Sim-only mobile plans

So you have to get a tri band phone? I think my current US phone (Nokia 64???) is tri band, but I don't remember. I was planning on getting the unlock code for when I go next year as I will be out of contract by that point with Cingular. Of course, once I can, I will be getting an iPhone! 

So you have to get a tri band phone? I think my current US phone (Nokia 64???) is tri band, but I don't remember.

The question then arises of which is the third band.  A U.S. tri-band phone will have the 850 & 1900 MHz American bands (obviously), plus one of the European bands, either 900 or 1800MHz.

The O2 (originally BT CellNet) and Vodafone networks in the U.K. operate on both 900 & 1800, but the other GSM carriers here are 1800MHz only.   

So if the third band on your phone is 1800MHz it will work with any carrier but you probably won't get the full coverage on Vodafone or O2.   If your third band is 900MHz, then you will not be able to use any networks other than Vodafone or O2, and you still won't get the same coverage as a dual-band U.K. phone would on those networks.

Hmmm. Thanks Paul for the info. I will figure out what it is soon, I guess. I could look it up if I knew the model number (box is at home!) I'm thinking that I will just use it initially once I get there and work on getting a regular contract phone once I'm established. I really want an iPhone so that is likely the way I'll go, even though that means I have to use O2.

You would need to check the precise model to be sure, of course, but I just did a very quick search and it appears that most tri-band Nokia phones sold in the U.S. market have 900MHz as their third band.   So if yours is like that, then you'll have to sign up with somebody who uses either Vodafone or O2 for it to work in the U.K. at all.

Ok. Now, if I used it there this summer (and last) with my Cingular sim card, does that means it was working on the UK network? (I think I remember that it was usually accessing O2.)

Like I said, I think I will only use it initially until I can get an actual UK model.... Hopefully it will suffice for a month or two.

Ok. Now, if I used it there this summer (and last) with my Cingular sim card, does that means it was working on the UK network?

Yes.   The four major British GSM networks (Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile U.K., Orange) all have roaming agreements with Cingular/AT&T Wireless. 

I just got a SIM card and phone for my daughter.  We got a SIM only plan from O2 for £20 per month.  It has 400 minutes and unlimited texts.  We started at Carphone Warehouse, and they quoted a £150 deposit for 9 months.  I balked at that, and at the O2 store they wanted £200 for one month.  (We've only been in the country for 2 months)  I went that way. 

Shop around if you don't like the deal they are quoting.