UK - My phone contract is up for renewal soon... what phone to get?
 

My phone contract is finally coming up for renewal in a few months and I'm starting to look into what phone to get as an upgrade.

Currently, I'm with o2 on a £35 - 18month package that gets me 600 mins, 500 texts but no internet with an LG viewty that was free. I chose that contract because I also got £175 sent back to me by redemption through the life of the contract as well... which was nice.

I've quite liked being with o2, never had a problem with the service, although for some reason I get really poor reception in my Uni dorm room, though I'll have moved out by the time I get my new phone so that’s not much of an issue... although I have nothing against going with another network either if it results in a better deal.

Does anyone know what o2 are like for retention packages? This is the first contract I have been on, always had a PAYG before then.

Anyway, I'm not sure what is the best phone to go for. I quite like the look of the Nokia 5800 and it seems cheap enough that I should be able to get it for free on a affordable contract, though I don't really care about the music capabilities of the phone. Ideally I would just use it for calls, texts, internet (GPS would also be very handy) and I would like it to be as small and reliable as possible. While I like the LG Viewty I’ve had for the past 18 months, it seems to be a universal thing that LG phones have crap battery reliability. I’ve had to buy a new battery for it because a charge disappears in about 4 hours without even using it (Yep, Bluetooth and everything else is turned off) my dad has had the same issue with his Viewty and about 3 other people I know with LG phones of different models have had the same issues.

I hope you don't mind if I tag along on the question. I am exactly the same situation, same contract and O2 as well. I have also been looking at the 5800, becuase I use my phone for music playback alot and I have always wanted something with a touch screen. I have also been looking at the N97 which seems to be a bit more capable and more of a logical upgrade from my current N95 but I dont know when that is coming out.

Wait until its closer to the end of your contract, then;

a) Look at what other networks or offering new customers, make notes about who they are and what they are willing to offer you.
b) When you have under 1 month to go on your contract phone up your network provider, go straight through to disconnections. Tell them you would like your PAC code, they'll ask why and give them details of what you've been offered elsewhere. Watch them scramble to offer you similar offers.

Retention packages can change so what they offer you now might change in a few months. And the way the market/economy is they will be desperate to hang onto their customers.

Have a read here; http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/pho...-mobile-tariff


My contract is up on 11th March so I'm looking around at tariffs myself at the moment, although I'm looking at tariffs under £20 (not a heavy phone user), although it would be nice to have something with a big screen and Wlan for wireless browsing around the house.

Yep do what Sionyboy has suggested, they will offer you stuff, although I've never been offered anything great

Problem for me right now is there are no phones I actually want, Iphone is most desirable imo but then again it isn't a great phone, poor camera etc plus the packages 02 offer on it are terrible

I recently upgraded from an N95 on o2 £20 / 12 month (which I was on for 2 years and then about 6 months on simplicity £15 as I was very happy with the n95) contract to an iPhone on Pay as You Go.

When I was going through the motions to get my PAC code I was offered by the retentions department a free C905 on an 18 month contract with free internet and the minutes / texts you get on their £35 a month tariff but at £15 a month. I nearly went for that but to be quite honest I didn't even use the allowance I had on my £15 contract, let alone have a use for the extra minutes and texts I would be getting.

Having free internet on my phone has reduced my spending to about a fiver a month as I just e-mail and fring people now. And having seen the C905 it's a beautiful phone with a wonderful camera, I recently went skiing with Uni and when I got back I saw the photos a friend had taken on his C905 and they were lovely, it made me miss my N95's camera a lot, iPhone pics are just so rubbish hehe.

Anyway, point being I'd recommend a C905, I think it's already free on your tariff so I'd expect the retentions department would offer you the phone + a reduced tariff with the same minutes / texts you're currently on and free t'internet.

My missus got the Google G1 Phone at the weekend, must say if it wasnt for the fact the n97 looks so damn sexy i would get that.

Wait, the MWC is on currently and a shed load of new phones are coming. The new LG looks pretty stunning with full multi-touch. [thumbup]

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/

http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/

I personally would go for the cup and string routine, kicks ass every time.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/unsure1.gif

well i have iPhone but i think blackberry would be a great choice too..