Mobile Choices guide to everything mobile
So you want to go mobile eh? Well, it's easy as pie (you choose your favourite flavour) because there is so much choice you can be sure that the right mobile product is out there, just waiting for you to find it. Of course, with so much choice it can all get a bit confusing and that's why we've put together a few easy tips to get things started. Feel free to print off this page and refer to it as you go through our site, so you can get the most out of its features...
Mobile Phones - How much per month?
We're all counting the pennies more closely these days, so the best place to start with is a budget. Without wanting to sound like your mum, it pays to know what you can afford as it will help you choose the right deal and avoid any unplanned additional costs. Once you've got a handle on your budget it's time to decide on a handset you like and the number of (call) minutes and texts you'll typically use in a month. The more you plan to use your phone, the more minutes and texts you'll want rolled into your monthly payment. Use our mobile product-finder to help you select the deals in your price range.
Mobile Phones - Contract vs. Pre-Pay
This is entirely down to the individual (or indeed if you're buying a handset as a gift for someone else). If money is tight and it helps you to budget, go for a pre-pay deal otherwise contract is usually the way to go. Heavy users should almost certainly opt for a contract as they simply offer better value at the high-end. Occasional users will benefit from a pre-pay or "pay-as-you-go" deal where there is no monthly subscription and call/text allowances are managed through occasional "top-ups" (chunks of phone usage allowance, available from many shops). The only draw-back is that the handset will have to be purchased up front (contracts roll this cost in to the monthly charge), and the choice of handsets is usually restricted to those at the lower/older end of the range (unless you've got big money to spend). Use our funky mobile calculator to determine which deals fit your needs; you'll only be shown the handsets, networks and deals that match your budget.
Mobile Phones - Sim-Only deals
Offering the convenience of a contract, but the low cost of pre-pay, a sim-only deal offers some of the best value you can find anywhere. Put simply, you'll need to have a handset (or purchase a pre-pay handset) in order to use the sim provided. A word of warning though, the network for the handset and sim will need to match to avoid the issue of "locked phones" (most networks add a software lock meaning that their handsets cannot easily be transferred to another network).
Mobile Phones - Which handset is right for me?
If you spend a lot of time on your phone or will be using it for other features (such as web browsing, listening to music or taking pictures) then you'll need to be pretty happy with the handset you choose. If you go down the contract route it will likely be another year at least before you can ask the network to provide you with a different one so choose wisely. Talk to your friends and family and find out what they like and why. High street retailers can be helpful here, but their agenda will not always be the exactly the same as yours; some have been known to show you handsets that they want to sell, which may not be the ones that you are keen to buy.
Mobile Phones - Which network?
Tough call; many people who have a phone today have been with the same network for years and couldn't really say why they chose it. Others are more specific about their reasons opting for the network that had their particular handset of choice available (iPhone anyone?) or it could be a question of coverage (signal strength) where they use the phone most. Many people choose to use their mobiles at home because their mobile handset offers better features than the one connected to their landline. A simple (and often free) test is to acquire a pre-pay sim and test the signal out at home, the office or wherever you're likely to make the most calls.
Mobile Broadband - What about this then?
Mobile broadband is simply access to the internet without requiring a fixed-line internet connection as you might use already at home. Powered by mobile network technology, attaching a mobile broadband USB stick to your laptop allows internet access wherever you happen to be, depending on network coverage. The USB stick contains a SIM card (just like the one you would use in a mobile phone) and provides a data connection to your mobile network carrier.
Mobile networks can provide a USB dongle separately or as part of a package which can also includes a laptop or netbook. Most networks provide deals where no upfront cost is payable on the laptop (it is simply rolled into the monthly charge for the service). Depending on the length of contract and value of the laptop a surcharge can be payable. Longer contracts and netbooks typically mean no initial charge to the customer. Ready to choose a deal? Simply choose from one of the options below to get started:
If you’re still unsure about mobile broadband then read through our handy guides for more information:
- Mobile Broadband Guide > Mobile Broadband Explained
- Mobile Broadband Guide > What is a Dongle?
- Mobile Broadband Guide > Broadband through your mobile phone
- Mobile Broadband Guide > Broadband Options
