What are ‘SIM Only’ deals

Sim Only Contracts are mobile phone contracts that you would find in your local mobile phone shop, which means they are sim only and they don’t supply you with a phone.  A SIM card is compatible wih any mobile handset, though you willprobably need to get your handset unlocked if it is currently linked to a particular mobile network and your new SIM card is mananufactured by a different one.

Are SIM Only contracts good value?

Yes, this is because you don’t have to pay for a mobile phone meaning the saving is passed onto you.  This means that SIM Only contracts often cost less per month and you can often get more minutes and more texts.

How long are the contracts?

SIM only contracts are not like normal contracts where you are often toed into a minimum contracts terms such as 12 or 24 months.  These contracts are only 30 days, which means you just need to give one months notice.  This is ideal if your situation changes and you need to cancel your contract.

Why Choose SIM Only?

SIM only contracts are a lot cheaper per month than any other mobile phone contract because there is no handset included and the cost of the SIM card itself is small and they are usually included free as part of the package.  You will get a lot more value for money for your monthly payment and monthly costs can start from as little as £10 on certain networks.  Each contract will also include a set number of free voice minutes and texts each month, ranging from 100 voice minutes and  200 texts up to 1200 minutes and unlimited texts depending on the contract and network.  The second major benefit is that there is a minimum contract of just 30 days with every network that offers these deals.  This means that if you are not happy with the price planor service in any way you’re committed for one month, after this month you can leave without any penalties.

SIM Only Extras

The thing about SIM only deals is that they will often come with the same benefits as contracts with a longer  commitment and free handsets, like free video calling, unlimited internet access, free video calling, all included in the monthly cost.  There are also  Pay As You Go SIM only deals which will give you bonuses for topping up by a certain amount each week or month, like free calls to UK landlines or number of free international minutes per month.  If you already have a mobile handset and want more for your dough from your mobile phone contract then a SIM only contract could be the best option for you.

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 Apart from seamless connectivity and unlimited features, a user also gets free gifts with mobile phones. All the mobile phone manufacturers and network providers have been working together to come up with free gifts and special offers.

So, it is a win-win situation for a customer who gets these offers, which are accompanied by attractive free gifts. Many of these deals are also backed up by cash back offers and mobile phone accessories to add more into your benefits.

You will also notice that it’s mainly the mobile phone retailers offering these gift deals and not the networks direct, though O2 and Vodafone offer some Pay as You Go phones as gift. However, Orange, T-Mobile, Three and Virgin mobile currently don’t entice customer with gifts. There are many attractive incentives and multiple free gifts on the usability of various pay monthly mobile phone deals.

Customers can obtain cashback offer, redeemable gift points and also discounted line rentals such as 12 months free line rental and 18 months half price line rental on top network providers like Vodafone, Orange and 3-mobile. There are many free gifts with mobile phones in the UK.

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If you are an average user of your mobile phone then the Pay As You Go option is probably the best for you.  With Pay As You Go you can stay free of any type of contract with the service provider.  So if you are not satisfied with the service you are receiving it is easy to move.  If you have a mobile with Pay As You Go, you have no need to fear hidden or monthly fees.

Pay As You Go or PAYG is a sensible alternative to a subscription with a service provider.  It is ideal for people who travel extensively.  You pay for the talk time and other services bbefore you use them so there is no chance of over spending.

If you’re buying a new a new mobile for yourself or someone else Pay As You Go mobile Phone is the hassle free option.  Stay in control of your spending with no need to worry about large monthly bills or being tied into a long term contract.

All of the leading network providers such as Virgin, T-Mobile, Vodafone. O2 and Orange offer a great choice of which mobile network you can choose with your Pay As You Go Mobile.  In fact the mobile manufacturers of Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Apple and Blackberry provide over 500 handsets for you to choose from when your selecting the best PASYG deal.

The PASYG concept was developed by Eircell in Ireland in the 1990’s.  The concept was then copied in many other countries, with virtually every network in every European country.  In many developing countries PASYG deals are chosen by the majority of the population – for example in South Africa, over 90% of users are on a PASYG tariff.

Disadvantages of PASYG deals

Often, PASYG customers pay a higher tariff than customers who have committed to a contract with a network provider.  Calls to international or premium rate phone numbers may be blocked and PASYG customers are mostly not provided with roaming ability in other countries.