Omio News Blog

Tesco Roll Out 12 Month iPhone Contracts

Tesco Mobile announce today a new set of 12 month price plans and tariffs for iPhone customers – great news if you’ve been holding off from buying Apple but were put off by lengthy tie-ins.

Tesco Mobile customers can pick up an iPhone 3G 8GB for £100, 3GS 16GB for £200 or iPhone 3GS 32GB for £275, each with a 12 month contract paying £35 per month. The plan includes unlimited texts and internet and 750 anytime, cross network minutes.

12 month contracts have been on the retreat as more and more consumers opt for longer contracts that offer savings spread over an 18 or 24 month period.

However, Omio still pulls together a range of 12 month contracts across top of the range handsets such as these from the Xperia X10, HTC Desire and Blackberry Bold 9700, Nevertheless this is the first time the iPhone had been available on a year-long tariff.

Tesco also indicated that as they roll out more iPhone deals, SIM Only is likely to be a possibility in the future.

For full details on the Tesco Mobile’s tariffs and pricing, visit http://www.tescomobileiphone.com/

Compare iPhone tariffs across a range of retailers and brands at Omio.

Orange Bundles Multimedia Treats With New Tariffs

In an effort to increase accessibility of its range of mobile internet services, Orange are offering a range of bonuses to it’s pay monthly tariffs:

500 MB  mobile internet on the latest mobile devices from £20 a month on Dolphin Pay Monthly (PAYM), with unlimited texts and e-mail.

More bite given to Panther Pay Monthly (PAYM) price plans with unlimited texts and four multimedia services as standard.

Free one month taster of a multimedia service available on any plan for all new and upgrading pay monthly customers, with six to choose from including Sky News and Sports, email and sat nav with Orange Maps. After which subscription to multimedia services is £5 per service.

Brand new Orange Games Zone launches. For £5 per month you get to choose two games from the Orange Games catalogue, plus 20% off all other game purchases.

The new Orange deals become available from Thursday 1st April.

LG GW620 Intouch Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Portal

Samsung Galaxy Portal vs. LG InTouch Max

One unavoidable trend at this year’s Mobile World Congress was sharp rise in Android phones on offer. it seems manufacturers are all piling in now with handsets that run on Google’s open-source operating system.

So, we thought we would line up two currently available Android phones, to see how they measured up to each other:

The LG GW620 InTouch Max and the Samsung Galaxy Portal both run on Android “Cupcake” (v1.5) and promise a host of multi-tasking smartphone functionality.

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Size:

Samsung’s Galaxy Portal is a slightly taller and wider yet thinner handset than the LG.

Marks go to LG however for squeezing a full QWERTY in the body of the GW620 however.

Winner: LG GW620

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Weight:

At 139g the LG GW620 is a full 15g heavier than the slender Samsung Galaxy portal.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Portal

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Screen:

The Samsung’s 3.2” touchscreen has the edge over LG’s 3.0” screen, plus the Samsung’s capacitive technology feels more responsive than the LG’s resistive screen.

In terms of display the Galaxy Portal lives up to it’s name, blowing the LG out of the water with it’s 16 million colours to the LG’s 256k.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Portal

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Camera:

The Samsung’s 3 mega pixel auto-focus camera is a pretty basic effort and the omission of a flash makes it useless for taking low-light and night-time snaps.

Meanwhile the GW620’s 5 million pixel camera shines with 2560 x 1920 pixel resolution and a bright LED flash.

Both cameras are capable of video at 30 frames per seconds, so this round hinges all on the camera’s photographic capability….

Winner: LG GW620 InTouch Max

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Battery:

The LG might have a decent battery life of almost 8 hours 3G talktime and 600 hours standby, but the Samsung thrashes it with an epic 12 hours and 650 hours of standby time.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Portal

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Memory:

There’s not much on it between the LG and Samsung when it comes to memory:

Both handsets have slots for expanding the memory via microCD card slots upto a very healthy maximum of 32GB.

However, the LG and Samsung do differ slightly on internal memory – the Galaxy Portal comes with 180 MB, while the LG is slightly less well equipped with just 150MB.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Portal

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Connectivity:

Both phones come equally equipped with a full array of features to keep you connected- Assisted GPS, Wi-Fi, and enhanced 3G.

Winner: Draw

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Media:

Both phones house MP3 players and 3.5mm jacks as standard, so no messing about with any proprietary-headphone nonsense, and their DivX media players allow you to catch up with movie files.

The Samsung’s more refined screen makes viewing images on the move a lot more joyful though and by comparision the LG is clearly more of an organisational tool– with a document editor (Word,Excel, PDF) and Powerpoint support.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Portal

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Verdict:

Specs wise, there is precious little between these two handsets and for basic telephony they perform very similarly. Yet there are some obvious differences on which a comparison hinges:

LG have sacrificed some good looks and screen specs to include their QWERTY, so side-by-side, the Samsung looks and feel sleeker.

So, deciding between these two Android phones really rides on whether you feel the need for a QWERTY.

Overall though we suspect that the Samsung’s Galaxy Portal’s comfortable fit, prolonged battery life and ability to render gorgeous images on the move is much more in-tune with how people use their phones and therefore more likely to secure it broader appeal.

O2 Launches New SIM Only Tariff For iPhone And Updates All Pay Monthly Tariffs

It’s all change at O2.

From today, 02 are offering a new range of Mobile and Mobile Broadband tariffs including new sim only for iPhone with inclusive Visual Voicemail, unlimited text messages, data and Wi-Fi from just £15 per month.

O2 customers who already have an iPhone or are just happy with their existing Smartphone can choose from a range of sim only tariffs starting at just £15 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited UK texts, data & Wi-Fi on a 12-month sim only contract, or from £20 per month on a 30-day rolling contract.

Don’t want to worry about how many minutes or texts you’ve used? O2 introduces a set of ‘all-you-can-eat” tariffs offering unlimited UK calls, texts and data from just £45 a month.

Also, iPhone customers who want to use their iPhone as a modem can do so and not pay more than £2 per day with O2’s newest Internet Tethering Bolt On.

O2 Marketing Director Sally Cowdry said the new tariffs reflected customer’s changing habits with more texts being sent and data being used than ever before.

“We have listened to our customers and introduced a range of new tariffs with unlimited calls, texts and data offering real value for money. We have also introduced a new £2 per day Internet Tethering Bolt On as we know our iPhone customers want to snack when they are using their iPhone as a modem.”

See how the new O2 tariffs shape up next to offers on other networks on our SIM-only deals page.

For more detailed information on the new tariffs,  check out o2.co.uk

iPhone On Vodafone Available From Today!

iPhone finally hits Vodafone today, making it the third stand-alone network to carry the iconic device.

This comes as great news for consumers who benefit from a wider choice of provider. Until last November, O2 were the sole provider of the iPhone. That monopoly ended when Orange were granted permission to sell iPhones, followed closely by O2-backed Tesco mobile.

Although prices remain fairly analogous between the networks, competition is taking over place on claims over network performance and on availability of apps.

While O2 continues to be dogged with complaints over it’s patchy service, Orange and Vodafone are both keen to emphasise their excellent coverage.

Recently, Vodafone showed off tests on video download speeds. which, it claimed, ‘wiped the floor’ with the competing O2 and Orange iPhones.

Check out our iPhone on Vodafone deals!

LG Cookie vs. Samsung Tocco Lite: Mobile Phone Face Off!

With the touchscreen phone revolution raging, the LG Cookie and Samsung Tocco Lite have both been huge successes in the mid-range market, appealing very much to those looking for a cheap and fun alternative to the iPhone.

So which is the best in terms of specs? Let’s find out!

Size:

The Samsung Tocco Lite and LG Cookie are both svelte devices, almost identical in terms of size. The Cookie (KP501) is taller and wider than the Tocco Lite, both both are the same depth at 11.9mm. If smaller is deemed better (for once), then the Samsung Tocco Lite has to take this one.

Winner: Samsung Tocco Lite

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Weight:

The Lite is, ironically, not lighter than the Cookie, as the Tocco is 93.5g whilst LG’s sleek device weighs down very little on the pocket at 89g.

Winner: LG Cookie

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Screen:

Right down the line as the Samsung Tocco Lite and the LG Cookie are both 3″ resistive touchscreens with handwriting recognition and rotating sensors.

Both support a stylus for tapping on the screen, but whilst the Cookie is supplied with one as standard, the Tocco Lite is very light on accessories and has not…but more on that later.

Winner: LG Cookie

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Camera:

Another category where mid-range devices are keeping it close, as both are equipped with a 3.15 megapixel camera and no video call camera. Both are without a flash, but the Samsung Tocco Lite steals a march with smile detection and better video recording quality. The differences are slight but significant, so the Tocco Lite takes it.

Winner: Samsung Tocco Lite

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Battery:

A runaway win for the Tocco Lite, as the standby and talktime more than double that of the LG Cookie. 10 hours of talktime and 800 hours standby completely eclipse the 3.5 hours and 350 hours of talktime offered by the snack-based handset.

Winner: Samsung Tocco Lite

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Memory:

Both lightweights in terms of memory (understandable as these are not smartphones) the Tocco Lite and Cookie have a mere 50MB and 48MB of memory respectively. Both support up to 16GB of memory via a microSD card, but it is largely a draw given the minimal differences.

Winner: Draw

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Connectivity:

The handsets might be mid-range, but their connectivity is fair with both Bluetooth and USB supported. It stops short of Wi-Fi, and disappointment sets in with the lack of 3G support making the web browsing difficult… The Cookie and Tocco Lite are both showing their lack of smart phone credentials in this department.

Winner: Draw

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Media:

The Korean contingent are both excellent at media support in their handsets, both handle music and movies ably. Both the Cookie KP501 and Tocco Lite S5230 have FM radio support, but the latter steal ahead with more movie formats supported and Shazam music finding service.

Winner: Samsung Tocco Lite

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Verdict:

Whilst the LG Cookie is a great phone, the Samsung Tocco Lite is a great choice for those looking for a bargain handset. The shortcomings for the Lite come in how many corners are cut to make it so cheap. There is less in the box to earn the ‘Lite’ monicker, including a lack of a stylus and installation disc, making the Cookie a bit more worth the money.

Looking for a price? Check out our latest LG Cookie KP501 deals and Samsung Tocco Lite contracts on Omio.com!

Buy A Nokia N97 On Orange NOW, Free On Sub-£40 Contracts!

The Nokia N97 might be available on pre-order for those willing to shell out £499 for a SIM-free model, but we’ve already got the first pay monthly offers in on Omio!

The first Nokia N97 deals have popped up through Affordable Mobiles, and we must admit that they are good!

They are offering 1200 x-net minutes, unlimited texts and a FREE Nokia N97 on a 24 month contract for only £39.15!

Commitment-phobes can opt for an 18 month tariff offering the same number of minutes and texts as above for £44.05!

Not so much as to sell a kidney by any means, and we are very impressed that they have managed to subsidise the entire cost of the handset into the bargain. We were expecting to pay a few quid extra for such a powerful N-series device, but this has been a pleasant surprise!

The handsets will be shipped the moment that the handset is launched on June 26th, but this is a good early impression of the kinds of deals that are available for the coveted device.

More deals coming in the next few weeks leading up to release, so stay tuned!

UPDATE: Not sure what happened to the Affordable Mobiles stuff, but Mobiles.co.uk have both the white and black Nokia N97 in stock, with some great deals on Orange and O2. Interesting, as O2 aren’t doing any N97 deals directly, but Mobiles seems to be able to sort you out!

Omio Picks: The Best 12 Month Contract Mobile Phone Deals!

Afraid of commitment? Not in the mood to stick to one phone for as long as 24 or even 18 months? There are still plenty of 12 month contract deals around, with plenty of great handsets on offer too. You may not get the millions of minutes and texts that an 18 month deal offers, but you’ll be quids in over the duration of a contract!

BlackBerry Curve 8900 - free handset, 350 anytime cross-network minutes + 250 texts for £32.31 per month!

On the lookout for a decent smartphone on the cheap? The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a fine choice with a 3.2 megapixel camera and a robust media player, as well as the e-mail functionality that makes handsets from the Canadian manufacturer so popular.

Check out the deal from Orange Direct here!

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Samsung B2700 Bound – free handset, 500 minutes and unlimited texts for £25 per month!

Fancy a phone which is a bit more rugged? Then the Samsung Bound is the one for you! Shake, drop, dust and water resistant, the Bound is perfect for a rough and tough lifestyle.

Check out the exclusive deal from 3 Direct here.

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Nokia 5800 XpressMusic – free handset, 200 anytime cross-network minutes, 1000 texts for £29.36 per month!

Nokia’s first touchscreen phone is pretty good to use, and even better to listen to! The music player is very impressive, whilst the camera and web browser are also very simple and intuitive to those familiar with Nokia handsets. The 5800 is the phone to be seen with, and this special student tariff offers the phone at a great price!

Check out the offer from Orange Direct here!

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LG Arena KM900 - handset cost of £44.99, 500 anytime cross-network minutes and 375 texts for £35 per month!

LG’s touchscreen device is set to be one of the biggest sellers of the year, with a huge screen and amazing user interface!

The handset comes in at a shade under £45, but remember that you are in the deal for only 12 as opposed to 18 months, saving you loads of line rental as well as giving you more freedom and an earlier upgrade!

Don’t miss out on getting one of the hottest new handsets at a bargain price!

Get this T-Mobile offer through One Stop Phone Shop here.

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Sony Ericsson T303 – free handset, 50 anytime minutes and 150 texts for £25 per month!

Doesn’t sound amazing initially, but this compact and gorgeous device is available on a cashback offer, meaning everything you spend on your line rental is given back to you as an incentive!

Simply fill in the forms and receive money back at regular intervals for the whole 12 months, making both the phone and line rental free! You even get a month’s free handset insurance too!

Check out this amazing Vodafone deal at Mobiles 2 Your Door!

Best Camera Phone UK Deals

We’re all about the best mobile deals here at Omio so we put our heads together and found the best contracts for camera phones. If you’re wanting a phone with an in-built, does it all camera, look no further. Here’s a little list of the best camera phone deals on the market.

For the Samsung Tocco Ultra some of the best deals come from Dialaphone. Signing up for 24 month contract you’ll pay nothing for the handset. Dialaphone are charging £25 for 24 months plus 600 any time, cross network minutes.

For £34.24 you can get the LG K910 Renoir and 600 any time, cross network minutes and unlimited texts each month. If you were to buy the phone by itself it would set you back a mega £342.50 on its own.

The Sony Ericsson C905 is the first Cyber-Shot in the slider series and with 8.1 megapixels display, Xenon flash and face detection and image stabiliser it’s easily one of the best camera phones you can buy.

A 24-month contract will get you unlimited texts and 100 minutes, at £14.60. Take out an 18 month contract, on Orange for £29.35, and you’ll get 400 anytime, cross network  minutes and unlimited texts. Sign up for 12 months and the amount of free minutes you get, jumps up to 600. Along with the extra minutes you’ll get 300 texts for £39.15 a month.

The Nokia N96 is another great camera phone. With 5 megapixels, auto-focus, auto- exposure and a hi-tec LED camera flash, video light and recording indicator you’ll be able to take clear video as well as excellent still shots.

Sign up for 2 years, at  £29.34 a month (the cheapest monthly rate for the phone) and you’ll get 600 cross network minutes. For a 12 months contract the monthly rate jumps up by £5 a month to £34.24. With that you get 600 free minutes and an unlimited amount of texts.

The uber-trendy Samsung M8800 Pixon packs in 8 megapixels, and all the features you’d expect from a high end digital camera such as Advanced Shake Reduction, blink, smile and face detection, panoramic shots and geotagging. Like most of the top camera phones, expect to pay around £30 a month for a longer contract. Anything under that, with a free handset, and you’re doing well.

Virgin Mobile Cheapest Monthly Tariff @ £8.50

Virgin Mobile are breaking the £9 monthly tariff barrier. At £8.50 a month, their contract, beats 3′s offering by 50p.

For that price don’t expect top of the range handsets. The number of free minutes and texts included with Virgin’s deal, one hundred each, is aimed at the low-end user looking for a bargain.  The contracts are available on the Samsung G600, LG’s KC550 and the Nokia 3120 handsets and last for 18 months.

As with any contract, it’s only a good deal as long as you stay within the allotted texts and minutes for each month. So expect to be stung pretty sorely once you’ve gone over the one hundred limit.

Included with the package is free voicemail, six months free instant messaging on the Samsung and Nokia handsets and the use of Virgin’s mobile internet service.