Pre Pay VS Pay Monthly iPhone

thewools

Hi guys - I'm very keen on purchasing an Iphone over the next month or so but I'm trying to work out what options etc suit me best.

Currently I'm on Vodafone pre pay with "Free Calls And Texts" for life to Vodafone customers. This suits me great as my family and girlfriend are all on Vodafone. Hence all I spend is €20 a month. I barely use any of the remaining credit on calls / texts but would use it by going online checking football scores etc.

Would I be wise to pay the €519 for the 16GB iPhone 3GS and continue to top up €20 every month or go on a pay monthly package for €79 (up to €60 a month bill) and lose my free calls / texts?

At what cost would I be charged for going online - is it charged by data downloaded or at a set rate for daily use?

Also is there a new Iphone coming soon or is it just the software upgrade which will be coming?

MagicMarker

€79 + €60/month over 18 months = €1159

€519 + €20/month over 18 months = €879

That's a saving of €280 on prepay.

If the majority of calls & texts you're making are free then your €20 credit may cover your data usage.

whiterebel

thewools wrote: »

Hi guys - I'm very keen on purchasing an Iphone over the next month or so but I'm trying to work out what options etc suit me best.

Currently I'm on Vodafone pre pay with "Free Calls And Texts" for life to Vodafone customers. This suits me great as my family and girlfriend are all on Vodafone. Hence all I spend is €20 a month. I barely use any of the remaining credit on calls / texts but would use it by going online checking football scores etc.

Would I be wise to pay the €519 for the 16GB iPhone 3GS and continue to top up €20 every month or go on a pay monthly package for €79 (up to €60 a month bill) and lose my free calls / texts?

At what cost would I be charged for going online - is it charged by data downloaded or at a set rate for daily use?

Also is there a new Iphone coming soon or is it just the software upgrade which will be coming?

Rumours are of a new phone, which will probably be announced in June, if correct. Also new software just announced.

thewools

MagicMarker wrote: »

€79 + €60/month over 18 months = €1159

€519 + €20/month over 18 months = €879

That's a saving of €280 on prepay.

If the majority of calls & texts you're making are free then your €20 credit may cover your data usage.

The pay monthly deals have free calls and texts too to Vodafone customers and 300 minutes + 300 texts.

The only worry is regardin the data use - dont alot of the applications for the iPhone use internet data? The pay monthly packages allow 2GB of data per month which would be nice

Not sure yet but it looks like prepay is the way to go for me...

thewools

whiterebel wrote: »

Rumours are of a new phone, which will probably be announced in June, if correct. Also new software just announced.

So should I wait? Will there just be announcement or will there be a new production patch starting in June.

Is there anything of note expected to be added to the current iPhone?

whiterebel

thewools wrote: »

So should I wait? Will there just be announcement or will there be a new production patch starting in June.

Is there anything of note expected to be added to the current iPhone?

All rumour. Have a look around this thread, or some of the apple rumour sites.
Usually an announcement in June at WWDC then a lemming like rush, so availability sometime in August.......:rolleyes:

Gregor Samsa

MagicMarker wrote: »

€79 + €60/month over 18 months = €1159

The 16GB 3GS is €129 on the €60 a month plan, so that actually works out at €1209 over 18 months. Which is a bigger saving again (€330) over prepay.

You'd need to be on the €80 a month plan to get the phone for €79.

About the data usage on prepay: if you connect via the carrier at all during a day, you get charged 99 cent. It doesn't matter how short or how little you download. (Charges don't apply for connecting over wi-fi)

So, assuming all your calls and texts are vodafone only and your credit is only going on data, that will get you roughly 20 days worth of data a month. The other 8/9/10/11 days a month will be charged at 99 cent. That's assuming you're using (carrier) data each day, which is pretty easy to do with normal iPhone usage.

So, that would work out at a total cost of €1060.53 for the 16GB over 18 months - not including any landline, non-vodafone or roaming charges.

If you went for the 16GB on the €45 euro a month plan (phone cost: €199)

It would cost

€199 + (€45 x 18) = €1009

And include free vodafone calls and texts, 150 any network minutes, 150 any network texts and 2GB data (which you won't go over) a month.

That's a saving of about €50 on the prepay.

So, it all depends on how much you think you'll be using carrier data. If very little, prepay will be cheaper. If every day, post pay will be cheaper.

thewools

phutyle wrote: »

The 16GB 3GS is €129 on the €60 a month plan, so that actually works out at €1209 over 18 months. Which is a bigger saving again (€330) over prepay.

You'd need to be on the €80 a month plan to get the phone for €79.

About the data usage on prepay: if you connect via the carrier at all during a day, you get charged 99 cent. It doesn't matter how short or how little you download. (Charges don't apply for connecting over wi-fi)

So, assuming all your calls and texts are vodafone only and your credit is only going on data, that will get you roughly 20 days worth of data a month. The other 8/9/10/11 days a month will be charged at 99 cent. That's assuming you're using (carrier) data each day, which is pretty easy to do with normal iPhone usage.

So, that would work out at a total cost of €1060.53 for the 16GB over 18 months - not including any landline, non-vodafone or roaming charges.

If you went for the 16GB on the €45 euro a month plan (phone cost: €199)

It would cost

€199 + (€45 x 18) = €1009

And include free vodafone calls and texts, 150 any network minutes, 150 any network texts and 2GB data (which you won't go over) a month.

That's a saving of about €50 on the prepay.

So, it all depends on how much you think you'll be using carrier data. If very little, prepay will be cheaper. If every day, post pay will be cheaper.

Thanks for the detailed post...

I dont use the internet much on my current phone... maybe 2 days of the week - generally the weekend! Do most of the apps us carrier data - hence costing me 99c each day I use the apps..

seamus

thewools wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed post...

I dont use the internet much on my current phone... maybe 2 days of the week - generally the weekend! Do most of the apps us carrier data - hence costing me 99c each day I use the apps..

Many of the apps do and more and more of them are incorporating online collaboration as part of the game.

Tbh, what the iPhone does best is internet. Without internet access there are better phones out there.

If you've no interest in using 3G on the iPhone, then I'd recommend getting a 32GB iPod Touch for €280 and getting a separate phone and save yourself the money.

PMC999

thewools wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed post...

I dont use the internet much on my current phone... maybe 2 days of the week - generally the weekend! Do most of the apps us carrier data - hence costing me 99c each day I use the apps..

I'm prepay on vodafone and only top up by €20 per month to avail of the free calls & texts to other vodafone users. I've also signed up to the vodafone 360service which allows me to use the live apn for 39 cent per day (this is deducted from my monthly €20 top up payment).
I only get charged 39 cent for my internet access and only on those days that I use the internet. Between WIFI access at home and at work my internet charges for my iphone is very small.

Gregor Samsa

thewools wrote: »

Do most of the apps us carrier data - hence costing me 99c each day I use the apps..

If you're connected to a wi-fi network, you won't use carrier data at all. It's only when you're not on wi-fi. Then it depends on the apps you use. Obviously if you're checking results/news, then you're connecting to the internet. For most apps, they only connect when you use the app, so you can keep a handle on usage. The main exception is email, which is usually set to "push" (automatically check for new mails at all times) or to auto connect every 5/15 minutes to check for mails. You can set it to only check for mail manually also.

Being realistic, if you didn't find yourself using the internet much on your old phone, chances are you'll find yourself using it more (between browsing and apps) on the iPhone, because it works so well.

PMC999's suggestion is definitely worth looking into.

Personally, I moved from prepay at 20 a month to the 45 euro bill when I got my iPhone. Between land line calls and my expected data usage (although I have wi-fi at home and in work), I calculated it would work out cheaper for me.

keane2097

If you're thinking about avoiding using the internet to save credit I wouldn't bother buying an iPhone tbh.

thewools

PMC999 wrote: »

I'm prepay on vodafone and only top up by €20 per month to avail of the free calls & texts to other vodafone users. I've also signed up to the vodafone 360service which allows me to use the live apn for 39 cent per day (this is deducted from my monthly €20 top up payment).
I only get charged 39 cent for my internet access and only on those days that I use the internet. Between WIFI access at home and at work my internet charges for my iphone is very small.

Cheers for this - can anyone sign up to the vodafone 360 service?

seamus wrote: »

If you've no interest in using 3G on the iPhone, then I'd recommend getting a 32GB iPod Touch for €280 and getting a separate phone and save yourself the money.

I have an iTouch and plan to sell it and replace it with a iPhone...

I have WiFi at home too so that will help reduce cost of internet charges.

thewools

keane2097 wrote: »

If you're thinking about avoiding using the internet to save credit I wouldn't bother buying an iPhone tbh.

No I want to use the internet and have no hassle paying for its service either - I'm just trying to figure what package (Pre-Pay, Pay Monthly etc) would suit me best overall before i commit to buy...

At the moment I reckon pre pay suits best in the long run

keane2097

thewools wrote: »

No I want to use the internet and have no hassle paying for its service either - I'm just trying to figure what package (Pre-Pay, Pay Monthly etc) would suit me best overall before i commit to buy...

At the moment I reckon pre pay suits best in the long run

Ok, but the point is the iPhone is all about the internet.

If you're going to say "I'll avoid the internet so I don't have to buy more credit" then I just wouldn't buy it.

If you're happy to pay for the internet then it's a great phone imo.

thewools

keane2097 wrote: »

Ok, but the point is the iPhone is all about the internet.

If you're going to say "I'll avoid the internet so I don't have to buy more credit" then I just wouldn't buy it.

If you're happy to pay for the internet then it's a great phone imo.

Well if I can get signed up with the vodafone 360service - that would only work out at €0.39 a day which would be great - €11.70 every month. I reckon I would not even use the excess credit every month as most of my regular contacts are vodafone

PMC999

thewools wrote: »

Cheers for this - can anyone sign up to the vodafone 360 service?

As far as I am aware anyone can sign up for the vodafone 360 service.
I completely agree that the major advantage of the iphone is the apps and related internet access. For me the 360 service is perfect as I work in an office with wifi access and only pay for internet access for those days when I can't get wifi. If I wasn't office based then I would probably sign up to one of the post pay plans.

drunkmonkey

thewools wrote: »

Well if I can get signed up with the vodafone 360service - that would only work out at €0.39 a day which would be great - €11.70 every month.

How did you work that out, 360 is 99cent per day which is closer to 30pm to recieve one email every day. The iphone is all about internet it's one of it's strongest features, it'll be hard not to give into tempetation.

PMC999

drunkmonkey wrote: »

How did you work that out, 360 is 99cent per day which is closer to 30pm to recieve one email every day. The iphone is all about internet it's one of it's strongest features, it'll be hard not to give into tempetation.

Its 39 cent per day (at least until June)
http://www.vodafone.ie/vlive/internetmobile#prepay

Head_Hunter

I called RTG customer care earlier today and was told vodafone 360 was not available on iPhone

PMC999

I signed up for it online in December and have been using it with my iphone since then. I had to ask the vodafone reps on Boards to complete the changeover so try that route if you're having problems.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1270

acerspader

http://www.vodafone.ie/df/simonly/

seen this offer of vodafone simpy 30 day contract which includes 100 calls and texts at €20 per month and free calls and texts to vodafone numbers. For internet use you can get a €9.99 add on for 500MB per month. Thus, thats a total of €29.99 per month and you can cancel anytime giving 30 days notice.

this option may suit you, but i dont know how much internet use you would get for 500MB??
Maybe someone else could shed some light on this.

The only problem with this option is that you have to pay top doller for the phone itself at €519 for 16GB 3GS. Which works out at €1058.82 over 18 months. But it does have the advantage that you could swith back to prepay at 30 days notice.

does anyone know if O2 do a 30 day notice contract??

gunnerfitzy

PMC999 wrote: »

I'm prepay on vodafone and only top up by €20 per month to avail of the free calls & texts to other vodafone users. I've also signed up to the vodafone 360service which allows me to use the live apn for 39 cent per day (this is deducted from my monthly €20 top up payment).
I only get charged 39 cent for my internet access and only on those days that I use the internet. Between WIFI access at home and at work my internet charges for my iphone is very small.

Are you sure? I thought that if you are on 360 you are charged 39c per day every day regardless of whether you use cellular data on any particular day or not.

PMC999

gunnerfitzy wrote: »

Are you sure? I thought that if you are on 360 you are charged 39c per day every day regardless of whether you use cellular data on any particular day or not.

Yes it's definitely only 39 cent per day for each day that you use it.

gunnerfitzy

PMC999 wrote: »

Yes it's definitely only 39 cent per day for each day that you use it.

cool :cool:

drunkmonkey

Have you seen the new 3pay price plans, unlimited free txts all networks, unlimited free calls to all networks at the weekends and the 1gb data add on is going down to 4.99, the offer is meant to be going live tommorow!

everyone you know may be on Vodafone but that's on pretty amazing pre pay offer ; )

fox007

Has any one with an Iphone managed to sign up to meteor new 250 mb a month free on pre pay?I sent a text to the number and is said cannot op-in at this time?so I was wondering is the iphone or something else? link http://www.meteor.ie/plans/pay_as_you_go/#plans-tab