by Andy Ftw

Fair enough :smile:

Personally I have never used them or heard of them so I can't really say how reliable they are or recommend them though.

I've seen something on the Money Saving Expert website which had a table of most reliable providers and most popular, but I can't find it now :angry:

Edit: Utility Warehouse were one of the highest in the list, I forgot to say

Reply 9

Andy Ftw

11

Original post by The Real Quaid

I've seen something on the Money Saving Expert website which had a table of most reliable providers and most popular, but I can't find it now :angry:

Edit: Utility Warehouse were one of the highest in the list, I forgot to say

But were giffgaff ahead of them? :wink:

Anyways, I looked at their prices and you're right, they are 1p cheaper per min on calls, but apart from that I don't see much else personally. MMS are cheaper on giffgaff, as is data, voicemail, calls to 0800 numbers (free on gg) & also giffgaff have free giffgaff to giffgaff texts, calls & video calls (as long as you top up within 3 months).

Either way, I'm just speaking from experience and I can't reocmmend giffgaff highly enough, but I'm sure Utility Warehouse are great for some too, but you know where my loyalty lies :smile:

Reply 10

MandarinStudent

I can recomend O2's Simplicity Tariff's which are 30 Day rolling.

O2 also does PAYG simplicity now which gives you all the benefits of the 30day rolling contract, but no direct debit. So to put it simply top up when you want and get the full benefits of a contract. extremely good value for money.

http://www.o2.co.uk/tariffs/simplicity

Reply 11

missmarple

OP

Thanks, that was very helpful! Maybe I should come to the UK and make a research, since it seems there are a lot of offers!

Reply 12

rah

Hi! I am going to bring my blackberry (GSM connection) when I come to study. Which telecom companies should I be looking at.. to get a good deal for BB messenger services along with unlimited internet on the phone..? Also, could anyone give me a rough idea on how much I may have to shell out..? Thanks!

Reply 13

Wor Carroll

Tesco offer something like 250 minutes and 3000 or 5000 (can't quite remember) texts per month for only £7.50 per month. Also Tesco uses O2 coverage so the signal is great!

Reply 14

iris01

Last year I got an O2 simcard, prepaid.. but if you switch it to international you get 100 free international minutes (landline & mobile) each time you top up 10 pounds. 200 minutes with 15 pounds I believe...

Reply 15

iris01

( or perhaps 100 minutes for 15 pounds and 200 for 30, It's been a while.. :smile:

)

edit: http://www.o2.co.uk/yourcountry

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 16

MandarinStudent

Original post by rah

Hi! I am going to bring my blackberry (GSM connection) when I come to study. Which telecom companies should I be looking at.. to get a good deal for BB messenger services along with unlimited internet on the phone..? Also, could anyone give me a rough idea on how much I may have to shell out..? Thanks!

You will want the Text and Web for blackberry, the bottom one :smile:

http://shop.o2.co.uk/tariffs/Pay_and_Go

Please note, you can't get normal internet services for a blackberry because it doesn't sign you up to the Blackberry server. You need a specialist blackberry tariff (pay as you go or contract) whatever provider you decide to go with.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 17

07734

Original post by iris01

Last year I got an O2 simcard, prepaid.. but if you switch it to international you get 100 free international minutes (landline & mobile) each time you top up 10 pounds. 200 minutes with 15 pounds I believe...

Ooooh, interesting. I spend a fortune calling my boyfriend for 5 minutes. :frown:

I've been looking for a cheap calls and texts to the E.U.

Reply 18

MandarinStudent

Original post by 07734

Ooooh, interesting. I spend a fortune calling my boyfriend for 5 minutes. :frown:

I've been looking for a cheap calls and texts to the E.U.

This is a far cheaper, and in general better deal in terms of flexibility) alternative to the my country sim card ^_^ (if it includes the country you wish to call of course). Plus it means he can call you!

Www.o2.co.UK/internationalfavourites

Reply 19

07734

Original post by MandarinStudent

This is a far cheaper, and in general better deal in terms of flexibility) alternative to the my country sim card ^_^ (if it includes the country you wish to call of course). Plus it means he can call you!

Www.o2.co.UK/internationalfavourites

Yey!!!!!!!! :biggrin:

*bows* thank you!

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