Contract Renewal Time

[M21MFS]

Needing help/advice again guys.

As of Monday I can upgrade/renew my contract with o2. Up until now, I've been pretty much pleased with the quality of phones on offer and the tarriffs too. However, with renewal time approaching, o2 have nicely told me that the contract I'm on is no longer available, and that I HAVE to change if I wish to stay with them.

When I signed up in 2008 I took out an N95 on an Online 30 package for £30 a month. As I signed up for 2 years I got the free unlimited web bolt-on - very handy at the time as the place I was staying had no internet. This tarriff gives me 600 minutes and 1000 texts per month.

Looking at some of the half-decent phones, the HTC's/Samsung Galaxys of this world, it seem's I'd have to take a huge reduction in minutes, plus data allowance, for the same money. For about the same money I'd get 100 minutes, 1000 texts and no internet. Not really that good a deal to me.

Just wondering who everyone is with, and what deals you're on. Im not sure it'll just be o2 hammering down on things, but at this rate I think I'll just go back to PAYG.:dizzy2:

 

[clock34]

find what phone you want first then just go to the carphone and ask them to show you a list of tarrifs availible. find one you like then either take it out or go to that shop. say voda or whatever and go direct.

i got a htc desire... love it. unlim interenet unlim texts and 600mins.... £30 a month... cant remember who im with though as it dont say on screen lmfao

 

[muppet42]

Well, my current iPhone 18 month contract is £35 a month and that's currently 500mins, 600 texts and unlimited data BUT when I upgrade, the data may well be reduced to 500mb I think. Don't use much data myself though, so it's a decent enough deal and the upgrades are cheaper as a result.

 

[M21MFS]

Right, Ive worked out that with o2 if I commit to another 2 years, rather than a year and a half, I can keep roughly the same package that I'm on.

I've insured my phone for the last two years, made one claim and just let one good phone die. So I don't think I'll bother with the insurance again (£200 spent there)

Looking at the tarriff Im on just now, phones available could include:

Samsung Wave / Wave 723
Nokia X6
HTC Smart Black

Quite a few Sony Erricsons, but never really been a fan of them.

Not sure if the choices to me, for renewal, would be different from that of new customers? This is my first renewal/upgrade so I don't know how this works yet!

 

[imported_richard33dees]

IMO don't go for the X6, not sure what the others are. Whilst in the past I would have preached SE phones, av really been put off by the Android 2.1 upgrade, possible because of t-mobile meddling too. Been impressed by the 2 second hand iphone 3G phones av bought Kyle & Gill an now seriously considering an ip4 myself.

If your contract you have suits you, IMO you'd be better buying a PAYG or fleebay phone of your choice, pop your sim in and away you go. Main advantage being that your not locked into a 18/24mth contract where your worse off an then you could change your phone as often as yer thermals if ya really wanted.

 

[M21MFS]

See, the X6 looks the most appealing of the ones on the website. It also has free sat nav 'for life' which would be handy.

I guess I'll see what happens come Monday when I'm eligable for an upgrade. will probably try the classic 'I'm thinking of going to vodafone..what can you offer me' and just in case that backfires, I've actually found one or two tempting offers with them!

 

[imported_richard33dees]

Alan Carr is just taking the **** out of the 3 network, tried sending you another fb message "what's the coverage like up there? m8 down here is on 3, he can't fault them but has the same contacts issues with the SE X10 as i do since the 2.1 upgrade"

HTC smart black looks like an Android phone which has free sat nav included, chances are the new bada software on the samsung wave will too.

 

[muppet42]

Still looking at handsets myself, finally got a free options on the 24 month contract. Torn between the Samsung Galaxy S and the HTC Desire with an outside chance of the HD7, though it's obviously the underdeveloped WM7 platform instead of the more popular Android. Don't think I'll go down the N8 route, which is another free option for me - Symbian's become rather clunky from what I've heard when compared to the latest OS'.

 

[M21MFS]

Ok it's upgrade time. The options I have, and would be interested in, are:

Samsung Wave / Wave 723 / Pixon 8??
Nokia X6
Nokia N8 (if I up my call package - might see if they will do that one if I stay where I am)
HTC Smart Black (can only get Desire if I spend another £10 per month, £15 for HD7)
Samsung Galaxy S (See above)
Ditto the Sony Erriksson Xperia series.
Blackberry Storm 2

Apparently I could get a half decent package on iphone, but everyone and there dog has one of em. So not sure. Guess the biggest thing that puts me off em is having to use itunes. It's just...****.

 

[imported_richard33dees]

is the storm 2 the new one? it looks a decent phone. I wouldn't be upping my plan payment for the phone, ad defo shop about

 

[M21MFS]

After much in-decision I'm now stuck between

Samsung Galaxy S (had a shot of Stuartys Samsung Wave yesterday again, reminded me how impressed I was with it)
Nokia N8 (well, it's a nokia!)
HTC HD7.

Can get any of the 3 on o2 for £35 a month. But thats a bit more than what I'm paying atm. Vodafone (better coverage up here in the sticks) will offer most of those phones for £30 a month so will see if o2 will either price match or, failing that, will be away to see vodafone today

 

[imported_abyss113]

i (borrowed) my brothers galaxy s the otherday and its a good phone but i do hate all this smartphone crap they are doing now apps and games cack i like a phone that calls people

 

[imported_richard33dees]

i like a phone that calls people

I used to think that, oh how much that has changed since getting the Vivaz then X10. Addictive when ya get the hang of them.

How'd yer wee trip into town go Martyn, you playing with a shiny new toy tonight?

 

[M21MFS]

No mate...for some reason everyone and there dog was in town, lookin' for a new phone today. Couldn't get moved in any of the shops so ended up just heading to the pub instead.

 

[muppet42]

Been using this site for years for reference, tend to be on the money along with engadget and such... http://www.mobile-review.com/index-en.shtml

Pre-read up, my choice was between the HTC Desire/Samsung Galaxy S and perhaps the HTC HD7. I'd like the Desire Z as it's meant to be great quality, better camera than the normal Desire, better battery life and of course a Qwerty keyboard but can't get it on the upgrade list. This may be rectified if I sell my upgrade handset :wink:

Anyway, as I've hinted at, I've been doing some reading. The Samsung Galaxy S has the best screen being AMOLED, best battery life and perhaps the better camera but no flash (though I'd only use it as a torch anyway). It also has apparently crap support from Samsung and some software related bugs that have a few work arounds but again, you sometimes have to rely on the apparently poor Samsung support. I've read the Windows software to use in conjunction with the handset can be a bit of a nuisance in this respect for example. Also, I've heard that the Samsung interface TouchWiZ isn't quite as good as HTC's Sense, which is meant to make Android the most enjoyable to use. As well as this, the handset itself I think has the gloss black finish on the back, which (iPhone users will identify) can be a pain to keep clean. I got a Gelaskin cover for my iPhone as a result and it works well as a scratch resistant cover to compliment the leather case I got.

And so to what was my original choice, the HTC Desire. The screen's went from Super AMOLED (like the Samsung has by default) to a SuperTFT as a result of materials shortages. Now this isn't perhaps as glorious to behold, but is meant to be better in sunshine and to the user who's never seen an AMOLED in action, won't make any difference. My only other gripe I can think of is battery life (which apparently can be improved via software), the camera (which'll always be a step up from my 2MP iPhone one) and the fact it's getting on a bit in terms of what's available.

The outside was and still is the HD7. I like some of the potential the WM7 has in terms of OS, but it just doesn't apparently have it yet compared to the more established OS'. Basic stuff like the top bar becoming hidden after a short time without being touched is a basic flaw that conflicts with common sense. I mean, default info to know on a mobile is signal strength and battery life, but on this you have to touch the top to find this info out. The handset also has some limitations too as a build quality is perhaps suspect plus you have to tie your phone into the region your in, so this could affect usability abroad. The app availability is also suspect, but that's predictable of a new OS.

So, looking at it from my POV, I'll probably go with the Desire. It's free on my upgrade and worst comes to worst, I can sell it for £300 on eBay and add the £80 odd to get a Desire Z sim free if I like afterwards :smile:

 

[muppet42]

Screw it, went for the Desire...shall hopefully be with me in 1-3 working days :laugh:

Still though, you can see my thought process above. Typing out loud is one of my strong points lol

 

[imported_abyss113]

I guess i am one of the lucky people who doesnt need a phone
no contract and no need to topup i only use the phone for when the work needs me everyone else can.get ne on the house phone

 

[imported_richard33dees]

Av had enough of the X10 now, it's screwing up contacts worse this time so off to look for replacement tomorrow. Might just have to play with a few then get a handset off the bay, if ah can afford one as the X10 prices seem to have dropped suddenly

You guys got your desires yet?

 

[clock34]

i dont have a phone. no need for one. but the mrs has a desire. i love it to peices used it for a few months before dumping a phone.

they work great and the screen is by far good enough. cameras good ans support is good. all in all i think it really is the best phone ive ever used/had.

ONE WARNING be carefull with the charging procedure..... the plug in the phone is fragile and after a few months you have to do the old motorola wiggle to get it working and prop it up ect. we had a replacement free due to this and its started doing it again BUT my mrs charges it on the floor and my dog lies on it so bends it but htc have said it is a weakness and to be carefull not to snag it when charging

just updated the desire last night to the latest release of android and its still going strong, smooth and quick enough. got some great features.... realisticly you will have it on charge every night as over time you will start to use it for facebook, email, texts, calls, camera gps(goolge gps is free on it and VERY good worth its weight in sticky situs) wifi ect so it gets sapped.

 

[imported_richard33dees]

google gps on android X10 is great and most other features. It just really takes the **** when the upgrade in software wipes out the two functions a phone is made for, making calls and texting. Seems that the main problem is when it does it's internet sync it changes all the numbers from 07 to +44 then drops the + so numbers go 44789..... which the network can't recognise.

Off to the metro in Newcastle, who now have an Apple store :devil: but will ask in t-mobile shop first