Markus

I've got a Nokia 5110, and am on vodafone pay as you talk (original) tarrif. i'm using the phone more now than i used to, plus the phone is causing me some shame poor reception, can't use in europe, or USA, etc.

So the question is, what to do?

A new phone is obviously a good start, but which one? I'm not going to surf on it, but WAP might be cool. I need one I can use in the UK, europe and potentially the USA. any phone recomendations?

What about pricing plan, looks like I gotta come off the pay as you talk.

Guess I should get my *** down to carphone whorehouse and ask them for advice? but thought I'd ask my internet buddies first.

Sparks

Just got a 6510 Nokia, monthly contract.. paid £20 for it. GPRS Modem, WAP, infra red, calender appointment thingy and comes with software so you can share the calender onto the PC.. other stuff like logo generators as well. Its pretty similar to an 8310 but (i think ) has a better case. Got a radio too that you can listen to via the handsfree kit. I bought it cos I liked the look of it better than the 8310 but I have been told its more aimed at "business users" and the 8310 is more for "personal users" whatever that means as they are pretty similar in functionality. I would think they both have capability for foreign networks.

If you want to stay on PAYG I think you can get an 8310 for about £150, have not seen the 6510 on PAYG.

Markus

Sparks, who's your 'provider'? voda? o2?

IanW

Dont forget if you are going to be in the USA you will need a 'Tri-Band' phone, I think some of the more expensive Nokia's are.

Markus

Ian,
yup, good point, must be triband.

Sparks

provider is Vodafone.

Nicked from the nokia website...

"Dual Band Operation
EGSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 900/1800 dual-band networks in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. Automatic switching between the bands. "

Thats for 6510, so I guess it wont work for you in the states will it ?

Have a look at the nokia site as its quite good for running through the phones specs.. www.nokia.co.uk

Diesel

Get the Nokia 8890 - it is DUAL band; one for GSM & the other band for USA. Dont think it logs onto Orange/T Mobile (PCN) type transmitters when roaming, but have never found this a prob around Europe. May get more marginal in country areas where you dont want to be disturbed anyway!

This remains the best looking phone avail & slips in yer shirt pocket. Wap & GPRS are all uneccessary marketing bollox, and I am yer techno junkie! I dont need e-mail in the bath in Tuscany! Leave me alone!!!!!!

GEJL

The Ericsson T39 is worth a look: Tri-band, infra-red, GPRS, bluetooth... Or if you'e feeling flash, the T68 (I think) has the above plus a colour screen.

Brendan Hughes

Pete - Pete Lewis! Where are you?!

rik1471

gregh: you don't work for Ericsson do you

Matty B

Markus

Get yourself down to a Vodafone Retail shop* (a proper one with expert advice) not the CPW or Phones 4U who know nowt)

You could wait awhile for the next Nokia release of handsets which will include their first proper tri-band phone, the Ericsson T68i the one with the communi-cam as an add-on,(its better than the ordinary T68) or get a Motorola (most are tri-band). Whatever, if you're gonna use the phone a reasonable amount at home and abroad, you should be looking at getting a contract, not a PAYT tin-pot phone You'll get more for your dosh too. Beware of cheap imitation offers in the Press - a Vodafone shop will price match its High Street competitors...

Any more info required, mail me,

Matthew

*(as an insider)

P1Fanatic

There are a new batch of Nokias en route so it could be worth waiting. The 7210 will be tri-band, full colour but IMHO looks pap from the pics on the Nokia website.

Im personally waiting for t68i to be released on Orange as for some reason they take a lot longer to release new handsets (is a good thing as I cant really afford it at the mo). Was tempted to transfer my number to Vodafone but looked at their equivalent price plan to find 50p/min on peak calls to other networks and 30p/min off peak compared to 30p/10p on Orange now.

Matty B

If you wait for the T68i on Orange, you'll wait a long time! There are better tariff price plans on Vodafone that give inclusive minutes to cover any network, any phone, anytime, in the UK at a price cheaper than Orange/O2/T-Mobile/Virgin, (starting at 200 minutes per month for £29.50),

unless you don't use the phone that much, in which case, stick to using a public phone-box

Matthew

carl

Orange do 200 minutes a month to any network for £29.50 too (unlike Voda it includes free itemized billing, free Orange Care insurance, free calls to 0800 numbers, network performance promise -- get talktime credited if your call drops out). I got an 8310 on contract on Everytime 200 for £29.99.

I have tried all the networks and Orange is the least bad.

PS: what's the difference between the T68i and the T68m, the latter of which is already available on Orange?

[Edited by carl - 5/15/2002 9:48:06 PM]

UFO

I wish, £150 x2 maybe.

I paid £270 sim free for mine and thats good.

Plus it's not Tri-Band i'm afraid.

Still a bloody great phone, as is the 6510.

P1Fanatic

Matty B - Ive compared the Orange Talk200 and the Vodafone and the Orange is by far the better value e.g. calls on Voda to other networks are 50/30p per min (on/off peak) and Orange 30/12p per min. I was looking at porting my number to Voda to get a T68i but now Ive seen how much it will cost I think Id rather wait. At least when it does come out it will be better tested albeit with the usual stupid Orange logo (easily solved). AFAIK Orange are still the only network to offer other networks talk plans.

Carl - the T68i is the new incarnation labelled under the new Sony Ericsson Partnership and is a nice aluminium/ metallic blue colour. Has newer (supposedly less laggy) software, allows you to add a camera (dunno if the T68m does this).

http://www.sonyericsson.com/T68i/

P1Fanatic

UFO - the 6510 is my other choice. Such a pity its not a tri-band - Nokia really need to pull their finger out in this respect as more and more people want to use their mobile in the US whether on holiday or business - I know I do.

Sparks

P1

My voda contract is £27.99 month. 50 free text messages, 200 minutes anytime to anything ( land or other networks ) peak call price 15p/min to anything and off peak 5p to anything. Free itemised billing but AFAIK 0800 calls aren't free.

On a slightly different note are t-Mobile ( one2one ) any good now ? they used to be hopeless.. A friend had a connection with them that he rebranded "One2NoOne"

Markus

Ta chaps,
gone for orange everytime 200 (or whatever it's called! ) and a motorola v66e. Mainly cos my friend has one and she rates it, plus it's tri-band and I need to use it in europe and USA.

P1Fanatic

Sparks - what is the name of your tariff? I only ask because I can find no such 200 Tariff that offers those prices per min to other networks. Sure enough u can use your inclusive minutes to call other networks but after that it reverts to the extorianate 50p/30p a min.

[Edited by P1Fanatic - 5/16/2002 2:54:13 PM]

Matty B

SimonC (P1 Fanatic) -
Be assured, there "IS" a 200 minute tariff as part of an under-the-counter offer that is one helluva lot cheaper than Orange - like I said, trust me, I'm in the know.....

if anyone wants more info on it, email me please, and I'll explain how to get it.

alternatively, look at higher line rental tariffs, that will save you more money over a month than those foolish enough to opt for a cheaper line rental, and then pay over the odds for the calls in excess to their inclusive free minutes or calls to other networks. Rarely do people realise that they use more minutes than their rental and could easily go up to the next tariff, save money, and have some minutes spare to carry over for the next (2) months (Vodafone), or 1 month (for Orange).

Don't forget, there are a number of ways to connect to various networks, and the worst cons are those in the newspaper or independant traders (CPW or P4U) whose tariffs start cheap, and then have expensive not part of the price-plan.

Have fun choosing!

Matthew

SimonH

I'll add my query if I may....

I'm on some sort of Vodaphone Leisure blah - not sure which 50 maybe? with 50 free texts or somesuch arranged through SinglePoint.

Trouble is, I travel the world a lot (everywhere and anywhere) as I'm a pilot and often spend long periods out of the country. Usually my phone bill is about £50 a month (incl £15.00 line rental) but every now and then I get BIG bills when I go away; last month's was £657 and the month before as £220 (month in Pakistan...mmmm, carpets....)

I know the big sting is the being-raped-by-foreign-tariffs thing but is there any contract or company I can go to that is more accomodating of the odd (or not so odd) foreign jaunt?

My smoking wallet would certainly appreciate any good ideas

P1Fanatic

Matty B - YHM

Diesel

Vodafone INTERNATIONAL tariff saves about 30% on incoming calls when roaming.

£75 for a few minutes call from Russia recently... Thieves. I'm sure they would make more money with fair prices - this would avoid me the hassle of calling cards & 'call me back on the hotel landline' hassles.

P1Fanatic

Ok thanks to Matty B Ive now sorted myself with an Ericsson T68i on Vodafone saving £50 on the phone and £4.99 a month on my tariff. Just gotta wait 7 days to port my number from Orange to Voda but can use my Orange SIM in my new phone until then.

gregh

T68 has to be the way to go:



T68 Specifications
The T68 is a triple band mobile phone with a full colour screen. It is packed with groundbreaking features including GPRS, Bluetooth™ and EMS. The T68 has advanced calendar and contacts and you can synchronise data in your phone with your PC. In standby mode, you can have a colour background picture of your choice filling the screen. The T68 is available in two tasteful colours - Lunar Grey and Ziroccan Gold.


[Edited by gregh - 5/10/2002 4:45:55 PM]