Getting The Right Mobile Phone Deal

Choosing the Right Mobile Phone Tariff

Choosing the right mobile phone tariff can be confusing. These days there are so many different options in the areas of pricing, data, talk minutes, text and then on top of all that you have to decide what mobile phone you want to get it all on.  There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution - the best tariff for you will ultimately depend on how you use your phone.

We’ve made a short checklist for anyone looking to sign up to a new contract. It’s important to address what elements of a phone tariff are important to you before you decide which one is right for you.

Set Your Priorities

Are you after a good tariff or a hot new phone? More and more people are chasing the phone they want (think iPhone) before they even start looking at networks and contracts. If you are one such person, make sure whichever network you’re looking at offers the desired mobile phone you’re after. With our site, just pick the phone and we'll check which network it is available from. The hottest new phones will have an upfront cost on your 2 year contract.  

If you’re more focused on getting a good deal then it’s important to figure out what you use your mobile phone for most so that you can optimise or right size your minutes and data - as mentioned before, that fantastic tariff your friend is on may prove to be very costly for you if you use your phone for very different things. And remember, if you’re upgrading to a new smartphone, you may find you use more mobile internet data on the move. So, how much email and web surfing are you thinking about for your new phone?

What to know?

• Monthly Minutes Remember minutes are calls and/or texts you make so have a look at a couple of previous bills
• Data Both email access, and web surfing (and your use of apps on your phone like Facebook) will count towards your monthly usage
  
• Messages How many messages do you send each month
  

Most networks offer mobile phone tariffs which focus on different areas such as data, calling and text. So if you’re a texting addict then you’ll definitely want to consider a mobile phone tariff with unlimited text. If you love surfing the web, watching YouTube and using navigation software then you may want to consider a more data-centric mobile phone tariff.

Choosing a Mobile Phone Network

This might seem like it should be the first step, but identifying the type of contract you want first can save you a lot of time when looking for a network.

Think about where you’ll be using your phone. Will it still have service where you work? Do you travel often, either nationally or internationally? If you are a traveller, especially an international one, it’s extremely important to check that the network supports this, and to compare roaming prices (many networks have special bundles you can access on an ad hoc basis).  Consider which networks your friends and family use - many providers offer free or reduced rates to numbers chosen by you if they are on the same network.

Networks tend to offer similar prices for similar styles of contracts. The bigger networks generally charge a little more, but they also tend to boast superior coverage, network speeds and reliability.  It is always worth doing a little research into networks you are interested in - read reviews where possible - and look at things like customer service and support available, along with reception and speed.

Utilising Past Experience

Now you have a rough idea of the kind of mobile phone tariff you’re looking for, it’s time to start comparing prices to value. Think carefully whether or not an extra $10 or more per month is actually worth what the network is offering to you. Past experience with mobile phone tariffs is extremely helpful in this instance, as only you know how often you use your mobile phone - are you paying for minutes or texts you don't use, or are you consistently exceeding your monthly quota (minutes or data), or always topping up a PAYG account?

Sometimes it’s worth upgrading to a more expensive tariff, especially if you are upgrading your phone. Many new smartphone users find their mobile habits change significantly once they make the switch, as a smartphone can become a much larger part of your day-to-day life than mobile phones traditionally have been.

If you do not use your phone that much, and you are sure this is not likely to change, then have a look at  the light-user options that have been released by some networks.

Look for cashback deals, but use some caution as there can be complex rules associated with them.   Most deals involve cashback by redemption - the customer must follow a claims procedure set out by the mobile phone store.  This usually involves sending back claims forms or vouchers at specific times during the contract in order to receive an amount of money back.  You will get your money back in stages over the course of the contract, but in order to do so you must remember to send in the forms.  Automatic or 'instant' cashback deals are sometimes available, where money is paid directly to you a short time after you receive your phone (usually within 21 days).  These deals are less hassle for the consumer, but offer smaller rewards.

Contract Length

How long you want to be locked into a contract is entirely up to you.  24 month contracts are usually the cheapest way to go, but can be brutal if you choose the wrong tariff or handset.  From May 2011, providers must now offer consumers a 12 month contract option, but expect the monthly cost of the handset to be much higher in this case, particularly if you're looking at the latest smartphone.

SIM only contracts are often cheaper, and have the advantage of not tying you into a lengthy contract.  However, you will need to bring your own phone, and won't be able to upgrade without shelling out for a new phone first.

Make sure you’ve gone over all the facts before agreeing to any contract. Do the maths and figure out if the 24 month contract is really that much more affordable than a shorter contract. They almost always are and most people find them to be quite agreeable, but just remember that 24 months is a long time to pay for a mistake.

Revision

It’s easy to get a little jumbled after looking through a huge number of mobile phone tariffs so we advise that you go over each part of the tariff carefully before making a final decision. Do you really want that much data, or could you do with a little less/more? Will you survive on how many texts and call minutes you’ve chosen?

Remember, only you can really know what type of mobile phone tariff is best for you. So trust your own judgement to make the final call.

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