iPhone Contract Analysis (o2 UK)

[fabian9]

Guys,

With iPhone 4th Gen being around the corner, I'm starting to look at which O2 package is best for my needs.

Not sure if anybody else has analysed this in detail yet, but here is a breakdown of total costs over a 2 year period for the most common O2 iPhone contracts:

300 minutes option:
16GB iPhone 3GS PAYG: £449
24 x £15 simplicity contract (12 months): £360
Total: £809

16GB iPhone 3GS (24 months): £149
24 x £30 iPhone 300 contract: £720
Total: £869


600 minutes option:
16GB iPhone 3GS PAYG: £449
24 x £20 simplicity contract (12 months): £480
Total: £929

16GB iPhone 3GS (24 months): £89
24 x £35 iPhone 600 contract (12 months): £840
Total: £929


900 minutes option:
16GB iPhone 3GS PAYG: £449
24 x £25 simplicity contract: £600
Total: £1049

16GB iPhone 3GS (24 months): £49
24 x £40 iPhone 600 contract: £960
Total: £1009

In other words:

- if you're only after 300 mins every month it's cheaper to buy the phone outright and get on a 12 months iPhone simplicity contract for £15.

- if you're after 600 mins, it doesn't matter which way go.

- if you're after 900 mins, it's cheaper to get the £40 iPhone contract.

Hope this helps anybody else who might be in the same situation as me!

I'm not too familiar with the options on the Orange and Vodafone network - maybe somebody can help out with that info so that this thread will become as useful as possible for everybody?

I'm assuming that the 3G will be discontinued and replaced with the 3GS at the same price. The 4th gen will then replace the 3GS at its current price. (Hopefully this will be true)



Fabian

 

[andybno1]

Orange option (bear with me I'm going off initial on screen info):

16GB 3Gs
payg iPhone cost: £440 (on all plans except £50 topup - £10 off phone)
get £10 credit automatically

£25 a month sim only
24 month contract £600
total cost £1040

Orange only do one sim only deal

Vodafone option (I couoldn't find a payg option on handset):

£25 per month - 24 months
tariff cost: £600
75 minute 250 texts
iPhone cost £189
total cost £789

£30 per month - 24 months
tariff cost: £720
300 minute unlim texts
iPhone cost £149
total cost £869

£35 per month - 24 months
tariff cost: £840
600 minute unlim texts
iPhone cost £89
total cost £929

I hope that's what you were after for the other networks, my orange contract is due to run out in august so thinking of porting out to O2 and getting it on contract for £30/35 as I cant afford the full whack for the handset

 

[JDee]

Go for a business O2 contract.

24 month contract -

iPhone 3G S 16 GB = £75.
£28.51 exc. VAT
300 minutes
100 texts
Unlimited O2 to O2 calls
Free calls for up to 10 landlines
New phone every 12 months if you keep the 24 months contract going.
Choose from one of these:
Unlimited Calls to UK Landlines
Free 100 min anytime
My Europe Extra

Get:
100 extra single minutes: £6.38 exc. VAT
500 extra single minutes: £35.00 exc. VAT
1000 extra single minutes: £55.00 exc. VAT

Unlimited extra texts: £6.50 per month

 

[iPhonetherefore]

Go for a business O2 contract.

24 month contract -

iPhone 3G S 16 GB = £75.
£28.51 exc. VAT
300 minutes
100 texts
Unlimited O2 to O2 calls
Free calls for up to 10 landlines
New phone every 12 months if you keep the 24 months contract going.
Choose from one of these:
Unlimited Calls to UK Landlines
Free 100 min anytime
My Europe Extra

Get:
100 extra single minutes: £6.38 exc. VAT
500 extra single minutes: £35.00 exc. VAT
1000 extra single minutes: £55.00 exc. VAT

Unlimited extra texts: £6.50 per month

what about for those people not running a business?
how many lies do you have to tell O2 in the process? lol

 

[Jeeves]

Guys,

300 minutes option:
16GB iPhone 3GS PAYG: £449
24 x £15 simplicity contract (12 months): £360
Total: £809

16GB iPhone 3GS (24 months): £149
24 x £30 iPhone 300 contract: £720
Total: £869



Fabian

I am in the same position as you, and was thinking about this. However surely if you go on to the contract then after 18 months you are entitled to a the new iPhone (5G) or another new phone, so in the long run it will be better to on a contract.

 

[JDee]

It doesn't matter if you're in a business, they'll ask if you want to put it under a 'company' name or a personal name. If you choose personal, they won't even ask you a question regarding a business.

 

[mikechan1234]

I am in the same position as you, and was thinking about this. However surely if you go on to the contract then after 18 months you are entitled to a the new iPhone (5G) or another new phone, so in the long run it will be better to on a contract.

But you get more flexibility being on simplicity, so whether you want to change after 1 yr it's up to you. You may find a better deal 1 yr later.

 

[steezy1337]

the only problem i see is that not everyone can afford to buy an iPhone outright straight away. i know i couldn't without saving for a good few months and i'm far too impatient that i'm happy to pay a little extra to have it now.

 

[fabian9]

I am in the same position as you, and was thinking about this. However surely if you go on to the contract then after 18 months you are entitled to a the new iPhone (5G) or another new phone, so in the long run it will be better to on a contract.

That's what I did with my 3G contract which latest 18 months - after it expired I downgraded it to iphone simplicity 300. But If you're on a 12 month (or 1 month running contract), then you get the choice to get a new phone after a year when the next one comes out. That might be quite a dangerous thing as well though as I'd be tempted to get the next one as well!

the only problem i see is that not everyone can afford to buy an iPhone outright straight away. i know i couldn't without saving for a good few months and i'm far too impatient that i'm happy to pay a little extra to have it now.

Yeh that's a fair point, it feels better to pay it off every month. For some reason the idea of shelling out £450 in one day doesn't really appeal to me. But financially it might make more sense...

Fabian

 

[iMacDragon]

I've always just gone the PAYG route myself, I make hardly any calls, I've only spent £30 credit in last 18 months! and had my iphones and full data access for entire period.

 

[Jeeves]

But If you're on a 12 month (or 1 month running contract), then you get the choice to get a new phone after a year when the next one comes out.
Fabian

Really? So when the Iphone 4/HD comes out and I purchase it outright on PAYG and use the iPhone simplicity plan for 12 months then year later i would be entilited to next new Iphone 5 for free???