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Many children get their first mobile phone on starting secondary school in September. We hunt down the best first deals for an 11-year-oldWhen to let your child have their first mobile phone is a contentious issue. But the chances are you’ll join the majority of parents and get them one when they start secondary school at 11.At this age many children start travelling to and from school alone and parents like the reassurance of knowing they can call home.So with a bewildering plethora of handset and tariff options, where do you start to find the best deal?Anthony Ball, director of mobile comparison website Onecompare.com says: “You can get a mobile contract for your child, but pay-as-you-go is probably the best move because of the level of control it gives parents. If your child uses the phone too much, the credit simply runs out until you decide to top it up, but they can still receive your texts and calls free.”There’s also little point buying an expensive, flashy phone that could serve as a “mugging magnet”.Many parents will have an old phone they can pass on to their child or, if not, they can pick up a basic model for under £20 and put in a free sim card now available from most major networks, which often offer bundles of texts, call time and, if want, internet access typically starting with a £10 top-up per month. But which one?”The difficulty of getting the first deal for an 11-year-old is that you have little idea of how, and how much, they are going to use their phone,” Ball says. “But as these sims are free and don’t tie you in to a long contract, you can try one and, if that doesn’t suit, simply switch to another.”Earlier this month Tesco Mobile targeted young users with its launch of, arguably, the UK’s cheapest sim-only monthly tariff which provides unlimited texts and 100 minutes of call time for £6 a month.But it’s not available instore – it’s only sold online and over the phone, and is based on a one-month sim-only rolling contract paid by direct debit which means that customers can cancel and switch to other providers should they choose after 30 days.It should particularly suit text-addicted youngsters. Tesco’s research shows that 16- to 24-year-olds are the most prolific texters and, on a personal note, I’ve found that a sim, offering unlimited texts, is definitely the best money-saving mobile option for my two aged 12 and 16.If, however, your child is likely to go over the 100-minute call-time allowance excess calls are charged at 20p per minute and the bill is added on to your £6 monthly direct debit, so the cost could quickly add up. As a safety measure, Tesco puts a £30 cap on the monthly amount you can run up on top of the £6 subscription.If that limit is reached, the phone is barred for outgoing calls (not, importantly, from incoming calls) until the paying customer – the parent in our scenario – calls Tesco Mobile to verify the amount of credit they are willing to pay.But this does highlight the difference between a standard pay-as-you-go deal, where your child cannot run up a bill, and a monthly contract, where they can.Below are a selection of the pay-as-you-go free sim deals on offer for a £10 monthly top-up from major networks which may suit an 11-year-old’s usage.O2 SimplicityFor £10 a month you get unlimited texts plus a choice of either 100 minutes call time to any UK network or 500MG of web time, enough to send and receive up to 500,000 emails a month or surf up to 5,000 web pages. Calls made in excess of those included in a package are charged daily at 25p per minute for the first three minutes, then 5p per minute for the rest of the day. Available at freesim.o2.co.ukOrange If you join Orange with a free sim and choose from one of its pay as you go “animal” packages, you receive £5 free credit with your first £10 top-up. Options include Racoon – a basic, no-frills package, giving a 15p flat call rate and 10p texts to any network any time. For a top-up of £10 per month, Dolphin gives you 300 free texts and free access to the internet subject to a monthly 100MB cap with calls charged at a minimum of 20p per minute and Canary gives you 100 free minutes call time to any mobile (not landlines) at evenings and weekends every month with excess calls charged at a minimum of 20p per minute. Available at freesim.orange.co.ukT-Mobile When you top up by £10 a month you get unlimited free texts as a bonus on top of your £10 credit to use on calls, web-surfing and so on. Call charges are 10p per minute to T-Mobile phones and 25p a minute to other UK mobile networks and landlines. Internet access charges are maximum £1 a day. Available at t-mobile.co.ukTesco Tesco offers a triple-your-money deal so that a top-up of £10 becomes £30 of credit. Free credit is given once a month and is valid for one month. If you top up again in the same month this generates free credit for the following month. Available at www.tesco.com/mobilenetwork/Consumer affairsTelecomsMobile phonesChildrenJill Papworthguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 Terms & Conditions

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 12, 3, all, best, card, charges, cheapest, compare, comparison, consumer, contract, deal, Deals, email, free, line, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, networks, new, o2, orange, pay as you go, phone, phones, sam, sim, Sim Card, sol, t-mobile, tariff, test, three, uk

Six to appear in court on October 19 charged with defrauding O2 and other network operators to tune of £4.5 million

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, phone

Police arrest nine after smashing international premium rate phone line fraud using O2 contract SIMs

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: contract, line, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, phone, sim

Police move to shut down criminal network suspected of global fraud using premium-rate phone lines and stolen iPhonesPolice have moved to shut down a criminal network suspected of running a complex global scam which made millions of pounds from UK mobile phone networks using stolen iPhones and premium-rate phone lines.Eight men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in a series of early morning raids across England today.Officers had been investigating a complex conspiracy where mobile phones were purchased using false identities, and then the SIM cards used to call premium-rate phone lines owned by people involved in the scam.City of London police detectives seized dozens of mobile phones, hundreds of SIM cards, thousands of pounds in cash and fake documentation from homes in Southend, Walsall, central Birmingham, Middlesbrough, and Forest Gate and Southall in London this morning.The raids followed a month-long investigation into a rapidly growing criminal conspiracy profiting from the theft and illegal use of almost 1,000 mobile phones – the vast majority of which were iPhones.SIM cards were removed from illegally obtained phones then shipped abroad and plugged into automatic dialling machines, which repeatedly called lines that charged up to £10 a minute and were owned by members of the conspiracy.The cards accrued enormous bills in a matter of weeks, which were paid by mobile phone networks, but when the companies contacted the registered owners they invariably found people who had fallen victim to identity fraud.O2 was one of the networks hit by the scam, and had £1.2m stolen through premium phone lines in July alone. They contacted police with the results of their own investigation and worked in partnership with detectives from the City of London police – the national lead force for fraud – to uncover an elaborate and expensive fraud.Police now believe a gang of West Africans bought mobile phones on contracts from high street stores using false identities and stolen or fraudulent credit cards.The gang predominantly targeted iPhones for their high resale value. Once the phones were purchased they were sold to a middleman, believed to be based in Birmingham, who would split the SIM cards and handsets before selling the phones to criminal contacts abroad.The SIM cards were then sold to a gang based in London and Essex who were involved in running the premium phoneline scam.Police arrested several members of the gang, all of whom are of Pakistani origin, at homes in Forest Gate, Southall and Southend this morning.They are suspected of setting up a complex network of shell companies to launder the profits from the premium phone lines and hide their identities.At one home in Forest Gate, police found hundreds of SIM cards, £15,000-worth of iPhones still in their boxes, 20 bank cards and several fake passports. At another property they uncovered hundreds of letters that had been prepared to try to con people out of their savings with a promise of a lottery win, a scam known as a 419 con.Investigators have traced the stolen handsets and SIM cards all over the world, including several countries in the Middle East, continental Europe and Vietnam.Police are now hunting to find out where the profits went, as many of those involved lived “under the radar” in council houses with few obvious assets, apart from relatively expensive cars.Detective superintendent Bob Wishart said officers had struck at “a highly sophisticated criminal network” that had been targeting the telecommunications industry and stealing millions of pounds.”Our investigation found a crime gathering momentum,” he said.”Each month more SIM cards were being used to make more phone calls to premium-rate lines at more expense to the network provider.”The criminal exploitation of the latest consumer technology is a recurring theme of our work.”Our collaboration with O2 on this investigation highlights the benefits of how the private sector can work with the police to proactively target common threats to our communities.”Adrian Goreham, responsible for tackling fraud at O2, said: “This was a sophisticated and organised attempt to defraud mobile phone operators.”We are committed to reducing mobile phone crime and have a dedicated team that monitors and investigates such attempted criminal activity.”CrimeMobile phonesiPhoneAdam Gabbattguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 Terms & Conditions

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, all, card, consumer, contract, global, iphone, latest, line, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, networks, new, o2, phone, phones, sim, Sim Card, sol, test, uk, world

Avenir Telecom has been named O2′s number one distributor for connections in Q2, setting a new O2 record

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: connections, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2

O2 to tender for new financial services provider after parting ways with NatWest

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

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We crowdsourced predictions for the specs of RIM’s rumoured BlackBerry ‘BlackPad’ – and here are the resultsThis week’s BlackBerry press conference in New York didn’t treat us to a single whisper about what could be in store for the tablet device thought to be on the horizon from manufacturer Research in Motion. But trusty Guardian readers have a knack of being on (or near) the money when it comes to foreshadowing future gadget releases.RIM is said to be releasing its rival to Apple’s iPad in November this year, according to reports. Speculation about the name of the device has been spurred on by RIM’s acquisition of the domain rights to blackpad.com and the expected imminent release of tablet devices from LG and Samsung.Earlier this week we put it to the people: what can we expect from a BlackBerry tablet computer? Here’s what you told us: How much will it weigh?Given that the iPad weighs in at between 0.68-0.73kg, the majority of readers (43%) said the “BlackPad” (hold on to your hats, you’ll see why we’re calling it that in a minute) would weigh around 0.7kg – so roughly the same as an iPad. Almost 90% of readers said the BlackPad would weigh between 0.5kg and 0.9kg.How many models will there be?Just the one model, according to 55.9% of readers. A not insubstantial 44.1% said there would be more than one model. One for enterprise and one for regular users?What will be the basic model’s screen size?Bit of an open one this. With the iPad’s 9.7in screen and the new Kindle’s tinchy six incher, the majority of readers (39%) said the BlackPad screen would be no bigger than 10.3in.Will the basic model have mobile network connectivity?It’d be a surprise if it didn’t, put it that way – 84.9% of you saying it will.If there is a model with mobile network connectivity, who will be the US carrier(s)?The trio of big players – AT&T, Verizon and Sprint – will all carry network on the BlackPad, so says the majority (38.7%) of readers. The rest were split almost equally between only AT&T, only Verizon, or only AT&T and Verizon.If there is a model with mobile network connectivity for a UK version, who will be the carrier(s)?Again, a trio of big players will all be providing network on RIM’s tablet device, according to most (44.4%). Interestingly, readers don’t seem to rate Orange’s chances of being a sole carrier (4.8%), much less so than O2 and Vodafone.What sort of finish and colour will it have?It’ll be a shiny black, say the hulking great mass (84.7%) of polled readers. Let’s hope, for creativity’s sake, we get a bright aluminium model as well. We’re not holding our breath though.What connectivity/ports will it have?The BlackPad will definitively not have Ethernet connectivity (3.4%), say readers. Nor will it have Universal WideBand (2.8%) connectivity. What will set the device apart from rivals is a USB port (16.7%) and SD/CompactFlash card capability (13.3%).Will it support Flash?RIM has said Flash playback is coming to its BlackBerry smartphones, with an announcement in due course. There’s no reason, then, we shouldn’t expect Flash to be supported on its upcoming tablet device, as 86.3% of readers said. Will that prove a big enough draw away from the iPad?Will it introduce a new DRM format for electronic books, magazines and newspapers?No, say the majority (61.6%).How much will it cost in the UK, without network subsidy?The majority of readers (roughly 66%) expect the BlackPad to cost roughly the same as Apple’s iPad – between £400 and £600. Almost 2% said the device will cost more than £1,201.Drumroll … what will it be called?This is the biggie, though largely spoilt by the rumbling of RIM’s indiscrete purchase of a domain name. Just under half (43.5%) of polled readers think RIM’s tablet device will be called BlackPad, 33.1% imagine it as BlackBerry Slate. A disappointing 1.9% said the device will be called BlackBored (the same 1.9% that imagine it will cost more than £1,201?).There we have it. If RIM’s tablet device were to be true to Guardian readers’ estimations, would that make it a more attractive purchase than the iPad? Samsung and LG, are you watching?BlackBerryCrowdsourcingMobile phonesTablet computersiPadJosh Hallidayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 Terms & Conditions

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 3, all, apple, Blackberry, card, gadget, lg, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, new, o2, orange, phone, phones, sam, samsung, sol, uk, vodafone

O2 provider Barclay Communications has signed a corporate account from Vodafone understood to be worth more than 350 connections

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: 3, connections, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, vodafone

Where are we now?

iPhone 3G users who’ve upgraded to iOS 4 are discovering that the roaming switch isn’t working any more, for those on O2′s network at least.…

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(Source The Register)

Tags: 3, apple, iphone, o2, phone, roaming, source the register

O2 UK recorded positive growth last quarter, again, with good contract additions, strong iPhone and BlackBerry sales, and market-beating churn

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: Blackberry, contract, growth, iphone, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, phone, uk

The on going pay dispute between the Communication Workers Union and O2 is set to end after an agreement was reached this week

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: deal, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2

Telecoms service provider Livvy’s Group has built up a base of big clients without singing from the rooftops. Mobile News went along to a customer event at Stamford Bridge to see what all the whispering is about

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: all, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, service

Vodafone apes and challenges rival operator O2 with expansive reward scheme with O2 partner Live Nation

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: all, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, vodafone

Kent-based MoCo looks to have moved early with a smart O2 exclusive, as distribution space continues to consolidate and resellers align with operators

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(Source Mobile News CWP)

Tags: deal, mobile, Mobile News, new, o2, room, sol

Number ‘porting’ must take place within one working day from April 2011, regulator rules

Mobile phone users in the UK will at last soon be able to transfer their phone number to another network within one working day.

Britain will come into line with European Union guidelines on the matter in April 2011, Ofcom ruled today, following several years of wrangling between the communications regulator and the mobile telecoms industry.

Currently a mobile operator is allowed to take two working days before allowing a departing customer to “port” their number to their new operator. Ofcom originally tried to bring this down to two hours, but lost a court challenge from Vodafone, O2 and Orange in 2008.

Ofcom has also decreed that the code required to switch provider and retain a number, called a PAC, should be issued to consumers immediately over the phone or within a maximum of two hours via text message. This will end the practice of some PACs being sent out by post, forcing customers to wait several days before changing to a new operator.

“Ensuring consumers can switch between communications providers by removing unnecessary barriers is one of Ofcom’s priorities for 2010/11,” said the regulator’s chief executive, Ed Richards. “Being able to switch quickly and easily between mobile providers is an important part of healthy and effective competition.”

But the decision was criticised by 3, the fourth-largest UK mobile operator. It is unhappy that the onus for moving the number still falls on the customer, rather than the operators involved, and accused Ofcom of failing UK consumers.

It said that the system of “recipient-led porting”, where number transfers are handled by the new provider, was “the fundamental platform for choice and competition” in the mobile market. “Nowhere else in Europe is a consumer forced to ask permission to take their number with them when they choose a new operator,” said a 3 spokesman. “The donor-led porting system that Ofcom proposes to keep makes it more difficult for customers.”

But other operators argue that if consumers did not have to request the PAC themselves before swapping networks, they could fall victim to high-pressure sales tactics known as “slamming”, where their mobile phone providers are summarily changed without their full consent.

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 3, all, consumer, largest, line, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, networks, new, o2, orange, phone, phones, uk, vodafone

Satnav launches an on-the-ropes, ninth-round-style counteroffensive against greatly exaggerated reports of its death

Photo by Ben Oh on Flickr. Some rights reserved

Reports of satnav’s death are greatly exaggerated – and retailer Garmin has launched an inspired marketing fightback to prove just that.

The arrival of Google Maps Navigation was touted by many – including the Guardian’s own Jemima Kiss – as a “satnav killer.” Google Maps Navigation is free (at the point of sale), familiar, and feature-rich. But don’t count on traditional satnav retailers to give up the ghost just yet.

Seeking to capitalise on customer (and industry?) confusion surrounding mobile data charges – not to mention what happens when you dare to venture outside of the UK – satellite navigation specialists Garmin have embarked on a Top Gear-esque experiment.

Using Google Maps on an O2 Pay As You Go tariff, the company set out to see how much a summer tour of France would cost with only an Android phone for company. Twenty pence per mile is the (approximate) answer.

A return Calais-to-Paris (185 miles) trip by car notched up £74 of data roaming charges, using 12-13 megabytes of data. Here’s what return trips further afield cost:

• Avignon, 614 miles: £245.60

• Saint-Tropez, 730 miles: £292

• Grenoble, 540 miles: £216

• Marseille, 667 miles: £266.80

• Lyon, 474 miles: £189.60

• Cannes, 747 miles: £298.80

• Bordeaux, 540 miles: £216

• Valence, 539 miles: £215.60

• Saint-Etienne, 510 miles: £204

And the eye-watering bill you could find on your doorstep isn’t the only reason you should spurn Google’s advances and stick with traditional satnavs, says Garmin head of communications Anthony Chmarny: “Using free satellite navigation isn’t as free as it would like to make out, especially when you are using your mobile phone abroad.

“Many of the well known navigation products use the mobile phone network to download maps as they go, meaning people could end up with a nasty shock when their mobile phone bills arrive – the costs could be double that of the fuel used for the journey they were navigating.

“For someone using so called ‘free’ navigation abroad this could leave them in the absurd position that they get half way through a journey and no longer have access to navigation to complete it.”

Convinced?

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 12, 3, all, android, charges, free, google, launches, marketing, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, new, o2, pay as you go, phone, phones, roaming, tariff, uk, venture

Finding a good app is sorting the wheat from the chaff. With new releases appearing all the time, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here is a selection of genuinely useful applications to try out on your mobile.

iPhone

● LifeForceTeam Fertility (Back Door Productions, £3.99)

A unique application which provides fertility advice straight to couples, without the hassle of lengthy waiting lists. With advice from Harley Street expert Dr Lawrence Shaw, this application provides a comprehensive knowledge of everything you need to know through videos and text.

● PolyTune (TC Electronics, £5.99)

Polyphonic guitar tuning allows you to tune all your guitar strings at once, instead of plucking one at a time. Available within a pedal for a smooth £75.00, this app provides the same functionality for a fraction of the cost.

iPad

● Brushes (Steve Sprang, £4.99)

This week’s internet hit has been the artistic work of David Kassan who has created stunningly realistic portraits with an iPad and easel. Even if your skills do not match the level of his, you can certainly have fun with this easy to use painting application.

● Live Pitch (Mint Digital, free)

The best iPad apps are designed from the ground up to take advantage of the huge screen. One such example is Live Pitch – which provides real time information with from each World Cup match. A must have for any football fan, provides an entirely new way to experience football.

Blackberry

● UNO (Gameloft, $4.99)

Relive summers of the playing this classic card, number and colour game, UNO is a realistic interpretation of the original game and ideal for those morning commutes.

● Player for YouTube (Smarter Apps, free)

Simple, yet extremely useful, this handy application allows you to watch high quality videos straight from YouTube. Be sure to make sure your WiFi is turned on, or watch your data costs soar with each passing second.

Android

● Pocket IKEA (Go2mobile, free)

Ever tried to remember the name of that BILLY bookcase in the corner? Pocket IKEA allows you to browse thousands of items from everyone’s favourite do-it-yourself furniture store. Avoid the crowds and spend your time somewhere leisurely than trailing around a warehouse.

● National Rail (ATOC, £4.99)

The official application from the all the rail operators, National Rail provides the latest service updates, journey planning, fare information, platforms as well as live departures and arrivals. Essential for any commuter, and more reliable than the train services too.

Java

● iSpyCams (Warelex, free)

Fancy spotting what is happening at Abbey Road? Watch boats floating down the Seine? Check if someone is parked outside your garage? iSpyCams allows you to connect to thousands of free web cams around the world, as well as your own at home.

● UrbanDaddy (UrbanDaddy, free)

Whether you are stumbling around for some fried chicken at midnight or looking for a cocktail bar at lunch time, UrbanDaddy will help you find the best locations. Providing comprehensive guides and articles to the major cities, this is an essential companion to exploring.

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 3, all, android, best, Blackberry, card, deal, free, iphone, latest, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, new, o2, phone, phones, sam, service, sim, test, uk, update, world

New Mobile & Latest Deal News!

Sooner or later someone was going to challenge the way tariff pricing has been formulated and revolutionise the industry with a new and simplified pricing method that makes sense. So, it should be no surprise to most that it is the 3 network that has taken the initiative and created The One Plan.

The One Plan offers peace of mind and freedom of use by removing the so-called ‘unlimited packages’ that are capped with a fair usage policy that can often cripple users with large and unexpected bills. Instead, The One Plan brings a huge amount of clearly defined free usage that comprises of 1GB of data, 5000 text messages, 2000 minutes to any network any time and 5000 minutes for calling other mobiles on 3.

If you’re thinking about an iPhone 4 then you’ll be delighted to see a SIM only option with The One Plan at a low price of £25pm on a 12 month contract. Pick up a SIM free iPhone 4 direct from Apple for £499 and it works out cheaper than any of the deals available on Orange, O2 or Vodafone.

If you prefer a new phone on The One Plan then 24 month contracts are available. The cost of line rental depends on which phone you choose, it starts at £28 per month for phones such as the Nokia E63 or the LG Viewty GT. The HTC Desire is available for £35 per month.

The The One Plan has placed 3 at the forefront of the UK networks with probably the most attractive and easy to understand price plan that simply makes sense.

Most popular deals on The One Plan

Tags: 12, 3, all, apple, cheaper, contract, deal, Deals, free, HTC, iphone, latest, latest deal, lg, line, mobile, mobiles, networks, new, new mobile, nokia, o2, orange, phone, phones, rental, sim, sim free, sim only, tariff, test, uk, vodafone

Don’t be taken in by the empty threats from the big four mobile operators

Readers of your news article could be forgiven for believing that the prospect of the vast majority of UK consumers paying lower prices for calling mobiles would cause the sky to fall in (Reform of mobile phone charges may leave poorest users worse off, June 22). The four biggest mobile operators have been scaremongering with variations on this theme for years.

You report the end of telecoms watchdog Ofcom’s consultation on “its plans to slash the cost of calling a mobile phone … by reducing so-called mobile termination rates – the price networks charge each other and fixed-line companies such as BT to connect calls”. The article states that O2 has “warned the regulator that its proposals are ‘irresponsible’ and could force millions of people on low incomes to abandon their phones”.

Every time the prospect of lower mobile termination rates is raised, operators have cried that prices would go up and that people would stop using their phones. But a quick glance at the facts shows that when rates have come down the exact opposite has happened.

My company, Three, is part of a broad campaign along with BT and 65 other organisations – ranging from charities to financial advisers – that recognise high termination rates as a barrier to lower mobile prices. Orange, Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile seek to pull off a bold double act by threatening to raise prices yet at the same time quietly introducing more competitive rates every time termination rates come down – as they have done again this year.

The article states: “The industry has warned that the likely shake-up will lead to the reintroduction of controversial ‘expiry dates’ on prepay top-ups.” Again, effective competition will address this threat.

High termination rates have been a net subsidy to the mobile industry from landline users for years, but the bills paid to call mobiles by vulnerable landline users and the organisations that support them never feature in the analysis from the big mobile companies. The Terminate the Rate campaign includes Age UK, Crossroads Care and Carers UK who work with the vulnerable all day, every day and know their experience.

Low termination rates will enable effective competition in the UK voice market. They will drive better value for mobile and landline users alike. Since these threats are being made by those who want to delay this change, then as the only mobile operator supporting it we have to make our own case. While Vodafone claims that changes “could see the end of mobile handset subsidies”, we have committed to continue to offer subsidised handsets. Rather than cutting off prepay customers, we expect to serve more.

That the four major operators don’t welcome change is no surprise. But ultimately it is our firm belief that high mobile termination rates don’t protect low users, they create them.

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, all, charges, consumer, drive, HD, lg, line, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, mobiles, networks, new, o2, orange, phone, phones, prices, sam, t-mobile, three, uk, vodafone

Subscribers to discount website Groupola can pick up handset for £400 less than Apple charges – if they are quick enough

A discount website specialising in ‘city deals’ is offering users the chance to purchase the new Apple iPhone 4 on 1 July for just £99, compared to the £499 Apple charges . Groupola.com only has a limited number of handsets available and is offering them exclusively to its email subscribers.

It says it is able to offer such low prices because it relies on group-buying to regularly offer discounts of up to 90% on events and products across the UK’s major cities and tourist attractions.

O2 is selling the 16GB iPhone 4 for £209 if you sign up to an 18-month contract and spend £30 a month, while Vodafone wants £219 for the 16GB version if you also spend £30 a month for 18 months. You can compare packages here.

Mark Pearson, managing director of Groupola, says: “Given that the iPhone 4 sold out through pre-orders alone in just 48 hours through the Apple store, we thought it was only right to offer loyal Groupola.com discount hunters another bite of the cherry. We’ve proved that the concept of group buying can work within the UK.”

To purchase the iPhone for £99 you need to be an email subscriber, so you’ll need to visit the site and sign up to receive daily alerts. You will be sent a link on 1 July which will allow you to purchase the phone on 2 July on a first come, first served basis.

“My advice is to open the link the second the clock ticks over at 9.30am – by 9.31am you may already have been too late,” adds Pearson.

The firm has admitted that the deal is a loss-leader and there is only a limited number of phones available. It has also said that people can easily unsubscribe from the daily alerts should they wish to.

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(Source The Guardian)

Tags: 10, 3, all, apple, apple iphone, charges, compare, compared, consumer, contract, deal, Deals, email, iphone, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phones, months, new, o2, phone, phones, prices, sol, uk, vodafone