T-mobile contract ready for upgrade: not sure about /impressed by what i can get now...

[alittlebitshy]

Hi there,
I currently have an HTC Desire Z which i love (though rarely use the keyboard - but on my previous g1 did a lot hence going for the z rather than plain desire).

I am paying £30 a month atm i think and really really want to drop this down to £20-25 tops.

The problem is, although i have not been into the shop yet to ask, it doesn't look like i can get the unlimited internet add on which I got for free (i think - or minimal cost) last time.

I am pretty sure I want another HTC but I can't get my head around what is good at the moment -the best ones seem to be on higher tariffs (as you would expect) but I can't quite grasp how good the other ones are.

Looking briefly online it looks like 3 mobile do a good deal - offering all you can eat data - but i don't know if they are good.

If i could get a good deal i would stay with t mobile but i am happy to be persuaded that other networks are good too.

Also willing to consider other phones but atm I am an htc lover.

Am i making any sense?

Thanks in advance!!

I upgraded from an HTC Desire to a One X and its lovely. It's worth working out if its cheaper to pay a bit up front for the upgrade and get a reduced monthly rate. Just give them a ring and ask. They really messed me around when I upgraded, but I'm happy with the phone and the package. I have the XL internet option. T-mobile don't charge if you go over the data allocated, unlike some others (eg Orange), they just slow the speed down.

You've mentioned you're after 'unlimited' internet, but do you think you'd need 'tethering' (ie allow the phone to act as a wi-fi hotspot for a tablet or another mobile with no internet allowance), and how many texts and minutes of calls do you get at present?

Just asking as I recommended the SIM-only "SIM 600" deal to my sister (gives 600 minutes/month, plus 3000 texts and 'all you can eat' data) for 15 quid on Three.

It doesn't offer tethering (you'd need their One Plan for that) and she (like me) bought the Samsung Galaxy Europa (at 50 quid then). I see Three is now promoting the Galaxy Ace (normally over 125 quid) on contract costing from 13 pounds, with generous allowances and no up-front fee for the phone.

Clearly as you're after a new HTC, you may end up spending a bit more (both Europa and Ace are more basic, though Ace has 5 MP camera).

There's the HTC One V (5 MP camera, One X and One S have 8 MP), and the One X offer USB connection [presumably as a modem for laptop, but on One Plan at over 30 quid a month so not what you want]

For the HTC One V you could choose from the "Ultimate" plans (24 months, "all you can eat" data):

Ultimate Internet 300 . . . 300 minutes 5,000 texts £23/month + £39 up front

Ultimate Internet 500 . . . 500 minutes 5,000 texts £25/month £0 up front

Ultimate Internet 1000 . . 1000 minutes 5,000 texts £27/mth

I've used Three for data (dongle in laptop and 15 GB/month) since October 2008 first in N Wales, now on Merseyside, but you'd need to check coverage where you are. I stream audio and video (eg YouTube clips) but mostly late at night.

I've been a long term T-Mobile HTC fan but when it recently came to Upgrade Time I couldn't find a phone deal I liked so I jumped ship.

I am currently with '3' having purchased a HTC One X. Excellent phone. Much better than my previous HTC HD2. Having said that, the new Samsung S3 likes nice.

Thanks for those comments.

Also had a realisation about virgin mobile. used to be with them on payg before i moved to tmobile, but i note that I can get a cheaper deal with them because we have Virgin broadband etc.... I note they are also linked with Orange (like t mobile) so, although I never had any reception issues with them (except in deepest darkest Walsingham in norfolk where the only network that works is Vodafone), they have back up!!!

It looks like it would be a HTC One - though i can't remember if it is a V or an X.

Decisions. Gaaah.

The 3 site suggests we'd be fine for coverage but friends have told me to steer clear.

hmm.

Oh - re unlimited internet, with the Virgin plan In would get 1gb which sounds good. I have no idea how much internet i actually use on my current plan - the only time i use the wifi hotspot is to occasionally download onto my Kindle if i just can't wait until I get home . Dh however, whose upgrade is due in nov/dec uses it a lot for his laptop...... hmm.

X!

If you're going to upgrade with T-Mobile, do it over the phone rather than in the shop and you'll get a better deal.

You can haggle with the upgrade team over the phone. If you can get through to the retentions team (say you're thinking of leaving), you'll get a better deal again.

I didn't find any better deals with the renewals or retention team with T-mobile over the phone, plus they added a £5 delivery charge (which I refused point blank to pay so they removed as a gesture of goodwill), so check this

How many minutes/texts/data do you want?

Thanks for all those comments. Sorry i didn't respond - i was thinking.

I stayed with t-mobile in the end, used my loyalty discount and upgraded the phone to a samsung s advance (which i love) and pay £25 instead of 30 now - though nominally it is a £30 contract iyswim