Any decent SIM only plans out there?

Caporegime
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Hi Guys,

Just wondering if there are any good SIM only plans that would be suitable for iPhone/smartphone usage? Not too bothered about the contract (would obviously prefer rolling 1 month opposed to 12months) as Im now looking to buy my phones SIM-free to allow flexibility...

My general requirements are:

At least 300 minutes cross-network
At least 500 texts (prefer if picture messages were deducted through this allowance - do networks still do that?)
1Gb internet allowance (I dont think 500Mb is enough looking at my usage)
Some form of WIFI usage (doesnt need to be unlimited at all)

I guess offers on SIM only plans dont happen too often so just want to get a general idea that what Ive been seeing is best out there. I could vaguely consider a new contract with phone and sell the phone to subsidise the monthly cost but I do think thats a false economy...

TIA

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Most networks have switched to 500mb as standard now :( but here's a few ideas for 1GB+

Best for contract length:
Three: £15pm/1 month contract. 300 minutes/3000 txts/1GB + £32 cashback from Quidco. (works out at £13pm over 12 months)

Best for minutes:
Vodafone: £20pm/12 month contract. 600 minutes/Unlimited txts/1GB + £100 cashback from Quidco. (works out at £12pm)

Best for data:
T-Mobile: £20pm/24 month contract + free Motorola Defy. 300 minutes/Unlimited txts/Unlimited data (3GB FUP) + £80 cashback from Quidco. (Sell the Defy for ~£300 and it works out at £4pm over 24 months)

Best for cost (after redemption):
Mobiles.co.uk: Buy something crappy like a Samsung Tocco Lite on a 24 month contract. Get 23 months free, recycle the phone and after 24 months you'll have paid £0 (or gained ££) for the contract. :D

Ps, personally I'd take good local coverage/network speed over cost.
 
I think if you ring T-Mobile (08009562208) you can get 600 mins, 500 texts, unlimited data (3GB FUP) and you can add a free 'flexible booster' (such as Unlimited Landline or Unlimited texts). All for £10 a month, 12 month contract.

Seems like a good deal, shame I get little signal on T-Mobile/Orange.
 
o2 simplicity?

http://shop.o2.co.uk/tariffs/simplicity/iphone/1_month

300 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited wi-fi, 500mb data (can be updated to 1gb with a bolt-on)

£20/month or £27.50/month for the extra data.
Im with O2 currently under contract but not too pleased with their (3G/HSDPA) network coverage compared to TMobile that I had previously, but was forced to when the iPhone was their exclusive. I still would consider them just because of their tailored iPhone SIM Only plans (I still lose Visual Voicemeail though :p)...
Most networks have switched to 500mb as standard now :( but here's a few ideas for 1GB+

Best for contract length:
Three: £15pm/1 month contract. 300 minutes/3000 txts/1GB + £32 cashback from Quidco. (works out at £13pm over 12 months)

Best for minutes:
Vodafone: £20pm/12 month contract. 600 minutes/Unlimited txts/1GB + £100 cashback from Quidco. (works out at £12pm)

Best for data:
T-Mobile: £20pm/24 month contract + free Motorola Defy. 300 minutes/Unlimited txts/Unlimited data (3GB FUP) + £80 cashback from Quidco. (Sell the Defy for ~£300 and it works out at £4pm over 24 months)

Best for cost (after redemption):
Mobiles.co.uk: Buy something crappy like a Samsung Tocco Lite on a 24 month contract. Get 23 months free, recycle the phone and after 24 months you'll have paid £0 (or gained ££) for the contract. :D

Ps, personally I'd take good local coverage/network speed over cost.
Thanks - I forgot to mention that I have been looking at Vodafone as they seemed to be quite competitive. I do regret not picking up O2 Simplicity SIM when it was still unlimited data but I am stuck in a contract til next month so didnt want to pay 2 contracts for 1 phone and the possibility that O2 might end up changing that for existing customers...

Never been on Vodafone before so need to check out their network coverage - on face value they should have been as good as O2 but with my experience with them I ignore the percentage coverage nowadays. In particular its the 3G coverage as an iPhone is **** without it...

I would love to go back to T-Mobile (especially once data merges with Orange) but it kinda annoys me that they have a 3Gb FUP for Android but only 1Gb FUP for iPhone for contracts. I presume your (interesting) suggestion above doesnt include any WIFI access though. Will have to think if I really need it (its nice to have the convenience and have in the past done app updates outside an O2 shop - but knowing where these WIFI points are is an art)...

Im still wary in tying myself to a long contract even though it doesnt dictate when I change my phone - its a weird stigma...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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I'm pretty certain it's not a 3GB limit on T-Mobile unless you have a contract with an Android phone.

Take a look at Giffgaff. 300 minutes, unlimited texts and truly unlimited internet for £15 a month. They use the O2 network.
 
Don't most places have free cloud access now? (Mcdonald's etc) I always found o2s hspa faster than the cloud network anyway :D (I miss that o2 unlimited data plan too :()

A few on here have got that t-mobile deal for iPhone 4s and I'll be ordering one on Monday :) If you get great reception/speeds on tmob, then a cheap 24 month contract is not so bad right? (Think I'll keep the defy though, looks interesting with similar specs to the ip4 in a smaller, more robust package)

Edit: Oh yeah.. Giffgaff if o2s coverage is good (wonder how much longer the'll have the unlimited data?)
 
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I'm pretty certain it's not a 3GB limit on T-Mobile unless you have a contract with an Android phone.

Take a look at Giffgaff. 300 minutes, unlimited texts and truly unlimited internet for £15 a month. They use the O2 network.
Yep thats correct, but as sarge78 said - you could quite easily get that contract and sell the Andriod phone and whack the Sim into the iPhone. How would they be able to differentiate what device is using the data?

Ive heard of Giffgaff a few times but dont know anything about it - hmm, at face value that now seems to be the best deal - is there many people on them? I trying to make my decision to go SIM free as justifiable as possible so a cheap monthly price is required (ideally half what Im paying at the moment which is £35).

Don't most places have free cloud access now? (Mcdonald's etc) I always found o2s hspa faster than the cloud network anyway :D (I miss that o2 unlimited data plan too :()

A few on here have got that t-mobile deal for iPhone 4s and I'll be ordering one on Monday :) If you get great reception/speeds on tmob, then a cheap 24 month contract is not so bad right? (Think I'll keep the defy though, looks interesting with similar specs to the ip4 in a smaller, more robust package)

Edit: Oh yeah.. Giffgaff if o2s coverage is good (wonder how much longer the'll have the unlimited data?)
Yeah you are right really - Ive never NEEDED a WIFI hotspot, just something Im used to having in the package - I guess its a small bonus. The only problem with TMobile is the 24month business. I know Im being picky :p

Its nice to have choices - I need to look into Giffgaff - its an interesting concept but worried about its long-term security as a business...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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Orly? Excellent!

Was looking at their website and its was all about being run by the members to keep things cheap, but I guess thats all just a front to make it look 'cool' and different to the other networks...

Got a month til my contract ends (launch 3GS) so will sign up soon...

EDIT: Signed up for SIM - my contract ends 19th December so might aswell get the wheels moving

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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Good stuff, I might go with them if my £15 tesco sim (500 mins, unlimited texts, 500MB data) doesn't suit my needs.
 
I saw that online too, however when I went in to one of the stores the £15 deal was the one with 500 minutes. It wasn't a case of that they can't match the online deals either, they do every one but the really cheap no minutes one for like £7.
 
The question is will they let me take the £10 plan and then opt to 'upgrade' it to an iPhone package (1Gb data - weirdly they dont do WIFI on SIMO but do on iPhone contracts) - which seems to be a £5 increase comparing all the packages...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Best for data:
T-Mobile: £20pm/24 month contract + free Motorola Defy. 300 minutes/Unlimited txts/Unlimited data (3GB FUP) + £80 cashback from Quidco. (Sell the Defy for ~£300 and it works out at £4pm over 24 months)

Best for cost (after redemption):
Mobiles.co.uk: Buy something crappy like a Samsung Tocco Lite on a 24 month contract. Get 23 months free, recycle the phone and after 24 months you'll have paid £0 (or gained ££) for the contract. :D

That samsung tocco lite deal sounds too good to be true, sorry for the potentially noob question but if i went for this deal would i be able to get a phone number off a payg sim i have had for a few years and put it on the sim with that deal?

Even more noobier questions:
From my vague research (samsung tocco deal) i still pay for each month but mobiles.co.uk will repay me the 25.00 p/m each time i pay? other then the first month ofc, is this correct? Also what is the return time on the payments from mobiles.co.uk if anyone has any experience.

Also with quidco is the cash back in Just money? not some type of voucher or currency on their website etc? Any idea on how quickly these payments are made as well from purchase date? - When i click on the cash back option on quidco website i am directed straight to the t-mobile website with a quidco message, is there anyway to get it to go to mobiles.co.uk or do i need to do it differently?

Cheers, sorry for nooby questions.

cheers
 
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