Mobile phone - wrong section?

[the dodger]

OK - probably the wrong section but I value the opinion of fellow TVR nuts over others. My current mobile has been on an "Advance Line Rental" deal for the past few years which cost only £40/yr rental (peanuts). Anyway they have realised they don't make much from me and have discontinued this service from end of Feb. So now I'm looking for the best value deal and wondered what you guys & gals are on. I am definately a 'low-user' and want lowest of the low rental. 100 free minutes would be sufficient and I usually only use it eves/weekends. Not interested in a camera-job but like the colour screens. Nokia prefered as I have all the chargers, in-car stuff etc. MUST keep my old number.

Any to steer away from? Thanks.

[simpo two]

I pay NO line rental, NONE at all. If I don't use the phone, I pay Nothing.

That's Virgin mobile. If you've got a suitable phone (dual band) you can migrate to Virgin though you might have to pay your current provider a realease fee to release the ESN thingy. Just walk into a Virgin store and they'll fix you up. Or you can buy a new handset if you like. Customer support is good too.

Calls are 10p/minute for the first 5 mins per day, then 5p thereafter, I think. For very low users I don't think you can do better. Oh, and you don't have to have girlie Pay-as-you-Go: they take DD.

[the dodger]

Simpo - YHM

[simpo two]

Edited to add: I did reply but it came back as undeliverable due to comms failure....

Hi Roger,

Paul's on a mission behind enemy lines but I'm catching up on his e-mail....


Yes, it's exactly as I said You can only keep the same number if your
old provider lets you go officially - ie you'll have to pay all outstanding
bills and their may be a release fee depending on your contract or what mood
you catch them in.

www.virginmobile.com/mobile/services/why_are_we_different/index.html

Enjoy!

Eric

>> Edited by simpo two on Monday 16th February 19:52

[the dodger]

Thanks Eric/Paul. Hope it wasn't anything to do with our server comms.

Checked Virgin, I really like the idea of zero line rental. BUT - "You get owt for nowt" as they say so phones are a bit heavy on price and NO free minutes. No off-peak either but that means flat charge 24-7 15p for first 5 then 5p (quite good!). Couldn't get to the page about using your own phone (it's a nokia 5210) but will investigate further tomorrow.

- ANYBODY ELSE?

[the dodger]

BTT

[simpo two]

the dodger said:

BUT - "You get owt for nowt" as they say so phones are a bit heavy on price and NO free minutes.

Conversation with Vodafone salesman as I was leaving:

'Tell you what Sir, we can do you £8 a month line rental and 20 free minutes.

'So that's 40p a minute, right?'

'No, the calls are free, you just pay £8 a month line rental.'

'That's still 40p a minute then - bye!'

[the dodger]

Yeah, as I said - owt for nowt. And that would be £8 a month however many minutes you use, so it could work out to equivalent more per min. 100 "free" mins @ 15p is worth £15 month - but only if you use them (all). I reckon I currently spend about £130/yr equiv to £10-£11/m. On Vermin I reckon it works out to £12.50/m including a £80 phone. Still undecided.

any others?

[ridds]

o2.co.uk

Online tariffs. Very good prices for all inclusive.

[RichardR]

the dodger said:

Couldn't get to the page about using your own phone (it's a nokia 5210) but will investigate further tomorrow. - ANYBODY ELSE?

My wife had an existing Virgin PAYG phone (Philips one) and we recently transferred the SIM into a Nokia 3310. It seems to function fine, so your 5210 will probably be ok.

[kevp]

Orange will mathch any tarif.
I have severale phones on Orange. Some are O2 & Mobile T tarifs. They may only match contract rates though.