Mobile Phone Tariffs
filed in Phone News on Sep.17, 2009
Comparing Mobile Phone Tariffs To Meet Your Needs
Never before and never again! you’ve come to the right place! If you are looking for a better deal. Have you ever wondered whether you’re actually getting the best value for your money?, with many of us using our mobile phones to call or text every single day. Knowing which deal is the most suited to your own personal needs can be a tad tricky, with so many different tariffs on the market. I’m going to run through some of the best deals around to suit everyone needs, to give you a helping hand.
Cheap and cheerful
Pay-as you-go is usually your best option, If you don’t use your mobile too often and simply want something cheap and cheerful. Asda offering the best pay-as you-go deal on the market, where each text will only cost 4p, while calls will cost just 8p per minute. Another great deal to consider is with Tesco. You’ll also be given either double or triple your top-up, if you sign up to receive a free SIM card. So if you top-up by £10, you’ll be given another £10, if you top-up by £15, you’ll receive an extra £30, and if you top-up by £20, you’ll receive an extra £40!. Calls cost 20p per minute, while texts cost 10p each, but for your five favorite UK numbers the price will be halved to 10p per minute and 5p respectively.

Mobile Phone Tariff
If you’d prefer to sign up to a monthly plan. The fabulous Orange 5 only costs £4.89 a month and includes 50 anytime minutes as well as 50 texts. You can get a free phone thrown into the bargain, and you still don’t have to pay through the nose. You will get a free phone, as well as a replacement after 18 months. The only drawback is that you’ll have to sign up for 36 months. You could also consider the Orange 10 plan which costs £9.79 a month, that includes 300 texts and 100 minutes. Moreover, because you’ve signed up to Orange you can make the most of two for one cinema tickets every Wednesday and two for one at Pizza Express*! Bonus!
Medium users
If only prepared to pay around £15 to £20 a month, you can pick up some great deals . Furthermore many providers give a basic phone for free, or a slightly better model if you pay a bit extra.
Here’s e top providers are currently offering for around £20 a month:
| Network |
Tariff |
Cost per month |
Minutes |
Texts |
Length of contract |
| 3 |
Mix & Match 700 |
£21 |
350 |
350 |
18 months |
| O2 |
Online 20 |
£19.58 |
75 |
250 |
18 months** |
| Orange |
Dolphin 25 |
£19.57 |
200 |
Unlimited |
18 months |
| T-Mobile |
Combi 20 |
£20 |
200 |
400 |
18 months |
| Virgin |
Virgin £22 |
£22 |
250 |
Unlimited |
18 months |
| Vodafone |
Talk plan |
£20 |
100 |
500 |
24 months |
* * Or 200 minutes and 400 texts if sign up to 24 month contract.
With its Mix and Match plans , one minute equals one text, 3 offers great value for money. So you can use any combination of the two to make up your total allowance of 700.
But, if you’re a true textaholic and need unlimited texts message , the Virgin £22 and the Orange Dolphin 25 are definitely worth considering.
There is another way
Over the past year, many providers have introduced SIM only deals these offer great value for money. you’ll get many more minutes/texts for your money. But You won’t get a new phone.
Furthermore , you don’t have to get tied into an 18 or 24 month contract. Instead, you can choose to be on a 30-day rolling contract. So you can switch at the month’s notice if something better comes along.
Here’s the big networks are offering for £15 a month:
| Network |
Tariff |
Cost per month |
Minutes |
Texts |
Extras |
| 3 |
SIM £15 |
£15 |
300 |
Unlimited |
Unlimited 3 to 3 calls and free Skype to Skype |
| O2 |
Online Simplicity 15 |
£14.69 |
300 |
Unlimited |
Unlimited O2 to O2 calls |
| Orange |
Dolphin 15 SIM |
£14.68 |
200 |
Unlimited |
2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Wednesdays |
| T-Mobile |
Solo 15 |
£15 |
350 |
Unlimited |
|
| Virgin |
Virgin £15 |
£15 |
300 |
Unlimited |
|
| Vodafone |
SIM only |
£15 |
300 |
Unlimited |
If you’re a keen texter, all of these deals come with unlimited texts, this could be the perfect solution!. However if you also like to chat fairly often, T-Mobile’s Solo 15 deal should be right up your street, offering 350 call-time minutes. This could be the best choice for you.
Maybe you need to checking out what network your friends are on before deciding. Because O2 is offering unlimited O2 to O2 calls while 3 is offering free Skype to Skype as well as unlimited 3 to 3 calls as part of the deal
The whole hog
Finally, here are some of the best deals for heavier users, if you rarely spend any time away from your phone:
| Network |
Tariff |
Cost per month |
Minutes |
Texts |
Length of contract |
| O2 |
Online 45 |
£44.05 |
1200* |
1000 |
18 months |
| Orange |
Dolphin 45 |
£39.14 |
1200 |
Unlimited |
18 months |
| T-Mobile |
Combi 40 |
£40 |
1000 |
Unlimited |
18 months |
| Virgin |
Virgin £35 |
£35 |
800 |
Unlimited |
18 months |
| Vodafone |
Talk plan |
£40 |
1200 |
Unlimited |
24 months |
* Unlimited O2 to O2 calls.
I think Orange comes up trumps, offering 1,200 minutes as well as unlimited texts for just under £40 a month on an 18 month contract.
Offering 1,200 minutes as well as unlimited texts for just under £40 a month on an 18 month contract. Make Orange comes up trumps.
Tesco’s £30 a month plan might be right up your street , if you’d prefer to maximize your calls or text limits and are happy to keep your current phone, offering you unlimited texts, calls and internet! (Up to a fair usage limit of £300).
I hope that information can help you to choose the best mobile phone tariffs to meet your needs.







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