New Mobile Phone For 11 Year Old

[Kassee]

Anyone know of any good mobile phones for kids. 11 year old girl. If it is contract, then I would want it capped. She likes listening to music, swopping ringtones, Whats app, but not facebook. Any ideas, dont want it costing too much.

[bednobs]

tesco

[diddlydo]

In my opinion, the most an 11 year old needs is a simple Pay As You Go which can make calls and send texts for use in an emergency only. Nothing more.

[Old_Geezer]

IMO an 11 year old does not need a piece of high tech to lose, or worse, to be robbed of. Sounds to me as if a smart one is being considered too.

[pretty_snowdrop]

I am sure she wants one rather than needs one. Most 11 year old kids seem to have them these days (i know that doesn't make it right!). Blackberry models seem to be popular with kids at the moment and as othes have suggested, get it in payg so you can keep tabs on the cost. I am sure you can pick a second hand model for a fraction of the price of a new one.

[VHG]

Don't buy a Blackberry, they could go bankrupt at any minute.

A relative got a Samsung Galaxy Ace (with contract) for £10 a month from Argos of all places (phone was free)

Plenty to choose from Argos here

http://www.argosmobileshop.co.uk/mobile-phones/samsung

Sainsburys also now do contract phones.

[Kassee]

All the kids have phones, they are good for keeping in touch when they are at a friends house, or late out from school, after school clubs etc. But I want something cheap. Argos looks good - thanks VHG.

[bednobs]

why does everyone think their opinions on the matter of an 11 yo having a phone are important?
Kassee, you need to work out what you want her to have from the phone - do you want her to have a contract and "budget" the minutes/texts etc? do you want her to be able to spend her pocket money on topping up?
If you do want her to have a contract, you can get a HTC desire on tesco for 7.50 a month. Tesco will cap the contract (so she can't go over) and you get 500mb, 5000 texts and 100 mins. Of course, if she has a capped contract and she's at the end of her minutes, she wont be able to call you even in an emergency. You can use home wifi when you are in range.
The phone itself is pretty cheap as far as smartphones go, so if it does have to be replaced, not so bad, but it's free if you take the contract. Tesco uses the o2 network, so if you get good o2 signal near you, it'll be ok

[Kassee]

Thank you bednobs, thats helpful. My mobile, is always my older daughters cast offs, and I have Pay As You Go, so I am not an expert of mobiles or contracts. But for my 11 year old, I want cheap and cheerful, but she does want the internet (more's the pity) and they do like the Whats App for chatting with friends. I just want it, so I can contact her when she is out anywhere. What happens if she looses it or its stolen, and it is on a capped contract, (or worse still a non-capped contract) do I have to keep paying till end of contract ?

[bednobs]

yes, unless you have insurance. Tesco mobile insurance isn't bad either. £4 per month on that phone
the other think you can do if it's lost is buy a new phone and get the number ported over and start again (till the end of the contract)