Difference between PAYG and sim-free?

Scam · 9 Jul 2012 at 21:43

As those who frequent the One S thread will know I'm in the market for my next handset.

So, I see that CPW have the One S for £349 PAYG (with assorted topups on different networks), but its £429 SIM-free. Now, what exactly is the difference? Are the PAYG ones locked to their respective networks? :confused:

Macky · 9 Jul 2012 at 21:44

Sim-free tends to be completely unlocked and can therefore accept any network sim card. PAYG is usually locked to one network but all phones can be unlocked with a code (costs money).

Woden · 9 Jul 2012 at 21:46

PAYG are usually branded to the network too, whereas sim-free aren't.
That said I paid CPW for a T-Mobile Lumia 710 and they gave me a sim-free one

Scam · 9 Jul 2012 at 22:53

Hmn so If I'm ordering online I'd be risking getting one locked and/or branded to a network?.. damn..

Macky · 9 Jul 2012 at 22:56

If it's substantially cheaper you don't really have much to lose. Unlocking can usually be done for <£10 in most cases or in some cases free. The only other thing you have to worry about is fimrware branding etc but that you can usually be remedied by flashing a stock rom etc.

Paul91 · 10 Jul 2012 at 00:40

The One S is sold unlocked so it doesn't matter which network you buy it on.

Scam · 10 Jul 2012 at 08:47

Thanks for that, great spot! Now another question, if I order online from cpw and get the new/**** version of the One S, can I return it in store or will I have to send it back online? If I get one with the s3 chip it will be going back for sure!

dj-striker · 10 Jul 2012 at 11:26

sim free means no ties to any network pay as you go is subsidised by the network its on thats why the is some times a decent size price difference

Hostile-17 · 10 Jul 2012 at 11:31

Sim Free means your not tied to a network. One of the better sim free deals imo is giff gaff

.

demonix · 10 Jul 2012 at 14:37

Woden said:
PAYG are usually branded to the network too, whereas sim-free aren't.
That said I paid CPW for a T-Mobile Lumia 710 and they gave me a sim-free one

That's because phones from CPW are unlocked (except for those uber cheap handsets from 3 you get on their website which are locked) no matter if you get a SIM card or not.

Myshra · 10 Jul 2012 at 15:01

Some stuff is locked, when I worked at Orange we had SIM locked devices flogged through CPW often when stock shifting but it varies with handset/promotions.

CPW buy their own stock is the reason why if it wasn't obvious. Also, technically SIMF is a handset type, PAYG is a credit type

Scam · 10 Jul 2012 at 18:26

Seen as it's getting close to crunch time I actually phoned CPW and the girl there said that the Three branded PAYG models are actually network-locked, and the Orange ones are sometimes branded. O2 ones aren't anything, phew. She also said there's plenty of stock