Mobile tech - I've just reached c2002.

[shebit]

So, how long has the internet on mobile phones been around? Forever? I finally changed my P&G tarif to Text&Web, so last night I surfed the interwebs on my phone for the first time ever

Comments

[littlexander]

I would agree on getting a touchscreen for mobile web - my old Nokia was absolutely hamstrung by poor connectivity, display and navigation whenever I needed to use it. The iPhone is just utter simplicity in that regard.

As for contract vs. PAYG - well, I've just moved onto contract, as you know. It was a choice that was very much a balancing act between handset price and monthly cost. Even though my chronic inability to communicate with people means I don't get much use out of the 100 minutes and unlimited texts, I feel the tariff I'm on is a good trade-off for getting the phone cheaper (even though it was still quite high, but that's Apple for you!).

I don't think any of that has been all that helpful for you, but it's really because it's a case of 'six of one...' :D Being tied into a contract might be more restricting in a way, but you know what you're going to be spending, and you're not likely to want to change phones every few months like my sister!

[shebit]

A touchscreen would be very nice for the interwebs.

I certainly wouldn't be able to afford an iPhone, but I rather like what I've seen of Android, so a lower end HTC would do me.

Sticking with PAYG, comparing it to an 18m contract, I project maybe £350 for the 18months (about £120 for the handset + £10 per month + £50 on extra top ups). Cheapest contract would be considerably more: £25/month on contract would be £450 just for bills, not including the handset purchase. So sticking with PAYG would be cheaper, but that only factors in a trad style phone, not a touchy.

I'm a keeper with phones - I use them til they're stolen. I'd had my beloved 3310 for about 5 or 6 years when it was nicked, and I'm only replacing my 2yo 6600 because it's getting senile dementia in its old age.

[the_ladylark]

Just as an extra information point - for most 18 month contracts these days (certainly with t-mobile, but I think it's the same on other networks) you get the handset free when you sign up for the contract. So that £450 would include the handset, probably an HTC Desire if you want one since I think that's the standard kind of level for deals at the moment.

I pay £30 a month for my contract, which signing up for 18 months got me a G1 when it was only a few months old, 800 minutes per month, unlimited texts and unlimited internet. And i'll get a free upgrade to a newer phone model at the end of that 18 months.

[shebit]

Hmm, t-mobile seem a lot more generous with their tariffs than O2. Looking at their site, for £30 O2 offer 300mins, Unlimited txts and 500MB UK Data and a Desire will cost me £89.00 (they don't do it for free for less than £40/m). And that's on a 24m contract - the same deal for 18m is £35/m.

I suppose I can look at other networks, but O2 will then charge me to take my number with me.

[the_ladylark]

Had a quick look at the t-mobile site. On a 24 month contract for £15 a month you can get a free HTC touch 2 with 300 minutes, 300 texts, unlimited internet and a 'flexible booster' which means you can choose from a list of things like unlimited texts, or free landline calls, or unlimited calls to t-mobile numbers.

I think O2 are pretty pricey... might be cheaper long term to pay to move your number.

[the_ladylark]

Oh, the touch 2 isn't Android by the look of it. The cheapest Android HTC is £20 a month on a 24 month contract.

[shebit]

Ah. I may well look into changing my number over to another network, if there's a good deal to be had on an Android.