Mobile phone services

Information on which mobile phone service is best for you, what the difference is between pre-pay and line-rental contracts, and the cost of mobile phone calls.

Choosing a mobile phone service

A wide choice of mobile services is obviously good for you. But, the process of selecting the right service can be complicated.

You can choose different types of services; including pre-pay services or contract services. There are also many different pricing options and additional services to opt for, as well as a variety of different makes, models and types of mobile phone handsets to choose from.

You should carefully examine the details of mobile phone services before you buy, in order to determine what is best for you and your budget.

The cost of calls

The factors which can determine the cost of calls from mobile phones include:

• the duration of the call
• the terms of the contract or pre-pay deal
• the service provider
• whether the call is to another UK mobile phone network, or a phone network in a country outside the UK
• the network you are calling
• the time of the call

Pre-pay and line rental contracts

When purchasing a mobile phone service you can normally choose between a pre-pay deal or a line rental contact. With a pre-pay deal, you need to buy 'top-up' credit for your mobile phone before making calls.

Alternatively, with a line-rental contract you are billed, normally monthly, for calls made during the previous month.

Advantages of pre-pay

• services can be terminated when you want
• you have more control over how much money you spend on your mobile phone

Disadvantages of pre-pay

• services such as downloading may be more expensive
• calls may be more expensive than with line rental contracts
• you may have to purchase a handset and the choice may be more limited

Advantages of line rental contracts

• call costs per minute may be cheaper than with pre-pay deals
• a wide variety of pricing packages will be available to you, depending on your needs
• you may be able to choose a free handset as part of the deal
• services such as downloading and internet access may be cheaper than with pre-pay deals

Disadvantages of line rental contracts

• your monthly bills could be surprisingly high unless you keep track of your calls or use of other services such as texting or downloading
• you are obliged to pay for the contracted services for the duration of the deal
• there could be a high cost to pay if you wish to terminate the contract before the originally agreed contract termination date