Cananyone give me some advice on phones?

Im looking for an android phone. One i can use spotify on and can access the social network sites etc.
Do i need a contract phone and i can use these facilities when im not near a wifi ?

Im just wanting to know where to start from.
Thanks

What's your budget? Android phones start at £150 and go up to £500.

You don't need a contract phone, but you will need access to mobile data. PAYG plans allow mobile data, but make sure you know what you're getting. 1Gb a month is perfect, 500Mb would be ok for light use. If you wanted to use Spotify away from home, then you'll need a LOT of data!

You're not charged for anything you do on your own wifi network.

I got a HTC Wildfire I use on T-Mobile PAYG. I bought it for £130 and it was unlocked already. So long as you have a data plan you can use anything. I bought 6 months internet for £20

Remember that Spotify only works on Android (and other phones?) if you're a premium subscriber, the free 'open' or £5 /mth 'unlimited' accoutns won't work, apologies if you're already aware of this.

More

I got an Android phone, the Orange San Fransisco, free to unlock, easy to upgrade/modify and I use on Tesco's £10 a month sim only deal for 500mins/500texts/500mb of data and am pleased with it all.

I've an Orange San Fransisco too, I don't make a lot of calls on it so I use giff gaff £10.00 goody bag 250 mins unlimited texts and unlimited data.

I looked at getting the HTC Wildfire s but someone told me im better waitting another two weeks till my next pay and paying a little extra and getting the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo or another better phone if I dont want an Iphone.
Im still on the old 02 pay and go text and web deal. Were if you top up £15 or more you get unlimited text(12000) and 500mb of internet data and free wi-fi.

Darren

I'd go anything HTC, In my experience they seem to be the best android phones,

I have 2 (don't ask) android phones which are HTC and both are brill, as the HTC sense UI is wonderful

Having used a Orange San Fran and put Android 2.3 on (via Ginger Stir Fry custom rom) I can honestly say that it beats the Wildfire (S) out of the water.
Its easily unlocked, £100 on PAYG so you can cheapily use any sim package you want and with a bit of straightforward tinkering is easily upgraded.
The battery lasts 2 days+ and is fast (512Mb ram) with a decent 3.5" screen (longer and thinner than the HTC)
The standard Orange Android rom isn't great so its only viable if you don't mind the 1-2 hours to upgrade the OS

Thanks for the input guys. Im looking at lower end probably on Tesco.
Just wasnt sure how it all works. Only used to basic PAYG phones,
So do i have to buy a sim card then with all this on?