Mobile data deals uk
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Switching to a new SIM plan. Already on one of our older plans? As your minimum term has ended, you can switch to one of our new plans any time you like.
It's really easy - we just move your new plan details on to your existing SIM. Want to join from another network?
Which networks offer unlimited data?
We'd love to have you — and you can keep your old phone number, no problem. You can also use your phone as a Personal Hotspot, and call free from your mobile to Customer Services. For limits and further information - see Three. Leave your baggage hassles behind, because now you can go Hands Free on all UK outbound easyJet flights, absolutely free. For further information - see Three. With Personal Hotspot, you can use your existing data allowance to connect other devices to your phone and get online. That means you can add or remove data depending on your needs, switch providers whenever the fancy takes you, and take advantage of any special offers that catch your eye.
Take a look at the table above for some current deals or check our full guide to see more. The more you do online, the more mobile data you'll need in your plan. Video is particularly data-hungry, so if you want to watch the likes of iPlayer and Netflix on the go, you'll need an unlimited or big data plan.
Technical support
The biggest allowances tend to come from the big networks: Three one of the only operators to do full unlimited plans , EE , O2 and Vodafone. Looking for a SIM for your tablet or dongle? Plenty of networks offer data-only SIM plans. Alternatively, if you just use your mobile broadband device occasionally, a cheap plan with a few gigabytes may be all you need. A SIM-only deal is a contract that includes minutes, texts and data - just like a regular mobile phone contract.
As a result, these plans are usually much cheaper.
Still not sure if there's a SIM-only deal that's right for you? With a SIM-only deal, you choose the plan that best suits your needs - in terms of minutes, texts and data. The network sends you a new SIM card, which you then pop into your phone. This means you can either use it with your old phone, or you can buy a new phone and use it with that one.
Once you purchase a SIM deal from a network and it is activated, this means this SIM card is permanently locked to that network , though not to your phone. You can easily swap handsets but keep the same SIM card - containing all your personal information, such as contact numbers, photos and messages.
Network offers - You may find the best plan that fits your needs is only available through a particular network on a longer contract. So you may need to compromise slightly on your call, text and data allowances. Initial outlay - While your SIM-only deal costs will be relatively low, if you do need a new handset, you'll need to fork out the full cost upfront.
Data/ Tablet SIM only
With most handsets, we're talking hundreds of pounds, though you can get some cheaper options. Network exclusives - Some networks will reserve exclusive deals for specific phones. It can be. It's usually the case when a flagship phone hits the market and contracts are made deliberately expensive. Not all the savings you can make are as extravagant, and on big data it's frequently more cost effective to dive into a contract instead. But if you can afford to splash a few hundred pounds up front then the savings over the next couple of years could well be worth it. The times have passed since most phones were locked to a network and you had to pay a dodgy backstreet 'engineer' to unlock it.
Nowadays, it's standard practice for networks to let you use whatever SIM you want in the phone as soon as you've paid up the original contract or earlier if you pay them a fee - and Three ships all its handsets unlocked from the outset. The exception, alas, is Apple iPhones.
Check out the best SIMO deals from the likes of Three, EE, BT and budget-priced iD. a growing force in the UK mobile industry in the last couple of years, You' d be advised to either keep mobile data switched off or be. Find an unlimited data SIM or phone plan at a great price. also get Pay As You Go bundles with up to 8GB of data, but there aren't any mobile.
They're generally sold locked to the original network that you purchase them with for the life of the handset. Very frustrating if you're looking for a tasty SIM deal once your 24 month sentence is up. The good news is that your iPhone or any other mobile before the end of your contract can be unlocked - the bad news is that most networks make you pay for the privilege.
Insert a friend or family member's SIM into your phone to see whether it's already unlocked and, if it isn't, look for your network below to see how to cut ties with them:. There are three sizes of SIM card that you can get for your phone, and the one you need will depend on your handset. It's been a while since the traditional, so-called standard SIM 15x25mm has genuinely been the staple in new phones.
Unlimited texts All our plans come with unlimited texts, so you can send as many standard rate text messages as your fingers can type in the UK. It's an absolutely sensational offer, and it beats the rest in terms of value hands down. Take a look at some of the best on the market at our dedicated comparison page. And if you're simply not sure, most networks now simply send out a triple SIM, so you'll get one of each size. That means you can add or remove data depending on your needs, switch providers whenever the fancy takes you, and take advantage of any special offers that catch your eye.
Instead, any phone you've bought within the last five or so years is much more likely to require a micro 12x15mm or nano 8. Before you purchase your new SIM, double-check the manufacturer's website to see what size you require. And if you're simply not sure, most networks now simply send out a triple SIM, so you'll get one of each size.
Ever heard of PAC codes and wondered what a classic 80s arcade game had to do with telephone numbers? It actually stands for Porting Authorisation Code, and it's the set of digits that you need to grab from your old network to let you transfer over your existing mobile number.
If you're on one of the major networks, you can see what phone number you can contact them on here:.
'Best ever SIM only deal' from Three
If you want to grab a bargain SIM only plan above, but it's on your existing network then your network won't release a PAC code and you'll be forced to take a new phone number. At least you would have, if it wasn't for this clever if convoluted work-around. You have to order a free pay-as-you-go SIM from another network. Once you have it, you can tell your old network that you're moving and they'll give you that precious PAC code. Then, once your number is registered to the substitute network, simply get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they'll move your number to your new contract.
Simple - kind of! Unlike with a contract, there's a lot more flexibility available when it comes to how long your SIM only plan will last. Two year commitments are virtually unheard of, with the norm being either one year or rolling one month contracts for ultimate flexibility. You can often get better prices if you tie yourself in for 12 months, especially on larger data tariffs. But sticking to one month at a time means that you can effectively hand pick a new plan to suit you every 30 days or so.
Because you can change your plan up more regularly than a normal, lengthier contract, it's less crucial to get this nailed from the start. But if you're thinking of grabbing a monther or just put a personal pride on getting things right first time, then we'll help you pick out the sweet spot of data for you. Firstly, check your phone to see how much data you've been using to date, and whether you have the tendency to use more than your current allowance every month.
Then, if you're still unsure, check out our guidance: