Bound to disappoint the network operators but Ofcom has decided to ban 3 year contracts. They must also offer 12 month contracts under EU law.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011...year-contracts

I didnt realise 12 months contracts are no longer an option. I believe they have always been offered. They havent been as widely advertised, but have always been available.

I am not sure allowing networks to offer 3 year contracts is a good thing. Its a good thing that they must still offer 12 month contracts. If someone wants to sign a 3 year contract, then let them. The main thing was that we didnt lose 12, 18 month contract terms.

Last 2 phones I have got on O2 were only available on 18 and 24 month, no 12 month option.

If you rang up, and asked for a 12 month contract, they would give you a price. This is the case with vodafone..they will advertise 18/24 month deals. You would have to ring them up and ask for a 12 month deal.

I think free handsets will eventually disappear at least at the mid-high range price bracket.

awesomeness. 2 years is too long IMHO, but 3 would be ridiculous.

You will always be able to get a free phone. It will just be a basic phone. I dont think this will change, certainly not in the near future.


I agree 2 years is too long. 18 months also feels a bit long but bearable. 12 months was ideal. The thing with a 3 year deal, if someone wanted it, at least it was available.

Any contract for a service is anti-competitive, fair enough for a credit agreement but the service itself should always be rolling.

But for some reason new tech business have managed to get away with this kind of thing.

3 years is like 5 generations of iphone

I think the ban is a bad idea. I'm not saying 3 year contracts are a good thing but the decision and choice should be left up to the buyer. They know full well what they are getting into and it wasn't a big deal anyway, how many 36 month contracts were being offered?

Trust OfCom to go big on tiny issues and avoid the problems that matter.

They shouldn't omit that then. Most people wouldn't think 'oh they do offer 12 months contracts but I'll have to phone and ask' - you'd naturally assume that what they were advertising is all they were offering. So a little disingenuous if what you say is true.

I'd gladly opt for a 12 month contract over an 18 month one.

So why are 6 month contracts not available? If the operator offers a good service I'd have no problem going into a 6 month contract, then staying with them.

Except it isn't...

Orange only do 12month contracts on a SIM only basis.

If you want a rolling contract, they're freely available on all networks - you will just have to obtain your own phone or pay for one at full price. I am on one.

Same for internet access - plenty of ISPs offer one month contracts, but again, you'll have to pay any installation/cancellation fees. I am on such a plan.

I don't understand your point. Do you think the networks should be obligated to give you a free phone without being allowed to force you to stay with them for enough time to recoup the cost of the handset?

Never knew there was 3 year contracts, 2 years is bad enough, no way would I go for three years.

Not a bad idea to be honest, then monthly payments will be cheaper. but to be honest that phone you think is free is not free, you still pay for it in the end.

It is too easy now for people to update their phone every 12 months or 24 months, no wonder there are so many phones being chucked away. some people update because they can, not because they need to.

Because you would have to pay for the phone outright. you can get monthly sim only contracts, but going for a 12 month one gives you a better deal.

i went for a 12 month sin only deal with Vodafone, now I gone for a 2 year contract ( why I have no idea), once this contract is up I will go back to a sim only contract if my wildfire is still working

True more like 6

And 20 generations of android

1 a year over 3 years was 3 when i went to school!!!!

So far Apple has released one iPhone per year, four generations over four years.

And it's hardly the only company to have an annual product cycle (look at Samsung and the rest...).

I don't know of anybody on a three-year contract. I work for Tmobile, and the shortest contract we offer on a handset deal is 18 months for new customers. You have to remember that a network has to recoup the cost of the handset in the contract: and the average real value of the handset has rocketed in recent years (students on iphone contracts, for instance). Forcing networks to offer 12 month contracts is all very well, but all they'll do is price the contract accordingly. Why don't people understand that there's no such thing as a "Free mobile 'phone"?

I've never seen a 3 year contract in the uk although they seem to be the norm over in the US where you usually also have to pay for the phone too. Three only offer 24 month contracts on their website for phone and iPad deals. I've seen 12month contracts on the Orange website but they are pretty hidden as the first thing their online store shows is 24 month contracts, it just takes some digging around to find them.

You right they shouldnt.

The only issue with a 12 month contract, is that your monthly line rental/price for the handset will be very high. Which is probably why they arent advertised.