[Richard_Hall1]

I just have a simple Samsung pay-as-you-go mobile (on O2) at the moment, but I want to upgarde to a decent smartphone. I need to ask some some fairly basic questions. I appreciate any help/information.

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too?

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

Thank you.

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

I just have a simple Samsung pay-as-you-go mobile (on O2) at the moment, but I want to upgarde to a decent smartphone. I need to ask some some fairly basic questions. I appreciate any help/information.

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too?

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

Thank you.

I will try to answer clearly (though my way with words does waffle on)

1. If you buy a phone yourself from say Amazon or even Carphone Warehouse and you buy it outright or sim free, then yes you would be able to take you business where you like. Sim only probably would be a good option, however failing that Three's PAYG 321 sim is the best value off contract.

For clarity you do not have to buy your handset from the network you choose to use, you can source your smartphone from where you like and also choose a network you like to use it on.

2. Like with any phone when you physically switch it off, everything is shutdown, from the RF to GPS and every other radio inside. If you want to use your phone on a plane, then most modern smartphones have an airplane which disables the radios you mention, but allowing you to listen to music or watch video should you so choose.

Do you have a phone in mind?

[Stig]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too?

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

1. You can buy a 'SIM Free' unlocked phone, and then get a PAYG SIM, or a SIM only contract. In my opinion this is the most cost effective route anyway.

2. Yes, if you turn the phone off, everything is off. However, smartphones are best left on so they can connect to the Internet and download content in the background. Or, you can selectively turn off features such as WiFi, bluetooth, mobile data, GPS etc.

[farmer bob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

I just have a simple Samsung pay-as-you-go mobile (on O2) at the moment, but I want to upgarde to a decent smartphone. I need to ask some some fairly basic questions. I appreciate any help/information.

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too?

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

Thank you.

2 helpful replies for you OP.
Regarding a decent smartphone, the "Motorola Moto G 4g" is a cracking phone, and the likes of TescoMobile are offering it for £13.50 per month on a 24month contract. You get 200mins of calls, 5000texts and 500mb of internet data,
Not sure if a contract is your thing, but if it is, the Moto is a good bet. Good luck

[Jaydogg_Home]

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too? as long as you get an unlocked one, yes, you can pay to get it unlocked if yours is locked.

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything? yes.

[BKM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

Yes! - BUT most people with smartphones rarely turn them fully OFF! Their normal state is "standby" - when many of the things you refer to may still be active.

Even in things like planes they are normally just set to "airplane mode"

[trayhop123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmer bob

2 helpful replies for you OP.
Regarding a decent smartphone, the "Motorola Moto G 4g" is a cracking phone, and the likes of TescoMobile are offering it for £13.50 per month on a 24month contract. You get 200mins of calls, 5000texts and 500mb of internet data,
Not sure if a contract is your thing, but if it is, the Moto is a good bet. Good luck

great phone agreed ,,,,,,,, but that tarif is terrible , 200mins and 500mb ????? even a very light user will find they've gone over each month into expensive bill territory .

[BKM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trayhop123

great phone agreed ,,,,,,,, but that tarif is terrible , 200mins and 500mb ????? even a very light user will find they've gone over each month into expensive bill territory .

Horses for courses! I have a very similar tariff and it is just perfect for me!!!! Most of my data use (both at home and work) gets done on WiFi.

[farmer bob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trayhop123

great phone agreed ,,,,,,,, but that tarif is terrible , 200mins and 500mb ????? even a very light user will find they've gone over each month into expensive bill territory .

It was more the phone I was recommending, great entry level smartphone, the Tesco offer is only one of many out there. For the capabilities of the Moto 4g its still a decent deal.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

I just have a simple Samsung pay-as-you-go mobile (on O2) at the moment, but I want to upgarde to a decent smartphone. I need to ask some some fairly basic questions. I appreciate any help/information.

1. If I buy a phone myself, can I then get a deal with any network dealer I want? or do I have to buy the phone from them too?

2. Is it the case with every smartphone that when you switch it off it also turns all RF transmissions off - including the GPS and any signal it sends out that could connect to anything?

Thank you.

On point 2

That depends on what you mean by switch off. In most cases the button on the top of the phone does not actually switch the phone off. It just goes into a stand-by mode but it can still connect to your e-mail provider for example to download e-mails in the background or other tasks requiring a data connection.

Most phones do have a method of turning off completely, eg pressing and holding down the power button then selecting shut down from a menu that pops up. That will stop all background activity. And of course it also means it won't be able to receive any calls either.

Also it should be possible to selectively turn off various features, WiFi, mobile data and GPS for example while still leaving the phone able to receive calls. Turning off WiFi and mobile data will stop it downloading data (such as the e-mail I mentioned above) in the background.

[scorpionatthepc]

My tip is to buy an unbranded handset so the phone isn't full of unnecessary bloatware.

[Lidtop2013]

Why are you asking about when the phone is fully turned off? If it's because your scared of using mobile data etc then like the folks said above there's ways to turn those things off so that you can still send texts and make calls but the phone won't be able to use data. There's virtually no point buying a smart phone and completely turning it off! It defeats the object.

I never turn my iPhone off its on 24/7

[finbaar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

On point 2

That depends on what you mean by switch off. In most cases the button on the top of the phone does not actually switch the phone off. It just goes into a stand-by mode but it can still connect to your e-mail provider for example to download e-mails in the background or other tasks requiring a data connection.

Most phones do have a method of turning off completely, eg pressing and holding down the power button then selecting shut down from a menu that pops up. That will stop all background activity. And of course it also means it won't be able to receive any calls either.

Also it should be possible to selectively turn off various features, WiFi, mobile data and GPS for example while still leaving the phone able to receive calls. Turning off WiFi and mobile data will stop it downloading data (such as the e-mail I mentioned above) in the background.

Wow, so when I press the power button to turn the screen off I an not turning the phone off. You are amazing. I know that myself and every other person in the world thought that we were turning everything off. Can you tell me which devices don't have a method of turning themselves off? I can't believe that in 2015 that manufacturers are selling phones that you can't switch off. Who is it? Apple? Samsung?

[tdenson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

Wow, so when I press the power button to turn the screen off I an not turning the phone off. You are amazing. I know that myself and every other person in the world thought that we were turning everything off. Can you tell me which devices don't have a method of turning themselves off? I can't believe that in 2015 that manufacturers are selling phones that you can't switch off. Who is it? Apple? Samsung?

Not really sure why you reacted like that to what seemed a reasonable answer to the OP. The OP demonstrated a non technical knowledge - for example believing that GPS is a wireless transmitter ( a commonly held misunderstanding).

[Tiexen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpionatthepc

My tip is to buy an unbranded handset so the phone isn't full of unnecessary bloatware.

Another vote for the The Moto G then as its stock Android 4.4.4

[jchamier]

Moto G 4G unconnected on Amazon £136:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moto-4G-SIM-.../dp/B00KB0YDBG

[1saintly]

As the OPs on O2 then call in a local O2 shop https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/phones/moto/g-4g/

They will change numbers etc over for you, and its also not full of bloat stuff.

[snukr]

All Carphone Warehouse phones are unlocked, so all you have to do is pay £10 extra for pay as you go with any network, then you can either stay with that network or change it, it's much cheaper than buying sim free.

[Richard_Hall1]

Sorry for my late reply. Thanks very much for all the replies and information. I'm not sure exactly what phone I am getting yet (still doing research) but I will look into the Moto 4G.

Some of my friends pay £30 a month on a 2 year contract. They get a good phone but just seems a lot to spend when you work it out.

I actually just like to turn my phone off totally at night (I have my house phone for emergencies). I know they say officially that phones and RF waves are safe but I have a friend who does research in that area and there are definitely some effects on human cell growth and mutation which they don't yet understand. Basically it's a big industry and you won't hear there's a problem until there definitely is, same as with CJD and the food industry.

[misar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

I actually just like to turn my phone off totally at night (I have my house phone for emergencies). I know they say officially that phones and RF waves are safe but I have a friend who does research in that area and there are definitely some effects on human cell growth and mutation which they don't yet understand. Basically it's a big industry and you won't hear there's a problem until there definitely is, same as with CJD and the food industry.

If you are worried about leaving the phone turned on in the bedroom at night you should be terrified about carrying it around all day or, God forbid, holding it against your ear while on a call.

[Zee_Bukhari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_Hall1

Sorry for my late reply. Thanks very much for all the replies and information. I'm not sure exactly what phone I am getting yet (still doing research) but I will look into the Moto 4G.

Some of my friends pay £30 a month on a 2 year contract. They get a good phone but just seems a lot to spend when you work it out.

I actually just like to turn my phone off totally at night (I have my house phone for emergencies). I know they say officially that phones and RF waves are safe but I have a friend who does research in that area and there are definitely some effects on human cell growth and mutation which they don't yet understand. Basically it's a big industry and you won't hear there's a problem until there definitely is, same as with CJD and the food industry.

I think you should just hide in a cave somewhere underground then, forever...