 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion Groups General General TopicsGSMBluetoothProviders AlltelATT WirelessCingularFidoNextelSprint PCST-MobileVerizonManufacturers EricssonNokiaMotorolaCountry Specific Australian GroupUK GroupRelated Topics PocketPCPalmMore Topics ... |
Cellular Phone Forum / Country Specific / UK Group / September 2004cheap emergency phone??
Hi, I am new to the world of mobile phones I would like to get a mobile just to carry in the car in the case of emergencies. What would be the cheapest phone and option. I would like to put some credit on the phone that would not expire, and would include the line rental charges thanks > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > thanks Best for [true] emergency use is a foreign SIM in a dual band phone. This will then roam onto any available network. Any real calls will cost you EEE, but just for 999 it will be OK. Not sure on whether there is an EU SIM you can keep topped up easy and cheap. > Best for [true] emergency use is a foreign SIM in a dual band phone. This > will then roam onto any available network. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Not sure on whether there is an EU SIM you can keep topped up easy and > cheap. I thought any GSM phone with no sim in it will still allow you to dial 999 or 112. At least this seems to be the case with my t610 (not that i am actually going to dial the no. to find out) and IIRC was the same with older phones I have had. > I thought any GSM phone with no sim in it will still allow you to dial 999 > or 112. At least this seems to be the case with my t610 (not that i am > actually going to dial the no. to find out) and IIRC was the same with > older phones I have had. The phone says "Emergency calls only", but it is still up to the network to allow you to dial 999 without a SIM card. No UK networks do. > > Best for [true] emergency use is a foreign SIM in a dual band phone. This > > will then roam onto any available network. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > actually going to dial the no. to find out) and IIRC was the same with > older phones I have had. Don't think so, and it may not roam (almost certainly not between bands). >> Best for [true] emergency use is a foreign SIM in a dual band phone. This >> will then roam onto any available network. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I thought any GSM phone with no sim in it will still allow you to dial 999 > or 112. At least this seems to be the case with my t610 Early firmware that one, later formware'd t610s just show 'No Service', which is more accurate. UK networks do not allow 999/112 calls from each others' SIMs, or phones with no SIMs.  SignatureMichael Turner Email (ROT13) zvxr.gheare1963@ivetva.arg >I thought any GSM phone with no sim in it will still allow you to dial 999 >or 112. Indeed it will, but the call won't connect. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:11:28 +0100, hairydog wrote: >>I thought any GSM phone with no sim in it will still allow you to dial 999 >>or 112. > > Indeed it will, but the call won't connect. Very handy to know that, thanks guys. I never had a reason to actually push the dial button to find out. Perhaps I should have tried it when I was working for the police in the control room :) > I am new to the world of mobile phones > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > credit on the phone that would not expire, and would include the line > rental charges I 'd suggest just getting a cheap Pay As You Go mobile. No line rental charges. Just top-up with £10, say, of credit and that'll do you for quite a while. All the networks expect to see some usage of the phone but generally it is once every six months (they vary as to whether they want incoming or outgoing calls and whether text will suffice) and if you phone is meant for emergencies you really want to test it every so often with a quick call so it shouldn't be an issue. It isn't going to make much difference which network you are on as far as cost goes as you aren't really going to be using it. For coverage Orange and Vodafone are considered the best networks, then O2 and then Virgin (they use the T-Mobile network but the T-Mobile PAYG offering is stupid so I can't recommend it) but the gap is not as wide as it used to be. I've seen a number of message about unused O2 PAYG mobiles stopping working for no proper reason so perhaps they are best avoided. I'd be tempted to just buy a Virgin SIM for a tenner as it comes with £5 of credit, or if you are worried about coverage, an Orange one (not sure how much these cost at the moment). For a cheap phone I'd suggest something like a Siemens A50 / A55 / A60. They are usually available pretty cheap but are pretty well respected. > > I am new to the world of mobile phones > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > is meant for emergencies you really want to test it every so often with a > quick call so it shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for the deailes response. My knowledge of this subject is zero, so please excuse the level of my questions. If I put say £10 on the phone, do I then need to register for a particular network? It didn't understand the bit about 'once every six months' My definition of emergencies includes calling garages if/when the car breaks down - my main worry. > It isn't going to make much difference which network you are on as far as > cost goes as you aren't really going to be using it. For coverage Orange [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > worried about coverage, an Orange one (not sure how much these cost at the > moment). I don't understand about the SIM. Doesn't the phone come with one of these? > For a cheap phone I'd suggest something like a Siemens A50 / A55 / A60. > They are usually available pretty cheap but are pretty well respected. Thanks again All the best Ap. > If I put say £10 on the phone, do I then need to register for a > particular network? It isn't like putting money in the electricity meter, there is no money 'on the phone' as it were. You buy vouchers, or more often these days use a swipe card, or use a credit card, to credit your account with the particular network. So the money all goes on their end. > It didn't understand the bit about 'once every six months' All it means is that if you leave your phone unused in the glove compartment for over six months you may find it can't make or receive calls when you need it and that you have lost any credit you have. The chances are it will still be fine but the networks reserve the right to deactivate phone numbers that aren't used in that time. But as you want the phone for emergency use I am sure that you will think it wise to test the phone every month or so just to make sure it is still working so it shouldn't be a problem. > My definition of emergencies includes calling garages if/when the car > breaks down - my main worry. That would be my definition too. Really my recommendation would be to just go to Argos or Woolworths or The Link or Carphone Warehouse or look online at Amazon or somewhere and just buy the cheapest PAYG phone package they have (but avoiding T-Mobile as their PAYG offering is too expensive). If you are bothered about the quality of the handset itself then look out for a cheap Nokia or Siemens or Samsung and you should be fine. > > If I put say £10 on the phone, do I then need to register for a > > particular network? [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > If you are bothered about the quality of the handset itself then look out > for a cheap Nokia or Siemens or Samsung and you should be fine. Or 3 - their talk time expires after 30 days or so. SignatureAG Remove removes from address to remove anti-spam measures. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan Gauton E-Mail agauton @ postmaster.co.uk Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour! (Damon Hill - 16th June 1999) > > If I put say £10 on the phone, do I then need to register for a > > particular network? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > swipe card, or use a credit card, to credit your account with the particular > network. So the money all goes on their end. I realised that vouchers are often used for payment. I am still wondering about network registering. What does one do - buy the phone, buy a voucher, then that voucher determines the nework. Is this correct. Presumably, on expiry, one could then buy another voucher, from a different company, and then use their network. This is all guesswork on my part. Please feel free to correct me. Bets wishes Ap > > It didn't understand the bit about 'once every six months' > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > If you are bothered about the quality of the handset itself then look out > for a cheap Nokia or Siemens or Samsung and you should be fine. > I realised that vouchers are often used for payment. I am still > wondering about network registering. What does one do - buy the phone, > buy a voucher, then that voucher determines the nework. Is this > correct. Presumably, on expiry, one could then buy another voucher, > from a different company, and then use their network. This is all > guesswork on my part. Please feel free to correct me. No, when you buy a phone, it is locked to one particular network. You have to choose a network, and buy a phone on that network. It cannot be changed. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > thanks Don't think they come much cheaper than this:- http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00013ZHMW/ref=amb_asin-coop-1_120752/2 02-5155723-0959820 SignatureMJG <martin.gilligan@THEDOGntlworld.com> Take THEDOG out to email me. > Hi, > I am new to the world of mobile phones [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > rental charges > thanks Take a look in Woolworths, Nokia 3410 for 29.99 on Virgin PAYT (or is it Voda?) Anyway all PAYT require you to make at least one call every 6 months. Do that and your credit will last for years, No line rental on any PAYT (except 3) Steve Terry >>Hi, >>I am new to the world of mobile phones [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Steve Terry According to this thread from April <http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en|lang_de&ie=UTF-8&safe=active& threadm=n48b705mhpn16ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%404ax.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3D en%26lr%3Dlang_en%257Clang_de%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26selm%3Dn48b705mhpn1 6ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%25404ax.com> Vodafone PAYT expires after *90* days. Alan > >>Hi, > >>I am new to the world of mobile phones [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > According to this thread from April <http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en|lang_de&ie=UTF-8&safe=active &threadm=n48b705mhpn16ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%404ax.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3 Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%257Clang_de%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26selm%3Dn48b705mhpn 16ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%25404ax.com> > Vodafone PAYT expires after *90* days. > Alan There is an unofficial way around that, I suspect Voda aren't aware of :-) Let me say I haven't topped up my Voda PAYT for a couple of years, It still has about 15quid on it, and I started with 20. If you really need to know email me Steve Terry >>>>Hi, >>>>I am new to the world of mobile phones [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Let me say I haven't topped up my Voda PAYT for a couple of years, > It still has about 15quid on it, and I started with 20. I just wanted to point out that "...all PAYT require you to make at least one call every 6 months." is not completely correct as it would appear that Voda *could* cut you off after just 90 days. In the case of Fresh it's 60 days - important for the OP to know as he wants to have his phone usable in case of emergency. > If you really need to know email me You already told me :-) > Steve Terry Alan > According to this thread from April <http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en|lang_de&ie=UTF-8&safe=ac tive&threadm=n48b705mhpn16ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%404ax.com&rnum=1&prev=/group s%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_en%257Clang_de%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26selm%3 Dn48b705mhpn16ji17rl1kukssqvjm0fiv1%25404ax.com> > Vodafone PAYT expires after *90* days. Interesting. The booklet that came with my SIM says 180 days and dates from 2002 and I was not aware that it had been changed since then. Unfortunately the Vodafone web site seems to be keeping the PAYT Terms and Conditions a closely guarded secret. >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >thanks I still have an original easylife Phillips diga with about 15 pounds credit on it. it does not time out now (although original tarrifs were not exactly the same) We used it as - an emergency phone,- the tarrif is very fixed at 49p per minute, with no line rental and all incoming calls are not charged. when credit expires I understand that emergency (999) calls (sos) are free, but have never tried this. It was cellnet, now O2 I think, signals are not bad. It cannot be used on another network, they carved stuff in stone for this model. The battery has been cared for properly and is in good condition. Dont want much at all for it but a good home - credit amount and postage though? Use email if interested? SignatureAC <snip> > I still have an original easylife Phillips diga with about 15 pounds > credit on it. it does not time out now (although original tariffs were > not exactly the same) We used it as - an emergency phone <snip> Blimey, a still working Cellnet Diga, the Pic chip bandits will want to get hold of that! Steve Terry >Blimey, a still working Cellnet Diga, the Pic chip bandits will want to >get hold >of that! Oh dear. I'm still using my Cellnet "Easylife" Diga just about every day (really only for incoming or emergency calls, of course, I'm not completely stupid). I though that one of its few virtues was that nobody would ever want to steal it from me. Was I wrong? And what can the chip bandits do with them? SignatureClive Page > >Blimey, a still working Cellnet Diga, the Pic chip bandits will want to > >get hold [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > And what can the chip bandits do with them? > Clive Page They can put an 8 legged pic chip with 4 wires in it, and allow the user to reset the remaining credit back to whatever it was before the last call, including when roaming abroad. Not something that pleased Cellnet Steve Terry does that old re-set trick still work...im sure ive got an old diga phone in the loft somewhere......on the EASYLIFE set up...... is it worth digging it out... "KLUNK" > > >Blimey, a still working Cellnet Diga, the Pic chip bandits will want to > > >get hold [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Steve Terry > does that old re-set trick still work...im sure ive got an old diga phone in > the loft somewhere......on the EASYLIFE set up...... > is it worth digging it out... <snip top post> You expect a reply posting like that? Steve Terry >You expect a reply posting like that? Well, you replied! SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! > >You expect a reply posting like that? > > Well, you replied! > Iain Not to his question ;-) Steve Terry |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.