Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Why Think About SIM Only Contracts For Smartphones For Flexibility

By Julie Cannings


The SIM card in your mobile phone is what contains most of the information. It is also what lets you access the mobile network, which transfers calls, texts, and data. These cards can be shifted between phones of the correct type, and aside from also transferring your data easily, this means less expensive SIM only contracts.

With most conventional mobile phone plans, your purchase of the plan includes either a free or heavily-discounted handset (phone). However, the provider of the plan still had to purchase the phone, and thus needs to pass the cost on to their customers somehow. They do this by making the plan more expensive to keep the illusion of the phone being free.



This means that when you don't have to buy the 'free' handset, you can get minutes for less. Providers of these services can afford to charge less, since they are not providing you with a handset. Your money goes further, and you can either gets more minutes for the same amount, or pay less for a similar plan. Replacing your handset is really the only reason you should consider a conventional plan.

Most major mobile providers in the UK offer SIM only contracts these days. For people who already have a handset that they like, they are generally a very good deal. Talk, text and internet are available through these kinds of plans, as well as packaged deals like those provided with a handset. The cheapest plans offer a limited number of minutes and texts, but you can purchase ones with unlimited everything, too.

When you do purchase your contract, you will either have a given number of minutes and texts, or you will have purchased an unlimited plan. Whatever your choice, all of your calls will be logged and charged the same way. There will be no more night and weekend minutes to figure out, or unlimited calls to only certain people to keep track of.

Choosing one of these plans does not have to mean giving up your number. In most cases, you can choose to get a new number if you prefer, but you can easily keep the old one. This means that you don't have to go around telling everyone what your new number is, and potentially missing calls from people who didn't hear.

You have more freedom to choose the length of your contract with alternative plans, as well. 30-day options are popular, because they don't lock in the customers to a certain type of plan. You can change your minutes, texts and data monthly, if you prefer. However, there are also options that provide savings, such as time spans that range from six to eighteen months.

Your smartphone can come along for the ride with SIM only contracts. This is not possible with many pay as you go plans, which provide the phones and only provide the most basic of options. Even a netbook or tablet computer that is equipped to connect to a mobile network can accept one of these cards. Flexibility is within reach now.




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