General discussions : General : is it better to upgrade or start on a fresh contract?
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Hi,
Im on O2 uk and my contract runs out mid december. To be honest i was thinking about switching back to Orange (cus most my mates have)... but because ive been on O2 for 12 months they are offering me 20% off my next tariff a month ...
Also ive been looking at tariffs as of late and all of them suck big time... but thats not my main concern.... previously, ive always started a new 12 month contract with a new phone. I really want the Samsung V200 that ive read is being released here in dec (is that true?).. or mb the P800 if i have enough cash (im lying to myself there)... and i know they will both come out on 02 before Orange for a fact...
So, with a 20% discount (so im told) and the possibilty of getting the v200 it seems like my best option is to stay with O2 for a second year.... However.. this means i have to 'upgrade' to get a new handset ... something that i dont really understand.... and could quite possibly cost me more than starting a fresh contract.
My options...
1) sack 02. the network is crap and go back to Orange..... all me mates are on Orange but have to wait 'time and a half' for new fones.
2) take this 20% off offer and upgrade my handset with 02. is this good or bad...??? get an xnet tariff.
3) screw everyone and buy the fone offline.... resorting to 'topup cards' with pay as you go sim..
This all sounds a bit mixed up... but what i would like is some advice on upgrading handsets... is it worth doing? what am i likely to be charged?
note: i dont care about losing my current number (heck i cant even remember it!!) and my average phone bill is around £35 ....thats including line rental and insurance!
Cheers!!
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Posted: 2002-11-30 18:48:00
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Hi,
Upgrading just refers to the handset which is offered at a reduced rate (or free) when you renew your contract. O2 seems to be offering this phone upgrade to you along with an extra 20% reduction off your monthly tariff/bill when you renew. This is good but see if there are any restrictions to what handsets you may upgrade to with this offer (they may want to offer the tariff discount to offload some old Nokia 3410's etc.) and you may not be allowed to use this offer with the handset you want.
As your friends are on Orange, it'll cost them more on cross-network charges to call you unless their plans give them cheap cross-network charges in their inclusive minutes (although after their minutes are used up they will be paying a premium to call O2 so you may get fewer calls). The same applies to your plan on O2, calling Orange users. Will it be cheaper for you to move to orange anyway? Will it cost you more to go on a cross-network plan or are you happy paying more?
Service and coverage aside, Orange also lock their contract phones (unlike O2) although this may not be an issue for you.
Fresh contracts tend to give you better deals if you shop around. See
http://www.dialaphone.co.uk for example. Especially if you're not bothered about your number.
Offline phones are very expensive, if you want a new phone and PAYG then it's an option. Otherwise if you are getting a contract as well, it makes sense to get a subsidised phone with the contract. You also tend to have less choice with PAYG phones, than contract.
Hope this helps.
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Posted: 2002-12-02 15:48:00
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