Tethering for beginners

[Lilymaid]

I have the opportunity to purchase a smart phone and tablet device. I've never had a smart phone or tablet but use Internet far too much and want to keep in contact with DSs who are abroad and both have Apple devices.
I am considering buying an iPhone5 and an iPad mini and using GiffGaff. So is there any point in purchasing a mini with cellular if I can tether the phone and tablet?
And, if not Apple, what instead?
Oh the problems, when you finally get a bit of "me" money!

Right, lets think this through logically.

Firstly declared interest of sorts - I used to be an apple fanboi but have got fed up of the strangle hold they have over everything, and gone over to android mostly.. You will do much better for your money with android phone and tablet- apple is very limited- no additional storage etc.

I use giffgaff and like it quite a lot. HOWEVER you will not be able to tether on giffgaf with an iphone (that's one of the apple stranglehold" features). You can only tether with iphone if the network is able to allow you to- and for this you pay extra. Giffgaff, unless it has hanged very recently , are not able to lift the the tethering bar.

So.... other options are many. My current choice would be either galaxy s3 /note 2 or google nexus 4 as the phone (I'm assuming you want a premium smartphone) and either a nexus tablet (the 7 might do you well) or the Note 10 inch tablet .(however the google nexus line are a bit apple like in than they don't have expandable storage, I have a 32GB card in my note 1 for instance!).

Not necessarily the best prices, just comparison:

32GB nexus 7 £189

SIM free S3 £387 (amazon UK)

Apple

Ipad mini £349 +iphone 5 £529

With the android option if 1GB data shared between devices is enough the Giffgaff £10 goody bag will do fine, if more you might be better going to 3 for more data?

Sorry that got a bit geeky but It fascinates me as my ipad1 is due for renewal when I finally get he ££ together. I love my note1 phones still. DS has a new nexus 4 that is great but I'm still a bit humm about no removable storage or removable battery (changing battery is primitive but so good on a long journey etc if you end up with no charge left!)

THe fact hat your Ds use apple doesn't matter bTW

Thanks Theas - lots of food for thought there! Just to add that one of my priorities is to be able to contact one DS who is working abroad in country with not great Internet access. He has currently has a work Blackberry and his own iPad and iMac. At the moment we usually Skype message (his Internet access isn't up to video).
Otherwise I just want something that is easy to set up, is aesthetically pleasing and doesn't cost and I don't want to pay an arm and a leg in monthly payments for a contract when I don't make that many mobile phone calls.

"doesn't cost and I don't want to pay an arm and a leg "
should be: doesn't cost an arm and a leg!

Do you need to tether at all?

Tethering is going to cost you money, phone companies charge extra for that.
However do you need it? Where would you be using your phone and tablet together? Middle of the countryside, then you may need tethering. Sitting in A coffee shop, then you don't need it as you will be using WiFi (a lot of places provide it now).

At home, do you have broadband with WiFi? If so, you do not need tethering, you connect the tablet to WiFi.

Skype - some phones will let you use that in voice mode, over the phone data network.

Consider when you would actually use tethering, is it something you really need. Then look at price plans that include tethering to see which phone network you need to be on (based on price and reception in areas you will use the phone), then that will narrow down which handsets you can use, as you may want to get the handset on contract.

Nannynick - wise words! I doubt that I really need to tether - after all I've managed without a smartphone so far. What I wouldn't want to do is to buy some equipment then find I can't do something I had presumed I could do. There seem to be so many things to take into account.
Right, then, I don't need to tether ... what should I buy as a smart phone bearing in mind that I don't make many calls, both DSs are currently in other continents and I would like to keep in touch with them as cheaply as possible? Also, I fancy a tablet that I can use for my daily long commute (have a Kindle but would like to subscribe to a newspaper or do whatever you do with tablets - train has WiFi access).

you can skype message your ds from any skype capable device.

I'd still say S3 as a really good smartphone that will do anything you want it to. I guess I have heavy demands on mine, as I use it all the time for everything pretty much!

Lesser phones we have tried- Samsung galaxy Y which DH had and DS still has- an adequate phone for DS (17) Who uses it to the full and works round it's limitations. DH found the working memory too small, and the camera limited.

I think you'd probably do well with a Note - this is sort of a cross between a phone and a tablet. There's the Note and the Note 2, the Note 2 is faster, but both are excellent phones.

If you did decide to get a wi-fi only tablet there is a little gadget you can get which uses a 3G network & SIM card to create a portable wi-fi hotspot, this is usually cheaper and more reliable than using a phone for the same purpose. We sell them where I work (CeX) but you can get them direct from the phone network too - 3 seem to be the main one offering these.

Galaxy Note this is.

You need to look at Giffgaff's website. Iirc it specifically says you cannot tether with an Iphone and their sim.

I use the tethering feature a lot (make sure it's included in your data package when you sign up...there is an extra charge). I use it often when I'm at kids' activities; gymnastics, dance etc. where there's no wi-fi...that's a good time for me to catch up on MN the news, e-mails etc. and sometimes one of the kids wants to use the iPad for online games or their online school reading program while we're waiting. I don't know anything about androids...but I will say that apple stuff is very beginner-friendly if you're not a techno-wizard (like me).

Thanks Bisjo - finally found the information on a GiffGaff search that you can't tether an iPhone on GiffGaff unless you "jailbreak" - this is definitely getting far too complicated for a simple soul.

Samsung phones are good. Don't get Galaxy, the memory is too limited (though I am Mumsnetting on it now) but once you get into using apps, the lack of phone memory is a pain. So S3 or Galaxy Note.

Which Galaxy nannynick? All of the samsung phones are galaxy something. The S3 is a galaxy S3 too :)

The cheaper Galaxy's like the Galaxy Y do have a small amount of memory.

But the S2, S3, Note & S3 mini all should have plenty of RAM. For example my Note has 2GB internal storage but in addition 16GB built in RAM.

Opps, oh yes, I meant the Galaxy Ace... the one with the small phone memory (adding an SD card makes little difference, I have 2GB card and it's not made much diff as apps tend to install to phone memory).

So look at the phones with high internal memory, as niceguy2 says, S2, S3, Note.

Certainly tethering may not be top of the list, unless you are regularly wanting to use tablet away from home or a wireless hotspot.

There was a Skype App (not used it myself) available for Android (and Three used to offer handsets which had Skype support, whereas now most any Android phone they sell would be usable with Skype).

If you are currently a 'light' mobile user, then the big question is whether you really want to buy outright some mobile (whether it be iPhone or Android) or go into a deal for a phone with internet access ?

Thinking about unlimited data (so you could use Skype from the mobile, if you wanted), I'd say one option would be to get the Samsung Galaxy Note II from either mobiles.co.uk or e2save.com (web sites owned by Carphone Warehouse) on Three.

I mention buying online because Three charges 34 pounds a month for the phone on their Ultimate 500 (Ultimate as they give unlimited internet, compared with 'Essential 500' which has a limit), and 500 minutes to mobiles and landlines each month. While you can get a 'cashback' deal via a site like www.TopCashBack.co.uk, perhaps getting 50-60 pounds back, it still costs more over the course of 2 years (34/month +69 for the phone) than via e2save/ mobiles which charge 25/month +79 for the phone. Buying online saves some 200+ on the standard Three pricing, and around 150 against buying via a cashback site. No point spending more thanyou need!!

Why that 'phone' - it has a 5.5" screen so could serve as both mini-mini tablet and phone, while also being available for Skype in case that son calls you... and give you scope for choosing whether to have an Android tablet or keep your options open and perhaps get an iPad if you decide on it, later.

If you do want to tether, the Three's One Plan is the only tariff which has no limits on the amount of data. However, you probably would be paying at least a tenner more than the 25 quid in the deals for the Note II device, if not 15 quid more...

Only really need tethering if you feel a laptop or tablet will be used a lot away from home (ie where there's no free wi-fi and only a signal from the mobile network).

s/Three's One Plan is the only tariff/Three's One Plan is their only tariff

Thanks to you all for giving such useful advice. So - WiFi should be sufficient for me (tethering would cost more than a few coffees in a cafe with wifi); there are more phones than an iPhone (e.g. Galaxy Note/S2/S3 which have good memory); Work out pricing of contract over buying outright - check online v in store deals and cash back opportunities.
In contrast, buying a new car seems a doddle!