3G iPhone

[voodooflux]

I've never signed a mobile phone contract, and I never will. I'll get my iPhone on PAYG, like every other mobile I've ever had. I don't actually use a phone enough (being rather hard of hearing) to justify a monthly contract.

I'm exactly the same - I just don't use the phone enough to make a monthly contract worthwhile, but I make a lot of use of mobile data.

Here is some more info on PAYG in case you haven't seen it. The O2 site seemed to have some detailed info last night but it has disappeared today. The 6 month free data and wifi is interesting.

One of my kids is angling for one for his birthday in September - I'd better put in some overtime then.

[DaveB]

If you want unlimited data then PAYG doesnt really make sense. For £36.51 a month you get an 8gb phone free, 500 mins to non O2 phone, 50 texts, unlimited calls to other O2 phones, unlimted calls to 10 landline numbers and unlimited data/wifi access. This comes on a 2 year contract.

To get the close to the same on PAYG you need to spend £30 a month + £299 for the phone. After the first 6 months data then costs an extra £10 a month.

A year on PAYG will cost you £719. A year on the two year contract will cost you £438. Two years on PAYG is £839. Two years on contract is £872.
Works out as an extra £33 quid over two years for what I actually think is a better package. I make 90% of my calls to the same landline numbers anyway and the free minutes will cover the other calls I make.

The contract prices on the original iPhone were silly I agree. £75 amonth is ridiculous. £36.51 for a business contract that I dont have to worry about seems reasonable to me. Especially when I can effectivly offset 21% of that against tax.

Full list of business tariffs here

[voodooflux]

snip

That's interesting and if unlimited data is important then that is quite compelling.

Going by a quick calculation on what I spend on my mobile at the moment PAYG actually works out about the same for me as the £438 for one year on a contract (however this doesn't include the majority of my mobile data use via 3 Mobile Broadband on my laptop - that's a seperate £15/month). Now if I can use the iPhone as modem/gateway combined with unlimited (or even just a lot of) data then the contract becomes a much better solution.

[DaveB]

If you fancy a trip across the channel Orange will be selling unlocked iPhones in France come launch date ( They have to under French Law ). No Prices yet.

[scooby]

If you want unlimited data then PAYG doesnt really make sense. For £36.51 a month you get an 8gb phone free, 500 mins to non O2 phone, 50 texts, unlimited calls to other O2 phones, unlimted calls to 10 landline numbers and unlimited data/wifi access. This comes on a 2 year contract.

To get the close to the same on PAYG you need to spend £30 a month + £299 for the phone. After the first 6 months data then costs an extra £10 a month.

A year on PAYG will cost you £719. A year on the two year contract will cost you £438. Two years on PAYG is £839. Two years on contract is £872.
Works out as an extra £33 quid over two years for what I actually think is a better package. I make 90% of my calls to the same landline numbers anyway and the free minutes will cover the other calls I make.

The contract prices on the original iPhone were silly I agree. £75 amonth is ridiculous. £36.51 for a business contract that I dont have to worry about seems reasonable to me. Especially when I can effectivly offset 21% of that against tax.

Full list of business tariffs here

you also missed the small print...

Plus get an additional 200 extra inclusive minutes and 400 extra messages with the following Business Call Plans: Small Business Frequent, Medium Business Regular and
Medium Business Frequent, for customers connecting via O2 Retail, O2 Online Business Shop or O2 Telesales on 24 or 36 month contracts only

the tariff you stated above was "Small Business Frequent User" and is included in the above addition.

[NickFitz]

TBH I'm not particularly bothered about their tariffs and packages allowing so many free minutes and texts - I talk on the phone for maybe 40 minutes a month maximum, and hardly ever send any texts. I prefer to communicate by email anyway.

[css_jay99]

I would like to get the iphone, preferbly not on a contract, so assume i did manage to get one.

I have an O2 paymonthly (online 35 i think). I use this for all my phone calls hence a good deal for me because i never go over the £35 rental


1) Would I be able to insert my sim card and then surf the net or i will need to have a 3G pay plan?
2) whats the best way to go regarding getting the iphone for my current sim with low monthly line rental + free calls -- Nort so bothered with initial phone outlay


cheers


css_jay99

[KevinS]

2) whats the best way to go regarding getting the iphone for my current sim with low monthly line rental + free calls -- Nort so bothered with initial phone outlay

Buy one in France.. Orange will be selling them sim free.. No idea on the cost, though..

[NickFitz]

Buy one in France.. Orange will be selling them sim free.. No idea on the cost, though..

But then you don't get any of the iPhone features such as threading of SMS messages, visual voicemail, or automated push email/calendar/contacts synchronisation with Exchange, as these are dependant on the appropriate systems being installed at the phone operator's side of things.

This is also why you can't use an ordinary O2 SIM and get the same features, although you can have your existing O2 number switched over to the iPhone.

The iPhone tariffs aren't just a way of subsidising the handset - you're paying for a raft of features that aren't supported on any other mobile platform, and the phone operator has to provide enhanced infrastructure to support those features.

If the network features that make the iPhone different to anything else on the market aren't important to you, it makes more sense to buy an iPod Touch and keep your existing phone.

[El_Diablo]

But then you don't get any of the iPhone features such as threading of SMS messages, visual voicemail, or automated push email/calendar/contacts synchronisation with Exchange, as these are dependant on the appropriate systems being installed at the phone operator's side of things.

This is also why you can't use an ordinary O2 SIM and get the same features, although you can have your existing O2 number switched over to the iPhone.

The iPhone tariffs aren't just a way of subsidising the handset - you're paying for a raft of features that aren't supported on any other mobile platform, and the phone operator has to provide enhanced infrastructure to support those features.

If the network features that make the iPhone different to anything else on the market aren't important to you, it makes more sense to buy an iPod Touch and keep your existing phone.

Well said that man.