A wise man once
said there is no such thing as a free lunch. Luckily, there is such a thing
as a free
mobile. As the British mobile phone market is now well and truly saturated,
the networks have resorted to price
slashing in an attempt to steal customers from each other. This can only
be good news for consumers, for whom the only difficulty in moving network is
dealing with the inevitably suave salesman who holds the key to moving networks
- the elusive PAC
code. This code is necessary if you wish to change networks - you will need
to do this if you want to take advantage of the best mobile
phone deals. Fortunately, these salesmen are in a position to offer you
incentives to stay on the same network too.
While dealing with salesmen is unarguably one of the least pleasant experiences many people will have during their lifetimes, it is generally assumed that they hold the key to getting the best contract mobile phones. This is not true! Salesmen are there to take your hard-earned money from you! The best place to look for a new mobile phone is now the internet. Mobile phone websites have a number of advantages over traditional stores. Firstly, there is no salesman to take commission for your purchase and spend it on shiny shoes, medium-priced suits and souped-up hatchbacks. Secondly, prices can be reduced because the retailer's other overheads (rent, upkeep, staff) are lower too. Finally, for the agoraphobics out there, you don't have to leave your home to pick up the latest Nokia phones (or Samsung phones, if you prefer Japanese design).
The best new handsets are often only available to customers seeking a contract phone (as opposed to a Pay As You Go handset). The market for handsets is more exciting now than it has been for a number of years. Manufacturers are finally exploring the uso2 mobile phonese of touch screen technology spurred, in part, by the impending Apple iPhone. Nokia have been working with touch screen technology for years, but always with a 'wand' device which is both impractical and easy to lose. Sony Ericsson mobile phones also offer a fantastic assortment of technology, with the emphasis being on technology for the consumer mass market as opposed to the business market. If you are after a business model, there are a number of suited to your needs. The network made a conscious decision to target the business market, working on the assumption that businesses are less likely to change network than personal users, who are bombarded with offers every Christmas. Orange mobile phones, on the other hand, have a great selection of phones aimed more squarely at personal users. Another excellent network for personal users is Virgin mobile.
Choosing the right mobile phone is like choosing the right partner... you will spend a whole load of time with them. Fortunately, unlike most partners, you can dispose of your mobile without guilt after 12 months and get yourself a newer (probably slimmer) model.