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.

[klonecaid]

it's WiFi that *really* eats the battery

[shebit]

My little old 6300 doesn't have wifi.

[magslhalliday]

Does moosebiscuit get old-skool paper bills that include call itemisation?

If so, look over the bills for the last three months and tot up how much you spent - time or money - on landline calls. That gives you a realistic idea of how much extra you'll be using your mobile.

Or start using skype!

[magslhalliday]

We've got a Virgin Media phone tariff that gives us free calls evening and weekends, which is the only time I use the landline, so those calls don't get itemised. The itemised calls are all the daytime calls that the lodger keeps making, which we do get charged for. No matter how many times we've asked her not to use the landline during the day, she still does it, and then doesn't pay for the calls!

But that's a whole other rant.