Ok..I have never felt the need for a mobile phone but think that perhaps I should get a little more up to date. It's not something I am going to use every day so I would like a PAYG
phone rather than be stuck on a contract.
I do like the latest gadgets.....I have an Ipod Touch and an Ipad2 ... but I dont fancy spending lots on an Iphone or similar which I am not going to use that often.
Your thoughts please.

Would you like to have a smartphone with touchscreen or 'just a phone'? What is your budget? I had a look at low-end smartphones at amazon and judging just by the looks I quite like Samsung Galaxy Y S 5360, £102.49 and Samsung S5660 Galaxy Gio, £139.79. Gio has a better resolution of the screen. But that's just me wanting something shiny There are also HTC phones to look at, but I do not like the HTC design. If you do not want a smartphone, I'd probably look at Nokia. But others will have more qualified opinions, my experience is more from the smartphone high-end.

Smartphone I guess with a budget max of say £150

Try the Samsung Galaxy Ace.

Of your going to have a smartphone you might be better off with a cheap sim only rather than payg as data can be expensive

If you don't really need a mobile phone then I would not bother, they are a pain in the neck and I wish I never had one to be honest.

But if you do want one and it is not going to be used much, then get a cheap bog standard one if you can get them these days.

Nokia still have a wide range of phones only, one could get a nice one with a camera quite cheaply. If you do not intend to play games or browse internet (which is a PITA on low resolution screen anyway), a 'dumbphone' might be a better idea. Not mentioning that if you start using a smartphone a lot you will have to charge it daily. A normal phone will last a week.

Just to blow the trumpet for Tmobile, (I work for 'em) you get unlimited internet browsing with up to 500meg -per-month data allowance for £5.00 for a month or £20.00 for six months. You might want to check this out:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-pho...view-50006652/

I dismissed it as a cheap iPhone knock-off at first,but having played-with, and set-up some for customers, I think it's rather a bargain.
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/pay-a...ty-black-payg/

If you have had never had a mobile phone before, try to find out from friends which networks get the best coverage in your area.

Well I hope their signal is better there than they are here, because T-mobile is awful here. People thought it would get better when they merged with Orange or what ever they did, but still naff.

If you've never had a phone before, and already have an iPod Touch and a iPad, than I don't think there's any need to get a smartphone or a high-end phone. Just get a basic phone.

I've given many examples below, and a link to eBay, which I think is the best way to buy a cheap basic phone.

For example, Nokia 1616, 2323 classic, 1208, or one of the latest phones, the 100.
(Click here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313)

You can also get the Motorola L6, C139, or the WX180.
(Click here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313)

Alcatel also has lots of phones for under £10.
(Click here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nk....c0.m270.l1313)
Last edited by Homers : 12-02-2012 at 13:20

The fact tht where you live has poor coverage is irrelevant. No mobile firm has 100% coverage and never will.
http://ukmobilecoverage.co.uk/network/tmobile

What matters is coverage for the O.P

http://ukmobilecoverage.co.uk/map/tmobile

I must be way out of contract data speak, but WTH does that mean?

Unlimited browsing but limited to 500mb ??

Basic unlocked phone should do you. Put in a Giff Gaff sim card and £10 a month pay as you go gives you 250 minutes to any network, plus unlimited texts and internet. Giff Gaff use the O2 network so the sim will work in O2 phones. As an all round deal I've yet to find a tariff that can beat it on pay as you go.

Sorry, my bad. Basically, you can surf the web, do email, Facebook or view websites as much as you want. However, if you use streamed data (like online radio or you-tube videos) or if you download files ,like songs or photos,they count the data used and cap it at 500 megabytes per month. Even if you manage to use up the data-and I feel that's unlikely in your case-they only penalise you by stopping streaming until the following month. They don't cut off your net access or charge extra money.

?
How do you know what my case is ?

Sorry, I mixed you up with the O.P.

Ok thanks all.... given me something to think about

The first thing you need to find out is which mobile phone provider has the best coverage in your area. Ask family and friends for this and also look at the coverage maps provided on each networks website. Once you have an idea of the best 1 or 2 networks have a look at their 'Sim Only' deals and decide which one is the best for you.

In terms of smartphones that are good for under £150. The Samsung Galaxy Ace, Sony Erricson Live and HTC Wildfire S are probably the three best in that category. If you can afford to go up to £170/£180, look at the Samsung Galaxy W. I'd recommend going into a mobile phone store and just playing around with the phones above to see which one you like the best.

Once you know which phone and which network you want to go for, compare the cost of the phone + Sim Only with a contract from the same network. Work out which one is cheaper and go for it when you're ready.

Just make sure the deal suits you. E.g if you think you'd use the internet a lot, make sure the deal has at least 500mb of data. (Three and t-mobile are the only providers who do unlimited data). And make sure you have enough minutes and texts as well. (many providers claim unlimited texts but it is capped at around 3000, doubt most people will ever do that in a month though).

If Three is the best in your area, they do the best sim only deals followed by T-Mobile + Orange. Vodafone and o2 can be quite expensive. If o2 is the best, i'd recommend giff gaff, they use o2's network but because they're a small company they are very cheap and provide the best deals for mins, texts, data on a pay as you go option.