Mobile phone

[rockhopper]

Hi all,

Im at the end of my contract and am looking into upgrading my handset. I just wondered whether any of you know of any decent handsets out at the minute?

I'm on Vodafone and have a cheap tariff (£15 p/m inc 250 texts and about 600 mins off peak), but i could always change if there was a better deal. I dont fancy one of these deals where you supposedly get half price line rental for X months, but when you look into it you have to redeem it on X month. I want a plain and simple tariff where I pay roughly the same each month.

Chances are though, i'll probably just upgrade. I've never done it this way - am I likely to get a decent phone for free, just by renewing my contract and keeping same number?

Thanks for any help

 

[I-S]

Tell them that you're leaving. They'll fall over backwards to give you a deal, especially if you don't ask for a new handset.

I now have 125 anytime cross-network minutes and 50 texts (more than I use) for £9.99 a month. A quick look at vodafone's website suggests that this would normally cost £28 a month. I also have their "stop the clock" thing where up to an hour's call counts as only 3 minutes.

 

[rockhopper]

Tell them that you're leaving. They'll fall over backwards to give you a deal, especially if you don't ask for a new handset.

I now have 125 anytime cross-network minutes and 50 texts (more than I use) for £9.99 a month. A quick look at vodafone's website suggests that this would normally cost £28 a month. I also have their "stop the clock" thing where up to an hour's call counts as only 3 minutes.

thanks, sounds good! This would suit me very well - could you give any advice for when I ring them, obviously apart from saying I want out. Should I just ask for the same deal, otherwise i'll go elsewhere?

 

[I-S]

No, because they might call your bluff. I was on a £19.99 contract for three and a half years without any handset upgrades. Then I told them I was leaving contract to move my number over to payg. They rang back and said "what can we do to get you to stay?". I told them I was cutting costs, and they offered 100 minutes for this £9.99... beat them up to 125 minutes as this was similar to my previous contract (150 anytime + 50 txt, not cross-net) but half the price and the bonus of cross-net. The key to it is that you have more bargaining power if you're not asking for a new handset. A mobile will last 3-4 years if treated reasonably so there's no need to get a new one every 12 months, and that saves them a lot of money which they'd otherwise recoup through higher subscription charges.

 

[MO!]

If I was lookinb for a new phone now, I'd probably go for the Sony Ericson K750i

I've had the T610 for a while now and find it great. The only issues I could possibly think of are the control stick thingy sometimes doesn't respond properly, and the camera's a bit crap which might not be an issue.

The k750i seems to be a MOre polished version with 2megapixel camera. MP3 player, a slicker menu etc...

The w800i seems to to also be the same unless I'm missing something

A mate of mine just got the k750i for free on his contract.

Depends what you're after form the phone I guess.

 

[julian2002]

mo the w800i comes with a 512mb mem stick whereas the 750 only has a 128? that and the funky 'nick my shiny new phone' paint job.
i wanted a music player phone with bluetooth so the w800i and moto rokr were in the running however in the end i went for an orange spv c550.
cheers


julian.

 

[greg]

Having owned the SonyEricsson T610 and the K700i, then a Nokia 6600 I was torn between a newer Nokia Series 60 and either the K750i or the W800i.

I settled on the Nokia 6680 which is now slightly enhanced in the form of the N70. Basically I cant see how any other phone can beat it. 1GB memory (not standard but not too expensive to add) so plenty of space for music or pix, 3G so fast internet access (approx 384 Mbps), eMail on phone better than a Blackberry, various office apps, not too big or heavy, nice to hold, video calling and a 2Mpix camera (N70), and a flexible and adaptable OS (Symbian) which is now pretty much as quick to use as the SE OS (in the 6600 the OS/phone was slower and a bit annoying to use).

Yes the K750i/W800i are smaller, but that's about it really IMO.

 

[MO!]

mo the w800i comes with a 512mb mem stick whereas the 750 only has a 128?

The friend who got one mentioned an inbuilt meMOry and that you can add additional meMOry too. Not sure how much he said.

There's a funky panoramic function with the camera too.

 

[batfink]

The friend who got one mentioned an inbuilt meMOry and that you can add additional meMOry too. Not sure how much he said.

There's a funky panoramic function with the camera too.

The 750i uses MemoryStick Duo (as does the W800i, I think), so expansion is limited only by the size of available cards.

I'd definitely go for one of the SE phones if you have the choice - the recent onces are far more polished and nicer to use than Nokias (I used to use Nokias all the time, but I'm now an SE convert)

 

[Will]

k750i vs w800i...

I have a SE Ericcson w800i whilst my flatmate has a k750i, so to compare them....well theres not much at all between them!

Similarities:

- Electrical hardware is identical (the cases are interchangeable given the right tools)
- GUI is nearly identical, only subtly different in terms of apperance

Differences:

- Appearance (w800i is white/orange, k750i is black)
- Headphones supplied with w800i are better (being an 'Ericsonnised' version of Sonys MDR-EX71SLB 'Fontopias')
- Memory stick duo (k750i gets 128MB, w800 gets 512MB)
- w800 has walkman functionality (you can play mp3s off the phone whilst the phone is to all intents and purposes 'off', unable to send or receive calls, and thus saving battery life).

Apart from the supplied headphones, case and memory stick, though, the difference (walkman functionality) is down to firmware alone, and since the hardware is identical you can flash a k750i to be a w800i to gain the walkman functionality (the flash is possible the other way, but you wouldn't really want to do it as you lose functionality this way, not gain it).

Any firmware flashing outside of the 'right' one for your phone invalidates your warranty though

Personally I find the walkman feature useful when I'm on the train, so went for the w800i, even though the 750i looks better and is similar in every other way of note. Having lived with the T610, k700i, and now w800i, I'm something of a SE addict now...excellent phones IMHO.

 

[greg]

I'd definitely go for one of the SE phones if you have the choice - the recent onces are far more polished and nicer to use than Nokias (I used to use Nokias all the time, but I'm now an SE convert)

I'm not so sure. I would have said the same thing 12 months ago, but I found the T610 a bit fragile, the V800 was bad and the K700i was ok, but the joy stick is buggered after only 11 months of use. Whereas the 6680 and the N70 Nokia's are a massive step forward in build and finishing compared to the 6600 which was plasticky and irritating (though tough). Have you tried the most recent series 60 phones?

 

[amazingtrade]

My sister said that once I got an SE I would be locked into them, I now have the basic K300 but its by far the best phone I have ever had. Its fast, reliable, easy to use and has very very clear voice sound.

The speed it can wizz through with Java games is stonking. My sister has the K800 and is planning of getting a 4GB card for it :eek

 

[Anex]

My 750i only came with 64meg! If your interested in using the radio on either phone I'd get the walkman one, the big difference is it has a proper headphone jack so you can use whatever you like, the 750i ones are horrible, really uncomfortable. Also I've had mine about 2 months and the joystick thing is completely screwed so I can no longer scroll through menus. Great.

 

[MO!]

Also I've had mine about 2 months and the joystick thing is completely screwed so I can no longer scroll through menus. Great.

Can't you get it replaced/repaired?

The joystick on my T610 plays up at times but I only paid about £30 for it and it's been treated quite rough. I've read a few comments about the joysticks but of all the people I know with SE phones I'm the only one who has had any problems.

Also, I thought the 750i *did* have a proper headphone socket?

 

[garyi]

You will only have leverage with them if you spend money with them.

I have a special contract with vodafone (not available in shops) for a monthly rental of 9 quid.

Unfortunately I am lazy and don;t use the phone usually, as a result my bill is nine quid every month, more over I have 300 unused minutes to any number in the UK to use.

When I phone up asking for a new phone they said no, when I threatened to leave they said, 'yea, alright then'

Snigger.

 

[Anex]

Can't you get it replaced/repaired?

The joystick on my T610 plays up at times but I only paid about £30 for it and it's been treated quite rough. I've read a few comments about the joysticks but of all the people I know with SE phones I'm the only one who has had any problems.

Also, I thought the 750i *did* have a proper headphone socket?

Yes I will but I shouldn't have to, it would seem to be a problem thats been going on for a long time according to the other Sony users I've spoken to. Basically I think its a piece of crap if the joystick can't even work for more than 2 months without breaking. I know other K750i users that have had loads of problems too, joystick, battery, vibration. I don't need the select but without being able to scroll the phone is pretty useless really.
And no, it doesn't.

 

[garyi]

I think I have that sony and yes the joystick kinda looses its joy after a while.

 

[Stereo Mic]

Gary, it's simple maths. If you spend £108 pa with them, why on earth would they give you a £150 handset every 12 months? This is the bit the general public don't seem to understand and one reason why I don't deal with them anymore!

 

[lhatkins]

I'm on Orange Pay&Go, really don't see the need / point on a contract, I spend, £100 pa. tops, ok so I have to get my own handset if I want an upgrade, but there is a big enough 2nd hand market out there for that, I find I have more choice and freedom and not tied into any contracts, I can choose to use what ever handset I like (or can afford!). I sometimes get cold calls from Voda, O2, asking me to join them, I say ok get me a plan that matches my P&G usage, they can't, so they go away. sorted

 

[MO!]

I'm on Orange Pay&Go, really don't see the need / point on a contract, I spend, £100 pa. tops, ok so I have to get my own handset if I want an upgrade, but there is a big enough 2nd hand market out there for that, I find I have more choice and freedom and not tied into any contracts, I can choose to use what ever handset I like (or can afford!). I sometimes get cold calls from Voda, O2, asking me to join them, I say ok get me a plan that matches my P&G usage, they can't, so they go away. sorted

Yeah, I've had a few calls lately trying to get me onto contract. I try to be polite despite hating this kind of calling but damn they can be pushy! I find saying that I only really use my phone for incoming and very rarely top up puts them off.

Contracts can obviously work out better value, but I think it should be a case of me seeking one out rather than them trying the hard sell. I know customers should be intelligent of making their own judgement, but I still think that trying to force contracts onto people (who often can't really afford them) should be banned.

I'm looking to change to o2 payg. I started on orange years ago, then lost the phone. Had a virgin phone/sim given to me so used that for a while. Then an ex was on one2one (now t-mobile) contract, so I switched to them for cheaper same network calls.
Current girlfriend and quite a few friends and family are on o2. Also, I've recieved a couple of "awkward" calls off people from my recent past. Quite uncomfortable having women phoning saying "hey, do you remember me?" when you're sat there with your girlfriend So it'll be a chance to change number and lose a few unwanted contacts.

Also, I'm sure I've seen o2 payg offers where if you top up x aMOunt per MOnth, you get free texts and calls. Anyone know anything about this?