what's the best for £200?

[nickdrinkwater]

I want to buy a new phone to replace my ageing 3310, but I want to keep my Orange PAYG SIM with 5txt/day, so i want to buy on Orange PAYG or SIM free.

I have about £200 to spend. I did order a 6610 but The Mobile Republic.com didn't deliver so now I'm chasing a refund....

I would like colour, WAP but a don't really care about a camera. Some sort of music feature would be nice.

I'm considering: Nokia 6610, SE 610 but I'm open to suggestions from people who know what they're talking about (not me).

Thanks for your help.

[marvt74]

I think the T610se is the best available phone at the moment

[Daedalus]

i'd say that too. and if you want music features, Sony Ericssons have one of the best range of add-on's for their phones, including a an FM Radio with handfree and a Bluetooth MP3 player that can be used on it's own (the idea is when it's connected to the phone via Bluetooth you can use it as a headset for the call, and the callers name will appear on the MP3 players screen that normally displays the track name and artist info). They also offer some interesting accessories such as clip on blue-light torches, a camera flash and a laser pointer :)
If you see something like the 7210, 6610, 5100 or 7250/7250i, then step away from it and head back towards the T610, because if you want quality features for your money then your better of with SE rather than Nokia, as many of Nokia's recent colour phones have been pretty crappy in the features department.

[nickdrinkwater]

How about the Samsung V200 and Panasonic GD87? Are these any good?

[Nostradamu54]

Someone told me Panasonic GD87 is indeed a good phone...has anyone got it?

Nostra

[nickdrinkwater]

I've heard that I won't be able to use some features, such as Photo Messaging, if I use my current Orange SIM instead of a new phone. Could anyone tell me if this true?

[krug3r]

Yep I believe this to be the case you may need to get the SIM changed as these services are network provider dependant I believe.

[nickdrinkwater]

Ok I will, I'm just reluctant to lose my Out here package with 5/texts a day free.

Do you think the Samsung V200 is good, or would you wait for the e700? I am also considering SE610 and Panasoic GD87.

[Daedalus]

i'd say the E700 and T610 are the two best ones from your list. And depending on the age of your sim, you might be able to still use your free texts. If you paid for your out here pack, or even if you did'nt, so long as Orange know about it then they should let you keep it, if you ask them. In most cases they update the sim card itself, because older sim's don't have MMS and GPRS enabled, as when they were made the networks did'nt aniticipate the new technology. Even if they do give you a new sim, it'll still have your number on it, which should still be linked at Orange to your Out Here pack.
Anyway, the V200 is good, but the E700 offers more in a smaller package for slightly less money and the GD87 is good, but limited in it's features in comparison.

[nickdrinkwater]

Thanks for the advice. So you would recommend contacting Orange to update my SIM rather than using the new one?

The website I am thinking of getting it from is offering the e700 and Panasonic x70 at £204.99 PAYG, but says it charges £60 if the new SIM is not used. They say they don't get their comission if the SIM with the phone is not used, even if I use my current Orange PAYG SIM.

[Daedalus]

in that case, if you choose to buy from there, resgister the new sim (put it in the phone and just follow the standard proceedures for registration, not letting on that you want to use your old one) and then once it's all done, put the old sim card in it. Can't see a problem there, unless they somehow track when the sim card is active or not, but I doubt it.
And could you post the link to that site, i wan't to have a little look, because £204.99 for either of those phones sounds a little suspicious if you ask me....

[nickdrinkwater]

The site is www.avrmobiles.co.uk. To be fair the site is listed on www.shopsafe.co.uk and also has good feedback on www.reviewcentre.com. Also, I have asked several questions via email and they have been very helpful.

I've also seen some good prices on this site: www.mobilesuk.net.

As I said above, I almost got ripped off by themobilerepublic.com, so now I'm sticking to shopsafe sites.

[Daedalus]

themobilerepublic.com is usualy a trustworthy site and i've heard very few complaints from them, if any.
From what i can see there not a bad site really, just you got unlucky that time.
I've read avrmobile's terms & conditions, and all you've got to do is register the new one to keep them happy, then just use your old one, no harm done.
However, after looking at mobilesuk.net i'd say they've got the better deal, seeing as they do the SE T610 for £20 cheaper, but they dont do the other two you were interested in, the Samsung E700 and Panasonic X70.
Choice is up to you.

[nickdrinkwater]

Thanks for the advice...

But are you kidding about the mobile republic????!!!! They are rip off merchants, i waited about 2 weeks for a refund and only got one after contacting trading standards to get their address. They don't answer the phone until you've waited at least 5 minutes.

Take a look here: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews3345.html

You'll find a bit a feedback from other customers too.

[Daedalus]

strange, i always thought of them as a fairly respectable company. now i see differently, thanks for bringing this to my attention nick.

[nickdrinkwater]

No problem, wouldn't want to see anyone else conned.

I saw a review of the Samsung e700 in a Mobile magazine and it got a great write up, thing that's putting me off other models is that they don't have Java. I'm gonna try and get it from my Dad's mate tho, I don't really want to get it from somewhere I have to pay £60 if I don't use the SIM card.

[Daedalus]

Like I've said for the third time now, you don't NEED to pay £60 for not using the sim....
Just register the sim, and never use it. They'll still get their commission and you'll be able to use your old sim.
And what do you mean the others don't have Java? The T610 has Java, as does the X70. Same with the E700.

[nickdrinkwater]

I know but i don't want to run the risk of having to pay, if I register but dont USE it.

That mobilesuk site have got the x70 and e700 from 3rd November so it looks like the best option. I dont think the gd87 or v200 have Java.

[Daedalus]

the gd87 does'nt have Java as such, but you can still download games for it, as it uses a different type of games-engine instead of Java.
The V200 does'nt have Java to my knowledge tho, not sure.
And for gods sake, what risk? There is NO risk, if you register the sim, thats all their asking, their not asking you to constantly use it for the rest of your life, their just asking you to register in within 30 days. Theres no risk involved, your not tied to a contract, theres nothing preventing you from not using it. I've given my advice, for the fourth time now, so if you don't believe me thats your choice, i'm just trying to help you and save you money, and if you choose not to take my advice then that's your choice and I don't mind.

[nickdrinkwater]

Calm down, I appreciate your advice, thanks, I know what you mean now, as long as I register it I won't have to pay.

[Pitta Baainens]

For £200 you buy best a se t610.

[nickdrinkwater]

Thanks for the advice but I've ordered a SIM free Panansonic X70 for £190.

[conical]

Go with the 6610, Original and best.

[Daedalus]

6610?
lol! :haha:
apart from being old, outdated, expensive and having few of the features he's after, it's riddled with software bugs.

[nickdrinkwater]

Cool, whats the SPV thing like, it looks wicked!

[nick]

Originally posted by nickdrinkwater
Cool, whats the SPV thing like, it looks wicked!

Don't start him off please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!http://fp.funfiles.plus.com/animated_emoticons/emotes_h/help_wanted_message.gifhttp://fp.funfiles.plus.com/animated_emoticons/emotes_n/nodding_no_in_a_panic.gif

[Daedalus]

i can sum it up in one word, everything.
it has everything you could ever want in a phone (other than video calling), and the best bit is it's coming out on Orange pay & go for £279.99 at Xmas, which is about £200 cheaper than it is sim-free anywhere. :)