What is 02 Sim Only?

Master Ozzy · 12-12-2012, 17:36

I'm really confused. I have been with 02 for years and currently have an iPhone 4. My contract was up in January, but I can't currently afford to pay out for the iPhone 5. I pay about £40/£45 a month, but I think that's a hell of a lot...especially for an iPhone 4! So I have just called 02 and they told me that they can put me onto a Sim Only contract...1GB data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for £20 a month. That is absolutely perfect for me. Once i can afford it, I'm then going to buy an iPhone 5 and just put my sim into it. I was just wondering what Sim Only means though?!! It's not a weird kind of contract is it? I probably should have asked on the phone!

Hugh_ · 12-12-2012, 17:41

Sim only deals are where you won't get a free phone, but you'll get more minutes and text/data for a lower price. As you're not having to repay the price of the "free phone" you get on none sim only contracts.

But if you are going sim only you may be best of with a rolling 30 contract instead of a 24 month sim only contract.

jabbamk1 · 13-12-2012, 09:45

As Hugh said, a sim only is a contract but without the phone.

Where O2 offer the iPhone 5 on contract for £36pm with the same deal. They offer a Sim Only version of the deal for £20pm with no phone. This means that if you were to go for the iPhone 5 contract you'd be paying £16pm extra to cover the cost of the £500 handset.

The Sim Only you have been offered is for a 12 month basis. Which means that you cannot change your mins/texts/sign up for a new phone for the whole 12 months. Similar to your last 24 month contract where you could not change anything.

At the end of the 12 months you will get the option to pay more (£36pm) for the iPhone 5 or you can continue on a lower priced sim only.

Any time during the 12 months you can personally buy another phone and use it with the sim card. So for example i am on a sim only and i sold my old phone do buy a new phone and now use the new one with my sim,

b1ackb1rd · 14-12-2012, 06:31

Look at the Tesco SIM plans, I get 5000 texts, 500 minutes and 1 Gb data on a rolling 30 day contract for £10

grumpyoldbat · 14-12-2012, 11:32

Unless you really want to stay with O2, there are cheaper SIM only deals to be had with other providers, and they won't tie you in for a year (30 day rolling contracts).

cat666 · 14-12-2012, 12:52

As others have said if SIM only is what you want then look elsewhere than the major players. GiffGaff or Tesco Mobile do some great value bundles, all on a rolling 30 day contract. Then when you can afford a better phone, you are not tied to anything.

The only thing to watch out for is whether or not your current phone is locked to O2. They are fairly easy to unlock, but it's another hurdle.

12-12-2012, 17:36	#1
Master Ozzy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 16,507	What is 02 Sim Only? I'm really confused. I have been with 02 for years and currently have an iPhone 4. My contract was up in January, but I can't currently afford to pay out for the iPhone 5. I pay about £40/£45 a month, but I think that's a hell of a lot...especially for an iPhone 4! So I have just called 02 and they told me that they can put me onto a Sim Only contract...1GB data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for £20 a month. That is absolutely perfect for me. Once i can afford it, I'm then going to buy an iPhone 5 and just put my sim into it. I was just wondering what Sim Only means though?!! It's not a weird kind of contract is it? I probably should have asked on the phone!

12-12-2012, 17:41	#2
Hugh_ Inactive Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 906	Sim only deals are where you won't get a free phone, but you'll get more minutes and text/data for a lower price. As you're not having to repay the price of the "free phone" you get on none sim only contracts. But if you are going sim only you may be best of with a rolling 30 contract instead of a 24 month sim only contract.

13-12-2012, 09:45	#3
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	As Hugh said, a sim only is a contract but without the phone. Where O2 offer the iPhone 5 on contract for £36pm with the same deal. They offer a Sim Only version of the deal for £20pm with no phone. This means that if you were to go for the iPhone 5 contract you'd be paying £16pm extra to cover the cost of the £500 handset. The Sim Only you have been offered is for a 12 month basis. Which means that you cannot change your mins/texts/sign up for a new phone for the whole 12 months. Similar to your last 24 month contract where you could not change anything. At the end of the 12 months you will get the option to pay more (£36pm) for the iPhone 5 or you can continue on a lower priced sim only. Any time during the 12 months you can personally buy another phone and use it with the sim card. So for example i am on a sim only and i sold my old phone do buy a new phone and now use the new one with my sim,

14-12-2012, 06:31	#4
b1ackb1rd Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 165	Look at the Tesco SIM plans, I get 5000 texts, 500 minutes and 1 Gb data on a rolling 30 day contract for £10

14-12-2012, 11:32	#5
grumpyoldbat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,636	Unless you really want to stay with O2, there are cheaper SIM only deals to be had with other providers, and they won't tie you in for a year (30 day rolling contracts).

14-12-2012, 12:52	#6
cat666 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,045	As others have said if SIM only is what you want then look elsewhere than the major players. GiffGaff or Tesco Mobile do some great value bundles, all on a rolling 30 day contract. Then when you can afford a better phone, you are not tied to anything. The only thing to watch out for is whether or not your current phone is locked to O2. They are fairly easy to unlock, but it's another hurdle.

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What is 02 Sim Only?