Any decent SIM only plans out there?

ps3ud0

ps3ud0

ps3ud0

Caporegime
Joined
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Luton ;)
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:
 
C.P said:
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.
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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)...
sarge78 said:
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.
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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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Zefan said:
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.
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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).

sarge78 said:
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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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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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:
 
Argh only problem I have is my contract ends on the 17th December - I guess I can only PAC after then...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Scope said:
It seems to end at 8pm, so hurry up. :) I would have gone for it myself, but contract doesnt end until March, so hopefully the offer will surface later.

Phone only, try this one: 08009565057
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Nooo!!! (thought HUKD posted it to start from tomorrow?!?)

Can anyone give me a straight answer regards my PAC situation?

I presume TMobile allows you to PAC within the first 30days of a contract? As Im still in O2 contract til 17/12 - should I just ask for the PAC just before the 30days is up (say 10/12) and then expect O2 to bill me up until the 17/12 as thats my minimum term?

Just want to make sure that I can leave O2 without paying too much to leave early and PAC my number in safety...

EDIT: Bah O2 are closed so cant get a definitive answer that way - I presume all contracts not in person still have a cooling off period?

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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I know when I orginally tried to get the iPhone 3G O2 told me they only allow PACs in the first 30days of the contract. Im quite happy to pay for 2 contracts for a month - I just dont want to lose a number Ive had for nearly 15years...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Cheers - will try and order now but will check the PAC and cooling off period

8.3
 If this Agreement is ended during any Minimum Period, you must pay us the monthly subscription charges up to the end of that Minimum Period.
This
does
not
apply
if
you
end
the
Agreement
for
the
reasons
in
paragraph
8.4.
 8.4

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Ta for the headsup...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Just ordered it - done and dusted. Supposedly its one of their offers that ends at any time - the telesales person wouldnt confirm when that would be or if it will be tomorrow.

Will call O2 tomorrow and sort out the PAC/minimum charge. No issue regards to when you PAC over and there is a 7day cooling off period!

Shame theres no WIFI booster

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Yeah I think Ive only ever used it outside an O2 store and that was really only when it was a new thing or to do large app updates when its convenient.

I dont need it but initial thought I might aswell have it - doubt Ill miss it. Just glad you posted as comparing the other deals I was looking at (giffgaff were main contenders) it seems I would have paid at least double.

If you google that TMobile number theres an interesting thread title 'Bye bye GiffGaff' :p

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
BTW I ended up with 600mins + Unlimited Texts + 3Gb Data - I kept asking for the Unlimited Data (3Gb FUP) as the booster but she said thats already included so opted for the Unlimited Texts instead!

I noticed the HUKD thread was a bit confusing on this...

P.S. Thanks Lethal too - I just noticed you mentioned the same deal yesterday and I completed missed it...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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Spartacus said:
Maybe worth considering T-Mobile, they have some good sim only deals at the moment, and they now 3G site share with Three aswell as roam on orange for 2G if you register for it online.

Next year T-Mobile and orange will fully share both 3G and 2G masts when they begin the merge to everything everywhere.
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Pretty much the main reason I went back to TMobile - only left them because O2 had the iPhone exclusive and know how good their 3G/HDSPA coverage was for me so all the cell sharing/merging is a definite bonus on top of the 3Gb data FUP too

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Jamesbcd said:
Guessing you've all received your sims now?

I caved and ordered 1, got mine today. Mine doesn't say how much I'm paying a month or anything. I've registered online and it doesn't say on there either. Just paranoid really.. I don't want to pay more than £7.50. Though in fairness, it's still a good deal at £15!

EDIT: Weird, just texted 'AL' to 150 for my allowance and it says I have 212 minutes remaining, 177 texts remaining, unlimited landline calls and unlimited internet. Though on my online account page, it does say I have 600 minutes, 500 texts etc.

No idea why my texts and minutes are so low as I've not even used it yet! Will ring them up tomorrow. :o
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Deffo call them Jamesbcd to double check youve got the discount and more importantly that youve got the unlimited internet and then another booster (seems some people only got the unlimited internet as their booster)

TBH it sounds like your texts and minutes are pro-rataed til the end of the month - did you ask for the contract to renew at the start of each month?

Ive got my SIM but not put it in yet as I got distracted yesterday, but I have called to check my bundle (though I forgot to ask it was for £7.50 :p). I need to call them anyway to attempt to see if theyll put this new account onto my defunct old account which Ive just found was left in credit :p

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Just wondering how worthwhile this is literally jumping between contracts as soon as the cashback comes through. Dno if I cba to do it - especially as cashbacks are never guaranteed and getting on a good mobile package seems to be all about timing since standard packages are usually pretty poor...

Its an interesting idea as I moved to SIM free purely to give me flexibility perhaps I can make my SIMO contract work for me more...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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