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I'm coming towards the end of my current mobile phone contract (due upgrade in approx 1 month and contract ends in 3) but the phone I have (Sony Xperia J) is complete rubbish now: apps crash constantly, can't get gps reliably, really slow at opening apps etc etc. I also find the 250mb of data that my contract has is a little on the tight side as I often get close to the limit towards the end of the month (500mb would be better and 1gb would be great).
My work mobile is a Samsung Galaxy S3 and I think it's great. It's not got too many apps on it to slow it down but it does everything at a speed I expect it to. It found gps signal in about 2 seconds the other day, my Xperia J struggles to find it in 2 mintues. So because of this, I'm thinking I'm going to try to find a deal with the S3 as the phone.
I've had a look around and have found some deals which would work for my requirements in terms of minutes, texts and data all with the S3 phone that I'd like and all at prices i'm prepared to pay (i'm currently on £15/month and don't want to spend more).
Would I be silly to get a new deal now whilst my current deal is ongoing? Would I be able to take my current phone number now? Should I wait until my current deal is up? But would that risk not being able to ge the S3 on a deal I want. Are better deal going to be avilable just before or after Christmas?
I'm sorry if the questions above are very basic but I know nothing about the mobile phone market and what the trends are etc. I just know what I want from my phone and the apps on it.
Just buy the s3 outright and when you contract runs out go payg SIM only. It'll be cheaper over the length of the contract and you'll have the flexibility to change plans whenever you like.
Now, now, now mentality of people today.
Just wait 1 month and upgrade then if you must or sit out the 3mths and have the freedom of starting afresh with whoever you want. The S3 deals will only get cheaper as the phone gets older and older. They're not going to increase.
Timing on deals is a lottery IMO.
So you are allowed to keep your work mobile and change the SIM ? Or are you thinking new S3 ?
You work mobile may be tied to a network, you should ask and see if you can get it unlocked
You need to double check the contract on your current private phone, my guess is it is on one months notice, so if contract expires in 1 month you should give notice now. You can ask for the PAC code now (to transfer your number, this costs nothing and you can swtich over the other phone when you are ready (you normaly have a window of 20 days to do this before having to ask for a new code again).
FYI I just got a 1yr contract SIM Only with 3, unlimited data (free 4G), tons of texts and minutes (I hardly use phone for calls) - £15 a month. There are lots of similar deals.
As a final thought get your current rubbish phone unlocked and then you can sell it (even a few quid will be worth having) it or keep it as a back up.
I would agree that buying the phone and going sim only would be the best way to do it. However, to answer the questions in the OP:
You will have to finish paying your current contract. If you want to port your number immediately, that will mean cancelling it and paying the balance (i.e. monthly cost x months left).
The S3 is a 2 year old phone. If you can get a good deal on it now you'll still be able to in 3 months.
If you're due an upgrade in a month, call your provider now to organise that. Tell them you want an S3 for free and at least 1GB of data or you'll just wait out the contract and change provider.
Use uswitch to compare other deals available, and use [url= http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cut-mobile-tariff ]this[/url] guide if you're thinking of sticking with your current network.
If you're due an upgrade in a month, call your provider now to organise that. Tell them you want an S3 for free and at least 1GB of data or you'll just wait out the contract and change provider.
TBH what @jim says is easiest, call your current provider, tell them are moving because contract is poor inc data allowance (quote other suppliers deals) you hate the phone, like the S3 etc. Turn down the first deal you are offered by retention team, you'll get passed to a more senior person who will offer you an even better deal.
EDIT: and get your current phone unlocked and sell it, you must be able to get £25 or more for it
If you can afford it, worth looking at the Moto G. Either original one which is now cheap, 4G one, or the new 2nd gen which also gets dual sim (handy for times when you only want to carry one phone).
Have just got a 2nd gen and am very impressed for a £145 phone.
Will see you out your contract then find a PAYG or SIM-only deal that costs less per month.
Thanks for all the other advice guys. I think from the advice here and friends maybe waiting til the end of my current contract to be able to negotiate the best deal with my current provider but failing that I'll buy the s3 sim free then get a sim only deal for what I want for peanuts. Does that sound like a decent idea?