yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S III General] stunno:
Well working on this new scenario, I have just got an S3 free on Orange for 2 years at £31/month (we'll ignore the 4 months free) this gives 400 minutes unlimited texts 750MB data and free streaming Sky sports

So that is 12x31=£372 for the first 12 months

At the end of the first year I could still sell the phone for half its cost and buy next year's must have phone at an extra outlay of, say, £250 - so £622 for year 2 or an average of £497 per year

So not really much difference
[Galaxy S III General] hboos:
On the contrary, I fully understood what you were saying. I just think you haven't calculated this properly.

But if you are happy with the network and you don't move around, then it makes more economical sense to buy a contract and sell your phone after 1 year and buy a new phone.

You are grossly miscalculating if you think that you are getting a discount on your GSIII because you are selling your GSII

You had to buy your GS2 in the first place so you should factor that in.

I have enough disposable income to cover a sim free handset but I will be buying into a contract because I trust the network, and I will be getting more mins and more data for a cheaper as you.

Even if I sell the GS3 next year and buy a new phone (which I intend to do for the new note WP8 version?), I will be in the same position as you but with a better allowance.

To make it simpler, I happen to have a GS2 which I will also recycle.

Over the next two years you will pay

for the first year £439 (your calculations)

and then you will sell your GS3 and get the next phone (say a GS4) and your second year will cost you approximately the same.. right?

2nd year = £439 ( Sim free cost of GS4 - cashback - GS3 sale + [12X15])

so over the two years you've spent £880 and you've finished the second year with a GS4.

In my situation, I have the GS2 to sell, buy a 2 year contract for £34 and get the GS3 for free, after one year sell the GS3 (like you) and buy the GS4.

= 24 X £34 - £230 (from GS2 sale) - £230 (from GS3 sale) + £500 (non cashback price of the GS4)

= £856 and I end up the same GS4, £26 in my pocket and more allowance over the two years.

And if you want to factor in cashback, I can get £160 cashback from Quidco... so I am £186 better off than you.

It isn't about whether I can afford it or whether I like gadgets or not, so let's not be so condescending.

If you don't trust the network (as many have problems) or you move around a lot (a good network in one city may be poor in another) or you just don't use that much (i will be tethering a lot so giffgaff isn't really the most ideal) then I understand that people will go sim free..

BUt if you are telling me that it's a "false economy" and that you can't understand that "anyone would think a 24 month contract is a good deal" then you are mistaken
[Galaxy S III General] n-j-f:
Sorry to go slightly OT but how does a network know if you are tethering? Sure if you are connecting a laptop and leaving it running 24/7 downloading movies but if you only do it occasionally for half an hour at a time? It's just that I am thing of switching to Giffgaff and would like to understand if an infrequent bit of tethering they would even know about.
[Galaxy S III General] Venekor:
Three are the best network to go for as long as they have good signal where you are.

I'm going to wait a month after launch to see if people are having issues and then I'll get one. I was going to rush into it but I did that with the iPhone 4 and GS2 and I wasn't fully happy with either device. The GS3 looks great but unless they've fixed the issues I have with Android then I wont like the experience, I've tried custom roms but they're all so buggy.

Just a shame really because there isn't a mobile OS that I'm fully happy with. What I want really is for an open OS to come to Mobile that has the UI of Windows Metro, just a shame Microsoft dropped the ball with Windows Phone 7.
[Galaxy S III General] timking:
You're right, I should've stated that I'm not doing the TCB bit due to not doing it online. I'm an impatient bugger and the thought of having this on the 29th is too good to miss so store wins for me!
[Galaxy S III General] treble4:
you can order online on the 29th as stated on the website the £160 will flip over to tcb as soon as it ends on quidco so should be £161 thereabouts
[Galaxy S III General] brunopatterson:
Horses for courses mate. Six of one, half a dozen of the other as they say.

My comment about not everyone can afford to buy a SIM free phone was a general comment, not aimed at you in particular, if you want to take that as condescending then fill your boots.

But I really think you should look at your own post before calling people condescending "To make it simpler"!

I'm not sure I get your point regarding not getting a discount on my GSIII because I am selling my GSII? I did factor in the cost of the GSII (12x£41 for my contract + £79.99 for the phone). That is the total I will have paid when my current Voda contract ends, so no "gross miscalculations" there.

I don't post on here to to start arguments or to be condescending, merely to express an opinion. Our opinions differ (probably because our needs do), I respect that. But my second post was, in all honesty, because I thought you had misunderstood my first, nothing more. Apologies if it came across differently.

Bruno
[Galaxy S III General] hboos:
bruno, if you aren't being condescending, the tone of your posts says different.

and so yes, i will fill my boots mate.
[Galaxy S III General] MaNIaCv1:
Think of it this way Bruno. You have a GSII in your pocket worth £220, I have £220 in my pocket worth £220. Are we both getting a discount if we use it as part payment for a GSIII?

Maniac
[Galaxy S III General] slaphead20:
Get real guys, quit the bickering, and realise how lucky you both are to be able to contemplate buying this phone. You could be walking 10k to get water, or eating grass. Keep it civil
[Galaxy S III General] leith51:
I got desire hd, htc one x, LG?? Total £500 or more but yet I will still have lost out buying sim free
[Galaxy S III General] brunopatterson:
And I apologised if it did come across that way, it was not intended. If you can't/won't accept an apology, then so be it.

I don't see an apology from yourself regarding your condescending tone and your incorrect statement regarding my "gross miscalculation"

I will have fully paid for the GSII when my 12 month contract with Voda ends - total cost £571.99, so it is not the same as the £220 in your pocket as unless it is from selling something related to your last 12 months mobile costs it has come from a different source and can't be included in the calculations. I am getting something back from the money I have spent on my mobile over the last 12 months.

Again, I do apologise if I have upset or offended anyone, totally not my intention.
[Galaxy S III General] clax6:
I see your point. I'm in a situation right now I'm on T-Mobile which ends this September which costs me £25 a month and my Mrs ends may 2013 at £25 a month.

I also have a 12 month vodafone which is £36 which ends the end of this may. Now I'm getting the s3 when it comes out be it 28th or when ever! For free on a 12 month £36 per month (don't ask how)

So I don't know what to do? Carry on till September and end that contract? But I lose free T-Mobile to T-Mobile and I only get 300 mins on my voda and my wife gets 600 on T-Mobile?

Do I manage till both tmobiles end and go for giffgaff may 2013?

To help costs I'm thinking of selling my s2 for 220? To help pay half the voda s3 contract?
[Galaxy S III General] hefonthefjords:
Amazon UK, £479.99 for sim free blue 16gb preorders right now. Just found it.
[Galaxy S III General] brunopatterson:
Guess you really got to look at how many minutes you actually use, I was surprised when I looked. I was on a 600min contract but found I didn't go over 300 in the last 5 months that I could check. For some reason Voda only had full itemised billing for the last 5 months for me.

Even if you go over the 300 voda minutes, how much would it cost you? Over and above the £25 month extra you would be paying T-Mobile?

I found I was sailing close to the wind with my 500mb data allowance, so for me less minutes and more data is all good if I go with either Giff Gaff or Three. Unfortunately I can't yet comment on either GG or Three networks as I have been with neither previously.

Hope that's a little food for thought.
[Galaxy S III General] n-j-f:
That's not Amazon themselves. It is a new Marketplace seller who will charge another £10 for p+p.

On the brighter side, Amazon.de has just reduced the price of the white although only by about 5€. It is now cheaper than the blue instead of being more expensive.
[Galaxy S III General] clax6:
Well I'm using about 450 just to other networks and my free T-Mobile calls arnt included in that so I guess I ought to just look at my voda as buying the s3 on drip? And maybe in September sell my upgrade to put towards my bill?
[Galaxy S III General] tomstacey:
I've just stuck in an order for the white from amazon.de. Comes in at just under £479 delivered. Maybe better if the Euro continues to get weaker this week!
[Galaxy S III General] bluebobx:
That's the price from "eUniverse"? If so, then I looked at it too (last night), you've got to factor in £9.99 postage too, so it's only a tenner cheaper than Amazon's price (I'm a Prime account holder so I get free next day delivery).

Given it's new tech I figured it was worth £10 extra to get that peace of mind of Amazon's delivery tracking, plus in case something goes wrong. Plus if it's coming from Amazon's new Halbeath facility (that big mucking warehouse that you've got plenty of time to look at thanks to the avg spd cam's on the M90) then I figure that I might even get it a little quicker.

Greetz frae a sunny Kirkcaldy!

---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------

GiffGaff is O2, and Three are (still?) rolling out network coverage upgrades, so you might be lucky. From my limited experience O2's coverage isn't that good at the moment (poor data rates) and Three's is miles better. If you're talking about medium sized towns or better then Three will be fine, out in the country I think O2 get's better call/text coverage.

E.g. for Three, Berwick and Alnwick are fine, the bit of country in between not so. But that was last year, so perhaps Three has full coverage there now.

Of course, there's the obvious suggestion - nip down to the local O2 and Three shops and see what signal strength THEY get? ;)
[Galaxy S III General] nikzDHD:
Guys stick with solely Amazon and not one of its traders. You will have peace and mind and a flawless returns procedure.
[Galaxy S III General] LadFromWales85:
o2 contract at Tesco

Samsung Galaxy S3 blue or white

300 mins

Unlimited texts

500MB data

£27/24 month

£50 up front or £25 of Clubcard voucher (double up)

Unlocked and unbranded as handsets are universal among networks.

Tesco PAYG, blue or white, £499.97.

Unlocked and unbranded with a Tesco sticker on the box.

Stock is due for launch day!

Press thanks if you found my post useful :)
[Galaxy S III General] mashed_ash:
Does anyone know if you can do next day delivery from play.com on pre-order?

Thanks,

Ash
[Galaxy S III General] leith51:
More than likely but you still won't get it till launch day and tbh it will be a while after some places quoting up to week after now due to such high demand and the early pre orders will get them first
[Galaxy S III General] psp888:
play.com said that pre-orders will be delivered on the actual release date, so that means they send it out before the 30th
[Galaxy S III General] ste1164:
I preordered through the cpw as all I could get from returning the one x was a credit note so I paid £20 extra and I'm getting the sgs3 on wed :)
[Galaxy S III General] brunopatterson:
I pre-ordered from play.com and you are unable to select the delivery method, it automatically selects the Free - 3-5 day delivery.

I'm assuming (as psp888 says) this is because they will send them out before so they arrive on the launch day.

As Leith51 also says, if you've pre-ordered late on then there is always a chance that you'll have to wait a few extra days.
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
I have just had a text from CPW saying that pre-orders will be available on the 29th. I phoned my local store and they said that they get deliveries between 11am-3pm and they will be phoning everyone to let us know they are ready for collection.
[Galaxy S III General] ste1164:
:o this is good news! I was told they would have them on the 30th.
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
This is getting ridiculous! I have just received another text from them saying that it now will be available for collection on the 30th, between 4pm-6pm. I got it literally a minute ago, so I can't ring my local store till tomorrow to find out what they say.
[Galaxy S III General] ste1164:
God damn :( got my hopes up.
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
Do you not get texts too?
[Galaxy S III General] sjdean:
Expansys (UK) have broken wind and say they expect stock in 8 days! That puts us to 1st June! Grrr. Thinking of pre-ordering elsewhere. What 's Amazon like for getting in stock at the right time?
[Galaxy S III General] ste1164:
Nope I just ordered my sim free today.
[Galaxy S III General] laneyofdeath:
I'm on o2 UK I had a one x for two weeks was bit buggy so I decided to get sgs3 I pay 170 for handset and pay 21 a month for 2 years. Get 300 mins, 500 o2 to o2 mins, unlimited texts and 500 mb data. Reason I paid more is because I wanted to keep at 21 a month as it perfect for me.
[Galaxy S III General] rocketpaul:
eugh, waited too long to preorder now carphone warehouse has stopped the free car charger deal fml. only play.com still have a decent sim free pr order deal
[Galaxy S III General] Gh15ty:
Had the same thing. I phoned customer services and they said that because they have had so many pre-orders, the shop staff need to "get everything in order" before they start dealing with the public..

The outcome of the call was that they won't budge on the 4pm time and I can request it is delivered somewhere else if I want.
[Galaxy S III General] sjdean:
Could someone please tell me if there's any confirmation from the likes of Amazon, Play.com or Clove.co.uk as to the expected shipping of the S3?

Expansys UK have updated their web site to say that the phone won't be in stock for 8days which gives us to 1st June which means delivery on 2nd June!

I know it's only a few days, but damn it, I want it now.
[Galaxy S III General] bluebobx:
Well someone tell 'em to open a window!!!! :p

I just checked my Amazon order (placed last Wednesday) and it's still claiming that delivery for me will be the 30th. I know what you mean about that last bit - I've got my fingers crossed that (a) it'll arrive on the 30th, and (b) that I get the delivery early, so at least I get a chance to charge it up so I can have a shot of it after work.
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
Carphone Warehouse daily update. :)

I have phoned my local store, and they have told me that they will be getting their stock on the 29th, but they are "not allowed" to sell them until the 30th. They will be available from 9:00am.

Is this the last word?
[Galaxy S III General] DSA:
as stated in another thread, got a blue siii on pre-order from play.com

still saying 30th may - no delays, no shortage of handsets
[Galaxy S III General] psp888:
I asked play.com today about stock and they said the will have enough to fulfil all pre-orders

expansys suck, why order from them when they are £20 move expensive than everywhere else
[Galaxy S III General] sjdean:
So not only is Expansys £20 more expensive, but they're shipping later! Ok, technically you get a free memory card and charger, only they're not free, they're part of the £20.

If they said they would have stock in on the 29th with delivery for the 30th, fair enough.

But, meh, Im not waiting til the 2nd June. i got an O2 envelope at home to get £110 for my Galaxy S. Need to send it off as soon as I get the new phone.

I'd have gone with Clove - they said they'll have enough stock, but they may not be able to ship them all straight away.

Fingers crossed for Amazon.

Cya

Simon
[Galaxy S III General] mashed_ash:
hey - did Play tell you when they will ship?
[Galaxy S III General] shaggydabbydo:
Bumpity-bump ....

Anyone know of any good deals for the S3 at the mo'?

Personally I'd like an unlocked phone, I could stretch to one with a small monthly tarrif.

I'd be using my phone a lot abroard where I would purchase local SIM's.

There are these two deals I've found:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sam...24mnths-99-handset-affordable-mobiles-1243375

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sam...-7-mth-4-50-100-250mb-350-4-phone-519-1242902

Any ideas of better offers?
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
Don't forget it uses a micro SIM.
[Galaxy S III General] shaggydabbydo:
Ah yes, the micro SIM issue, thanks for the heads-up. Is if fairly ease to cut ones own/get a normal SIM converted?
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
Yes, it is, both to cut it and to get an adapter (Amazon has a lot). My provider (Orange) gave me a micro SIM for free. But how I saw it was that I doubt you will get micro SIMs abroad. I may be wrong, but...
[Galaxy S III General] shaggydabbydo:
Thanks for the info. I'm thinking I would likely to get foreign SIMs from the likes of Vodaphone (ie, big companies) cut in foreign lands as well as they're also selling the S3 and if it only works with micro SIMs, they'll need to be able to provide them :)
[Galaxy S III General] NineToTheSky:
You have a point.
[Galaxy S III General] bluebobx:
A lot of the telecom providers will either give you a replacement uSIM or sell you one very, very cheap.

I thought about doing this, but figured that since I've only got a couple of weeks of contract left that it wasn't worth doing. In which case I went on eBay and spent £3 on a "MicroSIM Cutter".

This looks very much like a stapler, and it was a matter of seconds to "convert" my regular SIM to the micro variety - just carefully insert the SIM and press down the cutting lever. The pack I bought even came with two plastic adapters so, if I need to in future, I can use my now "micro-ised" SIM in a regular phone. Cut SIM worked great in my SIII.
[Galaxy S III General] speedyjay:
£40pm 1000 mins, unlimited texts, 1gb data, free phone and...........the ability to upgrade every 6months :) Vodafone JUMP contract from phones4u :)
[Galaxy S III General] Oli2k:
Isn't it 750mb of data?
[Galaxy S III General] speedyjay:
No...1GB :D
[Galaxy S III General] valerich:
Three

The One plan.

24 month contract.

All-you-can-eat-data

2,000 minutes

5,000 Three-to-Three minutes

5,000 texts

£34 a month.
[Galaxy S III General] speedyjay:
That's awesome mate :) I don't get very good Three reception round my area though :(
[Galaxy S III General] gouldy26:
Ive got this deal, but i complained about coverage and they give me 5 pound of every month for the remainder of my contract
[Galaxy S III General] Oli2k:
I don't think many people do and their customer service is dreadful normally
[Galaxy S III General] speedyjay:
Yeah I know....my misses works for Ericsson which handles the complaint service for Three, Orange and T-Mobile lol their all very bad apparently
[Galaxy S III General] adam.mt:
Took up the deal with Affordable Mobile when it and the S3 was first out (£21.50/mth on O2 for 100mins, unlimited texts, 500MB data). Decided to play it safe and not cancel the £6 bolt-on until after the 120 days.....

Today I received a duplicate copy of my invoice for the phone. For me it was as received when I ordered and showed fully paid.

I wonder what the invoices will say for those who cancelled the bolt-on early? That is, wondering if they 'got lucky' or in fact didn't and as such whether they will now admit they were wrong (although good luck to them if the former).
[Galaxy S III General] WhiteHartMart:
Upgrading the wife's contract (I'm having the phone though!!) with Dialaphone (same group as P4U) on the same deal - although lady stated it would be a 32GB card :)
[Galaxy S III General] NorthernNoel:
Anyone found some good cashback deals for buying the phone outright? Play.com are doing 3.5% on quidco for phones.
[Galaxy S III General] b0gd4n:
so the £50 premium accessories from phones 4 u are a sd card an a case.

at least is it a class 10 card? and the case? is it one of those samsung official ones?

if not, i think i will stick with 3. they have a very good deal and you may get the chance to win a tv as well..
[Galaxy S III General] thegrantonstarcause:
Where did you find that deal on phones4u? Can't see it on their site. What is the included minutes and data?
[Galaxy S III General] b0gd4n:
if you are reply to me, then the deal is on 3`s website.
[Galaxy S III General] thegrantonstarcause:
Sorry, I was replying about the vodafone 12 month contract for 46 a month from Phones4U.
[Galaxy S III General] Nicolopolus:
Was that online? The closest I can find has 900mins, but the handset is £49.

Does anyone know if handsets from CWH come unbranded/unlocked? Same question for buymobilephones.net (I'm sure I got my SGS2 from them and it was defo unbranded).

Struggling to find the 32gb model online!
[Galaxy S III General] Isadora:
Don't want to put you off, but good luck with Voda. I had the most horrendous experience going to them a few years ago - they're very good at making mistakes which they are then seemingly unable to correct without getting the CEO's office involved (and the amount of conflicting information you get is quite staggering!) Have since switched to Three who are an absolute breeze to deal with in comparison.

Also don't know whether they've improved capacity, but you used to get a full signal in some busy parts of London which actually proved to be unusable because of congestion on the local masts. Voda's advice was to not use data and switch to 2G during busy times (8am to 8pm!) so that at least calls wouldn't drop.
[Galaxy S III General] leith51:
You got link to this deal as every one I seen its 24 month contact as for dial a phone only voda or doing 12 month and its £279 for the handset at £49 a month

So if you guys are finding such good deals post links for others to have option of using having the deal

But tbh I doubt your deals are real!!
[Galaxy S III General] b0gd4n:
i`m thinking in getting the 3 contract.

could you give me some feedback on their signal.

i live in se london zone 2, but spend most of the day in central.

thanks!
[Galaxy S III General] leith51:
According to 3 coverage checker (google search works well) London comes up with good coverage indoor and outdoor for both broadband and normal signal
[Galaxy S III General] WhiteHartMart:
You have to phone for the deal - they offered it to me for an upgrade:-

12 months = £46 per month - 900mins, Unlimited Text and 500mb

18 months = £46 per month - same but with 750mb

24 months = £31 per month - same with 500mb

Phone is free on all 3 options.

Each option has the SD card and an Offical Samsung case free also.
[Galaxy S III General] leith51:
Upgrade is different to New customer they will offer you more to keep you!!!

Edit: just phoned them and as I thought the deal is only for Vodafone customer on upgrade you can not get it as new customer
[Galaxy S III General] WhiteHartMart:
Would have thought Phones4U had more scope on new contracts tbh - not incentive for them to keep me as I'm not their customer in the first place? Pleased in my case - be even more pleased if phones turns out to be factory unlocked as is usually the case with P4U?

Vodafones own upgrade deals were poor but via P4U were heaps better.

I'm sure I've read others on different forums getting the same 12 month deals on new contracts too :confused: Hope some other good deals turn up for non Vodafone buyers.