Best option for me to switch to using an iphone

Happy_Chappy · 27-10-2011, 21:15

I currently have a Nokia with a 2 year Vodafone contract - I don't like it, but the phone was free and the £10.50/month fee has been paid by someone else as a present, so I can't really complain!

Anyway, I've had a ipod touch for almost 3 years now and I love it, but really dislike the restriction of only being able to use most of the features, that I tend to use, when I have wifi access - therefore obvious answer, upgrade to an iphone.

I have 4 months left on my contract, so I'm eligible for an early upgrade but with a fee of £55 to get a iphone 4 or 4s now, which seems a pointless option given the rest of my contract will only cost £42 anyway.

Also, aren't iphone's much cheaper on other networks? I have no knowledge of reliability of other networks for 3g coverage, which is obviously important since that's my main frustration with my ipod touch. I switched to Vodafone about 8 years ago because they had coverage (signal for calls rather than 3g in those days!) in areas I was having problems with from the other networks I had tried. I'm guessing times have changed, but was wondering if there are any networks you would recommend over others or warn me to steer clear of?

I'm actually not sure I'll get a iphone 4 or 4s, as I'm quite tempted to wait until the iphone 5 comes out before splashing that much cash, and my friend has offered to sell me her iphone 3gs (for £80) to use in the mean time. Thing is her phone is locked to O2, so I guess my next question would be, is it worth getting her phone unlocked or just get a cheap SIM only contract with O2? Would you recommend O2 or would a different network be better? In fact would it be possible (if the phone was unlocked) to use my current Vodafone SIM with it's 4 months left? Can you add data usage allowances to contracts?

I'd really like to keep my phone number, so is that easier by staying with Vodafone or is it fairly straight forward to take a phone number with you from Vodafone to O2 or another network if suggested?

Sorry that's a lot of questions and options! Any help greatly appreciated!

Lummo · 27-10-2011, 22:16

Network choice really depends on the location in which you live or work, whether its a rural sort of area, or an urban area.

If it is a built-up area then chances are all the networks will have good 3G coverage, however if it's not so built-up or you travel out of cities a lot etc, then i would definitely avoid O2 and personally also Vodafone. O2 has awful 3G coverage outside of any urban areas, and from my experience Vodafone isn't too good either. (However still make sure you check with all the networks coverage checkers!)

Also it sounds as if you would use a lot of the internet features a lot, so you would need a decent data allowance probably. For that i would recommend Three or an Orange iPhone Extra plan.

If you decided to get the 3GS unlocked, your Vodafone sim card would work fine in it, i'm not too sure about adding data to a current contract but you probably can.

And as for taking your number to another network, that's really easy, just ask Vodafone for your PAC code, once you have it, give it to the network you are changing to and they will do all the work for you and you can keep your number!

Sorry i didn't answer all the questions but i hope it helps a bit!

sdduk · 27-10-2011, 23:31

You could also think about GiffGaff that runs of O2 network and would work in the iPhone that's locked to O2

For £10 on GiffGaff pay and go you get 250mins, unlimited text, unlimited internet Plus free calls to giffgaff to giffgaff
Have a look http://giffgaff.com
you have to buy a goody bag which is the £10 a month but there is No contract just pay and go.

Gormond · 28-10-2011, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdduk

You could also think about GiffGaff that runs of O2 network and would work in the iPhone that's locked to O2

For £10 on GiffGaff pay and go you get 250mins, unlimited text, unlimited internet Plus free calls to giffgaff to giffgaff
Have a look http://giffgaff.com
you have to buy a goody bag which is the £10 a month but there is No contract just pay and go.

Another vote for giffgaff

Happy_Chappy · 28-10-2011, 13:16

Well I do live in a city, while I'm at uni, but slightly more rural when I'm back home (more like outskirts of a town though then countryside village). Although while actually at home or in a university building I can just use wifi - I'm thinking more that I'll be using it when travelling, particularly as I go on a lot of long journeys, so in the car up and down the country on the motorway (as a passenger, not driving myself!).

27-10-2011, 21:15	#1
Happy_Chappy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,687	Best option for me to switch to using an iphone I currently have a Nokia with a 2 year Vodafone contract - I don't like it, but the phone was free and the £10.50/month fee has been paid by someone else as a present, so I can't really complain! Anyway, I've had a ipod touch for almost 3 years now and I love it, but really dislike the restriction of only being able to use most of the features, that I tend to use, when I have wifi access - therefore obvious answer, upgrade to an iphone. I have 4 months left on my contract, so I'm eligible for an early upgrade but with a fee of £55 to get a iphone 4 or 4s now, which seems a pointless option given the rest of my contract will only cost £42 anyway. Also, aren't iphone's much cheaper on other networks? I have no knowledge of reliability of other networks for 3g coverage, which is obviously important since that's my main frustration with my ipod touch. I switched to Vodafone about 8 years ago because they had coverage (signal for calls rather than 3g in those days!) in areas I was having problems with from the other networks I had tried. I'm guessing times have changed, but was wondering if there are any networks you would recommend over others or warn me to steer clear of? I'm actually not sure I'll get a iphone 4 or 4s, as I'm quite tempted to wait until the iphone 5 comes out before splashing that much cash, and my friend has offered to sell me her iphone 3gs (for £80) to use in the mean time. Thing is her phone is locked to O2, so I guess my next question would be, is it worth getting her phone unlocked or just get a cheap SIM only contract with O2? Would you recommend O2 or would a different network be better? In fact would it be possible (if the phone was unlocked) to use my current Vodafone SIM with it's 4 months left? Can you add data usage allowances to contracts? I'd really like to keep my phone number, so is that easier by staying with Vodafone or is it fairly straight forward to take a phone number with you from Vodafone to O2 or another network if suggested? Sorry that's a lot of questions and options! Any help greatly appreciated!

27-10-2011, 22:16	#2
Lummo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,737	Network choice really depends on the location in which you live or work, whether its a rural sort of area, or an urban area. If it is a built-up area then chances are all the networks will have good 3G coverage, however if it's not so built-up or you travel out of cities a lot etc, then i would definitely avoid O2 and personally also Vodafone. O2 has awful 3G coverage outside of any urban areas, and from my experience Vodafone isn't too good either. (However still make sure you check with all the networks coverage checkers!) Also it sounds as if you would use a lot of the internet features a lot, so you would need a decent data allowance probably. For that i would recommend Three or an Orange iPhone Extra plan. If you decided to get the 3GS unlocked, your Vodafone sim card would work fine in it, i'm not too sure about adding data to a current contract but you probably can. And as for taking your number to another network, that's really easy, just ask Vodafone for your PAC code, once you have it, give it to the network you are changing to and they will do all the work for you and you can keep your number! Sorry i didn't answer all the questions but i hope it helps a bit!

27-10-2011, 23:31	#3
sdduk Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 216	You could also think about GiffGaff that runs of O2 network and would work in the iPhone that's locked to O2 For £10 on GiffGaff pay and go you get 250mins, unlimited text, unlimited internet Plus free calls to giffgaff to giffgaff Have a look http://giffgaff.com you have to buy a goody bag which is the £10 a month but there is No contract just pay and go.

28-10-2011, 07:10	#4
Gormond Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 15,714	Quote: Originally Posted by sdduk You could also think about GiffGaff that runs of O2 network and would work in the iPhone that's locked to O2 For £10 on GiffGaff pay and go you get 250mins, unlimited text, unlimited internet Plus free calls to giffgaff to giffgaff Have a look http://giffgaff.com you have to buy a goody bag which is the £10 a month but there is No contract just pay and go. Another vote for giffgaff

28-10-2011, 13:16	#5
Happy_Chappy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,687	Well I do live in a city, while I'm at uni, but slightly more rural when I'm back home (more like outskirts of a town though then countryside village). Although while actually at home or in a university building I can just use wifi - I'm thinking more that I'll be using it when travelling, particularly as I go on a lot of long journeys, so in the car up and down the country on the motorway (as a passenger, not driving myself!).

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Best option for me to switch to using an iphone