Mobile phones - useful tip (UK)
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Mobile phones - useful tip (UK)
Story goes like this. My better half had got fed up of the constant cost of a mobile phone she only had for emergencies, so cancelled it and asked Santa for a pay-as-you-go jobbie.
As Santa's duty helper, I spent yesterday traipsing around the shops comparing deals on phones, when in frustration I finally asked the daft question "can't I just turn the wife's old Mitsubishi phone into a pay as you go for a lot less money".
To my surprise, the answer was yes. For the grand price of £25 I got a little card which slots into the old and perfectly serviceable phone, turns it into a pay-as-you-go and credits the thing with £20 of calls.
Net expenditure £5, money saved I can now spend on frilly underwear to go in bottom of stocking: £25+.
I've no idea why the shops don't advertise that such a thing was available; I got this one from Vodaphone, but presumably the other shops do similar things.
[This message has been edited by Genghis the Engineer (edited 11 December 1999).]
As Santa's duty helper, I spent yesterday traipsing around the shops comparing deals on phones, when in frustration I finally asked the daft question "can't I just turn the wife's old Mitsubishi phone into a pay as you go for a lot less money".
To my surprise, the answer was yes. For the grand price of £25 I got a little card which slots into the old and perfectly serviceable phone, turns it into a pay-as-you-go and credits the thing with £20 of calls.
Net expenditure £5, money saved I can now spend on frilly underwear to go in bottom of stocking: £25+.
I've no idea why the shops don't advertise that such a thing was available; I got this one from Vodaphone, but presumably the other shops do similar things.
[This message has been edited by Genghis the Engineer (edited 11 December 1999).]
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Genghis
Had a similar problem myself, but with Orange. Thankfully, and afeter nearly giving up, I managed to resurrect the phone I paid mega bucks for a few years ago when digital were first introduced, for £25.00. This is obviously much cheaper than the alternative of buying a new package and being left with an ‘obsolete’ phone. The reason the phone companies do not publish this little known fact is because they want you to commit to the more expensive option, from the horses mouth, as it were, and even I was misinformed by quite a few reputable outlets (Dixons (?)) that I could not get my original phone reconnected.
Out of interest with Orange if you buy the £50.00 voucher then calls become cheaper compared to the lesser value vouchers, ie, 25p peak 5p cheap versus 35p peak and 15p cheap (I think).
Had a similar problem myself, but with Orange. Thankfully, and afeter nearly giving up, I managed to resurrect the phone I paid mega bucks for a few years ago when digital were first introduced, for £25.00. This is obviously much cheaper than the alternative of buying a new package and being left with an ‘obsolete’ phone. The reason the phone companies do not publish this little known fact is because they want you to commit to the more expensive option, from the horses mouth, as it were, and even I was misinformed by quite a few reputable outlets (Dixons (?)) that I could not get my original phone reconnected.
Out of interest with Orange if you buy the £50.00 voucher then calls become cheaper compared to the lesser value vouchers, ie, 25p peak 5p cheap versus 35p peak and 15p cheap (I think).
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IMHO an even cheaper option is to just buy the sim card and forget about monthly rentals. I buy a sim card annually and just slot it into my second hand phone. There are no monthly charges and the first £5 of calls monthly are free! The drawback is that you have to change your phone number every year but it sure does make owning a mobile cheap!
I am a very light user and have only had to pay a bill for calls for a couple of months.
The sim card costs about £40 but may be cheaper now.
[This message has been edited by Capt Ted Striker (edited 30 April 2000).]
I am a very light user and have only had to pay a bill for calls for a couple of months.
The sim card costs about £40 but may be cheaper now.
[This message has been edited by Capt Ted Striker (edited 30 April 2000).]
Guest
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I have just got my Mother a Sim card from here, http://www.mobilephones.freeuk.com
It was £13.99 gives £10.00 of pay as you go call on Vodafone, just buy top up cards as needed.
Plus there is no time limit to top ups, don't use it don't top it up.
It was £13.99 gives £10.00 of pay as you go call on Vodafone, just buy top up cards as needed.
Plus there is no time limit to top ups, don't use it don't top it up.
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Thanks for that web site, PA38 - just what I've been looking for. I have a query though. My Motorola cd920 (dual band)is presently on the First contract with BT Cellnet.
I want to change to Orange and buy a SIM card as advertised in the aforementioned web site. I appreciate I will be given a new number, which is no problem, but is the phone itself somehow locked to BT Cellnet, or is it just the existing SIM card?
I'm fairly sure it's only the SIM card that's locked to BT Cellnet but I'd appreciate confirmation from you knowledgable ones out there.
I want to change to Orange and buy a SIM card as advertised in the aforementioned web site. I appreciate I will be given a new number, which is no problem, but is the phone itself somehow locked to BT Cellnet, or is it just the existing SIM card?
I'm fairly sure it's only the SIM card that's locked to BT Cellnet but I'd appreciate confirmation from you knowledgable ones out there.
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The cheapest option has to be Virgin Mobile. Purchase a phone for as little as £59.99 and a Sim card for £12.50. The Sim card includes £10.00 of calls. No monthly charges. If you already have a phone (must be dual band) just buy the Sim card for £12.50 from any Virgin Mega Store or via the net at www.virgin.com/mobile/
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Speechless two, it should work on Orange, can't you find a passing person with an Orange phone and try the sim in your phone?
Or a 0ne20ne as they work on 1800gsm as well.
Or you could ask the seller if it will work, as far as I know it should as long as it's not reported lost/stolen.
Or a 0ne20ne as they work on 1800gsm as well.
Or you could ask the seller if it will work, as far as I know it should as long as it's not reported lost/stolen.
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Thanks for the info, spanners and PA38. Yes, I believe you can transfer numbers between providers, but I gather some if not all, certainly Orange, charge £35 for the privilege when you leave them. I'm a very light user now so the change of number isn't a problem.
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Just an update chaps. I phoned Virgin after seeing the advice in this thread.
I told them I did not have a dual band phone and I was told their SIM wouldn't work in my phone then.
However, I said in that case I'll have to buy one of your phones. I was told " oh don't do that, if you hang on and check back with us, probably before the end of May we'll be announcing news that will interest phome users like you"
I think it was very sporting of Virgin to "tip me the wink" as it were. The very nice girl also told me to check out all the prices as the competition were dropping prices all around.
So if any of you don't have dual band but would like to buy just the Virgin sim, we may be in luck soon!
I told them I did not have a dual band phone and I was told their SIM wouldn't work in my phone then.
However, I said in that case I'll have to buy one of your phones. I was told " oh don't do that, if you hang on and check back with us, probably before the end of May we'll be announcing news that will interest phome users like you"
I think it was very sporting of Virgin to "tip me the wink" as it were. The very nice girl also told me to check out all the prices as the competition were dropping prices all around.
So if any of you don't have dual band but would like to buy just the Virgin sim, we may be in luck soon!
