Cheap Iphone Contract?

[bainbrig]

We've got by for years on pay-as-you-go old Nokias, but we're interested in getting modern and upgrading to iPhone-type phones.

What is the cheapest way of getting a monthly contract (if that indeed is the best route), and what are the cheapest phones (not wanting games, apps, Facebook, Twitter, all that nonsense).

Why do we want to upgrade? Well, we're taken with the idea of the door-bell app which buzzes through to your iPhone so you can tell the caller that you can't get to the door (i.e. when you're in fact miles away).

Any suggestions?

Bill B

[Zacs-Master]

Sounds like a very expensive home security method to me. Do you realise that you need the bit of hardware and wi-fi to make this work?

[bainbrig]

Isn't WiFi part of iPhones etc? I really am pretty ignorant of this phone stuff, even though I'm 'computer-literate'. Can you explain?

[Zacs-Master]

You would have to have a Broadband internet connection. This comes with a box of tricks which gives you wi-fi. A smart phone, and the boor bell device, would use this to talk to each other. If you were abroad and someone rang the bell, you would either need your phone to be able,to connect to wi-fi where you were, or a 4g phone signal, which would then, possibly cost a lot of money depending on the deal with the company you went with when buying your phone (Vodafone, EE, O2 etc etc).
Much better to have new locks fitted.

[bainbrig]

Right, got most of that. Broadband, yes, wi-fi, yes, router, etc. It's just PHONES that I'm fairly ignorant about.

So I need a contract, yes? And, maybe I wasn't clear originally, how do I get a cheap-ish contract, and how much will I have to pay for it?

Any help?

Ta.

(Next door they came in through the patio door with an axe, so by-passing the locks...)


Bill B

[Zacs-Master]

Well if they came in via the patio doors, a wifi door bell won't do much good!

Deals? Start here:
https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/pay-monthly.html#!/p_brand/Alcatel/sort/relevance

[bainbrig]

My wife and you would get on well.

They tried the front door, got no reply, went round the back, broke in. A wifi door thing might have given them doubts over the house's occupation.

So, can someone take me through what
I would need to do to set up an iPhone. What sort of contract. How much would I have to spend.

I'm not looking for an argument, just HELP,

Bill B

[hc4361]

I have a similar bell, also CCTV cameras that send alerts to my phone whenever the cameras detect movement - I can see live footage on my phone.

You don't need an iPhone. An adroid phone would be cheaper for you and there are plenty to choose from.

I bought my phone outright and have a 1 month rolling contract for £7 which suits me very well.

[hc4361]

This has good reviews

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorola-Moto-16GB-SIM-Free-Smartphone-Lunar-Grey/dp/B01MR948BL?SubscriptionId=AKIAI5U76BDIBVNKKM2A&tag=trusrevi01-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01MZCWGYB&th=1

[TigerLady]

I was going to suggest an android phone. You will find the contracts are much cheaper.

I bought my phone from carphone warehouse outright and then I pay 20 a month on giffgaff with unlimited minutes, texts and data.

[bainbrig]

hc4361 - thanks. Who do you have the monthly contract with, may I ask?

Also, what's the difference between an Android and an iPhone?

Thanks.

Bill B

[hc4361]

I have an excellent deal with Virgin as they supply my home broadband but there are plenty of options. I like EE and Giffgaff.

The difference between Android and iPhone is mainly the operating system but both are relatively simple to get to grips with. iPhones are only made by Apple and are very expensive; many companies make android phones and you can pay anything from £50 upwards.

I recommend that you do not make a phone running the Windows operating system as it is unlikely to have the App you need for the bell.

You can easily do what you want with a £100 android phone and a cheap monthly sim card, it depends how many phone minutes you need. The £7.50 a month SIM only deal from Tesco looks good

https://shop.tescomobile.com/pay-monthly/sim-only/Tesco+Mobile/simonly/tariff

[bainbrig]

Thanks hc, useful stuff. My home gear is all Mac, so I always avoid Windows like the plague!

I'll look into your links.

Bill B

[hc4361]

As you're an Apple person, you may prefer an iPhone - this older iPhone will do what you want

https://shop.tescomobile.com/pay-monthly/mobile-phones/apple/iphone+5s+16gb/tariff?sku=77806

[whiskeryron]

I would be inclined to avoid iPhones . You cannot easily change a failed battery. Most Android Smart phones you can put a new battery in easily. The deal with Tesco looks good to me.