We show you how getting a SIM only plan for your mobile could save you money.
When you are looking to find a good deal on your mobile phone, it can be difficult navigating your way through the ever-changing market of contracts, new handsets, and pay-as-you-go deals. Finding a mobile deal that offers you good value for money as well as suits your circumstances can be a real challenge.
Signing up to a SIM only mobile plan may be able to save you a significant amount of money, and can offer a greater degree of flexibility than some other mobile deals. We explain how SIM only plans could suit your mobile needs as well as your budget.
What is ‘SIM only’?
A SIM only plan differs from usual mobile phone contracts because you don’t get a new handset, only a new SIM card. This will usually come ‘preloaded’ with a certain number of texts and minutes just like regular mobile plans. The difference is that instead of having your phone upgraded, you simply use the new SIM card in your existing phone.
A SIM only plan can actually give you more texts and minutes than if you were tied into a with-phone contract. This is because your network provider is saving money by not having to include a new mobile in your plan.
SIM only plans are available as a pay-as-you-go deal, or on short and longer term contracts. Many plans offer added flexibility because you can usually cancel with only 30 days’ notice.
How does it work?
If you sign up for a SIM only plan, you’ll receive a new SIM card which you simply insert into your existing phone. You’ll then have a pre-determined amount of texts and calls ready to use, and you pay the amount for the month up-front.
You won’t get a new handset but you’ll generally have more freedom to swap and change your plan any time you want, and can choose how many texts and minutes you want for the month.
You can usually keep your old number, but if you are switching to a different network then you may have to ‘unlock’ your existing phone. This means that your mobile will be able to accept SIM cards from any network rather than just the one that was built into it. You can unlock your phone by requesting a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) from your current provider.
Remember though that if you are already on a fixed term contract, you’ll have to reach the end of that first if you want to switch to SIM only – otherwise you may incur a penalty.
How can it help me save?
The main benefit of opting for a SIM only plan is that they will usually cost significantly less than if you bought a new phone with a contract. This is because you only pay for the services a network provides you with, such as texts and minutes – not the phone itself.
Therefore your provider does not need to recoup the cost of a new phone, as they would when selling you a with-phone contract. This makes the overall deal much cheaper and means you get more call time for your money.
For example, a monthly Virgin with-phone contract with 450 minutes and 450 texts would cost you £30 a month . But if you opted for SIM only you could get 500 minutes and unlimited texts for just £18 a month giving you more call time and texts for less - this is because you don’t have to pay for a new phone as part of your deal.
Is it right for me?
For those who like to keep up with the latest trends and developments in mobile phone technology, SIM only plans probably won’t be the best deal. You’ll have to make do with your old phone and will miss out on the new handsets you would get if you were on a standard contract.
Although on the face of it SIM only plans can offer you added flexibility, just like normal with-phone contracts they can be quite rigid when it comes to how many texts and minutes you have in a month. You can of course select your own limit, but if you go beyond the stated limit, you risk having to pay a significant amount more than usual.
Therefore it is a good idea to work out as accurately as you can how many texts and minutes you will need in a month, because if you go over your limit, you’ll be paying much more than you need to.
However for those who don't mind keeping their existing phone, opting for a SIM only plan can save you a considerable amount on your mobile costs.
