Buyers Guide
Mobile Phones Buying Guide
A guide for first-time buyers - what to think about when choosing a phone.
What do you want in a phone?
Mobile phone technology has become more and more advanced over the last few years, with improvements in circuitry and screen displays allowing for more sophisticated designs and functions to be made available to users.
The quality of camera lenses and screen displays have increased considerably, to the extent that the photo and video camera functions of some mobiles are comparable to that of similarly priced digital cameras.
The increased amounts of memory that can be fitted within a phone-sized handset means that many new models are capable of storing and playing/displaying music files and pictures, and running complex computer applications and accessing the internet.
Wireless features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mean that a mobile phone can be more than just a mobile phone – it can be a portable media centre that allows you to transfer documents, music files and pictures to and from desktop computers, laptops, and other mobile phones, something that becomes an important tool for business or creative purposes.
GPS tracking technology means that phones can be used for planning road trips, or finding your way to an interview or venue.
You may find that a certain feature or function, such as internet connectivity, is an essential part of your purchase, should you, for example, need to store and transfer files, or send/receive emails – or you want simply want a phone to be just that, a device to make and receive calls/texts on. Consider what you want from your phone, what additional features are necessary for you.
I want something that will…
- Take pictures - megapixel size, display screen size and resolution, type of camera lens, zoom features, micro SD slot for memory expansion, check if the handset is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or USB connection capabilities if you want to transfer pictures between devices.
- Play music – look for a handset which has a dedicated music player built in – graphic equaliser, memory size and a micro SD slot for memory expansion, extension socket so you can hook up your phone to a home stereo system. If you want to be able to play music and transfer audio files to and from your computer, check if the handset can play MP3's and is equipped with either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities.
- Send and receive email – look for a 3G device which has HSDPA technology, USB connectivity so that you can transfer documents between your phone and other computer platforms simultaneously. Check to see if each handset supports push email formats (e.g. POP3, SMTP, IMAP4 etc).
On all of the product descriptions of our featured phones, we list of each handset's main functions and features. Check the definitions section of our site for more information on the different functions of mobile phones; you can enter your specifications on our mobile phone finder.
Who is operating in your area?
Once you have found a handset that has all the required features, you can check to see which network operators supply their services to the phone, and then checking to see what each network's coverage is like in your local area. There is little point in forking out for a brand new phone if you can't actually get any signal.
It also might be an idea to speak with your friends, family and colleagues to see what network they are on, as calls made across the same network are cheaper than calls made to others. While most networks give you cross network minutes not all will if you are going to call certain people more often it is worth checking their networks and making sure you can call them as cheaply as possible. Sometimes it is a good idea to speak to friends in you area and see what they think about their network.
What sort of contract/tariff do you want?
You should look for a phone plan which most accurately reflects your phone use. For example, the general rule is that as with landline calls, it is more expensive to make calls on your mobile during working hours, and cheaper at evenings and weekends - if you need to make most of your calls during the day, then you can look for a tariff which gives you better rates for day use. If you text and call infrequently, then it might be better if you go for a pay as you go contract, if your phone use varies from month to month.
The exact details of tariffs will vary from network to network – read our buyers guides for each individual network provider for specific information – but there are three main ways in which you can be billed.
- Pay As You Go / PAYG
– this means that you are not tied into paying a monthly fee. You load your phone with credit (usually from a shop, through your phone, or the Internet). The down side to this is that you pay a premium for your calls and also you usually have to pay the full price for the phone handset. These phones usually suit people who use their phones just for texting or calling on an infrequent basis, and also for those under 18, as no contract is required for a PAYG service.
The main advantage of a PAYG contract is its flexibility – there are no fixed payments to be made, unless you opt for a bolt-on or similar deal, and you can generally switch between handsets with ease. PAYG is suited for more casual users who call and text infrequently.
- Monthly Plan / Contract Phones
– with this option, users pay a monthly line rental charge plus their call charges. The advantages with this is that the calls themselves are cheaper and the users also benefit from a number of free calls, text messages and often free or reduced price handsets and line rental. If you are a regular user this will almost certainly work out cheaper for you. The disadvantages are that you are bound by a fixed term contract of at least a year. - Hybrid Tariffs
– there are now a number of hybrid tariffs on offer. These work by charging monthly for a line rental and a fixed amount of credit, then allow the user to top up their credit in the same way as a PAYG user would. The advantage of this is that it makes it easy to budget like with the PAYG phone but you also at a cheaper call rate than a PAYG user. The disadvantage is that these are still more expensive than the contact phones and again, the user is tied to a contract. This type of tariff is popular with parents who can provide their children with a mobile without the risk of getting an unexpected bill.
Heavy callers will probably find that a fixed or hybrid tariff to be more suitable – contract phones benefit from plenty of free minutes, texts, downloads, and in some cases, the handset and line rental is included free. With some contract phones, the handset, whilst 'free' in the sense that you do not pay for it, will remain the property of the network and you are obliged to return it once the contract has come to an end.
How long do you want your contract to last?
Choosing the right tariff is important; there is nothing worse than committing to a contract that becomes a burden three months down the line. If you then decide that you want to change to a different tariff a few months later, the dealer will get the subsidy taken away form them. This loss by the dealer will usually be taken from you (this is a condition that is standard with most contracts) to cover the loss they have incurred – if you want to change your contract, make sure you are aware of how much you will be expected to pay. The minimum length of a mobile contract is typically 12 months – 18 months, some suppliers sell contracts that last for 24 months.
12 month Contracts
With a 12 month contract, the monthly rates for using the service will usually be greater than those available on longer contracts. As the mobile phone market changes so rapidly, newer, more convenient handsets and deals may become available within a year; the main advantage of signing up for a 12 month contract is that should you want to upgrade or change to a different phone or contract after a year, you wont be locked into a lengthy plan when you could be getting a better deal elsewhere.
Sometimes you will have the option to upgrade your handset or sign up to another tariff before the end of the contract, usually after the majority for the contract's lifespan has already elapsed, after for example, 10 months of the contact are up, so if a new handset becomes available and you want to be able to switch phones quickly, a 12 month contract will give you the flexibility to do this.
• Flexible, easy to upgrade
• Change your phone, re-sign contract before the 12 months are up
• Better rates available on longer contracts
18 month Contracts
Customers who sign up for 18 month long contracts benefit from cheaper monthly payments which generally work out to be better value for money in the long term than shorter contracts. An 18 month contract is ideal if you know how much you are likely to be using your phone each month.
However, 18 months is a long commitment, and so before signing up for one, carefully examine your phone habits, how much do you call/text a month, think about how long you will be using your phone for – if you starting a new job, or heading off to university your phone usage may well change within the 18-month contract, and you may want to upgrade, which is harder to do than when on an 12-month contract.
Some networks will allow you to re-sign a contract early, within 2 to 4 months of the end of the contract, but should you do that the surplus months will end up being added on to the end of the new contract. For example, if you switched contracts on the same network after having seen through 16 months of an 18 month contract, those 2 months would be added on to the end of the new contract.
• Great value for money, save on monthly bills
• Useful if you want to upgrade after a year or so
• Ideal for regular phone users
• Not as flexible as a shorter contract
24 month Contract
The main benefit of signing up for a 24 month contract is that you will have access to the biggest discounts available on the market, allowing you to make huge savings on your monthly outgoings.
The main disadvantage of taking out a plan of this length is obvious – you will be obligated to stay with one network provider for at least 2 years from the moment you sign up. This will be a problem if a new phone or handset that you like the look of becomes available.
Therefore, a 24 month contract is only really for those who know that they will be using their mobile phone frequently, and will not require to change or upgrade their handset for a long time, although many providers will allow you upgrade under certain conditions (usually involving contract extensions as described above) after periods as early as 11 months into the contract.
People who want a phone to be a 'phone' phone primarily for calling and texting or an email-enabled handset might want to invest in a contract of this length, as their phone habits are unlikely to change over the period of the contract – users interested in phones with MP3 and camera features and other peripheral functions would be better off signing up for a shorter contract if they want the flexibility to upgrade.
• Best value for money, save large amounts on monthly bills
• Ideal for regular users who know who/when they will call each month
• Not as flexible as a shorter contract
General Contract Information – Things to consider when signing up for a contract
Changing your phone? Ask for your PAC Code – If you are changing networks and providers then you can request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) from the customer services department of your current network provider.
A PAC code will allow you to keep you number and transfer it to a new handset if you are changing to a different network, so this way you can keep in touch with your contacts and won't have to waste credit sending people your new number. This process can take time, often around two weeks, and in the meantime you are stuck with a temporary number.
Your current network provider is obliged to supply you with a PAC code normally within 2 working days of your request.
Make sure the figures add up – a contract offering 1000 minutes a month to other people on the same network may seem like a good offer, but are you really going to use them? How about calls to other mobiles and landlines?
Similarly, lots of off-peak minutes are great, but what if you want to make on-peak calls? You might find 250 any network/any time minutes are much more useful than 1000 off-peak minutes.
Monitor your usage – You might think that because you have hundreds of free minutes a month, you are able to easily call up hundreds of people and not worry about how long you are on the phone for. It is surprising how quickly 100 minutes can evaporate after making a few calls. You may end up using your phone a lot more than you normally would if you were on PAYG, as one you have exceeded your set amount of minutes/texts, you will still be able to use your phone, albeit at a more expensive rate – because of this perceived 'safety net' of free calls and texts, some users end up paying more out each month that they thought they would.
Other Questions
What do I do if I already have a mobile phone?
If you already have a mobile phone you will be able to change to another network whilst retaining your existing mobile number. If you like the phone you have but want to change to a different network then you can just buy a SIM-only package which should be quick and easy to activate. In some cases, with contract phones, the handset remains the property of the network and so you will be unable to switch cards – check the terms and conditions of your network and your contract.
What is VoIP?
VoIP is an acronym standing for Voice over Internet Protocol, and is a technology that allows for the transmission of voice conversations over the Internet, or a similar network.
Many mobile handsets, such as the Motorola A910, the Nokia 6136 and the Samsung P200, which can be taken with a BT Fusion or Orange Unique Phone contract, are VoIP enabled, meaning that calls can be made and received over the standard mobile network, and over a landline connection via wireless router such as the BT Home Hub or Orange Livebox, in an internet café, or in a Wi-Fi hotspot, such as a BT Openzone, set up in a public area.
Since VoIP technology uses the Internet to relay information, VoIP handsets come with services which allow users to use services such as MSN and AIM, send and receive email, and retrieve and view documents.
Can I Bluetooth something to a Wi-Fi enabled handset and vice versa?
Not really, as the two different technology platforms, although similar in terms of functionality, send information to other devices on different radio frequencies, so the only way that this could be achieved is if that both of the devices had both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology installed.
