Establishing what type of package is right for you
There are a number of elements to a mobile bill, to match to your usage.
How many calls do you make?
Are they peak or off-peak? Peak is usually 7am to 7pm mid-week
What proportion are to other mobiles? Calling mobiles is much more expensive; if you do it often then a ‘cross network package' (where inclusive minutes include calling mobiles) is usually cheapest.
Total texts? Text messages are expensive. Get a ‘bundle' package if you send many, i.e. buy 120 a month at a reduced price.
-
Roll-overs. Whether it's a month's free minutes or bundled texts, establish if they're unused at the end of the month, whether they will roll-over into the next month's allocation. The equivalent for Pay-As-You-Go users is checking how long any vouchers last.
Other phone factors
This article's focus is package picking, but there are other things to consider.
The Phone. For many phone is king. Mobile companies know this and price accordingly, e.g.
NormalNetwork launches the new Sexyphone101 handset on its standard tariff for £29.99. CunningNetwork spots this and decides to offer the Sexyphone101 for free, on a special tariff, yet this package is much more expensive.
Most medium and heavy users would be much better off paying more for the phone, but on a better tariff. Sadly most people don't decide this way.
For phone-driven users, especially for pay-as-you-go, there's a few options out there. Onecompare*, Moneysupermarket and GSM Arena all allow you to search for tariffs based on the type of handset available.
The Network. There's no point getting the cheapest package if you can't access it. Not all networks connecting are equal. Ask colleagues and neighbours what the reception is like in your regular immediate locale.
Do remember there are only actually five networks, the others are ‘virtual networks' meaning they piggyback via a main network's infrastructure, and it is this which dictates the reception received.
Networks and Providers
Network | Real Network Provider |
| Orange | Orange |
| O2 | O2 |
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Vodafone | Vodafone |
| 3 | 3 (but O2 when no coverage) |
| Virgin | T-Mobile |
| Fresh | T-Mobile |
| BT Mobile | Vodafone |
| Tesco Mobile | O2 |
| British Gas | Vodafone |
| One-Tel | Vodafone |
| Sainsbury | O2 |
| Value-Telecom | T-Mobile |
| Asda (in testing) | Vodafone |
| Toucan Mobile | T-Mobile |
Online v Offline Management.
A growing number of tariffs are ‘managed online'. This means you must apply and receive bills via the web. If you're prepared to do this, the price is usually very competitive, especially with O2.
Do you take your phone abroad?
This often costs a fortune, even if it's just to receive calls. Getting another Sim card just for this can save you hundreds. Read the Roam For Less article.
Pay as you go or contract
Pay-As-You-Go means you prepay via vouchers or electronic top up. With a Monthly contract you pay a monthly fee and are billed for calls made. Unfotunately, those with poor credit histories have no choice; contract applications are usually credit scored – so PAYG is the only option.
As a rough rule of thumb, use less than 150 minutes of calls and hundred texts a month and PAYG is cheaper, as the higher call cost is offset by the lack of monthly fee though this ignores the upfront cost, which is hefty with a high-end phone as PAYG isn't as heavily subsidised as contract. It also has the advantage that there's no bill, so no shock when you realise how much you've spent.
As well as being substantially cheaper for heavier users, because it will have ‘inclusive calls' the big advantage of contract is you can't run out of minutes, plus the phone is always accessible and always available, yet you're locked into it.
Pay as you go without a new phone
Those with an existing or old phone can buy a Sim card to use in it (the Sim is the small microchip card you insert in the back, which identifies the phone to the network). Buying a standalone Sim is much cheaper than getting a phone.
The only obstacle is the phone might be locked to a network, meaning switch Sim and it won't work. To unlock it is relatively easy to do for free on the Net via websites such as Trycktill, Unlock Nokiafree or Unlockitfree.
You simply enter your phone's details and are given an unlock code. (Read the full Unlock Your Mobile article). Otherwise some independent high street mobile retailers will do it for around £20.
Don't confuse unlocking with unblocking. Unlocking is legal, though some networks do make it that, ‘it'll invalidate your warranty', to prevent it. However, unblocking means illegally tampering with a phone blocked for all usage, usually because it's stolen.
Back to the original article
1 of
5 
