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Everything you need to choose a mobile phone
Got a question that isn’t answered here? Drop us a line at mobiles@reevoo.com

Mobile phones are one of those things that pushy telesales people love to try and flog. Read this buying guide so you can make up your own mind about what’s important to you and then read reviews on the phones that meet your criteria.

Which is the best network provider?

Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, 3 and O2 are the current UK networks. Every time you use your phone to have a conversation, send or receive text or multimedia messages or browse the web, it goes through your network. Virtual networks, like Virgin Mobile or those operated by supermarkets, use other networks to provide coverage. If you live in a built-up area, you shouldn’t have much trouble with any network’s coverage so the next thing to think about it the charges.
If you don’t live in a major city, it’s a good idea to check that you will get good coverage where you’ll need it. There’s generally not a lot between the major networks in terms of coverage but click the names below to be sure:
O2
T-Mobile
Orange
Vodafone
Virgin Mobile
3

Virtual providers do quite well on coverage because they aren’t restricted to using their own networks. Tesco, for instance, boasts 99% coverage of UK population. The weakest areas for all networks are those least populated, like North Scotland, North England, West Wales, Cornwall and Devon. Most networks have gaps in these areas and typically only provide 2G coverage so you can text and make calls but won’t be able to use video calls or fast web-browsing.

Contract or Pay as You Go?

Pay-as-you-go (Pre-pay) – Flexibility
Advantages:

  • Doesn’t tie you into a contract
  • Doesn’t need credit checks
  • You can top-up as you need to
  • Can customise with add-ons (e.g. a discounted bundle of text messages)

Disadvantages:

  • You have to buy the phone
  • You get less texts/minutes for your money, which this isn’t good for extensive users
  • To keep you on, some networks require a minimum top-up every month

Contract – Value
Advantages:

  • You don’t have to bother topping-up because you get inclusive text/calls/data services
  • Top-of-the-range phones are either “free” or heavily subsidised
  • You get more text/minutes for your money

Disadvantages:

  • You’re tied in for typically 12-24 months
  • Regardless of what happens to the handset, you will still have to keep paying your monthly tariff till the end of the contract
  • You usually have to pay more per minute/text when you exceed your allowance
  • 0845 and 0800 numbers are often charged at the network’s standard rate, if not a lot more

Can I keep my number?

If you’re moving from one contract to another, even across networks, then the answer is, “Yes”. All you need is your PAC code, which you can get by calling your current network’s customer services. You then need to tell this code to your new network.
If you’re switching from pay-as-you-go to contract, you may not be able to keep your number. At the time of writing, Orange is the only network to allow customers to migrate a number from pay-as-you-go to contract. Orange and T-mobile are the only networks to allow customers to transfer their pay-as-you-go number form another network to theirs.

Which is the best tariff for me?

With literally thousands of tariff/handset combinations out there, choosing the right contract can be pretty daunting! Before you choose a tariff, decide how much, what for and when you are likely to use your phone. A unlimited text messages and unlimited minutes of talk time might sound desirable but why waste money on something you’re not going to use? Choose a tariff weighted more heavily towards texts, minutes or downloads depending on how you use your phone.

A study by T-Mobile (2006) found that 61% of us regularly exceed our monthly allowance of text and minutes. This costs UK mobile user a collective £132m a month (that could mean you spend an extra £20!). The message here is to choose your tariff carefully! Although you may decide how much you are going to use your phone, it can be hard to maintain stable usage each month, especially if you can’t keep track of how much you’ve used so far. You could keep an audit in your phone, such as saving sent text messages in your Outbox and emptying that and your Call Log every month. Some networks, like T-Mobile, will text you to let you know how much allowance you have left. Secondly, if you go over your allowance, you will still be charged at the tariff rate, unlike most tariffs that charge on average 2p more per text and 18-40p per minute.
Remember that a contract is legally binding so find out if you can change your tariff once you have committed.

NEW: Let us find a tariff for you!

If you’re still not sure, we’re here to help!
Simply contact us with as much or little information as you know. You might tell us you’re more of a texter than a talker. Maybe you specifically want the new Nokia N96 on Vodafone but don’t want to spend more than £30 a month. We’ll then search all the major network providers for tariffs that meet your needs. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll do our best to help as soon as we can!
Contact us: mobiles@reevoo.com

What free stuff can I get with my phone?

It’s now quite fashionable for retailers to offer great sounding gifts, like laptops and PSPs, when you take up a contract with them. Although these kinds of offers change all the time, retailers have been giving discounts for a long time, such as 12 months half-price. At the time of writing, the average “Free Gift” contract is £35 a month for 18 months, which is £630. If you take a 12 months half-price offer that’s £420; a saving of £210 so it’s worth checking the value of any gift offer.

How can I save more money on my tariff?

You will often be entitled to an upgrade after two thirds of the contract is up. If you take an upgrade, you get a new phone and start a whole new contract. You should therefore only do this if you are still happy with your network choice. The little-known alternative is to say that you don’t want the new phone but want its cost deducted from your bills (I just did this and saved £160).
You can also save money by looking at other networks when your current contract is nearing its end. Network providers always start by offering the best deals to new customers rather than trying to keep their existing ones. Sometimes, just saying you might move to another network, or asking for your PAC code, is enough for your existing provider to offer you a better deal.

How much will it cost to use my phone abroad?

Where you can use your phone depends on its Bands. International roaming is a service offered by network providers to allow you to use your phone abroad. Your UK mobile provider won’t have coverage outside of the UK so you ‘roam’ on the foreign network. For loaning their network, the foreign provider charges your UK network, who passes on the cost to you. This applies for both making and receiving calls and text messages. Receiving a call is generally cheaper than making one but exact details can be found in your price plan. For a comparison of the major networks, check out the Eurotariffs on the European Commission site. Some networks offer tariffs, such as Vodafone Passport, that are specifically tailored for frequent travellers. You can also get good deals buying a pre-pay chip while on holiday and using that, but remember that this won’t have your usual number.

Should I insure my phone?

If you don’t have insurance and you have a contracted phone that comes to an untimely end, be prepared to buy a new handset as you will still have to pay your monthly tariff till the end of the contract.
Mobile phone insurance is available from normal insurance companies as well as mobile phone shops. For a few pounds a month, good insurance should cover you in the event of theft, accidental damage, loss and fraud. Be certain to compare the details of a few deals from different companies and always examine the small print of any agreement before signing.

Which is the best mobile phone?

Mobile phones are at the forefront of technology and it can be really hard to keep up with the pace. Some of these so-called technological advances can be just plain gimmicky but others are almost certain to change the way we communicate, receive news, listen to music, browse the web and much more. A great example of this is 3G and the pioneering Apple iPhone and other Smart phones, which are set to revolutionise the world in your palm.

On the other hand… You may just want to make calls from something that doesn’t come with an instruction manual as thick as a phone directory. If this is the case, why not take a look at our reviews of Basic mobile phones?

To help you decide what to buy, Reevoo has come up with some quick ways to identify what’s right for you so just have a go and see if you can find your perfect phone.

Special Requirements

There are a few extra things you could consider to fulfil your individual needs.
If you have a hearing aid you will probably have to use its inductive coupler loop to reduce the terrible buzzing you will hear when trying to use most mobile phones.
Text messaging is a great form of telecommunication for the profoundly deaf so look for a phone with an easy to use keypad such as the standard >QWERTY style of computer keyboards.
The visually impaired find that some phones, like Blackberrys , are extremely helpful because they have adjustable font size and large screens.

Glossary

Whether you’re interested in the latest cutting edge technology, great style or you just want to make and receive calls, your mobile’s features (or lack or them) are what define it.

So here are the definitions:

Band – The most common of these are dual-, tri- and quad- and literally tell you the number of frequency bands the phone supports. If you buy a dualband phone in the UK, it generally works here and the rest of Europe, whereas triband will allow you to also use your phone in the US. If you are a regular traveller, we suggest quadband, which stretches to cover parts of Asia too.
Bluetooth – A short-range radio frequency that allows data transfer between anything with a Bluetooth connection. These can included mobile phones, computers, printers and cameras. Bluetooth can be used on your mobile to transfer files between phones or your computer and it can also be used with a Bluetooth hands-free headset. A Bluetooth headset fits on your ear and is a combination of a microphone and earphone. It transmits and receives audio when in range with your phone so you can have a hands-free conversation.
2G – Second Generation. Most phones without EDGE or HSDPA are considered 2G. This functionality allows you to send/receive basic text, multimedia (MMS) and phone calls.
EDGE – Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution allows faster, more reliable mobile phone transmissions. As well as improving sound quality, EDGE can be used for Internet connection and multimedia services such as video calling. Although technically a 3G technology, it is unofficially considered as 2.75G due to being slightly slower.
HSDPA – High-Speed Downlink Packet Access is a 3G (Third Generation) mobile technology. It allows very high data transfer rates and capacity, greatly increasing the speed and quality of mobile Internet and multimedia, such as music and video.
Instant Messaging – A form of real-time communication, like MSN or AIM on computers. Rather than sending and receiving one message at a time, instant messaging allows a kind of two-way text-based conversation to develop on your phone.
Java – If your phone has Java, you will be able to receive and run applications like games with colour and sound.
XHTML Browser – Extensible HyperText Markup Language Browser allows you to browse websites as you would on a home computer so you see the site as intended.
MMS – Multimedia Messaging Service allows sending and receiving of messages containing images, audio and video
MP3/ATRAC Playback – This means your mobile will play music of one of these formats. MP3s are the common format of music on iPods and MP3 Players whereas ATRAC is the Sony-branded version of compressed music files.
Operating System – This is the software that manages all the resources and other software on you mobile. An example of an operating system is Windows, just like on a computer. The most up-to-date version of Windows Mobile is currently version 6 with a new release scheduled in 2008.
Polyphonic – Refers to ring tones. As opposed to monophonic, this means your phone can play multiple notes at a time. The result is a more dynamic and melodic sound.
Realtone – Sometimes called a truetone or mastertone because it is a ring tone of similar or equal quality to an MP3. Great if you can’t get enough of your favourite song!
SAR – Specific absorption rate, is an indication of how much radiation you are exposed to while using a mobile phone. The higher the SAR, the more radiation is emitted. The four UK network providers have voluntarily agreed that all phones on sale in the UK should be below 2.0 W/kg in 10g of tissue, as recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection. If you want to know more about radiation from phones and masts, see the Direct Gov site.
SMS – Short Messaging Service often called text messaging allows short messages between mobile phones. SMS is frequently used to refer to the message itself.
USB – Universal Serial Bus is universal socket allowing the transfer of compatible data between various peripherals. One use of this in mobile phones is to transfer music or other files from a computer.
Wi-Fi – Wireless Ethernet uses the same radio frequencies as Bluetooth but has a stronger connection. The common use of Wi-Fi on mobile phones is to connect to the internet.