There’s something really satisfying about getting a really great deal and right now I am feeling that satisfaction. I’ve just got myself a new mobile phone contract and the deal is so sweet I feel the need to do a little bragging (Sorry).
According to industry figures UK mobile phone penetration has reached 118 percent, and while I don’t really understand what that means I do understand the fact that each week in the UK a mind boggling 1.4 billion text messages are sent! But while talk might be cheap, heavily addicted mobile users in the UK know only too well that it’s not that cheap.
My monthly mobile phone bill comes to no less than £35 (just under $70). That might be cheap compared to what many of my friends spend on their contract and top-up pay-as-you-go phones. But after nearly two years paying the same (now out of contract) fee I decided it was time to leave my current provider, Orange, in search of a better deal.
Enter the ‘customer loyalty’ department. While they might sound like the back-door heavies who are employed to beat seven rounds of crap out of you for being disloyal, they’re actually the people who can offer you the best unpublished deals. After a little haggeling with Matthew the ‘customer loyalty agent’ I’m feeling really satisfied with that I think is a really great deal. My new monthly bill will be no higher than £12.50 and for that I’ll get the following:
- 400 Cross network anytime minutes per month
- 1000 text messages per month
- FREE voice mail
- FREE calls to 0800 numbers (enabling me to use dial-out services to overseas locations that might otherwise be very expensive to call – For example calls to the US will only cost me a penny per minute.)
- FREE 8Mb home broadband
- FREE Sony Ericsson Cybershot c902 phone
- FREE 8 GB memory stick for the phone
To Americans that 400 minute deal might not look too special, but in the UK only the person making the call is charged, so if receiving a call or text on a mobile phone doesn’t use up any of your minutes.
1000 WORDS
I actually wasn’t all that bothered about getting a new phone, and choosing one was something of a task. I didn’t want a ‘smart phone’ because I simply don’t want to be tied to my email wherever I am. I considered a GPS enabled phone, but then if I ever find myself lost I could always just go ‘old school’ and ask someone for directions. (Not forgetting every phonebox in the UK will tell you exactly where you are.) Music on my mobile isn’t important as I have an iPod for that, and I don’t think I’ve even looked at the games on any of my previous phones so that is a non starter for me. As I told the ‘loyalty agent’ “I just wanted a phone that rang when someone called me.”
While I shoot most of my photography using a Canon Powershot S80, there have been occasions where I’ve used the camera on my phone. Take for example the picture below of ‘little Jack’ the curious little 1 year old who is loves to press buttons and pull everything out of wallets.
In truth though, the most handy feature I’ve ever had on a mobile was a flashlight on the Sony Ericsson K750i. This feature wasn’t on the K800i but I’m hoping that it might return on the C902. After all, cameras and GPS might be great features, but they count for nothing if you can see where the hell you’re going, right?
Wrote the following comment on Aug 7, 2008 at 5:15 am
I totally had you down as an iPhone man being into your Apple’s. I had this image in my mind that you would be always plugged into the net, but it’s nice to know you like to unplug sometimes too.
Cute picture of “little Jack” by the way.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 7, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Unfortunately, phone boxes are rapidly disappearing in the US.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 7, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Ironically I see more red telephone boxes in Houston than I do in England. But the funny thing here is that of the crowned red telephone boxes that are left, those are now listed buildings. Part of this countries national heritage! :-)
Wrote the following comment on Aug 7, 2008 at 4:36 pm
i think that’s really cool that only the person making the call is charged!! That would encourage people to bother you a whole lot less. hahah. if only we had that over here! oh, and i agree w/ doug – i thought you surely were an iPhoner! it would also be awesome to have a flashlight on your phone. my screen is so bright that i use it as a flashlight though.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 7, 2008 at 10:25 pm
What a darling little boy! Is that your son?
Wrote the following comment on Aug 9, 2008 at 5:26 pm
No little Jack isn’t my son. He’s the son of a friend of mine.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 10, 2008 at 6:15 am
yeah my deal right now is not the best… but i’m happy with the service.. and that has got to count for something in my book.
i think its wonderful that you guys get free in coming coalls… i wish that were the case with my minutes but the american cell companies are apparently a little stingier then yours… or we’re just uninformed and dont know what to demand from our cell phone providers.. hmmm
Wrote the following comment on Aug 10, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It should be noted that calling a cell phone in the UK is expensive and that the costs vary depending on what network the person is on, which is of course something the caller cannot possibly know.
In the UK cell phone numbers always start with an 07 whereas in the States your cellphone numbers are the same as fixed geographical numbers, so there are advantages and disadvantages with both systems.
I will say however, that UK cell phone companies are constantly in trouble for various things like misleading tarrifs, and the high cost of calls. Ofcom, the telephone watchdog, seems to have a running battle with the UK cell phone market which remains one of the most lucrative cell phone markets in the world – not bad for a little island – but that surely tells us something!
Wrote the following comment on Aug 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Thanks for the words and thoughts [on my blog]. I havent had any closure from any of this. If she is found to be lying- there is a conviction in her future. I do know that he keeps in contact w/her, so if she has to go to jail that will be a little high five that both of them may suffer. And I dont get it- she is sooooo nasty. I think I showed you a pic of her once. I inherited the fam pc when he left. And he had alot of very unflattering pics of her. bleh!
My phone contract is up in a few months. I pay $109 for 3 phones a month. Considering switching back to AT&T they have better deals and better phones. I text alot so I am considering a Side Kick. Only prob is that it has to fit my in my pocket. Its my life line to my 16 y/o sometimes lol! btw….Are you still coming out here next month?
Wrote the following comment on Aug 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Simon you are starting to sound very American there, calling your MOBILE PHONE and cell phone. It is a mobile and always will be :)
Wrote the following comment on Aug 10, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I have to speak American mate because the yanks are so easily confused ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Aug 11, 2008 at 11:09 am
What a gorgeous little boy! ;)
So jealous of your phone deal, i am a pay as you go girl and although i get a good-ish deal for pay as you go (top up by £10 and get 300 texts) it is still pretty rubbish really!!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 10, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Not that anyone is reading this post anymore, but I just reduced the bill yet further with Orange to just £10.50 a month! Amazing :-)