iPhone now or wait for Orange etc

[ajo]

Im planning to go to Australia very soon and having an iPhone with me would be great. My Phone is on its way out and my 4 year old iPod I think needs replacing and the battery probably wouldn't last much of the flight at all.

The thing is, is weather to wait a little longer or just cope with what I now have and wait till next year and vodaphone do something.

There isnt much indication as to when Orange will release the pricing etc.

O2's 18 month contracts are a little long, and it is way more than what I am paying now for really not much more minutes or texts.

Any recomendations?

 

[molala]

Im planning to go to Australia very soon and having an iPhone with me would be great. My Phone is on its way out and my 4 year old iPod I think needs replacing and the battery probably wouldn't last much of the flight at all.

The thing is, is weather to wait a little longer or just cope with what I now have and wait till next year and vodaphone do something.

There isnt much indication as to when Orange will release the pricing etc.

O2's 18 month contracts are a little long, and it is way more than what I am paying now for really not much more minutes or texts.

Any recomendations?

If you are going to Australia, I suggest buying the iPhone from the Apple Store there. You can get it factory unlocked. When you come back, you can sign up for the sim-only contracts (either 1 month or 1 year or 18 months) which are a very good deal.

 

[ajo]

are there any drawbacks with getting a month by month sim with the iPhone.

Will I miss out on anything that a contract will give me?

 

[amirite]

If you are going to Australia, I suggest buying the iPhone from the Apple Store there. You can get it factory unlocked. When you come back, you can sign up for the sim-only contracts (either 1 month or 1 year or 18 months) which are a very good deal.

It would cost much more to buy it unlocked from Australia.

And buying an iPhone in the UK on o2 and using it in Australia would cost you a lot in international data charges.

 

[ajo]

They work out more expensive from Australia but then again as you say they are unlocked.

Im thinking though with contacts you will be able to upgrade wont you?

 

[ajo]

It would cost much more to buy it unlocked from Australia.

And buying an iPhone in the UK on o2 and using it in Australia would cost you a lot in international data charges.

I wont be using it to make calls. Just for wifi where I am staying and around and il be turning 3G OFF!!!

 

[OllyW]

are there any drawbacks with getting a month by month sim with the iPhone.

Will I miss out on anything that a contract will give me?

You won't get Visual Voicemail with a SIM only deal. You'll also save about £15 a month on your bill.

They work out more expensive from Australia but then again as you say they are unlocked.

Im thinking though with contacts you will be able to upgrade wont you?

You can only upgrade once the contract has finished. You have to pay the balance owing on your contract if you want to upgrade before the 18 months is up.

 

[ajo]

so wouldnt it be cheaper in the long run overall to upgrade rather than paying outright for a new handset?

 

[OllyW]

so wouldnt it be cheaper in the long run overall to upgrade rather than paying outright for a new handset?

What do you mean by upgrade?

If you get the iPhone on contract, the price of the phone is subsidised and you pay the subsidy off as part of your monthly fee for the duration of your contract. If you want to break the terms of the contract you have to pay the sum of all the outstanding monthly payments. Once the contract has finished you are free to "upgrade" to a new phone and start a new contract if you wish.

You need to find out how much the contract free iPhone costs in Australia and how much you will be paying every month SIM only and compare it to the O2 iPhone contracts to see which way is the cheapest.

 

[ajo]

upgrading to a new phone end of contract enabling you to get a cheaper newer phone is beneficial to me.

However, using quidco you can get on vodaphone 600 mins and unlimited texts for £9 a month (12 month contract) which seems very good but then you loose the 3G and need to get an unlocked phone.

Whyyyy so many choices!!