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Thread: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

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    Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Hi all

    I need a new phone and need some advice as I have not had my own phone/contract for over 6 years now so abit out of touch. Over this time period I have always been able to use my work phone/blackberry for personal use for free.

    I am now leaving work and starting a new job next month so will be phone less for some time when i give it back. Not sure if i will be getting a phone at new job/or if i can use it for personal use so i need something to tide me over for a while or for good depending on that.

    Most friends and family are on 02 so i will preference this network, and so started looking around. Really like Blackberrys like the bold 9700 but it seems that all phones now are on either 18/24 month contracts? when did this change? I seem to always remember them being 1 year when i last had a contract.

    So i am thinking i will just get a pay as you go phone for now but really do not know what to get, Blackberrys pretty expensive so thinking of getting something like a Sony Ericsson or Nokia. Can anyone recommend a good basic phone for under £100?

    Any recommendations would be great (pref on 02)

    cheers
    B

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Any contract on O2 and indeed all networks are either 18 months or 24 months. This is all there is now if you go down the network subsidy route (i.e. they pay towards your phone). Alternatively, you could get a Pay as you Go deal, but end up lumping more for the phone in the first place as a one off charge, then top up what you need. OR you go on a SIM only contract (1 month rolling, or 12 month) and buy whatever phone you want unlocked from somewhere like Expansys or Handtec. Expect to pay something like £400 for a smartphone.

    Blackberry services are an extra cost as well if you go down that route, and will add a couple of quid onto your monthly contract payment.

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    You can pick up Sony Ericsson K800i cheap enough now, probably for around £60.

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    if you want a blackberry of smart phone why not go 2nd hand? CEX sometimes have great prices (sometimes not), and you get a warrenty unlike ebay

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Quote Originally Posted by Flibb View Post
    if you want a blackberry of smart phone why not go 2nd hand? CEX sometimes have great prices (sometimes not), and you get a warrenty unlike ebay
    You STILL have to pay the extra on a contract or SIM only for the Blackberry services in order to use it properly. I don't know how good the BB's are without the messenger and other stuff.

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Hi guys, thanks for the advice, i started checking out pay as you go models, but in the end my willpower broke and i succumbed to getting a new Blackberry Bold 9700 on a 02 contract, worked out they had a £180 cashback deal on until end of April :-)

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    The investment on the phone is really worth it. The Bold 9700 is extremely worth it, if you're into PDA phones you might be interested in HTC phones as well, as the new android systems are pretty awesome. If you're an Apple fan, you can wait for the new iPhone 4G as well. At least wait till it comes out to make a better judgement?
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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Sorry to hijack this threa but it got me thinking.
    I too haven't had a mobile for years and so don't really know how it (i.e. they) works now. Is it possible to get a smartphone? without any network i.e. use it to look at saved maps, watch video etc without any form of phone contract?

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    Re: Recommendations for basic non-contract Mobile

    Quote Originally Posted by muppet_hat View Post
    The investment on the phone is really worth it. The Bold 9700 is extremely worth it, if you're into PDA phones you might be interested in HTC phones as well, as the new android systems are pretty awesome. If you're an Apple fan, you can wait for the new iPhone 4G as well. At least wait till it comes out to make a better judgement?
    Yeah, really like my 9700 i got in the end, Bold definitely got even better, the track pad instead of ball is great, and nice how it has been shrunk down. I did check out the latest iphones/htc's etc but not my cup of tea really.

    Ironic thing though is that within a week of starting my new job i got given, wait for it...... a new 9700 lol

    Oh well, i had a backup plan as the mrs is happy with her new 9700 now (she had a 4 year old pay as you go before that which was falling apart)

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