Mobile Phone Suggestions?

Wow...just looked at the Orange website, and I guess I'm completely clueless about cell phones in the UK, but the prices seemed really high for the amount of minutes you get.   Are high prices typical for the phone companies there?  I suppose the Orange Wednesdays would make up for the cost as we're movie junkies though.   Just seems like the people there must have HUGE phone bills for the amount of time they're on their mobile phones!

Does anyone know of plans that give you more minutes and less texts?  I don't like texting (I've done it once in my life), and wouldn't use the high number of texts. 

On a side note, do Virgin Mobile phones from the US really work over in the UK?  Shoot, I have a brand new one, too bad my mom's already put the claim on it since we all thought I couldn't use it there.

We use Virgin's pay as you go-- and since hubby and daughter and I are all virgin it is only 3p per text when texting withing virgin net work--- very easy, cheap and convenient for the -- "how the hell do I get to blockbuster ?!" texts. We just made sure my daughter's phone was tri-band so that when she visits her dad in the states there is easy contact.

Wow...just looked at the Orange website, and I guess I'm completely clueless about cell phones in the UK, but the prices seemed really high for the amount of minutes you get.   Are high prices typical for the phone companies there?  I suppose the Orange Wednesdays would make up for the cost as we're movie junkies though.   Just seems like the people there must have HUGE phone bills for the amount of time they're on their mobile phones!

Does anyone know of plans that give you more minutes and less texts?  I don't like texting (I've done it once in my life), and wouldn't use the high number of texts. 

On a side note, do Virgin Mobile phones from the US really work over in the UK?  Shoot, I have a brand new one, too bad my mom's already put the claim on it since we all thought I couldn't use it there.

You might want to look at http://www.dialaphone.co.uk.  There are some really good deals for monthly plans from various mobile phone companies.

In general, if you have a tri-band phone in the US, it should work in the UK.  You would just need to have the phone unlocked and insert in your UK SIM card.  I have a T610 in the US that I will start to use here once my yearly contract finishes.

bvamin

Excellent website suggestion bvamin.  It seems to me like you buy the phone here based on the plan you want that comes with it.  Or is that wrong?  All things considered and looking at individual sites, I'll probably end up with pay-as-you-go, too.  Being someone who is very comfortable with the American companies and what a "good deal" constitutes, I have been looking at the UK sites.  Ones that are easy to use and aren't too busy not too busy, ones with plans simply laid out and explained (I don't want 1,000 plans for every different scenario), and ones which seem to WANT my business are getting my thumbs up.  Based on that I'd give good marks to Virgin, and 3.  O2 has waaaaaaaaaaay too much going-on on their site.

Yep, normally with the monthly plans the phone will be free or reduced drastically in price.  I have heard good things about Virgin Mobile here in the UK.  I wouldn't really advice anyone to go with 3 just yet, as they are using the new 3G technology and as of right now, from what I hear, their signal is not as not available in all parts of the UK.

bvamin

DEFINITELY a good thing to keep in mind!!  I switched providers in the States to get a better monthly deal, but got shafted on signal.

I hate Virgin Mobile here in the US, but with everyone recommending them, I might take a look at their options for the UK.  I just think they're a big rip off and the fact that they turn your phone off even with credit is not very cool at all....found that out the hard way once.  I had forgotten when I was due to recharge (yep a mandatory $20 even though I had at least $15 credit on the phone). 

All of these posts are helpful...keep the info coming!

yikes!  due to recharge?  i thought pay-as-you-go meant just that.  you buy a card for 20 quid and have that until it runs out.  then you get another.  maybe it's different in the states?

Yes in the states the time you buy for mobile phones has an expiration date---very very annoying!

I'm with Virgin on a pay monthly scheme. I just got my bill for this month - £9.72. I've never not had coverage when I've needed it, from the Scottish Highlands to Paris. I think I'll stick with them!

Of course I couldn't switch if I wanted to - every other company seems to charge a minimum of 15-20 a month before your calls! I'm stuck with Virgin. But I'm not unhappy about that.

Rosie

I could TOTALLY deal the £10 for monthly bill service!  How many minutes do you get with that?

Also have to mention that any call you receive does not count in your minutes...you only count your outgoing minutes, so that's why you might not need as many minutes as you think.  I have a 30 pound plan that includes 200 min & 500 texts...I don't call people all that much (just use it for taxi's and figuring out where people are when I'm meeting them) and text up a storm (texting is HUGE in London)...so it's a perfect plan for me (through Orange).

I'm with Vodaphone, PAYG.  Haven't had many problems with them other than when I lived with Anne and their entire house was a dead zone!   

Yeah, it seems there are trade-offs.  The US seems to have better monthly deals, but you get a raw deal with losing your minutes if someone calls YOU.  BUT, the UK mobiles suck because it costs more to call a mobile AND it costs more to call a different network.  I LOVE texting but don't do it much here because most of my friends don't have it or don't use it.  I can tell I'll be much like onetiger in the way I use my mobile, then just call the States from the landline in the house.

Yeah, it seems there are trade-offs.  The US seems to have better monthly deals, but you get a raw deal with losing your minutes if someone calls YOU.  BUT, the UK mobiles suck because it costs more to call a mobile AND it costs more to call a different network.  I LOVE texting but don't do it much here because most of my friends don't have it or don't use it.  I can tell I'll be much like onetiger in the way I use my mobile, then just call the States from the landline in the house.

That also depends on your plan - I got an all network plan for my pay monthly and there is no difference in the charges to various mobiles...which works well for me.

What I would look at in this whole thing is -
1)  Are you going to have a home phone...if you are, then you can make most of your local calls using this while at home & so save on minutes on your mobile.
2) How often will you need to make calls on your mobile?  Figure out the typical minutes you'd need weekly and go from there.
3)  Do you need to do much texting?

Then, see what the costs would be for pay montly and pay as you go based on the minutes used.  I tend to text so pay as you go didn't work for me...but if you just call a few hours a month, then pay as you go might work best...I used Fresh as my nextwork beforehand and they had a great deal - same charge for all calls (I think 10-15 p per minute).