Best mobile phone contracts?

[Fiona1993]

Looking for a new phone contract before college in september.

Heard of someone coming back from their first sea phase with a ?400 phone bill and don't want to end up in the same situation :/

Anyone know which networks are good/cheap for calling when abroad etc.?
Don't know where i ll be sailing yet or how often i ll get in port and stuff but was just trying to get an idea

Or is it best to just send smoke signals

Thankyou!!!

[size4riggerboots]

Smoke signals!! Or just don't use your phone a lot, when I go away I leave my voicemail with a message saying that I'm off galivanting on the high seas so don't leave me a message, email me or get me on fb. (I think mine still says I'm in the Caribbean ATM... must do something about that...) Also DO NOT use the internet on your phone, unless you have a wifi signal and are logged on to that. Texts are cheaper than calls, as long as you keep things brief. Explain to your nearest and dearest before you go away that you simply can't afford to go calling them all the time, and use the ship's calling cards as much as possible.

[CharlieDelta]

Lot of people have the PAYG Blackberry with O2 - top up something like ?15 a month and you get free 3G worldwide. Might be worth considering.

If it looks like you'll spend a lot of time out of the country, go for PAYG unless you find a contract with absolutely amazing roaming rates (if there is one, tell me!). Otherwise there's a good chance you'll get a shock when your first bill comes in. I have an iPhone on contract with O2, good rate because I've been with them quite a while, but O2 now cap data roaming charges at ?40 which is a handy safety net, and I was disciplined enough not to use it for calls.

[Ash]

I've got a blackberry on a bog standard tenner a month t-mobile contract but I have the option of cancelling the contract with 28 days notice at no charge. Its not amazing but it does what I need it to. I'm going to be away for a while so what i'll probably do is cancel the contract and change my number to a payg simcard.

[alistairuk]

It depends where you are likely to be;

I use o2 with a very old iPhone tariff which gives me international traveller service and awesome roaming rates - so with the exception of data costs (if I turn it on) I don't normally get charged more than ?50 a month (my contract is ?35 normally).

If you are only going to be around the med... '3' are very good because as long as you are connected to the '3' network they don't charge you any extra for being abroad ('3' is available in Italy and random other countries).

A lot of people choose to get a local sim card if they are going to be in a country a lot. This works out far far cheaper and a "pay as you go" equivalent is available in most countries.

[ETwhat?]

vodaphone passport is good for all europe, no extra charge 75p connection for each call and then it comes of your minuites of the contract.

some of the places do a reasonable international packages as bolt ons, but really work out how often your going to be using it. might be worth getting a payg for now until you know where your going to be sailing.

as for getting mobile sims, the internet dongles are good value but often a payg from a differnt country will cost a fortune to call a uk number so you dont win

[antijanner]

If you want the internet for free, I recently bought a Kindle 3G, to be honest if you want the basic email/tweet function and just base contact stuff, I'd get that. Its saved me the money it cost to buy it in the first 2 trips

[size4riggerboots]

Awesome, I am currently awaiting delivery of one of them!!

[Fiona1993]

Thanks, you're a useful bunch i think i'm gonna go with the PAYG route for now ...
And then i ll just beg, borrow or steal my way to getting a kindle
thanks again gang

[Randomist]

If you want the internet for free, I recently bought a Kindle 3G

Know anything about iPad rates overseas?

[alistairuk]

Know anything about iPad rates overseas?

iPads on UK contracts / sims don't work abroad. (according to O2 it's because they can't send u a txt message to warn you you will get charged - ****ing ofcom regulations). You can always just stick a normal sim card in them with data allowance though, but I just plonk myself down in a bar / cafe and use their wifi - outside the UK pretty much everywhere has free wifi.

The kindle 3G working worldwide (for free) I only found out last contract when one of the shoppies had 1... It's seriously worth considering - even if it is a pain to use, it's good enough for email and Facebook.

[size4riggerboots]

?350?!?!?! Bloody hell mate. I thought my ?95 bills were bad! What were you doing to rack up that much?

My kindle is in a van on it's way to me, I'm so excited!!

[Faust]

I use a kindle when abroad and get into gMail and Facebook fine, just takes a little bit longer than usual.

For the extra cost, it is well worth getting the 3G version.

[size4riggerboots]

Got mine!! *Bounces with excitement*

[CharlieDelta]

Did you get a little light for it too? Hehe.

I'm not sure about Kindle-ing... It's a great idea but I like proper books. Creates a slight issue when I'm getting my parents to act as a storage facility.