Mobile phone help!!! Decisions Decisions
 

OK, here's the deal...

I was looking at getting a new mobile phone (currently have a Nokia 6800) and wanted an all singing all dancing jobbie (dunno why).

I currently get 200 mins and 500 texts for £30 with O2

I then saw a deal with '3' which was 500 mins and 100 texts and a LG 8130 (flip front, camera thingy) and it was 18 month contract, but the first 12 months are FREE and then £30 a month thereafter.

So I ordered one.

When I rang O2 to cancel my current contract, the girl on the phone then said she could do me a deal (to keep my custom)..

So she offered me...

Same tariff as I'm on now, BUT HALF PRICE!! (why didn't they offer me this before now?)

or, I can keep my old phone and get 400 mins & 1000 texts for £30 a month (non-contract)

or, I can upgrade my phone, and get 400 mins & 1000 texts for £30 a month for 12 months (then goes to £45 a month)

Now I don't know what to do.

I know nothing about phones.

Last month I used up my 200 mins and sent over 600 texts (often the case) so my £30 contract turned into a £45 bill.

Does anyone know anything about phones? Whats good/bad? and great deals I missed?

I like Nokia's and wanted a 6260, but O2 don't do that anymore :(

:sigh:

Advice please :D

THESE ARE THE PHONES I CAN GET ON O2

[Edited on 26-5-2005 by domskidue]

Going off your current phone bill of using your 200 minutes and 500 texts why would you want to switch to 3? OK you'll get more minutes but get hammered by the texts, are they cross network minutes? How many people do you know on 3?

You've also said you'd like to stay with Nokia which isn't an option with 3, so another nail in that coffin.

What about checking out deals from the likes of vodafone, T-Mobile? or even trawling round the highstreet stores, Carphone Warehouse, Link, Phones 4U etc

[Edited on 26-5-2005 by JPM]

Good points JPM. That's why I seek good reasoning on here - I'm useless!

All deals are cross network mins - not much point in same network mins is there?

I've spent hours trawling through websites of the 'big' players looking for deals etc.

There are too many to choose from.

I think the option to stay with O2 with 400 mins and 1000 texts looks good for £30, but I want a different phone and most of the O2 ones don't float my boat.

I had a Sony once. It was ****. I now have a Nokia again and the sun's come out. Do not stray to the dark side.

As for the carrier I should get O2 to give you a shiny new phone and a better deal on your contract and be done with it. Network coverage on 3 is apparently woeful which is a never a good thing for a telephone.

Incidentally, the phone on my camera has proved useful exactly once in two years. I'm sure that would change if I had a 5m pixel camera phone but I don't, I have the electronic equivalent of a daguerreotype.....

Right - finally something I can post with authority on!

3 is a 3G network but the handsets are dual-mode, which means they will run on the GSM network when you don't have 3G coverage. There have been problems historically over handing a call over from 3G to GSM which led to the call being dropped. This is largely over now with the introduction of the latest handset. Ironically, when you don't have a 3G signal, your calls will be routed over O2's network so your coverage will be the same as you currently have (if not better).

There are two Nokia handset available on 3 (the 6630 is rated by several European mobile phone CEOs as the best 3G handset out there but it looks a bit like a willy. The 6680 is a bit more normal looking).

Note that the £15 is only for the first 6 months and will revert to £30 after, and you are tied to an 18 month contract so it is equivalent to £25/month - still pretty good though.

Don't be tempted by the super cheap contract that gives you the LG U8130 - it is not a very nice phone and your mates will laugh at you.

Everybody that is out of contract should contact their service provider, even if they are happy with the service - these offers are pretty much available to everyone (I'm assuming if you own a duke then you probably have decent credit) but they don't publicise them. There is a price war coming in the UK and consumers should take advantage of this.

happy to answer any questions you might have after this.

ps don't just go with what CPW, Phones4U, etc recommend (although they will give you a better deal than going to the operators directly). They get different commission rates from each operator so are incentivised to push the offers they get the most money from.

Better to work out what is best for you and then use the online/phone services as they will give you a better deal (because online is more competitive than the high street).

Great stuff Chi,

Luckily I rang O2 back and went with a Nokia 6630 (willy phone) and 400 mins and 1000 texts for £30 a month (which is what I pay now, but I'll twice as many free calls and texts)

Woo Hoo!!!!

Headache over with :D

People move on :lol::lol::lol:

I'll love you again when you're a 'proper' racer like me :o

Only JOKING!!!!! ;)

Mwah xxx

1000 texts? I hope you don't do anything to your right ankle cos there's no way you're going to be able to operate a thumb brake!

A thumb what?

Now you're just trying to confuse me.

What's a brake? Is that a nickname for a Multi Strada?

...I know what a break is :(

:lol: