Which iphone 4, contract or pre pay?

jenko1

Hi Guys I am new to boards.ie.
I need advice on getting an iphone4. Is it better to go with pre pay or contract and who is the better network provider. I have so far been told by most shops especially carphone warehouse that "3" is the best for price and network provider and are getting better.
My spend at the moment on prepay with vodafone is €30 to €40 a month.
"3" will offer me a 16gb ip4 for €209 on 18 month contract at €40 a week for 350 minutes talk time and 2gb data allowance and one freebie add on. If I buy the ip4 with them on contract they will also give me a reduction on broadband connection, 15gb for €15 a month instead of €20 a month on a 12 month contract as well as a free apple shuffle. It all seems like a great deal.
Vodafone and O2 seem to be more expensive and do not offer as much data allowance.
I am a bit concerned about going to a bill pay phone for 18 months as I have always been used to pay as you go.
Buying the phone sim free €599 is a lot of money. Is it cheaper on pay as you go or bill?
I am ruuning around in circles at the moment cant decide so any help would be greatly appreciated. A breakdown of the best options would be appreciated thanks.
HEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VinLieger

Hey im in the same situation been doing my research for the last week or two, and trying to decide whther to stick with vodafone or switch to 3. Was all set to go with 3 due to the lower price and tarriff charges, but then i discovered the 3 forum here on boards and im suddenly not so sure

naasrd

I switched from Vodafone prepay to 3 bill pay when iPhone 4 came out and haven't looked back.

jenko1

It is a hard call allright. What about O2 any ideas?
And is it cheaper to go pre pay or bill pay

naasrd

jenko1 wrote: »

It is a hard call allright. What about O2 any ideas?
And is it cheaper to go pre pay or bill pay

It depends on what your usage is like. For a tenner a week/40 pm I get all my calls, texts and web/email. I also tether my iPad when I'm out and still have chunks of data left over by the end of the billing cycle. If you can manage 40 a month then you should go for it. Know nothing about 02.

Elessar

I'm with 3 and am on a similar plan. I find them brilliant value. O2 and vodafone are complete rip-offs and meteors coverage outside Dublin is dire (I was with them 7 years).

What I have is for €30 a month: 350 flex units (1 minute=1 unit, 2 texts=1 unit), 150 extra free texts and 2Gb data allowance and it's on a 30 day rolling contract. I would never sign up for an 18 month contract, that is far too long IMO to be tied to anyone. You would have to buy the phone sim-free but at least you will always have the option to switch carriers as competition increases!

However it probably works out cheaper signing up to 18 months with them all told. 40*18 = 720. 720+209 = 929 total. Iphone 4 599+ 30*18 =1139 but then you have the freedom to change carriers and plans as often as you like and as prices come down. Personally I hate being tied to contracts.

jenko1

I live in Portarlington and the coverage according to 3 web site is 2g only would this effect my coverage. Also do you think it would be worth while going with 3 for broadband as i do not have a land line. Maybe 2gb a month would be enough through the iphone might not need it for my MBP. I agree I am not to happy about being tied to a contract but it is a good deal and I doubt things will getthat much cheaper over the next year especially at €40 a month.

jenko1

CAn anyone help to put me out of my misery. Vodafone, O2 or 3 for Iphone 4. ANd contract or pay as you go? WHich do you recommend. Living in Portarlington.

Nemanja91

I've been asking myself the same question, I think 3 offer the best Bill pay options as o2 and Vodafone seem to be offering only 150 texts and 150 calls for 45 euro and I'm looking at the Classic Flex Max for 40 or the Best of Both for 25 euro. So far the best of both just edges it but I also think the bill pay has better value than prepay. This is how I understand it so please correct me if I'm wrong

Prepay iPhone 4 - 579 on top of that I will roughly spend 20euro on credit a month so 20*18=360+579=939

Bill pay iPhone 4 - 369 with 25 a month so 25*18=450+369=819 and that would be with unlimited calls to 3 network and unlimited text to every network.

The only thing holding me back is the length of the contract and the fact that I'm tied down to them as I've been prepay since I got my first phone!

Soarer

Going by their websites, both Vodafone and O2 are sold out of iPhone4's, so your only option is 3.

Nemanja91

In my local carphone warehouse this morning they only had the iPhone 4 on 3, now I have changed my mind and am getting it on pay as you go as I don't want to be tied down to a contract. My only problem is now I can't get the phone until I get rid of my 45 euro credit which will take a while since I have free texts. Anyone have any opinions on who would be the best carrier on prepay for the iPhone 4?

rockagusroll

Nemanja91 wrote: »

In my local carphone warehouse this morning they only had the iPhone 4 on 3, now I have changed my mind and am getting it on pay as you go as I don't want to be tied down to a contract. My only problem is now I can't get the phone until I get rid of my 45 euro credit which will take a while since I have free texts. Anyone have any opinions on who would be the best carrier on prepay for the iPhone 4?

I'm with Meteor pay as you go and have no problems. I only spend €20 a month on credit and have the free messages to meteor/free internet bundle. I think the internet allowance is 50mb a day (carry's over) which isn't alot but if you're like me and use wifi as you're main connection then it's more than enough!

Jakmeehan

rockagusroll wrote: »

I'm with Meteor pay as you go and have no problems. I only spend €20 a month on credit and have the free messages to meteor/free internet bundle. I think the internet allowance is 50mb a day (carry's over) which isn't alot but if you're like me and use wifi as you're main connection then it's more than enough!

The Meteor allowance is 250mb for the 30 days. I used to be on this plan.

I recently switched to vodafone prepay - €20 a month for either free vodafone calls/texts or free any network texts.
Then just sign up for Vodafone 360 and you can get data for 39c a day for 100mb a day. This works out as around €12 a month for 3gb data. Only leaves you with €8 credit for your out of bundle texts/minutes but is enough for me

MsLoured

Hi guys,
I want to get an unlocked iphone 4 from Apple and go on O2 prepay (as most of my fam & friends are O2), I'm trying to find an add on data package with them (say 500mb a month for 5-10 euro) but no information.

Just wondering if anyone is with O2 prepay this way?

Or would it be better to buy prepaid from O2 - is there a linked deal for data then?

Thanks a mill.

Cook my sock

they dnt have any bundles like that afaik, just 99c a day for 50mb. meteor's 350 is ok but vodafones 39c a day for 100mb's won me over yesterday.

Nemanja91

Is 100mb a day a lot?

Cook my sock

its a decent amount alright yeah!

Jakmeehan

Nemanja91 wrote: »

Is 100mb a day a lot?

Works out around 3gb a month for €12

MsLoured

Thanks....O2 are so behind with this it's crazy. They have to be losing business. I can't see many paying 30 euro a month on top of credit for data allowance

Jakmeehan

MsLoured wrote: »

Thanks....O2 are so behind with this it's crazy. They have to be losing business. I can't see many paying 30 euro a month on top of credit for data allowance

Yeah, twice the price for half the data!

Compared to vodafone, that is.

Cook my sock

they did have the iphone market all to themselves for a while though!

MsLoured

True, it's just really annoying cos I want the free o2 to o2 calls n txts! Looking at the meteor smart lite on rolling 30 day contract - 30eur and 1GB now

Jakmeehan

MsLoured wrote: »

True, it's just really annoying cos I want the free o2 to o2 calls n txts! Looking at the meteor smart lite on rolling 30 day contract - 30eur and 1GB now

€25 If you sign up online

Offside

MsLoured wrote: »

True, it's just really annoying cos I want the free o2 to o2 calls n txts! Looking at the meteor smart lite on rolling 30 day contract - 30eur and 1GB now

Just got this on my iPhone 3G, moved from an o2 45 a month contract, getting double the texts and more minutes and the same data plus free meteor to meteor for 20 euro less, its a brilliant deal!

tinofapples

Thinking about the Iphone too now that my 18 month contract with O2 is coming to an end. Currently using an Nokia E63 which cannot be faulted (Certainly better than previous E65) but thinking about the change and considering either the Iphone or the Galaxy S, edging towards the Samsung just because the cost seems a little less but an Iphone is an Iphone.

Cannot see myself staying with O2 cause they seem to always out of stock on Iphone's, f**kin ridiculous in this day and age. Not unless they do me a good deal.

jenko1

I have pulled the trigger and I am signed up to 3. Got my iphone4 32gb and free ipod shuffle from the Tullermore 3 store no problem. I am going with the €40 a month 18 month contract. I also got the B260a wireless broadband router with it for €49 and €15 a month for 15gb on 18 month contract. Only had for two days but I have been trying both out non stop. Very impressed with the service so far no issues with coverage/reception no dropped calls. Ported my old number over from vodafone got an extra €50 credit for this. The signal in Portarlingon seems pretty good. I will post again in a couple of weeks to let you know how it is going with three. Thanks for all your advice.
Regards
jenko1