cheap mobile

[Tony]

I'm after some advice, mainly becasue I live in the middle of no where and it's hard to get to look at phone etc

I'm after a cheap phone to buy that I can take my 3 sim from my broken HTC Hero on Three and shove it in, i've been on contract but i'm going to change it to pay as you go as i hardly use a mobile, we got no signal around where we live and I use my iPad for most things so I'm after a cheap mobile for the odd call and the odd text. Iv'e seen a few £10 ones in tesco and I really don't want to go over £20 on it so if anyone has any advice on what's a good cheap phone let me have it

 

[copper_head]

Hi Tony,
I bought a nokia 100 after my smartphone packed up on me. Does eveything you need and lasts 5-6 days per charge. A bargain at £15 I reckon!

 

[Tony]

ahh, I thought that's just what I want, doesn't look like it works with 3 though....

 

[John Fenna]

Have a word with the bloke in Cardigan market - go down the main steps and turn right - he seems to have his finger on the pulse of phones.

 

[rik_uk3]

Does it have to be 3?

 

[resnikov]

For it to work on the 3 network, the phone must have 3G connectivity.

 

[Tony]

Not got time or a car at the moment John

Ahh, yeah, i'd not thought about it being compulsory 3g....umm, that ups the price of the phones a bit

 

[gan_pi]

Tony, 3 sims used to switch over to the o2 network when they couldn't get a 3g signal - ie you might be ok. pop into a store and ask. usually if you make it clear that you are there for information and not to buy you'll get to know what you want.

 

[Tony]

yeah, good idea

 

[Paul_B]

If switching networks is an option check out the tesco mobile. It is really O2 IIRC and Tesco are doing a few cheapo phones with free any network sims thrown in. Up here in Lakes Vodafone is the top dog for reception but I always heard that O2 was good in parts of Wales. If you can switch to O2 then take on the tesco mobile sim as you get £30 top up for the price of £10 top up actually paid. Plus you have the pretty good O2 network as well. Plus you get a load of tesco points for the phone, SIM and each top-up. My Dad got a cheap one as his second phone on Tesco and at one stage the deal you could get was so good it kind of worked out that if you bought the £10 phone, £10 topup and the free SIM it gave you something like £20 of tesco points so you got the phone, the first top up free with £20 of extra top up value too. Imagine for £20 you get that £20 back plus the same number of calls and texts as £30 of topup would give you. Not sure that deal is quite there now.

BTW I am seriously considering getting a cheap samsung phone on tesco for about £12.97 or £9.97 if you top up with £10 (getting £30 top up or the £20 free). It was a half decent clamshell phone too. A bit girly being clamshell but it would protect the keys and screen if I threw it about abit. There is a straight £9.97 samsung 1080 candy phone too on any network. Simple but works I think.

BTW I currently have a BB bold 9900 (IIRC) and a Samsung Galaxy SII. I think I need a basic one too. Sorry, almost forgot my ancient samsung candy fone I have too. Damn! Why do I need so many phones? I can justify all of them in my mind but I do come across as a drug dealer with that many!!

 

[rik_uk3]

If you get a good O2 signal, Giff Gaff use their network, £10 a month PAYG gives you 250 minutes to any network unlimited Texts and internet.

 

[Paul_B]

Aren't giffgaff particularly good for data too?? There is a catch with them somewhere but can't remember what someone told me about it.

 

[Bucephalas]

Tony, 3 sims used to switch over to the o2 network when they couldn't get a 3g signal - ie you might be ok. pop into a store and ask. usually if you make it clear that you are there for information and not to buy you'll get to know what you want.

3 changed from o2 around 2009. They now use Orange which is why 3 has such a bad signal coverage now.

You do need a 3g handset too, but you can get a used Sony Ericsson K800i or W800i walkman on Fleebay for less than £20 now.

 

[bigandy]

Samsung tocco lites go very cheap,I use one as my back up phone (the number I give customers so I don't work on my days off). Battery gives me over a week not used much though.
And has all the functions you'll need.think they're 3g

 

[bigandy]

Sorry just checked its not 3g.
I'll get my coat.

 

[bronskimac]

Only catch I can see with giffgaff, you need a cash balance as well as your Goody Bag balance if you want to call premium rate numbers or send premium rate texts (like enter the Gadget Show competition).

The £10 Goody Bag is better value than any other provider I know; 250 minutes, unlimited texts and true unlimited data.