What Mobile Phone do you have? Tariff?

I'm getting ready to switch providers (Maybe) and phones as my contract is up.  Does anyone love their provider?  Hate them?  I'm with Vodaphone now.  I text way more then I talk.  So would love something that had a lot of texts included and maybe up to 200 min.  I don't need a huge bill. (I have one for £20 right now)

Also, I really love some of the new phones with the large screens.  So I'm looking at the LG Shine and Nokia N95 (Way to expensive)   Any others out there that are good?  Not to much £££ or included in the plan price of £20 and under?

Am I asking to much?

I LOVE T-Mobile.  I've gotten much better overall coverage (reception) than when I was with 02, as well as much quicker responses to my queries (and not on hold for long).
My bill averages about £25 per month (sorry I can't remember all the details, but I think it's about 200-300 min. per month and around 50 texts).

I have O2 and love it.  I've used my phone all over Europe and the US w/out coverage problems.  I have a pay as you go and I usually top-up 10 quid every few months.  It included a certain number of txt and minutes.  I can't remember all the details...

I used to be on pay as you go with Virgin, now I'm on contract with a N73.  I pay about £25  a month and get 300 text & 300 minutes.  Whatever I don't use gets rolled over to the next month.  Also, they don't charge you a monthly fee to call the USA (this was an issue I was finding when I was searching for a contract)...  All you pay is a flat rate of 20p / minute (and they do round the charges so if you go over by a sec you're not paying a full 20p!).   

I must say I've never had a problem with Virgin and I've been with them for nearly 3 years now.  You may also want to check out their website as they do have some better text deals if you sign up through their website...  Plus depending on what contract you take out you may not have to pay anything for your phone (standard I think for most providers)...

Good luck!
Christine

Thank you all! Christine, do you like the N73?  It looks really nice.  I hope they do the roll over on £20 too, that would be cool!

I love the N73!  Its got a massive screen and takes brilliant pictures!  When I bought mine in March I thought it was the best phone (value, camera, battery, screen etc) on the market...  I know virgin to comparison magazines that you can pick up in store...  They go through every handset they sell and gives a really good breakdown and comparison.  Otherwise you can do that on their website if you have specific handsets in mind.

All their Tarrifs have roll over minutes.  You can choose between a 12 or 18 month contract and what package sounds best for you.

I love the N73!  Its got a massive screen and takes brilliant pictures!  When I bought mine in March I thought it was the best phone (value, camera, battery, screen etc) on the market...  I know virgin to comparison magazines that you can pick up in store...  They go through every handset they sell and gives a really good breakdown and comparison.  Otherwise you can do that on their website if you have specific handsets in mind.

All their Tarrifs have roll over minutes.  You can choose between a 12 or 18 month contract and what package sounds best for you.

Great, thank you!  The phone looks great, I wanted a Nokia and a large screen, perfect.

We're with Orange <cough, cough> - is there any other mobile company?

But I have pay as you go, and I only pay maybe £10 a month (or less).  The boy gets his for free & you can't beat that kind of deal...

Hi Stacey,

Firstly, have a moozy on over at this comparison site

http://www.latestmobiledeals4u.co.uk/

and see which one is right for you. Be wary of the cashback deals though, some people have reported companies taking agessss to send cheques etc - but its not to say they're all like that.

Since a couple months ago - I can't recommend O2 for the 'included' in your minutes access to '08' numbers - they've changed policy and are now charging it outside of bundled minutes. So, for me, the deal where I get free calls (as part of my bundled mobile minutes and access via 0800 number to Swiftcall) will finish by the end of september.

Apart from that, and seeing you want text's over voice minutes I think you can filter the site above to show that.

Handset choice..  nip into WHSmith and pickup a copy or just read it if you dont wanna buy it! of What Mobile - i think theres a couple of other titles too, and read through their reviews of various handsets to help make up your mind. I'm a gadget guy and I had the Nokia N95 that everybody is raving on and on about, I took it out of the box, played with it for 2 days and thought it was crap - and returned it. It's fine for what it is, but it's not fine in terms of performance for what it is - ie whats the point of GPS if it's not real time? why have a 5 megapixel camera when it's performance is actually as good as a old 2.1 mp digi camera from a few years ago...

thats just me though - you may find it or something similar absolutley fantastic!

final tip, see if you can upgrade your current contract to include a special deal - mention to them on the phone you want to go to another provider and tarrif and you want PAC code and watch them transfer you to the 'retention' dept. and see what they offer and wangle them to throw in extra stuff for you to stay .. like 500 text for no extra monthly charge!

Cheers! DtM West London & Slough UK!

Thank you Dennis.

I'm glad you gave the N95 review, That is one of the ones I wanted.  What did you end up getting?  I just really like the whole big screen thing.

Last time I renewed I remember my husband trying to get a better deal, he should have gone the PAC route, next time I will suggest this.

I have the new Sony Ericsson S500i (mystic green) and am on Manx Telecom but that won't help you any cause we can only have Manx Telecom!   

We're with Orange <cough, cough> - is there any other mobile company?

But I have pay as you go, and I only pay maybe £10 a month (or less). 

I'm the same. I never use more than £10 a month. Usually it's closer to £5.

And I have Orange ... but only because that's the only provider with a signal in these parts. 

Hi Stacey,

For the last 4 years or so I've been a PDA/Phone user - mainly the Xda range. Currently im using the Xda Orbit as it's a (for me) one box solution - GPS, music player, email and contacts, full mobile phone functions, a 2MP digi camera which is enugh for what I use it for etc etc....  Screen is large for the unit's size and it's been fantastic in use.

Through our company we have about 12 or so other mobile phones on various contracts and every month or the other one expires so we get a renewal with a new phone, thats why I can just play around with current raved on about phones to decide if I like it or not. Get the magazines and spend a little research time with a shortlist of phones which meet your criteria.

As for spend, i'll make you lot jealous - O2 have their HQ in Slough and I know people working there so am on some mateys friends and family discount plan - deal is 50% off any tariff! so I'm on the old o2 max tariff 1000 anytime minutes 500 texts which I pay £37.50 for instead of usual £75

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks Dennis, I'll look for the magazine.  Yes, I'm jealous

I have been on 3 for about a year now and absolutely love the plan I am on.  For £15 a month I get 500 voice and 1000 texts. I never even come close to using it up! Granted I did catch them on one of their specials.   I have a Nokia 6280 which I know isn't the top grade or anything but the big screen has been wonders for taking pictures and videos.  I get free MSN messenger with it.  I get a load of tv channels to watch but they do cost 49p for an unlimited 24 hours access to watch. I can access facebook, ebay, google, and have a limited inclusive free internet usage.  I have 50 minutes of mms (which I never use).  If I wasn't on 3 I would probably recommend O2 as they seem to have some pretty good plans.