Hi, I'm currently on an O2 Simplicity 30-day Contract, and am about to go travelling in 8 weeks time, probably for around 12 months.

I've had my current mobile number since 2002, so I really want to keep it while I'm away - what's the best way of doing this?

I'm guessing I should transfer my current number to a PAYG SIM, but don't most networks cancel inactive SIMs after x numbers of months? Are there any that will let me keep the phone for 12 months, even if i have to pay a small charge?

Thanks.

One way is to go onto the cheapest contract possible but you can't get cheaper than £5 really so that would be £60.

The best is to go onto pay as you go. Each provider has their own rules about cancelling inactive sims etc but the following will be good enough for any of them. Top-up once every 3 months and make a chargeable activity once a month (e.g. sending a text).

Give your phone to a family member or a friend and just ask them to do this for you, shouldn't be too big of a deal.

I don't think any of them will let you keep your number on PAYG without making a chargeable call, it's all automated these days this deactivation business.

Perhaps a better idea would be to leave the phone with friends/family at home and get them to make a short call every x amount of months just to keep them from deactivating the SIM.

You could ask somebody you trust to send one text a month using it to keep it alive.

Thanks for the replies peeps.

I just thought of an obvious solution - could I transfer the phone number to a PAYG SIM, top it up with £20 and then take it abroad with me, hidden in my suitcase.

Then once a month, I can turn it on and text or call myself, or text someone in my family. It is extra hassle, but I guess this would count as active?

Now just need to know which PAYG providers allow international roaming..

There would be roaming costs if somebody reached you. Although if you kept it off most of the time, chance of that would be very low.

I wondered why this had not been mentioned - but why "hidden"?

Give o2 a call, and ask them what you can do.

However I would imagine the best thing to do, would be to switch to PAYG, and then get a family member or friend to send a text around once a month or so. This to me is the easiest simplest thing to do.

Why go through the hassle of taking the phone with you?

Cos it might get stolen - and then I really will have lost the number (probably difficult requesting a replacement SIM abroad).

Also really didn't want to take a phone with me on the trip, too much hassle..

I wouldn't take it with you if you're not planning to use it... it will end up getting lost!

The idea to convert it to PAYG and get a friend to look after it and make a quick call or send a text every couple of months seems like a good one - so long as they are a trustworthy friend who won't forget!

Sim Zero from 3 might be an option to negate the cost of a topup. Somebody could just turn it on every once in a while and make a call to it from their free minutes. Effectively it would be completely free then.

Can I just ask, what's the importance of keeping the number?

I know you said you've had the number since 2002, but if people aren't going to be calling or speaking to you on it for about 12 months, would it really be a big deal to have a new number when you come back?

Just curious that's all. Unless it's a particularly memorable number or something.

Sim zero from 3 is probably a really good idea. £0 a month. Doesn't expire and no need to get anyone to use the phone every now and then to keep it active. Just port the number in and then request a PAC from 3 when you get back