A Guide to Choosing your Network [PAYG/UK]

Hey there; there are many Pay as you go Mobile Operators in the UK, and not just the big 5. Some have cheaper Tariffs, while others have Add Ons and Extras. There are also some new International Providers that let you make cheap international calls or texts!

Here is your guide to choosing the one for you;

Orange;
Flat Rate:
20p to UK Mobiles and Landlines
10p for a Text
Extras: 2 for 1 Cinema Tickets on Wednesday; Book Tickets for your favourite Gigs before anyone else; Reserve Tank- Extra Calltime when you're out of credit.
PAYG Plans:
Dolphin- Free Texts and Facebook, Bebo or MySpace Mobile Access.
Canary- Free Weekend and Evening Calls (Up to 240 Minutes)
Racoon- No Extras, just a cheaper Flat Rate of 15p Calls and 10p Texts.
Camel- Cheaper International Calls.
(Dolphin and Canary require a minimum of £10 to be topped up each month)
Other: Unlimited Internet Access: £1 a day, £5 a week. Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at 25p-35p.
Increasingly popular, good coverage.
Choosing Orange? Get a free SIM.

O2;
O2 were tricky in the making of this guide, but here goes.
Flat Rate:
When on Most O2 Special Tariffs:
25p for the first 3 minutes, then 5p a minute after that
25p all the time for other UK Networks
10p Texts
When on O2 Original: (Not recommended!)
35p for Calls in the Daytime
10p for Evening and Weekends
20p for Calls to other O2 Mobiles in the Daytime
10p for Evening and Weekends to O2 Mobiles
50p for Calls to other UK Networks in the Daytime
30p for Calls to other UK Networks in the Evening
12p for Texts
Extras: 10% of your Top-Ups back with O2 Rewards, Little Surprises every month with O2 Treats, A Range of 'Bolt Ons' for things like Internet Browsing.
PAYG Plans:(all require Monthly Top Ups to activate)
Favourite Place- Free Minutes to Landlines or O2 Mobiles from a certain postcode.
Talkalotmore- General Free Minutes
TextAnytime- General Free Texts
O2 Unlimited- Unlimited Texts or Calls to O2 Mobiles
YourCountry- General Free International CallsOther: Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at 15p-35p.
Looking impressive, good coverage.
Choosing O2? Get a free SIM.

T-Mobile;
Flat Rate:
20p a minute for the first 2 minutes of the day
10p a minute after that
10p a text
PAYG Plans:
T-Mobile Pay As You Go- Top up £10 during the week, and get £10 for use during the weekend.
Extras: Rewards like Texts, Calls or Internet Browsing when you top up. Boosters to be used for International Calling or Calls and Texts. £1 Maximum Charge for browsing the web each day.
Other: Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at FREE-£2.50
A Simple Network to choose, Amazing Coverage.
Choosing T-Mobile? Get a free SIM.

Vodafone;
Flat Rate:
20p Calls, all the time10p a textPAYG Plans:
Text Unlimited- Top up £5 and get unlimited weekday evening Texts through the week, and Top up a total of £10 in the week and get unlimited Texts at the Weekend too.
Free Weekends- Top and and spend £5 to get free Calls and Texts all weekend.
Extras:
There are no further rewards on this network, other than those that come with the plans.
Other: Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at 20p. £1 Maximum Charge for browsing the web each day.
Good packages, excellent coverage.
Choosing Vodafone? Get a free SIM.

Virgin Mobile;
When on standard rate:
15p calls for the first 5 minutes each day5p calls every minute after40p calls to other UK networks3p texts to Virgin Mobile users
12p texts to other UK networks
When on Daily Bonus:
15p calls for the first 5 minutes each day(all networks)Then Minutes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are free
15p calls after that5p texts to Virgin Mobile users
10p texts to other UK networksTexts 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are free, then back to usual.
PAYG Plans:
Daily Bonus- The rates for this tariff are above; you get texts 6-10 and call minutes 6-10 every day for free. Calls and Texts to other UK Mobiles are much cheaper than the usual tariff, but you sacrifice cheaper calls to Landlines and Virgin users after the first 5 minutes.
Extras: Bundles of Texts and Minutes and Picture Messages can be bought to work out cheaper than usual.
Other: Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at 10p. Web access is 35p a day, but if you go over 35MB, you will be charged £2 per MB.
Good coverage, quite popular in teens.
What's this? Virgin are not currently handing out free SIMs. You can get them in local shops.

3/Three/Hutchinson;
Flat Rate:
12p a minute calls to any UK Network or Landline
12p Texts
Free Skype, with any Skype enabled phone
PAYG Plans:
Flat12- Pretty much everything is charged at 12p
Stretch on Flat12- Convert your Top Up directly into an Extra for cheaper Minutes and Texts in general
Extras: Add-ons with Texts, Minutes, Browsing and Mobile TV. Internet access is 50p Daily, £2.50 Weekly, £5 Monthly.
Other: Calls to numbers like 0800 are charged at 15p.Skype is free on the 3 Network, unlike others.
Remember, 3 has been renowned to lack great coverage, but they're doing well.
What's this? Three are not currently handing out free SIMs. You can get them in local shops, or £9.99 on the 3 Website, which comes with a £10 Top Up.

Tesco Mobile;
Flat Rate:
20p Calls to everyone
10p Texts to everyonePAYG Plans:
Tesco Mobile Pay as you go- You get amazing amounts of extra credit when you top up over £10, you get £20 in total for a £10 top up, £45 in total for a £15 top up and £60 for a £30 top up. Very good value.
Half price calls to your 5 favourite numbers.
Choosing Tesco Mobile? Get a free SIM.

ASDA Mobile;
Flat Rate:
8p Calls to everyone4p Texts to everyonePAYG Plans:
Asda Mobile Pay as you go- Asda offers nothing more than a very cheap tariff, no extras or features.
ASDA Mobile SIMs can be found in your local ASDA store near checkout for only 49p

Other Networks and International Networks

Nomi Mobile;
Rates and Packages are to be found on the website. [link]
Comment: Good UK and Intl. Rates, good as an alternate network!

LycaMobile;
Rates and Packages are to be found on the website. [link]
Comment: Good for Extra Top-Up offers they have.

Lebara Mobile;
Rates and Packages are to be found on the website. [link]
Comment: Not half bad! Extra credit when you top up.

Don't forget to check out:

Blyk;
Blyk is something quite special:
If you are 16-24 years old, you can get 217 Texts and 43 Minutes for free every month! In return for free minutes, Blyk will send you Mobile Advertising each day to your phone via MMS, these ads are usually tailored to brands you like, and aren't spam.

Blyk is a great alternative to paying for use of your phone, and uses the Orange network to provide the calls and texts. Check it out!

[link]


I really hope you find my guide useful, please leave any comments or things to be edited, and any other networks you use!

Nice - But I prefer my contract, £25 a month, 700 anytime minutes to any network and unlimited texts ;)

Hehe, just a help for Pay as you go I guess.
I might end up writing a Contract guide, but I've no idea seeing I've never been tied to one.

Nice guide,

I use pay as you go as i usually receive calls rather than ring other people up. May proove handy in the future as i'm planning on changing networks

+rep (when i can)

Thanks a lot :D
A personal recommendation is probably Tesco, Nomi or Blyk.

Good guide, I might move back to o2 :D thanks +rep

Don't write one on contract as they are so many of them.

Plus you need to tweak the guide a bit, Orange and Vodafone have at least 8 different PAYG price plans each with different benefits, o2 have 6. Whats customer care like?

Plus each orange/vodafone pay as you go plan has different rates for calls.

Nice try thought :)

Could ya do one for the USA please. k.

Found a mistake.

Quote:

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Virgin Mobile;
When on standard rate:
15p calls for the first 5 minutes each day
5p calls every minute after
40p calls to other UK networks
3p texts to Virgin Mobile users
12p texts to other UK networks

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Its 10p texts to other networks whatever tariff your on, and 5p to text other virgin mobiles whatever tariff your on.

I've covered Orange well I believe, as only Racoon has a different rate to the Flat Rate, which I've pointed out. Vodafone has some little plans which aren't really great enough to focus on. I've pointed out how Virgin has Add Ons, please do read carefully.
All the information is correct prior to the official providers networks, Virgin has given me the information stated.

I absolutely cannot do a USA one, Verizon and Sprint are all mad pplz k.

Also, I know who you are -repping me with 1 rep power, not leaving your name, and saying i've not looked at the Animal Packages, because I have. I know who you are, so get a life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

I've covered Orange well I believe, as only Racoon has a different rate to the Flat Rate, which I've pointed out. Vodafone has some little plans which aren't really great enough to focus on. I've pointed out how Virgin has Add Ons, please do read carefully.

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Im on virgin mobile, its 10p a text to any other network and 5p to text virgin mobile. It doesnt matter if your on the daily bonus. Also another thing with virgin:

Great customer support, for every £100 you top up you get £10 off a new phone.

Ah well, seems I can't edit now :P
I'll have to have a Mod sort it.

How are Verizon and Sprint mad pplz?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dentafrice

How are Verizon and Sprint mad pplz?

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No idea; but I can't accurately do one based on US providers.

Oh.

My package for Verizon is quite nice ^_^.

We pay $128.00 a month. This has 4 phones on it.

Each phone gets 700 minutes per phone, per month, out of network (non verizon customers)

Each phone gets UNLIMITED IN network calls (verizon customers)

Each phone gets UNLIMITED text messaging (in and out of network) as well as UNLIMITED picture and video messaging :)

The only thing we don't have is the DATA plan.

You pay $128?
Which 4 phones do you all have then?

We don't even get Family Plans =/ But who the hell cares.

ME:

LG Voyager

http://www.letsgomobile.org/images/n...lg-voyager.jpg

Dad:

G'ZOne boulder military phone

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/...jU1OK/340x.jpg

Mom:

LG ENV

http://www.letsgomobile.org/images/news/lg/lg-env.jpg

Dad Business:

Blackberry Thunder

http://www.cellfanatic.com/wp-conten...500_series.jpg

Mine's a tad like the LG Voyager, except full touchscreen.
LG KP500/Cookie
http://www.lge.com/download/product/...5914228_l2.jpg
On Blyk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

I've covered Orange well I believe, as only Racoon has a different rate to the Flat Rate, which I've pointed out. Vodafone has some little plans which aren't really great enough to focus on. I've pointed out how Virgin has Add Ons, please do read carefully.

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What about these plans?

Orange
Just talk
Classic PAYG
WePay

Vodafone
PAYG Original
All Calls
Smartstep
Surestep

All still widely available and used, just not publicised

Quote:

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All the information is correct prior to the official providers networks, Virgin has given me the information stated.

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So they told you about Vodafone, Yeah ok Did they tell you they are not a proper network, they piggyback off T-Mobiles network? They are a vitual network.

Do you know Asda and Tesco's network piggyback off o2?

JustTalk is the Flat Rate on Orange
Classic PAYG is nowhere to be found :S
WePay is on the Three Network, and New Customers can't use it, so :I
All those Vodafone Tariffs aren't any good either.. They're not for new customers.

Also, I do know about these 'piggybacks'; the correct name for them is an 'MVNO'.
This makes them none less a network.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

JustTalk is the Flat Rate on Orange
Classic PAYG is nowhere to be found :S
WePay is on the Three Network, and New Customers can't use it, so :I
All those Vodafone Tariffs aren't any good either.. They're not for new customers.

Also, I do know about these 'piggybacks'; the correct name for them is an 'MVNO'.
This makes them none less a network.

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Look in oranges past, there was a tarriff called wepay, its where they matched any cheaper tarriff and paid the difference back in airtime.

They actually are less of a network, you seem to have read wikipedia, but it doesn't say that they are a virtual network as per their OFCOM license, they are not an acutal network there are only 8 main ones, If you know about GSMWorld they tell you all about them on there.

The vodafone ones are available to new customers by ringing customer services by dialing 191 from your mobile handset ;)

But your tarrif guide doesn't say about freephone charity helplines are exempt from charges across all the major networks. Only the piggybackers charge (Excluding virgin who dont)

Have you even done any research? The call costs just looking on orange vary between price plans there is NO flat rate on calls.

I'm really confused as to why I'd fill a guide with older choices, when there are these brilliant new ones..

The Virtual Networks can still be used as per a regular network, I don't see any complaints about this when they provide SIMs with which to Call and Text

Why on earth would I mention Charity Helplines?
Sorry for not saying "BTW, Childline is free on Vodafone", but it's common knowledge.

If you think you can improve on this guide, go ahead and make one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

I'm really confused as to why I'd fill a guide with older choices, when there are these brilliant new ones..

The Virtual Networks can still be used as per a regular network, I don't see any complaints about this when they provide SIMs with which to Call and Text

Why on earth would I mention Charity Helplines?
Sorry for not saying "BTW, Childline is free on Vodafone", but it's common knowledge.

If you think you can improve on this guide, go ahead and make
one.

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Your guide is flawed, You haven't mentioned each tarrif charges different rates for different tarrifs, If you go on MoneySupermarket and to some extent MoneySavingExpert it will give a full comparison and even tell you which one is best

Do you even know what the Ofcom license entails, They cannot build towers, They cannot operate towers, They have to tower share. What has this to do with sim cards

What frequency banding do they run on? is it the 900Mhz or 1800Mhz or even the 2100Mhz 3G band? Some phones are still single band (the lower range ones certainly are)

You recommend tesco, Why is this? Why don't you recommend timbook tue mobile, A guide doesn't really have a recommendation it just mearly states what the options are..

As for the older options, Some of them fit the consumer, so all options should be detailed for the consumer?

Right, listen up;
I don't care if the operator doesn't have towers, they are networks in anyone's view, you can use them.

If you think the one at MoneySavingExpert is so great, stop wasting your time.

If one other member on this forum cares about Frequencies, god help us all.

Tesco Mobile is a personal recommendation, am I not entitled to an opinion?

You're really wasting my time on a guide that can't be all edited further; so you've had your opinion, so why not give us all your somewhat 'better' guide?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

Right, listen up;
I don't care if the operator doesn't have towers, they are networks in anyone's view, you can use them.

If you think the one at MoneySavingExpert is so great, stop wasting your time.

If one other member on this forum cares about Frequencies, god help us all.

Tesco Mobile is a personal recommendation, am I not entitled to an opinion?

You're really wasting my time on a guide that can't be all edited further; so you've had your opinion, so why not give us all your somewhat 'better' guide?

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My only problem with tesco would be that for some reason I can never send pic messages to them. It keeps trying to connect but always goes "message failed" but works fine to other networks :P

Another good thing about virgin, if you get a picture message and your phone isnt picture message compatible then they store it online for you. Also voicemail is free anywhere in the UK :)

I've not attempted MMS with Tesco yet, so I wouldn't have to worry about it.
Only time I'd use MMS is with Blyk when they send the advertisements.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hamhey

I've not attempted MMS with Tesco yet, so I wouldn't have to worry about it.
Only time I'd use MMS is with Blyk when they send the advertisements.

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I can't understand how you can recommend them if you haven't used all of the services on offer.

Plus the issue with tesco is the routing table they use on certain tower groups classify tesco as o2 and when it is handed over to o2 they fail the message as the number isn't a o2 pool and denies the message.

Oh each network has around 14 network pool groups where your account info is stored and operated, I live in Manchester and when I was on Vodafone my pool group was based on a tower in Edinburgh, Now on orange it is in London, If they haven't deployed the new tables it will cause errors