February has only just begun and it’s already turned out to be an eventful one for the mobile industry here in the UK. In response to Three’s The One Plan which has offered unlimited all-you-can-eat data with inclusive tethering since the start of 2011, T-Mobile have just launched their new plan ‘The Full Monty’. Like The One Plan, The Full Monty also comes with unlimited data and free tethering. In this article, we’ll put the spotlight on both ‘The Full Monty’ and ‘The One Plan’. We’ll find out how they compare in terms of the prices of their tariffs, the phones available and the coverage and download speeds you can expect from them.

How do ‘The Full Monty’ and ‘The One Plan’ compare in terms of tariff features?

In terms of the basic features of The Full Monty and The One Plan, the two tariffs are incredibly similar. Both tariffs are essentially marketed as “unlimited everything” tariffs: pay a flat-rate each month and you shouldn’t have to worry about being any additional costs for spending too long on the phone or for browsing too many web pages. The One Plan offers greater choice and flexibility with their one-month rolling SIM only version of the tariff as well as featuring a selection of phones available from £25/month. The Full Monty starts from £36/month and is only available as a 24 month plan.

With regards to the number of minutes and texts, The Full Monty wins on a side-by-side comparison with The One Plan. Whilst The One Plan comes with 2,000 minutes and 5,000 texts, they are unlimited on The Full Monty. However, we feel that most people are unlikely to ever reach The One Plan’s limits of 2,000 minutes and 5,000 texts as it would correspond to making 67 minutes of outgoing phone calls and sending 167 text messages every day. For this reason, we feel the comparison is mainly academic and is unlikely to matter to end users.

* The approximate market share of T-Mobile is 19% whereas the approximate market share of Three is 7%. On the face of it, this would make unlimited calls to T-Mobile numbers a much better proposition than unlimited calls to Three numbers. However, the high number of inclusive minutes on both plans means this is unlikely to make very much difference.

What out-of-plan costs could be incurred on ‘The Full Monty’ and ‘The One Plan’?

Both plans cover the cost of calls, texts and browsing in the UK as well as tethering and voicemail. Other costs such as calls to special phone numbers, picture messages (MMS), calls and texts to international numbers and roaming (using your phone abroad) will be billed separately as “out of plan” costs. These “out of plan” costs compare as follows:

What handsets are available on ‘The Full Monty’ and ‘The One Plan’? How do their prices compare?

Both plans have a good selection of handsets, with The One Plan being cheaper in most cases. This is particularly significant for low-range and mid-range phones such as the Apple iPhone 3G S, Apple iPhone 4 or the HTC Wildfire S. The One Plan also stands out by offering a SIM only version of the tariff on a 30-day rolling contract for £25/month. This is ideal for anyone who already has a smartphone that they’re happy to keep, and allows you to get a plan with all-you-can-eat data without a 24 month commitment.

How do coverage and download speeds compare?

Both T-Mobile and Three provide good signal quality and coverage cross the UK. Whilst T-Mobile’s network uses both 2G and 3G technologies, Three’s network only uses third-generation 3G technologies. The benefit of Three’s approach is that you’ll experience faster and more reliable downloads in more places but the downside being that coverage is poorer. Three claims to offer coverage to 97% of the population whereas T-Mobile claims 99% of the UK population.

Both The Full Monty and The One Plan offer download speeds up to 21Mbit/s if your local mast is HSPA+ enabled and you have a HSPA+ capable devices. HSPA+ capable devices include the Samsung Galaxy S II. The Apple iPhone 4S supports HSPA+ speeds up to 14Mbit/s. Older 3G-capable devices with HSDPA technology can offer download speeds up to 7.2Mbit/s. These speeds are all theoretical limits however – typical download speeds are closer to 4Mbit/s on HSPA+ and 1.5Mbit/s on HSDPA.

Three and T-Mobile share many of their 3G masts through the MBNL joint venture so coverage quality should be similar for both networks across much of the UK (download speeds may differ however).

Are there download speed limits on ‘The Full Monty’?

T-Mobile previously stated on their Twitter account that The Full Monty had an artificial speed limit of 1Mbit/s. As of 4th February, T-Mobile said this was incorrect and that there are no download speed limits on ‘The Full Monty’ – you’ll get the maximum download speed possible.

I’m switching to either ‘The Full Monty’ or ‘The One Plan’. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You can keep your existing phone number when switching to either tariff – both of them will allow you to keep your existing phone number. In order to keep your existing phone number, you’ll need to ask your current mobile network for a PAC Code. This is a 9-digit code which will authorise T-Mobile or Three to transfer your current mobile phone number to your new mobile phone. The entire process of transferring your phone number takes no more than 24 hours. Our PAC Code Finder can walk you through the whole process.

Where can I find out more about ‘The Full Monty’ or ‘The One Plan’?

You can find out more about ‘The Full Monty’ at the T-Mobile website and more about ‘The One Plan’ at the Three website. We also have in-depth reviews of The Full Monty and The One Plan on this website.

Related posts:

1. T-Mobile launches “Full Monty” tariff with unlimited calls, texts, internet & free tethering
2. Three’s ‘The One Plan’ is UK’s best value Apple iPhone 4S deal
3. Three’s “One Plan”: 2000 minutes, 5000 texts, all-you-can-eat data & tethering from £25/month

Launch the iPhone price comparison tool

The Apple iPhone 4S launched today and it’s available for purchase on contract from 6 networks in the UK: Three, O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile and Vodafone. Yet there’s a whole myriad of different tariffs to consider – each with differing monthly allowances, download allowances and each tariff different combinations of upfront and monthly cost. With this new price comparison tool, we hope to make searching for the right iPhone tariff easier.

• We’ll show you in one simple table what you’ll get on each tariff: minutes, texts, data allowance and any other key features of the tariff (same-network calls, BT Openzone, visual voicemail, photo messages, etc.)
• We’ll show you the “total cost of ownership” of each tariff. This is the total amount you’ll pay over the length of your contract (including both upfront and monthly costs). We think this is a much better way of comparing tariffs rather than simply looking at either the upfront cost or the monthly cost by itself – you’ll see exactly how much it costs you over the long run. Sometimes it’s better value to pay more upfront in exchange for a lower monthly charge.
• We’ll show you the download allowances included with each tariff. Whilst most tariffs offer 500MB internet, some tariffs don’t include internet whilst others include truly unlimited “all-you-can-eat” downloads.

Full tariff listing

For a complete listing of available tariffs (without filtering), select the model of iPhone 4S you’d like:

• 16GB iPhone 4S (96 tariffs available)
• 32GB iPhone 4S (91 tariffs available)
• 64GB iPhone 4S (68 tariffs available)

Please use the form at the top of this page to find the best value tariffs based on your monthly usage.

Your thoughts, feedback and suggestions.

We are continually looking at add new features to this price comparison tool. If you’ve got any comments, please drop us a comment below: we’d love to hear from you.

Related posts:

1. Compare Samsung Galaxy S II Mobile Tariffs: Price Comparison Calculator
2. The iPhone Tariff Price Comparison Tool – with 23 iPhone tariffs
3. Compare Pay As You Go Tariffs: Price Comparison Tool

Four of the UK’s top mobile phone networks are offering the Apple iPhone 4S at launch: Three, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone. Our analysis of hundreds of tariff combinations shows that Three’s “The One Plan” offers the best value iPhone 4S deal for many consumers – particularly for consumers regularly make phone calls, download a lot of applications/data and make use of extra features such as a free mobile broadband service.

For £35/month, Three offers an iPhone 4S on “The One Plan” with:

• 2,000 minutes & 5,000 Three-to-Three minutes
• 5,000 texts
• All-you-can-eat internet with no download limits and faster downloads (up to 14.4Mbit/s)
• Free mobile broadband service for your laptop, iPad, etc via tethering and wi-fi hotspot
• Free voicemail

You’ll also need to buy the iPhone 4S by making an upfront payment for the phone. This is £99 for the 16GB model, £189 for the 32GB model and £279 for the 64GB model.

"The One Plan" comes with 2000 minutes, 5000 texts and all-you-can-eat data.

Isn’t 2,000 minutes too much?

“The One Plan” is intended as a no-worries tariff which releases you from the worries of being charged extra for using too many minutes, sending too many texts or downloading too many applications. Although 2,000 minutes is probably more than the vast majority of us will regularly use, the tariff is priced less than what most other networks would charge for 600 minutes per month.

The inclusion of all-you-can-eat data is also a important feature in our opinion as it really allows you to use your smartphone without worries about hidden download charges: most networks include only 500MB internet per month and will charge for additional data usage beyond this.

How does the iPhone 4S on “The One Plan” compare to offerings on other networks?

At the £35/month price point, most networks offer 600 minutes whereas “The One Plan” includes 2,000 minutes. “The One Plan” also comes with all-you-can-eat data and free mobile broadband via tethering.

The upfront cost of the iPhone 4S on the various networks are as follows:

The total cost of ownership over 24 months compares as follows (rounded to the nearest pound):

Do Three have any iPhone 4S tariffs available for lighter users?

If you’re a lighter user, Three also offers the iPhone 4S on the “Text 300″ tariff. You’ll get 300 minutes, 5000 texts and 500MB internet for £30/month. You’ll need to pay more for the iPhone 4S upfront: £219 for the 32GB iPhone 4S and £309 for the 64GB iPhone 4S. Given that there is only a small price difference between the “Text 300″ and “The One Plan” tariffs, we recommend that most people purchase the iPhone 4S on The One Plan.

How does the cost of the iPhone 4S compare to the cost of the iPod Touch?

If you are happy to sign up for “The One Plan” for 24 months, the iPhone 4S actually becomes cheaper than buying an iPod Touch (despite the fact that the iPod Touch lacks the calling and texting ability of the iPhone 4S and is of a lower specification than the iPhone 4S).

What is all-you-can-eat data? Does “The One Plan” have any fair usage policies?

All-you-can-eat data is Three’s marketing name for unlimited internet with no download limits and no fair usage policies. All-you-can-eat data means you can use your new iPhone 4S to your heart’s content without having to worry about the possibility of incurring additional data charges. Most rival networks only include 500MB internet with their packages each month and can charge £1/day or £5 per 500MB once you exceed your 500MB limit.

What is tethering? How can I access a free mobile broadband service using the iPhone 4S on Three?

Tethering means connecting your mobile phone to your other electronic devices (e.g. a laptop, iPad or e-book reader) and using your phone as a mobile broadband modem. You can use the wi-fi hotspot feature in iPhone 4S to share your iPhone’s 3G mobile broadband service with up to 5 other devices simultaneously. This means that wherever you have a 3G signal, you’ll be able to access the internet on all of your wi-fi enabled devices. Tethering can be used with all kinds of devices including tablets, e-book readers, MP3 players and games consoles.

If you’ve got an iPhone 4S, you can tethering by going to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggling “Personal Hotspot” to ON. You’ll need to provide a password for the wi-fi hotspot.

Tethering is prohibited on most other networks but is included when you purchase the iPhone 4S on The One Plan. All-you-can-eat data is also valid for tethering.

Does Three support faster downloads through HSPA+?

The iPhone 4S supports faster download speeds of up to 14.4Mbit/s providing you are on a HSPA+ network. This is twice as fast as the download speed offered by the HSDPA technology in the original iPhone 4.

Of the UK’s major networks, Three are believed to be the furthest along in the rollout of HSPA+. They’ve also made the most noise about their HSPA+ rollout. According to a Three press release, “Three is aiming to have 80% of its network upgraded to HSPA+ by the end of this year, with the rest following soon afterwards.” A blog post on the Three website has also described the road towards HSPA+. Three already stocks several HSPA+ enabled products including the Samsung Galaxy S II, a premium USB dongle and the premium MiFi device.

Download speeds of up to 14.4Mbit/s are available when using the iPhone 4S on Three.

Little has been said about HSPA+ from the other major networks. O2, Orange and T-Mobile have publicly acknowledged the forthcoming rollout of HSPA+ but neither network has given a timeframe for the rollout. Vodafone is yet to confirm when and if HSPA+ will be rolled out on their network.

Does Three support Visual Voicemail?

No. Three does not support Visual Voicemail on the iPhone – Visual Voicemail is only supported by O2 in the UK. You should use free alternatives such as HulloMail.

Do Three offer the iPhone 4S in white?

Yes. Three also offers the 32GB iPhone 4S in white and the 64GB iPhone 4S in white. The white iPhone 4S is priced identically to the black version.

What’s the coverage like on Three?

You should use the coverage checker on the Three website to ensure you can receive a signal from Three where you live.

I’m switching to Three. Can I keep my existing mobile phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Once your new iPhone 4S arrives, provide your PAC Code to Three’s customer services department on 333. They’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer your existing phone number to Three. Our PAC Code Finder tool will take you through the entire process of switching networks step-by-step.

Where can I get an iPhone 4S from Three?

You can order the iPhone 4S on The One Plan from the Three website. It is currently available with either 16GB storage, 32GB storage or 64GB storage.

Related posts:

1. Apple iPhone 4S: UK Tariff Comparison & Compared to iPhone 3G S, iPhone 4
2. Three’s launch UK’s cheapest Apple iPhone tariffs yet, provide free memory upgrade
3. Upgrading to Apple iPhone 4S: Transferring your Apps, Contacts & Keeping your Phone Number

If you’re a heavy smartphone/data user, Three’s “SIM Only Internet” tariff gives a great way to get connected. For £5.11/month, you’ll get 2GB of internet to use each month – about four times the industry standard of 500MB/month. Calling rates are also discounted by 22% compared to Three’s Pay As You Go tariff making it a great alternative for smartphone users who currently use Three’s Pay As You Go service. “SIM Only Internet” is a one-month rolling SIM Only tariff.

How much do calls and texts cost on “SIM Only Internet”?

Unfortunately the “SIM Only Internet” doesn’t include any calls or texts: you’ll have to pay extra for every call you make and every text you send. Calls cost 20.4p/minute and text messages cost 10.2p each. These costs can quickly add up if you make a lot of calls (a 10 minute phone call will cost £2.04) but they’re lower than the costs on most mainstream networks. There are networks out there with lower calling and texting rates (e.g. ASDA Mobile and Giffgaff) but neither network offers internet at the £5/month price range.

For smartphone users currently on Pay As You Go, “SIM Only Internet” could provide some significant savings.

The cost of calling and texting on “SIM Only Internet” compares to major Pay As You Go services as follows:

* On O2 Pay As You Go, the cost of calls to landlines and other O2 mobiles drops to 5p/minute after the first 3 minutes.

This tariff probably isn’t suitable for people who make a lot of phone calls and text messages: instead you should opt for a more fully-featured smartphone SIM-only tariff. Instead, “SIM Only Internet” is ideal for heavy data users who typically use less than 25 minutes or 50 texts each month.

What does 2GB actually correspond to in reality?

2GB approximately corresponds to viewing 6000 rich webpages, downloading 400 songs, streaming 4 hours of video or listening to 32 hours of online radio. See our in-depth guide to mobile download allowances and what they correspond to in reality. The industry standard data offering is 500MB/month (0.5GB/month).

Can I tether on “SIM Only Internet”?

No. Three do not permit tethering on “SIM Only Internet”. If you’re looking to tether on Three, you’ll need to look at The One Plan (starts from £25/month).

Can I use “SIM Only Internet” in a mobile broadband dongle?

No. “SIM Only Internet” is designed for use within smartphones. If you’re using a mobile broadband dongle, you’ll need a mobile broadband tariff instead.

What are the alternatives?

If you’re looking for a data-only tariff, “SIM Only Internet” provides the largest data allowance at the £5/month price point. For a cheaper alternative, T-Mobile offers 500MB internet for £3.33/month but you’ll need to pay for 6 months upfront. T-Mobile’s package also restricts your access to their standard 3G network (up to 0.4Mbps download) whereas Three’s “SIM Only Internet” allows you to access their full HSDPA network (up to 7.2Mbps).

If you’re looking for some inclusive calls and texts, please see our complete guide to smartphone SIM-only tariffs. For £10/month, Three offer 300 minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB internet on a 12-month contract. If you make more than 25 minutes of phone calls or send more than 50 texts each month, you’ll find the £10/month tariff should offer better value.

What is Three coverage like where I live?

A coverage checker is available on the Three website.

I’m switching to Three. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Provide your PAC Code to Three and they’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer a phone number. Our PAC Code Finder tool will walk you through the entire process of moving networks step-by-step.

Where can I get this deal?

The SIM Only Internet tariff is available from the Three website.

Related posts:

1. Vectone Mobile: 5p/minute calls on Pay As You Go, free credit for recieving calls
2. Three’s £10/month SIM-only tariff offers 100 minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB internet
3. Giffgaff offering 2p/minute calls and 1p texts with £5/month “labs” goodybag

24 months can be a long time to hold a mobile phone contract: you never know what’ll happen and how your phone usage might change over that time. If you’re currently stuck in an unsuitable mobile phone contract, you may still be able to change it mid-contract. Of particular note O2, Orange and Three will allow you to downgrade your mobile phone contract to a cheaper deal: something which should instantly shave about £60/year from your phone bill. In this article, we look at your options for changing your mobile tariff whilst still being mid-contract.

What options do I have to change my tariff mid-contract?

The options available to you depend on the type of tariff you’re on and what changes you’d like to make.

• If you’re on Pay As You Go, you’re able to leave at any time and join another network or tariff by requesting a new Pay As You Go SIM card. This means if you’re unhappy with your mobile network for any reason, you don’t need to stick with them. You can keep your existing phone number but you may need to unlock your phone first.
• If you’re on a SIM Only contract, the same rules generally apply as on Pay Monthly. However, the shorter contracts generally mean you have a lot more flexibility. If you’re on a one-month contract, you’re able to switch network or tariff at any time with 30 days notice.
• If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, you have the minimal flexibility to change tariff as you’ll be tied in for 18 months or 24 months. You certainly won’t be able to change network mid-contract but there are options available to change your tariff by adding/changing features and the monthly price. If you’ve come to the end of your Pay Monthly contract, you should move to a SIM-only tariff instead of changing your existing tariff – this will save you about £180/year.

In the rest of this article, we discuss the options for Pay Monthly customers to change their tariff mid-contract. There are 3 main reasons for wanting to change your phone tariff mid-contract:

• You want a new phone.
• You’d like to add new features to your tariff.
• You’ve got too much/little airtime.

We’ll take these in turn.

Can I change my phone mid-contract?

Yes, there is nothing to stop you from changing your phone in the middle of your contract, for example if you’ve taken over someone’s old device or you want to replace your phone early. If you’d like a new phone in the middle of your contract, you’ll need to buy it “SIM-free” from a retailer such as Amazon.co.uk or the Carphone Warehouse. Expect to pay between £20 and £100 for a feature phone and at least £200 for a smartphone.

Because SIM-free phones are sold unlocked and without a SIM card, you can slot your current SIM card inside and continue using your existing contract with it the. There are no charges associated with changing your mobile phone mid-contract: indeed your mobile operator may not even know you’ve changed phone.

Note that if you’re moving to a smartphone, you’ll need to add an internet add-on to your current contract. If you’re moving to a BlackBerry, you’ll need to move to a BlackBerry tariff (this isn’t always possible mid-contract).

Can I add extra features to my tariff mid-contract?

A data plan needs to be added if you upgrade to a smartphone.

If you’re changing to a smartphone or would like to add additional services (e.g. internet access, travel or international calling bundles), you can usually add these as extra packages onto your tariff. These packages are called “bolt ons” on O2, “Flexible Boosters” on T-Mobile and “add-ons” on most other networks. Log in on your mobile operator’s website for a list of packages you can add:

• Three
• O2
• Orange
• T-Mobile
• Vodafone

I’ve got too much or too little airtime. Can I change the amount of airtime I’ve got?

If you regularly find yourself with loads of extra minutes left at the end of the month or you consistently incur charges for exceeding your airtime allowance, you’re probably on the wrong contract. Thankfully some networks give you the option to change your price plan mid-contract.

If you need more airtime, you should move up a price plan (“upgrade”). Although the monthly price of your contract will increase, you should no longer running up punitive charges for calls and texts made outside of your allowance. This means you could actually save money by moving up a price plan.

If you have too much airtime, you should move down a price plan (“downgrade”). This will typically cut £5/month (or £60/year) from your phone bill. You’ll have fewer inclusive minutes after a downgrade.

The options available to you depend on your network:

* Three allow you to downgrade your contract once you’re half way through your contract (i.e. 12 months if you’re on a 24 month contract). There may be an “admin fee” involved.
** O2 and Orange allow you to downgrade your contract once you’re half way through your contract, but only once.

Three

Three allow upgrade to a higher-priced or same-price plan at any time. You can also downgrade to a cheaper tariff once you’re half way through your contract although this may involve an “admin fee”. We’ve not had any feedback on the size of the “admin fee”: if you’ve downgraded please do drop us a comment and let us know!

You can move to one of our selected price plans of equal or higher value at any time during your contract, provided you’ve kept up to date with all the payments on your existing price plan. We could also move you to a lower monthly charge if you’re finding the cost too expensive. But you’ll have to complete half of the minimum term of your contract and pay an admin fee.

Source: Three: “How can I change my current contract”

O2

O2 allows customers to downgrade to a lower priced tariff once half-way through the contract. You can downgrade no more than once in the term of your contract.

When you sign up for, or upgrade to, a new a minimum term contract you will then only be able to move to the next available lower priced tariff (with a lower rate monthly subscription than the tariff you’ve joined on) once during your minimum term. You can only do this after you are more than halfway through your minimum term.

Source: O2 Pay Monthly Tariff Terms (March 2011) – Point 3

Orange

Orange allows you to upgrade to a higher priced tariff at any time. Like on O2, you can also downgrade to a lower priced tariff but only once half-way through the contract. You can downgrade only once during the term of your contract.

You may switch to a higher Service Plan at any time. You may switch once only to the next lowest Service Plan after one half of your Minimum Term has expired, unless otherwise stated. You may switch to an equivalent Service Plan at any time after one half of your Minimum Term has expired, unless otherwise stated.

Source: Orange Network Services Terms and Conditions – Point 15.1

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s terms and conditions make no provision for you to be able to upgrade or downgrade your contract. However, we would expect T-Mobile to be sympathetic to the case of upgrading a contract as it brings in additional revenue for the company.

We don’t have to allow You to change Price Plan.

Source: T-Mobile Terms and Conditions (November 2010) – Point 2.7

Vodafone

Vodafone do not allow downgrades mid-contract. However, you can upgrade your tariff mid-contract.

Related posts:

1. Mobile phones: Contract VS Pay As You Go
2. How to conduct a 15-minute review of your mobile contract and save hundreds
3. Upgrading to Apple iPhone 4S: Transferring your Apps, Contacts & Keeping your Phone Number

If you’re looking for an ultra-cheap way to get an iPhone, Three are currently offering a “refreshed” version of the iPhone with discounts of up to £260. “Refreshed” (or refurbished) versions of both the 8GB iPhone 3G S and the 16GB iPhone 4 are available. Whilst the refreshed phones aren’t new, you do get them for a pretty exceptional price and on some pretty decent tariffs. Tariffs start from £20/month with an upfront cost of £29: for that you’ll get 500 minutes, 5000 texts and 1GB internet. That’s a saving of £5/month compared to buying a brand new 8GB iPhone 3G S on the same plan: for a new phone you’d expect to pay £25/month.

If you’re looking for all-you-can-eat data with no download limits, a refreshed version of the 8GB  iPhone 3G S is available on The One Plan for £25/month plus £69 upfront. You’ll get 2000 minutes, 5000 Three-to-Three minutes, 5000 texts and all-you-can-eat data. If you’re currently a SIM Only One Plan customer (£25/month on a 30-day rolling contract), it means you can bag yourself an iPhone 3G S for a one-off payment of just £69 and making a commitment to stay for 24 months. This makes it a great way to acquire an iPhone: it’s a good £98 cheaper than buying a new 8GB iPod Touch for £167 (which doesn’t have the phone/3G capability).

What is a refreshed iPhone?

A “refreshed” iPhone is Three’s term for a refurbished iPhone. According to Three, refreshed iPhones “have passed both cosmetic standards as well as functional standards by Apple, however some devices ‘may’ have minor marks from use”. All of the accessories (headphones, charger, etc) which come with a refreshed iPhone are new. The refreshed iPhone is packaged in a Three box and comes with a 12 month warranty from Three.

Two refreshed iPhone versions are available from Three:

• 8GB iPhone 3G S (available in black)
• 16GB iPhone 4 (available in either black and white)

What tariffs are the refreshed iPhones available on? How does the price compare to buying a new iPhone?

It is possible to pick up a refreshed version of the 8GB iPhone 3G S or the 16GB iPhone 4 (in either white and black). The tariff combinations are as follows:

Why are Three offering refreshed iPhone devices at such low prices?

A new version of the iPhone (perhaps the iPhone 5) is widely expected to be released sometime this autumn. Whilst little is currently known about the “iPhone 5″, retailers such as Three are believed to be keen to shift their current iPhone inventory, particularly the handsets which are refurbished. For this reason, it’s now possible to get an iPhone on a contract as low as £20/month. If you opt for an iPhone now, it’s important to be aware of the fact it’ll become out-of-date very quickly: particularly if you opt for the iPhone 3G S which is already 2 years old (it was originally released in June 2009). Still… the iPhone 3G S is as good a phone today as it was the day it was released.

Which other networks offer a refreshed iPhone?

The refreshed iPhone 3G S comes with a £260 saving compared to buying a new iPhone 3G S.

O2 also offer a refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G S and a refurbished 32GB iPhone 4. We recommend avoiding the refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G S on O2 as O2 do not actually provide a discount compared to a new 8GB iPhone 3G S. The refurbished 32GB iPhone 4 on O2 does provide some savings compared to buying a new iPhone 4. However the phone still comes with substantial upfront costs and is much pricier than on Three.

I’m moving to Three. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Provide your PAC Code to Three and they’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer a phone number. Our PAC Code Finder tool will take you through the entire process of switching networks step-by-step.

Where can I get a refreshed iPhone on Three?

Refreshed iPhone deals are only available from the Three website:

• Refreshed 8GB iPhone 3G S on Talk 500 – £20/month and £29 upfront
• Refreshed 8GB iPhone 3G S on The One Plan – £25/month and £69 upfront
• Refreshed 16GB iPhone 4 (Black) on The One Plan – £30/month and £69 upfront
• Refreshed 16GB iPhone 4 (White) on The One Plan – £30/month and £69 upfront

Related posts:

1. Three’s “One Plan”: 2000 minutes, 5000 texts, all-you-can-eat data & tethering from £25/month
2. Three’s ‘The One Plan’ is UK’s best value Apple iPhone 4S deal
3. Three offering smartphone SIM-only tariffs from £10/month

If you’re an Orange or Three customer, you’re now able to experience “high definition voice calls” between two “HD Voice” enabled handsets. “HD Voice” phone transmit sounds with a much larger range of frequencies than standard phone calls (50Hz-7kHz for “HD Voice” calls compared to 300Hz-3.4kHz for standard calls) making it easier to distinguish who is speaking on the phone and determine exactly what they’re saying.

Why is a large frequency range important in audio?

The human voice is made up of a range of frequencies between 80Hz and 14kHz (1kHz = 1000Hz). When we listen to other people speaking or listen to music, our ears combine these different frequencies together and interpret them as sounds or voices. When certain frequencies are missing from what we hear, we sometimes experience difficulties in understand what is being said or who is saying it.

Standard phone calls only transmit frequencies between 300Hz and 3.4kHz. This means a lot of the low & high frequencies in human speech are lost. The removal of those frequencies often makes it difficult to identify who is speaking on the phone (this sometimes causes problems in conference calling with multiple participants). The limited frequency range also means call centre hold music always sounds terrible, background noise is more of a problem and certain words are difficult to distinguish over the phone (e.g. the sounds of ‘s’ and ‘f’ e.g. sailing and failing).

HD Voice phone calls can transmit a larger range of frequencies (between 50Hz and 7kHz). This leads to much better audio quality and makes it easier to distinguish different people and different sounds over the phone. According to Polycom, a company which provides “HD Voice” solutions, “by extending telephone bandwidth to 7 kHz and beyond, it is clear that one can markedly reduce fatigue, improve concentration, and increase intelligibility… this improvement is even more significant in real-world room situations, where the sound is often degraded by reverberation, projector or air conditioner noise, accented speech, and other acoustic problems”.

How does the frequency range of phone calls compare to other technologies?

photo: Noel Feans

Standard phone calls transmit a much smaller range of frequencies than those which are transmitted over radio, television and audio CDs. “HD Voice” increases the frequency range of mobile phone calls so it better resembles the audio range on TV or radios. However, the frequency range of “HD Voice” is still much smaller than what is transmitted over radio and television.

Rory Cellan-Jones from the BBC has a audio comparison between a “HD Voice” call and a standard phone call.

What do I need to use HD Voice?

Both parties in the call must have a “HD Voice” compatible handset in the 3G reception area of a “HD Voice” enabled network. Your mobile phone network will automatically switch to “HD Voice” when these conditions are fulfilled.

The "HTC Desire HD" is compatible with "HD Voice" on Orange

At present, only Orange and Three support HD Voice. The following network/handset combinations are supported:

• Orange: HTC Desire HD, Nokia N8, Nokia E5, Nokia X6, Nokia 5230, Sony Ericsson Elm, Samsung Omnia 7
• Three: Nokia C7, Nokia E7, Nokia N8

HD Voice calls are charged at the same rate as standard calls. HD Voice is not currently supported on other UK networks.

Can I make cross-network calls using HD Voice?

No. At present it is not possible to make a cross-network “HD Voice” phone call between Orange and Three. According to Three, they’re looking to roll out cross-network “HD Voice” calls in the future so watch this space.

What happens if I’m in a 2G signal area?

If either party is in a 2G signal area, your call will connect as a standard call without using the “HD Voice” technology.

Why is it taking so long for HD Voice to roll-out in the UK?

The standards behind “HD Voice” (technically called AMR-WB or G.722) were agreed as early as 9 years ago in 2002 with the first 3G networks in the UK rolling out in 2003. It could be pertinent to ask why the “HD Voice” roll-out has taken so long in the UK as the technology and infrastructure have both been around for a long time.

You'll need 3G coverage to use "HD Voice".

One explanation is that “HD Voice” simply increases costs for the mobile network operator (“HD Voice” calls use about double the network bandwidth per call) whilst at the same time generating no additional revenue for the network (the price charged is the same as for a standard call). Given the effect on the balance sheet of the mobile operators, it is no wonder they’re dragging their heels on HD Voice.

Do voice-over-IP services such as Skype use “HD Voice”?

Yes. Given a sufficiently fast internet connection, most voice-over-IP services such as Skype and “Google Talk” use some kind of wideband-audio technology. Although the technology used is not necessarily the same G.722 codec used for “HD Voice” calls over a mobile network, the effect is the same.

Where can I get a “HD Voice” compatible handset?

Click through either to the Orange or Three websites. The following phones are “HD Voice” compatible:

• Orange: HTC Desire HD, Nokia N8, Nokia E5, Nokia X6, Nokia 5230, Sony Ericsson Elm, Samsung Omnia 7
• Three: Nokia C7, Nokia E7, Nokia N8

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What is The One Plan?

Three’s “The One Plan” is a tariff for your mobile phone. Available from £25/month as a Pay Monthly tariff with an inclusive handset or as a rolling 30-day SIM-only contact without an inclusive phone, “The One Plan” comes with a massive allowance of 2000 minutes, 5000 texts and all-you-can-eat data with no download limits. Interestingly, “The One Plan” comes with free tethering. This allows you to share your phone’s 3G connection with a laptop or other wi-fi enabled devices such as a tablet or e-book reader. In effect, this means you get a free mobile broadband service inclusive with “The One Plan”. There are also no download limits for tethering. In essence, this makes “The One Plan” the only mobile broadband service in the UK with no download limits.

Is “The One Plan” designed for mobile broadband?

Yes. The Three website lists tethering as a feature of “The One Plan” tariff:

With The One Plan, as well as enjoying the great things your smartphone can do with all-you-can-eat data, you can also connect your phone to other devices via Wi-Fi or USB to get onto the internet (called ‘tethering’ or ‘using your phone as a modem’). That means you can use the internet when you’re out and about with other devices including laptops, tablets and games consoles, just by connecting them via Wi-Fi or USB to your phone. You can tether or use your phone as a modem on all our One Plan tariffs including SIM Only with a 1-month rolling contract.

Whilst “The One Plan” isn’t marketed as a standalone mobile broadband tariff, many people have successfully used it as a substitute for one.

What is the download allowance for tethering on The One Plan?

The One Plan comes with “all-you-can-eat data” for mobile internet on your handset and through tethering. This means there are no download limits associated with the mobile broadband service on The One Plan.

The One Plan is essentially unique amongst UK mobile broadband tariffs in that there is no download limit – every single other mobile broadband tariff comes with a download limit between 500MB and 15GB per month. See our guide to download limits and what terms such as 500MB and 1GB actually mean.

Is there any difference between the mobile broadband service I receive through tethering compared to a mobile broadband service received through a USB dongle?

If you were to sign up for one of Three’s standalone mobile broadband tariffs with a USB dongle, your downloads would be carried by the same 3G network as any downloads made through tethering on The One Plan. For this reason, there should be no differences between the service you would expect to receive through tethering on The One Plan and a standalone mobile broadband service accessed with a USB dongle.

How do I connect to a mobile broadband service through tethering?

Tethering can be performed using either a USB cable or a wi-fi connection. The latter method allows you to connect multiple devices to a mobile broadband connection at once including tablets and e-book readers.

With tethering, your mobile phone essentially replaces the USB dongle in a traditional mobile broadband service. You’ll need to connect your laptop to your phone (“tether”) in order to access the 3G mobile broadband service. There are two methods of doing this:

• Tethering via a USB cable. This involves connecting your phone to your computer using a USB cable. You’ll need to install the relevant drivers on your computer to use USB tethering and you’ll need to carry the USB cable with you whenever you want to tether.
• Tethering via a personal wi-fi hotspot. With this newer method of tethering, your phone will create a personal wi-fi hotspot over which it’ll share your 3G mobile data connection. You’ll need to instruct your computer to connect to the phone’s wi-fi hotspot. You won’t need to install any drivers on your computer but your phone will need to run iOS 4.3 or later, Android 2.2 or later or another supported operating system. One key benefit of tethering via a personal wi-fi hotspot is that you can connect all kinds of devices such as tablets, games consoles, e-book readers and laptops over the same 3G connection.

What phones are compatible with wi-fi tethering?

In order to tether via wi-fi, you’ll need a phone running iOS 4.3+ or Android 2.2+. The following key handsets on The One Plan have support for wi-fi tethering:

How does The One Plan compare to standalone mobile broadband tariffs?

Mobile broadband tariffs in the UK start from £7.50/month for 500MB per month increasing up to £20.99/month for 15GB per month. Whilst “The One Plan” starts at £25/month and is hence more expensive than standalone mobile broadband, you’ll also get a ton of minutes and texts with it plus an inclusive phone (unless you opt for the SIM-only tariff).

When we consider the combination of a standalone phone tariff with a standalone mobile broadband tariff, the combined price is inevitably more expensive than combining the two in “The One Plan”.

The following mobile broadband tariffs are currently available in the UK:

Can I use a “The One Plan” SIM card in a USB mobile broadband dongle?

No. It is against Three’s terms of use to insert a “The One Plan” SIM card into a USB mobile broadband dongle. The SIM card for “The One Plan” can only be used in a mobile handset. The mobile broadband service is only available through tethering.

Do I need to use The One Plan for my main phone?

No. You could purchase The One Plan solely for its mobile broadband service through tethering if you wish. However, the largest cost savings will be found if you replace both your phone and mobile broadband tariffs with The One Plan.

What’s Three reception like where I live?

Three provide a coverage checker on their website.

I’m switching my phone over to Three. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Provide this to Three and they’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer a phone number. Our PAC Code Finder tool will take you through the entire process of switching networks step-by-step.

Where can I get The One Plan?

The One Plan is available as a SIM-only contract (30-day rolling contract) or standard 24 month Pay Monthly contract through the Three website.

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Three have recently put a lot of focus on their flagship “One Plan” tariff with their “Set your smartphone free” campaign. Available from £25/month both as a Pay Monthly tariff with an inclusive handset or as a 30-day rolling SIM-only contact, “The One Plan” comes with a massive allowance of 2000 minutes, 5000 texts as well as all-you-can-eat data with no download limits.

What does “The One Plan” include?

“The One Plan” is essentially meant to be a practically “unlimited everything” tariff. For a monthly flat fee, you’ll get an inclusive allowance of:

• 2,000 minutes
• 5,000 extra Three-to-Three minutes
• 5,000 texts
• All-you-can-eat internet with no download limits
• Tethering & Wi-Fi hotspot (free mobile broadband for your laptop, etc.)
• Free voicemail

Although internet is truly unlimited (there are no download limits or fair usage policies on all-you-can-eat internet), calls and texts are limited at 2,000 and 5,000 each month respectively. This equates to making 67 minutes of outgoing calls and sending 167 text messages every day.

Generally, these figures compare very well even with tariffs which are advertised as “unlimited”. For example, many “unlimited texts” tariffs come with a fair usage policy of 3,000 texts per month – The One Plan offers more than 3,000 texts despite the fact it isn’t marketed as “unlimited”.

How much does “The One Plan” cost?

The One Plan is available in two formats:

• 24-month Pay Monthly Contract (from £25/month with inclusive phone). This tariff is designed for customers who want a new smartphone and are happy to sign up for 24 months. You’ll get a brand new smartphone with the price of the tariff dependent on the phone you choose. The full selection of phones can be seen on the Three website but highlights include:
  • Apple iPhone 4 (8GB) with no download limits - £30/month on The One Plan (£99 upfront charge)
  • Apple iPhone 4S (16GB) with no download limits - £35/month on The One Plan (£99 upfront charge)
  • Apple iPhone 4S (32GB) with no download limits - £35/month on The One Plan (£149 upfront charge)
  • Apple iPhone 3G S (8GB) with no download limits - £30/month on The One Plan (free handset)
  • Samsung Galaxy S II with no download limits - £35/month on The One Plan
  • Nokia Lumia 800 with no download limits - £37/month on The One Plan
  • Blackberry Bold 9900 with no download limits - £40/month on The One Plan
  • SIM Card with no download limits - £25/month on The One Plan
• 30-day SIM-only contract (£25/month). This tariff is designed for consumers who already own a smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc.) which they’re happy with. Providing your smartphone is unlocked, you can simply place the One Plan SIM card into your existing phone and continue using it as before. You can keep your existing number using a PAC Code. You’ll need to give 30 days notice to leave “The One Plan”.

Is the “Pay Monthly” or “SIM-only” version of this tariff more suitable for me?

It really depends on whether you’re looking for a new phone. The price difference between the Pay Monthly tariff and the SIM-only tariff is fairly small: between £5/month or £10/month – indeed some phones are even available for the same monthly price as the SIM-only tariff. Even if you didn’t want a new phone, you could easily grab something like the HTC Wildfire S for free and pass it on/sell it to a friend. Of course, the drawback of the Pay Monthly tariff is that you’ll be making a 24-month commitment – the SIM-only tariff allows you to keep the flexibility of being able to leave with 30 days notice.

Is there an iPhone 4 micro-SIM available?

Yes. If you have got an unlocked iPhone 4, The One Plan is available as a micro-SIM. All other smartphone users should opt for the standard SIM-only tariff: the micro-SIM only works with the iPhone 4.

Can I tether on “The One Plan”?

Yes. “The One Plan” comes with “all-you-can-eat” data and free tethering. This means you can share the phone’s 3G data connection with other devices such as a laptop, tablet device (e.g. an iPad without native 3G), an iPod Touch, e-book reader or games console. You’ll need a phone which supports the mobile wi-fi hotspot feature in order to use this feature. We’ve got a detailed guide on tethering & how to connect your other electronic devices.

Aside from Three’s One Plan, O2 are the only other network to offer free tethering. However, tethering on O2 will count towards your download limit of 100MB to 1GB which is fairly restrictive for tethering.

Note that there has been a little bit of confusion in the last few days about whether tethering is allowed on the new 30-day SIM Only “One Plan” tariff. Three have confirmed on their Twitter page that tethering is indeed permitted. It is not possible to tether on Three’s “All in One” Pay As You Go tariffs.

What are the alternatives to “The One Plan”?

Generally, “The One Plan” compares well with the tariffs on other networks even if you don’t use most of the minutes. Take the 16GB Apple iPhone 4 for example – The One Plan has the lowest upfront cost as well as having more than 3x as many minutes and all-you-can-eat internet:

For a Pay Monthly tariff which is comparable to The One Plan in terms of airtime, you’d be looking at paying at least twice as much on other networks:

• Three: £25/month for “2000 minutes, 5000 texts and all-you-can-eat internet”
• O2: £70/month for “unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB internet”
• Orange: £75/month for “3000 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB internet”
• T-Mobile: £56.17/month for “unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB internet”
• Vodafone: £50/month for “3000 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB internet”

The One Plan comes with free tethering so you can share your mobile broadband connection with the rest of your devices. Wi-fi hotspot requires iOS 4.3+ or Android 2.2+.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a SIM-only tariff it’s worth seeing whether you really need all those minutes. If you don’t make many calls and you’re unlikely to use tethering, you can save money by opting for a different tariff. Generally there are much cheaper SIM-only tariffs around: for example, you could get 300 minutes, 3000 texts and 1GB internet for £10/month – a fraction of the cost of The One Plan. We’ve got a guide to the UK’s best value SIM-only smartphone tariffs.

Is it possible to get “The One Plan” on an 18 month contract?

Unfortunately it is not possible to get “The One Plan” on an 18-month contract. You must either opt for the 24 month plan with an inclusive phone or the 1 month plan without an inclusive phone.

Does “all-you-can-eat data” have a fair usage policy?

According to Three, there is no fair usage limit for “all-you-can-eat” data.

What’s the coverage like on Three?

You should use the coverage checker on the Three website to ensure you can receive a signal from Three where you live.

How has “The One Plan” changed since its launch?

The One Plan originally launched in July 2010. All-you-can-eat data and free tethering was added for all One Plan customers in December 2010. The most recent update to The One Plan (May 2011) sees the SIM-only version of “The One Plan” becoming a 30-day rolling contract.

I’m switching to The One Plan. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing mobile network for a PAC Code. Provide this to Three and they’ll handle the transfer of your phone number. It should take no more than 24 hours to transfer a phone number. Our PAC Code Finder tool will take you through the entire process of switching networks step-by-step.

Where can I get this deal?

The One Plan is available as a SIM-only contract (30-day rolling contract) or standard 24 month Pay Monthly contract through the Three website.

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If you’re a Pay As You Go customer on Three, you’ll be able to get “all-you-can-eat” data on the £15/month and £25/month “All in One” bundles from this month. This removal of the download limits means that you’ll no longer need to worry about exceeding your monthly download allowance.

What “All in One” packages are available?

Three offers 3 different “All in One” add-on packages at a range of prices from £10/month to £25/month. “All in One” packages are purchased from your Pay As You Go airtime credit and will give you a specified allowance of minutes, texts & internet for 30 days. The £15/month and £25/month packages now come with “all-you-can-eat” data:

Does “all-you-can-eat” data have a fair usage limit or any restrictions?

According to Three, there is no fair usage limit for “all-you-can-eat” data. This contrasts with the fair usage limits seen in many “unlimited” internet packages.

How does Three’s “All in One” packages compare to other Pay As You Go tariffs?

Giffgaff and O2 both offer similar Pay As You Go bundles in the form of Giffgaff Goodybags and O2 Simplicity. Giffgaff offer “unlimited” internet with no explicit fair usage policy.

At the £15/month, Giffgaff and Three are tied both offering the same allowances:

For £25/month, Giffgaff is in the lead offering 3 times as many minutes as Three:

If you are willing to consider a Pay Monthly contract, Three’s “The One Plan” might be a good alternative at £25/month. You’ll get 2000 minutes, 5000 3-to-3 minutes, 5000 texts, all-you-can-eat data and free tethering. The only downside is that you replace the flexibility of Pay As You Go with a 12-month contract.

Our Pay As You Go tariff price comparison tool can help you to find the cheapest Pay As You Go tariff. It’s been fully updated for the launch of “all-you-can-eat” data on All in One.

Can I use “all-you-can-eat” data when I’m abroad?

Nope. It’s only for use within the UK. Whilst abroad, you’ll still have to pay Three’s standard roaming rates:

• £1.28/MB within the EU
• £3/MB in Australia, Cyprus North, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (USA) and USA, Hong Kong and South Africa
• £10/MB in India, Thailand, Canada, Croatia, Kenya, Malaysia and Oman
• £6/MB for the rest of the world

To avoid large roaming charges on holiday, you should follow our best practice guide for using your phone abroad and disable data roaming.

Can I tether with “all you can eat” data on Three Pay As You Go?

No. Unlike with all-you-can-eat data on The One Plan (Pay Monthly contract), tethering is not permitted on the “All in One” tariff. With tethering on The One Plan, you are able to connect your smartphone as a mobile broadband modem to a laptop/PC. Tethering also allows you to use the “mobile wi-fi hotspot” feature found in many smartphones. With wi-fi hotspot, you can connect your additional devices such as MP3 players, e-book readers and games consoles to the internet.

How does the All in One tariff differ from Three’s Pay Monthly tariff (The One Plan)?

The difference between the internet allowances on Pay As You Go and Pay Monthly is that tethering is permitted on Pay Monthly. Looking at the entire package, the Pay Monthly tariff (The One Plan) offers substantially better value – for the same price you’ll get 4 times as many minutes (2,000 instead of 500), 5,000 extra 3-to-3 minutes and a larger allowance of text messages (5,000 as opposed to 3,000).

The One Plan comes with on 12-month SIM-only contract. This means you’re locked in for 12 months but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as The One Plan is hard to beat for value. The “All in One” Pay As You Go tariff does not have a minimum term.

Can existing Three customers get an “All in One” bundle with all-you-can-eat internet?

Yes. Customers who are already on a Three Pay As You Go tariff can purchase an “all in one” package with all-you-can-eat data. Dial 444 from your Three mobile and select option 2 to buy add-ons. You can also purchase an add-on through the My3 website.

You’ll need to be on Three’s latest Pay As You Go tariff. If you joined Three Pay As You Go before September 2010 you may be on the older 3Pay tariff which offers an allowance of 150MB internet. It is not possible to get all-you-can-eat data on the 3Pay tariff.

Can I use a Three Pay As You Go SIM card in my existing phone?

Yes, providing that your existing mobile phone is either unlocked or has previously been used on Three. You will also need a 3G-enabled phone as Three do not provide a 2G service.

I’m switching to Three. Can I keep my existing phone number?

Yes. You’ll need to ask your existing network for a PAC Code. Provide this to 3 Customer Services (333 from your 3 mobile) once your new Pay As You Go SIM card has been activated and they’ll handle the transfer of your number. Our PAC Code Finder will walk you through the entire process of transferring your number to Three.

Where can I get a Three Pay As You Go SIM card?

Three are currently offering free Pay As You Go SIM cards through their website.

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