3, that does not offer Apple's iPhone, has announced it is to bundle its wireless connectivity MiFi device with the iPod touch on a pay monthly tariff.

3's MiFi gadget will connect the 'pod to the Internet to browse websites, download music and apps or send emails while you're out and about.

"The iPod touch offers a really great browsing experience, but as with so many devices with Wi-Fi capabilities, the internet function rarely gets used because hotspots are so hard to come by", Charlotte Blanchard, director of products and services at 3, said.

"Now with MiFi on 3, iPod touch users can get wireless internet whenever they want on the network that's designed and built for the mobile internet".

Pricing for the MiFi and the iPod touch comes in at ?23 a month for a 2-year contract. The tariff offers 5GB of internet access, which 3 says is good for 72 hours of browsing, 800 songs and 400 applications.

Tags: Gadgets Audio Phones 3 MiFi iPod Touch Apple Tariffs

3 offers MiFi and iPod touch contract bundles originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:23:54 +0000

Orange has announced two new "connected laptops", the Asus 1005HGO and the Compaq CQ61 and two new mobile broadband dongles.

The 10.1-inch Asus 1005HGO with embedded SIM card is an Orange exclusive. Offering Windows 7 starter and weighing 1.27kg, it's angled as the on-the-go option.

The 15.6-inch Compaq CQ61 is bundled with an Orange e1752 dongle and comes with Windows 7 Home Premium.

The Asus netbook will cost from ?25 to ?35 a month on 18-month and 24-month mobile broadband contracts with 1GB, 3GB and 5GB options available.

The Compaq laptop is offered on the same contracts but also requires an upfront pay-out of between ?65 and ?130 depending on which contract is taken, although it is free on a 5GB, ?35 per month, 24-month contract.

As far as dongles go, the new Orange e1752 dongle will be bundled with mobile broadband packages while the Option 515M, which will come with a free 8GB Micro SD memory card, will be charged at around ?20.

?

Tags: Hardware Phones Orange Laptops Mobile broadband USB modems Tariffs Asus Compaq Netbooks Software Asus 1005HGO Compaq CQ61

Orange offers two new "connected laptops" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:34:14 +0000

While Vodafone got the exclusive on the new HTC HD2 for a few short weeks, the high-end Windows phone is now available in the UK through O2.

O2 has offered various HTC-made phones before, but the HD2 marks the first time the operator has allowed an actual HTC-branded device live on its network.

The new HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone offers a 4.3-inch multi-touch display, a speedy Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA.

"The HTC HD2 is the first HTC branded phone to be sold on O2. We love the large screen and combination of Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC Sense", says Steve Alder, general manager devices for O2 in the UK.

"We are proud to be the home of smartphones and the HTC HD2 adds a new dimension to the range of devices we offer to our customers".

Full tariff details are to be confirmed while the website is being updated, but O2 tells us the HD2 will be avialable for free on a ?45 per month, 18-month contract - which is a fiver dearer than Voda.

?

Related links:

• Feature - HTC HD2 funky features fun

Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 HTC HTC HD2 Tariffs Windows Phone

O2 offers HTC HD2 free on £45 per month tariffs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:50:40 +0000

The HTC HD2 is now available on Vodafone in the UK, as we'd reported it would be.

The big-hitting Windows Phone handset is available for free on ?35 per month, 2-year contracts. There's also a ?40 per month, 2-year effort if you need more bundled minutes.

If you'd prefer an 18-month contract then you'll have to stump up ?40 per month while again there's also a ?45 per month option that offers more free minutes.

There are no 12-month plans and there's no pay as you go option from Vodafone right now, so it looks like if you do fancy this high-end mobile you're going to have to get the pen out and sign away a fair chunk of your mobile life, as is becoming the norm with high-end handsets.

The new HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone offers a 4.3-inch multi-touch display, a speedy Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and HSDPA.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones HTC Vodafone HTC HD2 Tariffs

Vodafone offers HTC HD2 free on contract originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:13:21 +0000

Since the iPhone, where to get it and what tariff to choose seems to be the hot topic of the moment, we thought we'd guide any would-be contract signers to a deal that Quidco is running.

The cashback website Quidco has teamed up with Mobiles.co.uk to offer a discounted rate on all iPhone handsets, meaning that all Quidco members will get a ?60 cashback when arranging an 18- or 24-month contract with either Orange or O2.

In order to give you a run down of the exact tariffs from each operator, Pocket-lint has collated all the info in our feature - Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange. You'll then be in a good position to pop over and join Quidco before heading over to Mobiles.co.uk.

Tags: Phones iPhone Tariffs Orange O2 Quidco Mobilescouk Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: £60 cashback on iPhone contracts with O2 or Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

2 years and a day after the first iPhone went on sale in the UK through O2, another operator is now officially offering Apple's mobile to UK consumers.

From today, the iPhone can now be bought on a pay as you go basis, or subsidised on a monthly contract through Orange.

Rather than undercutting its competition, the tariffs Orange is offering are similar to O2's, although Orange's 750MB "unlimited" data has raised eyebrows.

So will Orange's boasts of the best 3G coverage across the UK be enough to persuade people to go Orange?

The Carphone Warehouse says it expects to sell one million iPhone handsets in total by Christmas with the arrival of the iPhone 3G and 3GS on Orange and has created the "Orange Apples" display, pictured here, to mark the launch.

Will Orange unveil sales stats? (update - yes) Will O2 fight back with more than just a broadband deal? We will keep you posted...

?

Related links:

• VIDEO - Orange Wednesdays iPhone app announced
• News - 3 calls foul over Orange 3G coverage claims on iPhone launch day
• News - Vodafone boasts fastest iPhone downloads on Orange's launch day

Tags: Phones iPhone Apple Orange Tariffs

Orange iPhone available in the UK now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:33:47 +0000

An annoucement from O2 suggests the operator is going to attempt to fight the competition, as well as rivals, for iPhone customers by adding value through bundle packages, rather than any price cuts.

O2 has launched the "Total Connectivity" plan for iPhone customers that sees new and existing iPhone customers buying the iPhone Internet Tethering bolt-on and getting the standard O2 home broadband package completely free.
?
Pay monthly iPhone customers who shell out for the ?9.79 per month 3GB Internet Tethering Bolt On before 31 December 2009 will be entitled to the O2 Home Broadband standard package for free, presumably on a month for month basis.

Alternatively, customers can claim a ?7.34 per month discount against any other O2 Home Broadband product including Premium, Pro or O2 Home Broadband Access.

The deal goes live from 10 November at which point we'd imagine there'll be more info (including the small print) over at o2.co.uk/iPhone.

?

Tags: Phones iPhone O2 Apple Software Broadband Tariffs

O2 bundles home broadband with iPhone tethering bolt on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:34 +0000

3 is offering its customers a new messaging handset that it says means they won't have to make the choice between a QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen.

The new HSDPA-enabled LG GW520 ("the perfect phone for messaging addicts") offers a 2.8-inch touchscreen alongside a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
?
Complete with the Windows Live messenger and Skype that 3 offers with all its up-to-date phones, the new mobile also boasts push email and comes pre-loaded with a Facebook app.

Offering a 3-megapixel camera, the LG GW520 is available in either blue or silver and is now available in 3 stores, at Three.co.uk priced at ?99.99 on PAYG or free on the ?15 a month Internet Texter tariff.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones LG 3 Tariffs LG GW520

3 announces availability of LG GW520 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:44:41 +0000

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, what did you and your husband do after you were ejected from the restaurant?

Marge Simpson: We pretty much went straight home…

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, you are under oath!

Marge Simpson: We drove around until 3AM looking for another all-you-can-eat fish restaurant.

Lawyer: And when you couldn’t find one?

Marge Simpson: We went fishing…

Lawyer: Do these sound like the actions of a man who had all he could eat?

?

What am I talking about, and why have a started with a quote from a Simpsons episode? Well, because it's the same problem that is affecting the mobile phone industry at the moment, with neither Ofcom or the Advertising Standards Agency apparently bothered that consumers are being lied to on a daily basis every time they sign up to a mobile phone contract.

The frustration, and one that was experienced by Homer Simpson in the episode, comes down to the definition of Unlimited.

In my books and strangely enough in the dictionary Unlimited means:

Main Entry: un?lim?it?ed

Pronunciation: -li-m-td

Function: adjective

Date: 15th century

1 : lacking any controls : unrestricted 2 : boundless, infinite 3 : not bounded by exceptions : undefined

— un?lim?it?ed?ly adverb

However, talk to any mobile operator and the word "unlimited" seems to come with an astrix that highlights caveats or that the term is based on our "fair usage policy".

According to Orange, that "Unlimited" bundle means 750MB of data, far from what the dictionary describes above.

But why isn't the ASA or Ofcom clamping down on these unfair and misleading claims?

When we contacted Ofcom we got the following response:

"As far as I know, this is not something that Ofcom has published anything on".

Not published anything? Really? However they are happy to spend thousands investigating why people buy pirated DVDs on the Internet - surely they just go to torrent sites?

Meanwhile the ASA doesn't believe that mobile operators lying or being quiet about the terms and conditions of a data plan that could, potentially, cost you thousands of pounds over the course of a contract is that much of an issue.

"The ASA does not have guidance on the use of the term 'unlimited' as the ASA position is derived from the Advertising Codes and previous case history (our ASA case law)", an ASA spokesperson told Pocket-lint when we asked them what was what.

"In a nutshell, the term 'unlimited' can be used to describe a service that, if containing a fair-usage policy, will only affect the a-typical user. (i.e. the majority of users will not be affected.)"

So what's the solution?

I believe that mobile phone operators shouldn't be allowed to use the unlimited moniker unless it really is that. As mobile phones increasingly become the gateway to our digital lives on the go we are likely to be consuming more images, more video, more music and therefore more data.

I don't want to sign up to a contract where there is normally a termination fee if I haven't been made aware of all the facts before signing up.?

At the moment words like "Unlimited" are nothing more than lies, even if "a typical user" won't supposedly be affected.?

Although the ASA might consider "unlimited" an acceptable term for tariffs with data caps or fair usage policies, here at Pocket-lint, we don't. And as such, we are making a stand. We will no longer continue to use the word "unlimited" when the tariff it refers to clearly is no such thing.

We will also be sure to make such caps or usage limits apparent every time we cover news that refers to an "unlimited" deal.

?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Tariffs Orange Vodafone T-Mobile O2 3

Limited "unlimited" claims should be banned originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:26 +0000

Vodafone has announced new SIM-only 30-day and 12-month price plans for those who aren't interested in getting a handset bundled in to their tariff.

The new ?20 and ?25 price plans for 30 days and 12 months give customers "unlimited" data for as much mobile internet browsing and Facebook searching as required - up to a fair usage policy of 500MB.

The 30 day SIM-only plans give customers 600 minutes anytime, unlimited texts and unlimited data for ?20 or 900 minutes anytime, unlimited texts and unlimited data for ?25.

The 12-month SIM-only plans offer 900 anytime minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data for ?20 and 1200 minutes anytime, unlimited texts, unlimited data and unlimited calls to landlines for just ?25.

Tags: Phones Vodafone Tariffs SIMs PAYG

Vodafone's new SIM-only price plans revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:52:54 +0000

T-Mobile has announced it will be offering the BlackBerry Bold 9700 online and via telesales from 6 November and in T-Mobile stores across the UK from 10 November.

The Bold follow-up is a slimline QWERTY handset with HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity, BlackBerry's push email service, a 3.2-megapixel camera, on-board GPS, media player, 3.5mm headset jack, plus 32GB of memory storage via an interchangeable microSD card.

T-Mobile is offering the BlackBerry Bold 9700 from free on ?35 per month contracts with BlackBerry email charged at an extra ?5 and unlimited internet yet another ?5 per month, bringing the total to ?45.

Vodafone is also offering the new Bold 9700, from free on ?35 per month 2-year contracts or for ?40 a month on 18-month contracts.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones BlackBerry T-Mobile RIM Tariffs BlackBerry Bold 9700

T-Mobile to offer BlackBerry Bold 9700 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:03 +0000

The N900 isn't far away now - it's due on 16 November. As a result, we're due some pricing information and, lo and behold, here it is courtesy of mobile comparison site Omio.

It's possible to get the handset on a 24-month contract for as little as ?20 per month from Orange, though that'll only give you 200 minutes and you'll have to shell out ?170 for the handset. A similar 24-month deal from O2 for ?30 per month will net you 600 minutes, and the phone itself will only cost ?10.

If you're determined to get the handset free, then a 24-month deal from Orange will set you back ?35 per month with 900 minutes. The cheapest 18-month contact is ?25 per month, again from Orange, with 600 minutes and ?220 upfront phone cost.

Are you itching to get your hands on the N900? Tell us why, and which pricing option you reckon you'll go for, in the comments.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia Nokia N900 Tariffs

Nokia N900 gets Pay Monthly pricing originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:20:11 +0000

TalkTalk is launching what it calls a new "high performance" broadband package called TalkTalk Pro. Available this month, it costs ?14.99 a month, plus ?11.25 line rental and requires an 18-month tie in.

The package offers download speeds of up to 24MB, unlimited downloads and a free "N" wireless router. There's also free anytime UK calls to 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers.

TalkTalk says the Pro package offers "huge savings" compared to its competitors equivalent packages, claiming for example, it's ?202.96 cheaper than BT Unlimited Option 3 plus Anytime phone plan and mobile add-on.

Tags: Software Broadband TalkTalk Tariffs

TalkTalk Pro broadband package announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:05:23 +0000

If you're expecting to see a major difference in the cost of an iPhone between these two UK networks, then think again. It's not an accident that the price is similar. When it boils down to it, it seems likely that both companies buy the handsets with the same overheads and naturally that's going to be passed on to the customer. It may be a different story by the time Vodafone comes along but for now, that's the way it is.

That said, there are differences in the price plans, if not the overall cost of each package. Combine that with an alternative way of looking at each deal and you start to get a better picture of where the real value lies. Take a look. The O2 packages are in blue and the ones from Orange in, er, orange.

What strikes you first if you glance over to the far right column is that, generally speaking, those 24 month contracts seem to cost a lot more in the long run. In fact, if you look at the differences in similar deals over the two time periods, it's quite astonishing. So, it appears that extending the term to alleviate the initial outlay might not be such a good idea. Together with the fact that your phone is more likely to be out-dated in the course of 2 years and it looks very bad indeed.

Beyond that, it's quite impressive how well these tariffs have been set out within each provider as well. The jump up from handset to handset within each tariff is regular according to the time frame of pay back. The bottom line is that you're not going to find one deal that significantly better value than another. On the other hand, it does give you a better idea of which one might best suit your needs.

Other Choices

Other important considerations beyond the plan are going to be over which network is going to suit you. Both providers offer "unlimited" Wi-Fi hotspot access with their partners as well as making you pay additionally for internet tethering as well.

Both also provide what they call unlimited data packages too. Orange puts a real figure to it of 750MB, whereas O2 only refers to a fair usage policy which is designed to reflect proper usage as well as the user's drain on the rest of the network. In practice, it's designed to make sure people are just using their allowances for mobile browsing, but at the same time it does give the company a license to set the bar wherever it pleases. Which proves to be more in practice is anyone's guess.

Much has been suggested about O2's quality of network as well, but its people have also looked to the handset's short-comings to explain a perceived poor reception. It's unlikely there'll be a huge difference with Orange, so at the end of the day, you'll do best to stick with the provider that works best in your area.

Last of all, it's worth considering the added benefits. One reason for not talking about the PAYG plans is that Orange is applying its animal tariffs to them where you can receive free weekend and evening calls or unlimited texts or free music. At the same time, O2 has top-up bonuses to consider as well.

So, until Vodafone arrives onto the scene, what it might all come down to is Orange Wednesdays and a bit of personal choice. Of course, by that time there'll be a new iPhone to consider - in leaks if not in reality. Decisions, decisions. Ever thought about Android?

?

Related links:

• News - Orange confirms 10 November for iPhone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone Apple Tariffs Features O2

Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:22:07 +0000

Orange has now officially confirmed what we've previously reported - it will offer the iPhone in the UK from 10 November.

The iPhone 3G and 3GS will be available in Orange stores on Tuesday 10 November from 7am in certain stores with some shops staying open late.

The iPhone will be available on Orange in all Orange stores, online, at Orange HMV concessions, as well as through Apple Retail Stores, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U.

Revealing that a quarter of a million have pre-registered interest for the Apple phone, Orange says it will offer the iPhone on a pay as you go basis, to pay-monthly customers and to business customers too.

As far as pay as you go goes, customers who top-up ?50 at purchase will get an iPhone 3G for ?333 while the iPhone 3GS 32GB will be ?539. This compare's to O2's pricing of ?538.30.

The pay as you go deals offer just 250MB of data each month, plus a year's BT Openzone access.

On a pay monthly basis the iPhone 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models will be available on various monthly plans, with the 3GS 16GB free on all ?45 plans and the 3G model free from ?30 plans - both with a 24-month contract.

The cheapest monthly contract, a ?29.36 per month, 2-year contract will see the iPhone 3GS 32GB charged at ?225 with the handset only available free for those paying out for a ?73.40 a month contract. In terms of data, Orange has a "fair usage" allowance of 750MB per month.

O2's free handset structure for the 3GS 32GB is similar, although it charges ?274.23 for the phone on lower-cost 18-month tariffs and ?175.19 for the device on its 24-month ?34.26 plan.

iPhone owners who want to use their iPhone to get mobile broadband on their laptop can take out additional tethering bundles starting at ?5 per month.

?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone Apple Tariffs

Orange confirms 10 November for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:27:49 +0000

3 has announced it is very soon to offer the Sony Ericsson Satio, the first 12-megapixel camera phone on sale in the UK.

Available on both contract and on a pay as you go basis, cost-concious consumers will be happy to note that 3 is under cutting Vodafone's pricing for the new phone.

While Vodafone is offering the Satio free on ?35 per month, 2-year contracts, 3 customers can get the handset for free by signing up to a ?30 per month tariff for 18 months.

3's Mix and Match contract comes with 300 minutes or texts, 300 3-to-3 calls, free voicemail, free Skype-to-Skype calls and Windows Live Messenger. Unlimited internet and email access costs an extra ?5 a month.

For those that would rather nab the new handset without a contract, they'll need to shell out ?399.99.
?
The Sony Ericsson Satio will be available from 3 from the 30 October.?

?

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Sony Ericsson 3 Vodafone Tariffs

3 to offer Sony Ericsson Satio originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:14:05 +0000

Orange has announced that it will be making up to 20 meg download speeds a standard across all its home broadband packages - where such service is available.

As well as introducing the new speeds, Orange has revamped its home broadband packages with the cheapest option now coming in at ?7 a month for Orange mobile customers.

There are now four price plans to choose from - Home Starter, Select, Max and Ultra.

Pricing for those that are not Orange mobile customers comes in at ?10, ?12, ?20 and ?24 a month and all are 18-month contracts with unlimited download usage allowance.

The higher priced packages offer some landline calls bundled in while the Ultra sees Orange's "Livebox" router supplied as part of the price.

There's more info, including small print and details of the "unlimited" claim to be found over at orange.co.uk/broadband.

Tags: Software Orange Broadband Tariffs Phones

Orange announces 20 meg broadband as standard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:04:17 +0100

Spotify and 3 have formally announced the partnership that Pocket-lint detailed last week. As previously reported, 3 will begin selling the HTC Hero with a Premium Spotify subscription bundled in - which normally costs ?10 per month.

The tariff costs ?35 per month over 24 months, and you'll have to pay ?100 upfront too, so it's not cheap. For that, though, you get 24 months of Spotify Premium, 750 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited mobile internet. You can also get free calls to other 3 users and to people on Skype. We presume the Spotify app will be preloaded on the handset.

There's more handsets in the works too - "Spotify Mobile will initially be available only on the HTC Hero" says the press release, the keyword being "initially". With an S60 version in the works, could we see an N97 bundled with the service in the future? Or even perhaps even an iPhone if 3 eventually makes a deal with Apple.

Want a quote about the whole thing? Of course you do.?Faisal Galaria, Global Head of Business Development at Spotify, told Pocket-lint: "This is a very exciting deal for Spotify. We're intent on offering people a high quality, simple yet powerful portable music experience at a fair price and we're thrilled to be working with 3 to bring Spotify to UK music fans".

If you're considering the deal, let us know in the comments. You might also be interested in our HTC Hero review, and our comparison of the iPhone and Android Spotify apps.

UPDATE: Spotify has blogged about the deal, but hasn't added much, except to provide a working link to the page on 3's website to "register your interest" in grabbing the handset.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Spotify 3 HTC Hero Tariffs Biz

Spotify and 3 deal confirmed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:57:09 +0100

Vodafone has finally announced its pricing for the Nokia N97 Mini. It's gone up for pre-order too, so if you're dying to get your hands on the dinky younger brother of Nokia's flagship smartphone then you can be one of the first who'll be able to do so.

The handset will be free on 2-year Pay Monthly tariffs from ?35 per month. That'll get you 900 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited internet. Alternately there's a ?40 per month option, still for 2 years, that gives you 1200 minutes.

As previously reported, the N97 Mini has 8GB of onboard storage, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and a full QWERTY keyboard. It has all of the same widgety goodness as its older brother too, but still runs the Symbian operating system that we weren't a fan of in the N97.

The handset can be pre-ordered now, and will be released on 23 October.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Nokia N97 Mini Vodafone Tariffs Nokia

N97 Mini priced on Vodafone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:02:59 +0100

The Palm Pre, the first of the smartphone maker's next-gen webOS devices, is now available in the UK exclusive to O2.

Reports suggest pre-release interest in the Pre has been high, but arguably the contract price is too, so it will be interesting to see, upon weighing up the pros and cons, how many consumers opt for the new phone over strong competition.

Over on O2's site, the two cheapest 18-month tariffs are ?29.38 a month and ?34.26 a month with 75 minutes and 125 texts and 600 minutes and 500 texts bundled respectively.

Both include "unlimited" Wi-Fi and mobile internet, but see the Pre costing ?96.89. To get the Pre for free on an 18-month contract, you'll have to sign up for a ?44.05 a month contract.

As far as 2-year contracts go, ?34.26 a month will see no charge for the Pre and 600 minutes and 500 texts.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Palm Palm Palm Pre O2 Tariffs

Palm Pre goes on sale in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:06:23 +0100

If you're itching to get your hands on Nokia's new N97 Mini then you'll be interested to hear that mobile phone comparison site Omio has some early Orange deals live now.

There's a wide variety of options to choose from, but all mean splashing out cold, hard cash on the new handset with, as an example, a handset price of ?97.50 and ?34.25 per month getting the N97 Mini on a 24-month deal of 1200 minutes and unlimited texts.

Nokia's new Nseries device is due to be officially released on 23 October and will also be offered by Vodafone, who is yet to reveal pricing. Nokia will also offer the device SIM-free for ?429.

However, unless you're totally desperate to grab the new phone in the next few days, then we'd suggest hanging on to see all the deals from Vodafone and Orange as we'd hope there may be some more competitive pricing.

Read

Tags: Phones Nokia Nokia N97 Mini Omio Orange Tariffs

Nokia N97 Mini available now via Omio originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:16 +0100

INQ's Mini 3G handset is now on sale. The phone is available from 3 through its high street stores and online, and will be free on ?15 per month "Internet Texter" contracts with free internet, free 3-to-3 calls, free voicemail and 75 minutes talk-time. Alternatively, you can pick it up for ?60 on Pay As You Go.

The handset has Facebook, IM, Skype and Twitter functionality along with a 2.2-inch display and 2-megapixel camera. It's a beast with many backs - 8, to be precise. Red comes in the box and seven other options will be available from 3 stores.

The INQ Chat 3G, which has a full QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry-like form factor, will be out later in the year. We'll bring you more news of that as it arrives.

Related links:

• News - INQ Mini 3G priced for October launch on 3
• Photos - INQ Mini 3G and INQ Chat 3G

Tags: Phones Mobile phones 3 Inq INQ Mini 3G Twitter Tariffs

INQ Mini 3G on sale now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:43:21 +0100

3 has announced that its "mobile Wi-Fi" is now available on two new 18-month plans.

Those signing up to the mobile Wi-Fi 1GB plan will see a cost ?10 a month for those happy to pay ?39.99 for the modem, or ?12 a month for those that aren't.

The 5GB mobile Wi-Fi plan will cost ?15 per month which will see the modem priced at ?39.99 or will cost ?17 a month to get a free modem.

Mobile Wi-Fi, also known as "MiFi", uses 3's network to create its own mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.? This lets users connect a range of Wi-Fi enabled devices to the Internet at the same time.

Tags: Phones Mobile broadband 3 Tariffs Wi-Fi MiFi

Mobile Wi-Fi from 3 available on 18-month tariffs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:13:22 +0100

An iPhone price war is unlikely to happen says the CEO of Carphone Warehouse in the UK when Orange and Vodafone offer the handset in the coming months.

“I am not convinced there will be a price war. That is a game that only leads in one direction and that is all of them losing. This battle will be fought on other fronts", Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse has told The Times of London.

The comments come as Orange prepares to stock the iPhone before the end of the year ending a 2 year exclusive run from competing operator O2.

Consumers are hoping that the French owned operator will be forced into a price war alongside Vodafone when it starts stocking the iPhone in 2010 to lure customers away from O2.

According to the article, Orange has already received 125,000 pre-orders for the handset from Apple as customers, unhappy with O2's coverage and recent data network crashes, look to move away from the service.

At the time of the announcement O2 said:

"We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success".

"We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK", says the operator.

Expect tariff wars to get heated.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones iPhone Orange O2 Vodafone Tariffs

iPhone price war unlikely originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:19:00 +0100

In time for Christmas, T-Mobile has unveiled mobile broadband "gift packs" with 3- and 12-month bundles available.

The bundles include a T-Mobile 150 mobile broadband USB stick and "unlimited" browsing for a single payment.

However, a glance at the small print reveals that it is of course not actually unlimited, as you'd expect, but T-Mobile goes further to say it does not include "watching videos" or any kind of downloads.

The Mobile Broadband 3 Month Gift Pack costs ?44.03, which T-Mo reckons is a saving of over 25% compared to prepay.

The year-long option has a one-time cost of ?146.79, again, said to be a saving, this time of 20%.

Tags: Phones Mobile broadband T-Mobile USB modems Tariffs

T-Mobile offers mobile broadband gift bundles originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:40:21 +0100

3 has announced it will be offering consumers the chance to earn cash by promoting free Pay As You Go SIMs to their friends and family using social networks.

The "3 Free Agent" programme is said to be the first scheme of this kind available in the UK.

3's head of online, Ash Roots says, "The idea is simple. Use your social networks to give free 3 PAYG SIMs to your mates".

"As soon as they put their free SIM into a 3G phone and top-up, you'll get ?5 cash paid into a PayPal account and your friends get ?2 extra applied to their PAYG credit. Get 10 friends signed up and topped up and that's ?50 in your pocket".

Those interested need to register at Freeagent.three.co.uk, while a Facebook widget that will see the scheme promoted via the site is coming soon.

Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry 3 PAYG Tariffs PayPal Facebook

3 Free Agent programme goes live originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:35:46 +0100