Free mobile internet & data on your Pay As You Go mobile
November 9th, 2009
The large networks now offer free mobile internet on their Pay As You Go tariffs.
photo: Tambako the Jaguar
I’ve written about how you can get free texts and free calls on your Pay As You Go Network before but never how you can get free mobile web from your mobile. Why? Until recently you couldn’t – web access was considered one of those premium services that shouldn’t be given away for free; the networks were worried that we would start making calls and sending texts over the data connection – something which would destroy their business model.
With the advent of smartphones and better 3G networks, we’re now beginning to see Pay As You Go packages that offer free mobile web access.
Below, we list the networks that offer free mobile web and how you can switch to that tariff. If you’re network isn’t there, you’ll have to hold on for the time being or think about switching network. If we’re missing something, do let us know.
What can I do with free mobile internet access/data?
All kinds. For example:
- Browse the web and social networks such as Facebook
- Reading the news; checking the travel news on the go
- Upload your phone photos straight to Flickr, Facebook, etc.
- Get Google Maps for Mobile – never get lost again
- Send and receive emails
What networks offer it?
At the moment: 3, O2, T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Orange customers can get free access to social networks only. If you’re on Vodafone or another network, you need to wait for the time being.
Before you switch: your allowances may change
Your existing PAYG tariff might have some free allowances – or it might not. If it doesn’t, you don’t lose a single thing by switching. If it does, there is a good possibility that you will lose that allowance and have it replaced by the allowance of the tariff you switch to. Also, call costs might change too. Check before you switch – you might not be able to go back.
Three: 3Pay
Three’s 3Pay tariff (see our guide) offers 150MB of free internet access every time you top up. The free allowance lasts up to 90 days. As well as that, you can use Skype and Windows Live Messenger (they don’t count towards your data allowance and can also be accessed without topping up) and you get free texts too.
- Minimum topup: £5
- Free data allowance: 150MB that lasts until you top up again, for a maximum of 90 days
- Existing 3 customers: Call 444 and select option 6 to switch to 3Pay
- Other networks: Send off for a free SIM card from Three. Then see our guide about switching network and transferring your number.
O2: Text & Web
O2′s Text and Web tariff (see our guide) offers 500MB of free internet access and 600 free texts when you top up by £15. The free allowance lasts for 30 days. Chances are you won’t be able to use Skype or Windows Live Messenger – but should be OK for maps, web and email.
- Minimum topup: £15
- Free data allowance: 500MB that lasts for 30 days.
- Existing O2 customers: Text TEXTANDWEB to 21300
- Customers of other networks: Send off for a free SIM card from O2. Then see our guide about switching network and transferring your number.
Orange: Dolphin (but only for social networks)
Orange don’t offer a free data tariff as per se but they do offer free access to Facebook, Bebo and MySpace on the Dolphin tariff (see our guide) . You won’t be able to access anything like the news, weather or travel information (anything from the rest of the internet) for free. But it’s still better than nothing and it’ll suffice if you just want to use it for social networking.
- Minimum topup: £10
- Free data allowance: 50MB for 30 days but you can only use it on Facebook, Bebo and MySpace
- Existing Orange customers: Call 343 from your Orange phone
- Customers of other networks: Send off for a free SIM card from Orange. Then see our guide about switching network and transferring your number.
T-Mobile: Monthly Text and Internet Reward
T-Mobile Pay As You Go customers can opt into the ‘Monthly Text and Internet Reward’ scheme (see our guide). You get 40MB of data to use per day for 1 month when you top up £10. You’re not allowed to use a Blackberry with this scheme.
- Minimum topup: £10
- Free data allowance: 40MB per day for 30 days (equiv. to 1,200MB)
- Existing Virgin Mobile customers: Ask T-Mobile to opt you in to to the ‘Monthly Text and Internet Reward’ scheme.
- Customers of other networks: Send off for a free SIM card from T-Mobile. Then see our guide about switching network and transferring your number.
Virgin Mobile: Addict
Virgin Mobile’s Addict tariff offers 1GB (1000MB) of free internet access and 3,000 texts when you top up by £20. The free allowance lasts for 30 days. Chances are you won’t be able to use Skype or Windows Live Messenger – but should be OK for maps, web and email.
- Minimum topup: £20
- Free data allowance: 1,000MB that lasts for 30 days
- Existing Virgin Mobile customers: Ask Virgin to switch you to move you to the ‘Addict’ tariff.
- Customers of other networks: Send off for a free SIM card from Virgin. Then see our guide about switching network and transferring your number.
Other Networks
Vodafone customers are out of luck for the time being for totally free internet access. For Vodafone Simply customers, there is a flat rate of £1 for the first 15MB you use each day. After that, it’s £2/MB.
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 | My mission is to demystify the world of mobile technology for general audiences and to communicate how mobile technology can enhance our every aspect of our daily lives. I've been maintaining the Ken's Tech Tips website since 2004. I have experience communicating mobile technology and presenting new mobile products both online and offline at various trade shows and events. If you'd like to get in touch, please drop me an e-mail. |
[...] spend less than £15/month on calls you could be better off on PAYG. Have a look at our guide on PAYG tariffs including free internet access. Of particular note, T-Mobile offers unlimited texts and internet access when you top up [...]
I do wish you would not quote payg tarriffs that are time limited, a time limited tarriff is a contract. You’re obviously going to buy one next month aren’t you.
It defeats the whole object of having payg.
Mike,
These are PAYG tariffs – the free allowances take absolutely no money from your top up nor is there a commitment to top up every single month or set up a direct debit. I can’t see how they class as contracts.
Ken