Mobile phone advice needed

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Ok folks. Here for your delectation, a picture of my venerable mobile phone:



It does calls and texts but not much else. I've owned it for around 15 years - I think? - and I turn it on and put it in my pocket whenever I go out because Mrs J likes to think she can get hold of me if I don't turn up again sometime around when I said I would. Otherwise it sits on the kitchen worktop switched off. I don't really make calls with it, prefering to use our landline and I've probably done half a dozen texts with it - couldn't actually tell you how to do a text if you asked. It was free as long as I put £10 in it when I bought it and in all the time I've owned it I think I've put about £50 into it and there's nearly £20 still in it last time I checked.

My service provider started sending me messages saying if I don't use it they'll be cutting me off so I now call Mrs J's phone every Friday and talk drivel for a minute or so - they seem happy with this as I've not had a message for a week or so now.

I don't want to loose the it though as Paypal and my bank quite frequently email me codes I have to enter when making purchases etc and it's quoted as my emergency contact number for some things.

My children just can't believe I don't buy a "smart" phone and are frequently encouraging me to get one. I see a lot of people walking around doing "stuff" on theirs - and bumping into other people and lamp posts etc. What are they all doing that's so engrossing? I did actually enquire in an EE shop shortly before the lockdown but the costs seem considerable and they talked about data plans etc?

So, what's it all about? should I do as my children ask and buy one? If I do, what can I do with it that I'm not doing now without it and will this enhance my life considering the considerable cost of running it?

I really just can't get my head round why the kids think I need one, unless perhaps that if it's on a contract then they won't shut it down because I'm not making calls ? or maybe they still would? - help, anyone?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

To be honest I couldn’t be without a smart phone now, but I use it for everything it can do, business, Satnav, camera etc.

If you’re happy with your current phone though and it still works as required then I’d be tempted to stick with what you’ve got.

 

[jimboy]

Ok folks. Here for your delectation, a picture of my venerable mobile phone:

View attachment 217428

It does calls and texts but not much else. I've owned it for around 15 years - I think? - and I turn it on and put it in my pocket whenever I go out because Mrs J likes to think she can get hold of me if I don't turn up again sometime around when I said I would. Otherwise it sits on the kitchen worktop switched off. I don't really make calls with it, prefering to use our landline and I've probably done half a dozen texts with it - couldn't actually tell you how to do a text if you asked. It was free as long as I put £10 in it when I bought it and in all the time I've owned it I think I've put about £50 into it and there's nearly £20 still in it last time I checked.

My service provider started sending me messages saying if I don't use it they'll be cutting me off so I now call Mrs J's phone every Friday and talk drivel for a minute or so - they seem happy with this as I've not had a message for a week or so now.

I don't want to loose the it though as Paypal and my bank quite frequently email me codes I have to enter when making purchases etc and it's quoted as my emergency contact number for some things.

My children just can't believe I don't buy a "smart" phone and are frequently encouraging me to get one. I see a lot of people walking around doing "stuff" on theirs - and bumping into other people and lamp posts etc. What are they all doing that's so engrossing? I did actually enquire in an EE shop shortly before the lockdown but the costs seem considerable and they talked about data plans etc?

So, what's it all about? should I do as my children ask and buy one? If I do, what can I do with it that I'm not doing now without it and will this enhance my life considering the considerable cost of running it?

I really just can't get my head round why the kids think I need one, unless perhaps that if it's on a contract then they won't shut it down because I'm not making calls ? or maybe they still would? - help, anyone?

Hi Jock, you do what you want, simple. I’m in the same boat as you, I have a cheap Nokia, calls a texts unlimited with o2, ten quid a month. It’s all I need. Do you really need a smart one? Obviously a clever device, and on the odd occasion if you manage to figure out on how to use it to find something out. A camera on your phone is very handy to have, but as you point out,the cost, can you justify it.

There are days go by I never look at my phone. As I said Jock we are in the same boat, in fact I’ve seen me go out and not bothering taking the thing with me. Horses for courses and all that...

 

[chris3234]

In a few years it won't be easy to just use your house phone as come 2024 (I think) by are withdrawing traditional analogue phone services and will be going VoIP only sooner in area's with a large fibre take-up 85% or more I think
Meaning you need a landline phone that connect's up to your router seems like another excuse to cut services and raise prices to me


Edit this is openreach btw rather then bt retail so will effect all provider's that use your home phone line for services so pretty much everyone apart from virgin media

 

[StevenRB45]

I donated a reasonably current smart phone to my dad a few years ago...

He played with a bit and went back to his 18 year old Sony Ericsson.

They are amazing things if you have the time and inclination to learn how to use them. Basically walking round with a computer, digital camera, sat nav, music player/library, video camera, small TV, run tracker, etc. In your pocket.

But for a just in case device...absolutely crap, they are designed to be always on and charged everyday so tend to die quite quickly if just left. Also if you aren't going to use any of the bits not worth the effort.

Wouldn't be without mine so handy for so many things but to get the best you need various accounts for various things, smart devices that link to it which I don't really see you doing so probably not worth it.

I'd imagine the only reason you are getting warned to use your phone is lack of usage...my dad's sim card went inactive recently as he didn't make a call for X amount of time.

 

[varesecrazy]

I'd imagine the only reason you are getting warned to use your phone is lack of usage...my dad's sim card went inactive recently as he didn't make a call for X amount of time.

Thats the one..
Vodafone seem to set it at 1 year

Ive got a 'reserve phone'
Different network to my modern smart phone so I have a chance of a signal out in the wilds..
I topped up 17quid in jan 20..
Not used since.. it was 'offline' last week when I wanted to use it


Best bet Jock.. figure out what you are topping up in a year.. could be between a tenner and £50

A modern contract can be had for £6 a month..so £72 a year.. and you can use google.. post on the forum..
and take and post reasonable photos too.

I use my phone ..not a PC and get by with @£100 a year charges

My last experience of 'pay as you go' -
It burnt through credit at a rate of knots

Just using it as a phone

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Thanks very much folks. A lot of thing for me to consider there.

The bottom line I suppose is that I don't really use it, don't send texts, only very occasionally make a call and even then I could have just waited 'till I got home. Once in a blue moon it gets me out of trouble if we are on holiday in the UK and I've got separated from Mrs J in a shopping centre etc - it's no good abroad though, it just doesn't work there. It would be nice to take pictures with it but it would need to have a good quality camera.

So I think I'll just live with what I've got - £50 in arouns 15 years i can afford even if I have to make a nonsense call every week to keep it alive.

I suspect chris is probably right in saying that in the end I'll be forced into buying one due to the way technology and usage goes. However I may not live that long so I'll just cross that bridge when it comes along!

Thanks again folks, that helped me rationalize what I really need at this time. In the words of the wonderful C. S. Lewis, Onwards and upwards! Wonder what Elwin Ransom would have though of a mobile phone?

 

[varesecrazy]

Watch your credit to see what the weekly call is costing..

I suspect MONTHLY use would suffice to keep it 'alive'

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Watch your credit to see what the weekly call is costing..

I suspect MONTHLY use would suffice to keep it 'alive'

Thanks Charlie. I think I'll stick my head into the mobile phone shop, now they are all open again, and ask them what they recommend.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

If you’re happy with what you have then no need to change anything?

Advantages of a smart phone is that you have a camera on you at all times with new phones the cameras can be as good as DSLR cameras and can obviously do video as well.

Then if you like a long walk you can take an entire music library with you or every radio station you could ever want. No need to down load anything.
There are podcasts too where you can listen to wha is in essence a highly specialised radio program on what ever subjects you’re interested in.

There are Apps which allow you to do pretty much anything you could want to do on your computer. I regularly make purchases on my phone no confirmation text messages needed.

Ways to stay in touch with family also improve. Many people use What’s App which is a messaging app. you don’t pay for the messages you send but you can send pictures, videos and texts as well as links and other information very quickly and easily.

Many of us do our banking on our phones no need to visit the bank machine any more just open the app and check your account balance, or shuffle money from one account to another, pay a bill or set up a standing order. I can’t remember when I last set foot inside a bank?
Also you can pay with your phone. Services like Apple Pay are very convenient you secure your phone with your fingerprint or ‘face id’ there is also pass codes that protect everything and so they are actually more secure than a bank card. You can take someone’s bank card and there is little to stop you using it for purchases via contactless, but via a phone you can still make contactless payments but it’s secured by your codes or fingerprint

One thing i do is via my Apple Watch is tap in and out of the London Underground without ever getting my wallet out. As soon as you take my watch off my wrist its locked against anyone else using it.

We could sit here and talk forever about everything you can do on a smart phone, but it’s all very dependent on what you want to get from it.

You could if you wanted get rid of your computer entirely, depending on what you want to do

 

[StevenRB45]

Rather than continuing Andys list..

Think it's best to there are as many smart phone set ups as there are people with smartphones.

Like a PC you put what you want on it and a huge number of things are available.

Eg. You take a keen interest in your ibiza and how it is running. You could get a Bluetooth dongle (haha) attach it to your OBDII port and pair it to your phone with an inexpensive app eg. Torque Pro for £2.95.

This would allow to live view pretty much every parameter the ECU monitors not just what is on the dash. So depending on what sensors car has probably boost pressure, oil temp, afr, 02 sensor readings, also see and clear any fault codes etc.

Could download PDF workshop manuals...camera makes documenting work or taking reference photos a doddle.

Basically pretty much whatever you want to use it for there will probably be something available to help.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Strewth Andy! That almost terrifies me!

I like the idea of having the camera handy at any time. My present camera is a Mini SLR lookalike Panasonic Lumix which has a good zoom lense and enhanced digital zoom too as well as being able to do video, but it's relatively cumbersome. I use it quite a lot.

Music on the move does nothing for me, I like to listen to the birds and everything else when out walking and in the car I'd rather actually listen to the noises it makes - I do sometimes put the news on if on a longer journey though. I do like to listen to music on my home amp though - in that environment I can really loose myself in it.

I've stayed away from all the social media stuff, just doesn't attract me, but I keep in touch with emails and attachments, especially with my older boy where we swap videos of bands/music we've come across.

On line banking just scares the pants off me with all the stuff you see on the TV about people being swindled and robbed. We still go to our local branch. I suppose we'll have to change one day when they close it as we've now had to move branches 3 times as they've been closing more of them. On the other hand I do use Paypal very successfully so I probably should look into this in more depth. Still scares me silly though!

Hmm, get rid of the laptop? an attractive idea but what do I do to use VCDS and MES? I also use my laptop hard drive (2TB) and my WD My Cloud (2TB) to keep all my pictures etc in duplicate - again I'm "scared" of "real" cloud storage, probably because I don't really understand it?

A major factor though is that if I want to have a "decent" smart phone and "fuel" it with functionality it's probably going to cost me more than I was paying for my Sky TV - which I cancelled a couple of years ago because of the "silly" amount of money it was costing.

Just call me dinosaur Jock folks!

 

[varesecrazy]

Strewth Andy! That almost terrifies me!

Just call me dinosaur Jock folks!

I am at your level Jock

You can 'just' use it as a
TABLET that can make calls..

I wanted to renew my phone.. the salesbod said.. oohh you will need MORE DATA ( more money per month) with this new phone as its faster

I wont.. because I dont have DATA switched on - wifi is pretty much everywhere

As I said earlier between £70 and £100 will give you a years decent connectivity

Yes its not 'cheap'.. but great convenience and reassurance for @£8 a month

If you are gifted a smartphone (I dont think your grandchildren are old enough.. )
its worth a try.

Because of Covid Lockdown we set up an old phone and a contract for my 84 year old mum

She sends messages with pics to her schoolfriend 120 miles away..

And amuses us by telling us all the news she has read on it..

She would be stunned if she knew she was using THE INTERNET...

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Strewth Andy! That almost terrifies me!


On line banking just scares the pants off me with all the stuff you see on the TV about people being swindled and robbed. We still go to our local branch. I suppose we'll have to change one day when they close it as we've now had to move branches 3 times as they've been closing more of them. On the other hand I do use Paypal very successfully so I probably should look into this in more depth. Still scares me silly though!

Hmm, get rid of the laptop? an attractive idea but what do I do to use VCDS and MES? I also use my laptop hard drive (2TB) and my WD My Cloud (2TB) to keep all my pictures etc in duplicate - again I'm "scared" of "real" cloud storage, probably because I don't really understand it?

A major factor though is that if I want to have a "decent" smart phone and "fuel" it with functionality it's probably going to cost me more than I was paying for my Sky TV - which I cancelled a couple of years ago because of the "silly" amount of money it was costing.

Just call me dinosaur Jock folks!

Honestly I would say ignorance is bliss, sometimes it would be lovely to walk and just listen to the natural sounds etc without worrying about anything. If I want to do this then all I need to do is leave my phone in my pocket.

On the other side of the fence I have parents turning 70 who do have smart phones because that what they had when they replaced them. My mother especially does not know how to use it properly. She refuses to learn how to do things like online shopping or banking and as much as I encourage it she won’t give in.

The problem of course is over lock down not being able to buy things needed like clothes or shoes not being able to do banking etc

There are pros and cons to everything.

I buy my phone outright because I hate the the 1-2 year cycle of replacing phones that are otherwise perfectly good and last many more years, my last iPhone (6s) I had for about 4/5 years then because the battery kept failing to hold charge I updated it. This means I have the pick of the SIM cards/networks/plans therefore my phone bill is only £13 a month.

The phone itself I treat like someone else would treat buying a laptop, buy it and then use it use it as I want without it being locked to one network or being tied to one company for years at a time.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Well, I'm glad I started this thread, I feel considerably better informed now. Today was a childminding day and my younger boy and his wife have just both got new phones and he was proudly showing his off to me. It seems he pays just over £20 per month for his so I was interested to see your bill works out considerably cheaper Andy.

Of all the things we do banking in person is probably the most annoying and time consuming. The bank keeps sending me emails trying to get me to take up doing it digitally and inviting me in to speak with them about any doubts I have. I think I might just take them up on their offer - being face to face (or mask to mask?) might make it easier for me.

I'm attracted to your way of doing it Andy where you buy the phone outright and then can chose your provider. I don't understand about sims etc, but one of my kids can get me up to speed with that I'm sure? It would be nice to have a camera always available but am I going to have to buy an expensive phone to get a good camera?

Lots to think about, I'm far from decided yet if it's going to be worth the money but I'm going to take a bit more of a look at it all.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Well, I'm glad I started this thread, I feel considerably better informed now. Today was a childminding day and my younger boy and his wife have just both got new phones and he was proudly showing his off to me. It seems he pays just over £20 per month for his so I was interested to see your bill works out considerably cheaper Andy.

Andy, like myself, buys his phone outright and runs them into the ground, so his monthly payments are for the sim plan only and not the handset, where as I suspect your son pays £20 a month, but that includes the phone also (and sometimes will still require a cash down payment on higher value handsets).

For example, 2014, I bought my 128gb iPhone 6 outright for £699, and paid around £10 a month for the first 4 years on a sim only deal, and then £8 a month for the last 2 years.

I had that phone for 6 years until November just gone, and sold it for £60.

Sim plan payments - £672
Phone £699
Total = £1371 less £60
Grand total = £1311 / 72 months = £18.21 a month.

That same phone new on a contract from memory would have set me back about £65 a month. Although I'd have been able to have got a new phone every 2 years, thats a bit price difference IMO.

I recently upgraded to the 256gb iPhone 12 Pro, Cash price was a not to small £1099, however the tech and phone prices have moved on. This phone currently from my network would be £62 a month for 24 months, and £99 cash down, so £1587 all in for 24 months, vs £1291 in total buying outright over 24 months.

Obviously the longer you then keep the handset the cheaper the overall cost tends to be.

 

[StevenRB45]

It seems he pays just over £20 per month for his so I was interested to see your bill works out considerably cheaper Andy.

I'm attracted to your way of doing it Andy where you buy the phone outright and then can chose your provider. I don't understand about sims etc, but one of my kids can get me up to speed with that I'm sure? It would be nice to have a camera always available but am I going to have to buy an expensive phone to get a good camera?

For a decent camera at a reasonable cost probably better picking something a generation or two back. It's your 1st smart phone so the difference between it and the latest will be lost on you.

That and they are still in support so will still have latest operating system.

So for example...I use and every photo you've seen me post on here has been taken on one of these..
https://www.backmarket.co.uk/second...xmF3uA-bh4misc00vlhlkWslR_cAienIaAiGQEALw_wcB

They are still in support so recieving regular updates etc.

I paid 800 quid...but it's paid off soon at which point bill drops to 15 a month.

I tend to do anytime upgrade contracts..basically interest free loan for phone + phone contract combined when you pay the phone off just the contract remains but can be cancelled any time and you own the phone and are free to take it elsewhere if you wish.

Another reason to go a bit older is less reliance on cloud storage (I have a 1TB memory card in mine), and a standard head phone jack. Later phones and most iPhones have no expandable storage and require either an adaptor or Bluetooth earphones should you wish to use them.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I bought my phone direct from the local Apple store, forget how much it was. It’s not a pro model I think it’s just an iPhone 11? But my wife is about to post her phone off to one of the second hand phone companies as she just got a new one and that is an iPhone XR and it’s apparently only worth just over £230? With 128gb storage. Honestly someone like CEX do sell phones on good deals with a waranty so worth a look.

I don’t believe these days anyone needs the most expensive latest phone, even a 2-3 year old iPhone is pretty much the same as something brand new they just upgrade the camera and the processor each time. Also worth looking on Apple.com/uk because I think there is a cheap model iphone you can buy new for about £300?

 

[DaveMcT]

My iPhone 7 Plus is now over 4 years old. I recently had the battery replaced but otherwise its been an excellent item. I use an Otterbox case to keep the knocks at bay.