Which mobile phone?

[spudqueen]

I have a contract with O2 and want a new phone. I'm looking at the phones I could get on a cheap (£18 per month) contract and apart from blackberrys and a Nokia (I hate them) I am left with a Sony Xperia Ray and a HTC Salfa. They are both smartphones, which to be honest, I'm not fussed whether I have or not, but would I be charged if I did do any internet surfing, and do you HAVE to have the internet on? Could you not just use it for making and receiving phone calls and sending and receiving text messages and use the camera? I don't want to incur charges other than the monthly fee. I'm also unsure about using these abroad (I do tend to go to Europe a couple of times a year).

[daffy654]

I have an HTC Desire S from 02, its a great little phone. The contract is more expensive than yours but comes with a 500mb download package included. I rarely connect to the internet via the 3G connection though as I have mine set up to my home wireless broadband. On my HTC you can switch off the internet completely, you would never be able to accidentally access the net if you did this.

[jomifl]

I have had an unlocked NOKIA 1600 which I got off ebay for £10. It works perfectly, can't do internet, battery lasts at least 2 weeks on standby. I use it in France or UK.

[commoner]

I go with 3 on an Xperia X8 on PAYG.........this phone goes with Wi-Fi and 3G for the Internet and with the 3. £15.... 30day Addon I can surf or download all day every day for the 30 day period plus huge number of texts and calls. .Normal top ups don't expire but use up as you go. Like a contract but just on a monthly basis.

This little phone has loads of options...turn offf wifi or 3G if you wish..bluetooth is useful too..free useful apps galore for those "spare office moments" ;-) Email to if you wish it.

£69 from Carphone warehouse but you have to buy an addon to start....

...and as I said the usual top ups last until you use the credit up..ok if you use it as a "normal" phone.....

Very flexible and cheap and if you download like I do you really need that "all you can eat" Internet add on.

Have a look for your self.....PAYG ain't like it used to be......

[spudqueen]

Thanks guys. It's so confusing these days! Not sure I want a phone that can do everything - I certainly wouldn't use Facebook when not at home. I don't have my phone on me at work, and at home I use the landline to make phone calls. I think I'm going to let Mr Spudqueen choose for me (I know, I've wimped out - lol!).