| If you already have a mobile phone, you can | | | | |
| switch to a different network and take your | | | | With rental you pay a monthly fee in the same |
| phone number with you, although you may need | | | | way as you would for a land line. Many |
| a different handset. You could get a | | | | monthly rental packages include some |
| connection with a new number, using your | | | | inclusive call minutes or talktime |
| existing handset. | | | | |
| | | | Monthly line rental costs from around £6, |
| Networks | | | | with a wide range of call-plans available. |
| | | | Look at several to work out which is best for |
| When you buy a phone you need to choose a | | | | you, and to ensure you spend the least amount |
| network - O2, Vodafone, Orange and T-mobile | | | | of money relative to the use you expect to |
| are mobile phone networks. Each network is a | | | | make of the service. Spending more on your |
| collection of radio towers all over the | | | | monthly call-plan will result in more |
| country, linked together and transmitting | | | | inclusive minutes, and calls made with |
| people's conversations. | | | | inclusive minutes tend to be cheaper then |
| | | | calls made outside of the call-plan |
| A mobile phone service usually comes as a | | | | Generally, paying higher line rental gets you |
| package, made up of the phone itself and | | | | cheaper call charges |
| access to a network. There are five main | | | | |
| mobile phone networks in the UK - O2, | | | | Before you commit yourself, check whether you |
| T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone and most recently | | | | can change contracts later as your usage and |
| '3' with its growing third generation network | | | | circumstances may change. |
| which can support mobile video. Other | | | | |
| operators such as Virgin and BT Mobile use | | | | When you buy a phone, it is subsidised by the |
| the 5 main networks and there are many | | | | network or service provider, the higher your |
| airtime resellers dealing with one or all the | | | | monthly fees the cheaper the phone will be. A |
| networks. They offer two ways of using their | | | | mobile phone can be included 'free' when |
| services; by "pay as you go" or by monthly | | | | bought as part of a subsidised package, but |
| line rental. If you do not intend to make a | | | | without the subsidy even a basic model would |
| great number of calls from a mobile phone, a | | | | cost at least £70, and you could pay |
| pay as you go package may suffice but any | | | | £300 or more for the latest models with |
| reasonably regular use (especially during | | | | WAP access, GPRS and Bluetooth or other |
| business hours) probably warrants a monthly | | | | mobile data features. Expect to pay more for |
| package - which package will depend on the | | | | the handset with a pay as you go package |
| volume of calls you anticipate making. | | | | because you are also getting a line but |
| | | | without a monthly rental charge and minimum |
| You don't need to put pen to paper for most | | | | contract. |
| mobile phone contracts nowadays, but they are | | | | |
| still legally binding. Contracts can be | | | | Choosing the handset |
| 'signed' over a website or over the phone. | | | | |
| | | | There are lots of different phones to choose |
| The network should be the first thing you | | | | between. Read the Handsets section before |
| choose when you're starting out. Your choice | | | | deciding. |
| of network will decide where you get good | | | | |
| coverage, and how good the customer service | | | | Once you have seen all the information here, |
| is. Some networks have better coverage in | | | | and decided what you want, find a good mobile |
| particular areas than others, but customer | | | | phone shop offers excellent value, superb |
| service varies from day to day, depending on | | | | service, and provided you with this |
| demand. | | | | information! |
| | | | |
| Price plans | | | | See the web site for information about the |
| | | | wide range of phones available. |
| Next, decide whether you want a pay as you go | | | | |
| phone or a traditional contract arrangement. | | | | Some users are far more interested in gadgets |
| | | | than others, as a general rule you should get |
| Pre-pay, where you pay (usually by buying | | | | a phone with as many feature as you think you |
| vouchers) before you make calls. There is no | | | | will need. If you think you need lots of |
| risk of a high bill, but sometimes this is an | | | | features then there are plenty of mobile |
| expensive option, adding vouchers can be | | | | phones to suit you. |
| inconvenient and you may run out of credit | | | | |
| during an important call. | | | | You should also be careful before opting for |
| | | | some of the pay-as-you go deals. Some use |
| Pay as you go packages are useful if you only | | | | phones that skimp on features for the sake of |
| expect to use your mobile occasionally, and | | | | cost cutting. |
| are cost effective if you expect to receive a | | | | |
| lot of calls, but not to make many. But you | | | | Look for a phone with good battery life, the |
| should be aware that some companies set an | | | | phone should get you easily through a full |
| expiry date on their credits, meaning that | | | | day or weekend of normal use. |
| the credit must be used in the time | | | | |
| allocated. | | | | The most important thing is to choose a good |
| | | | mobile phone shop, can provide you with some |
| Contract - where you get a bill each month, | | | | good deals, check out the site for more |
| but the call charges are usually lower, and | | | | information..... |
| there are more facilities offered. | | | | |