but you will never make or receive calls

I got the lgviewty which does me,

Ive got full internet access and full skysports package on it. SO never miss a match at work again

Don't do it, they're friggin rubbish!!

firstly, tell your company you have been offered a better deal before you upgrade anything, they cack there pants and offer you the world.

I worked for orange retentions department while at Uni. I can honestly say I never once soiled my pants when someone told me they were leaving.

[quote= I've heard the Samsung Omnia is good but otherwise know sod all. anyone advise?

Don't do it, they're friggin rubbish!!

chris i wouldnt go within a million miles of the n95, a phone rushed out by nokia to compete with the ipod and beset with problems ever since.

nokia were in here last week with the n96 and its an altogether better phone.

ultimately you have to remember the better the handset, the more it costs, and the more your provider is going to be charging you for your plan. if you go for a 400/500 bar handset like the n96 or the samsung f490 you may have to pay towards it if you are on a lower tariff.

ultimately your first priority should be asking yourself do you actually need a new handset ? my contract was up yesterday and because my handset is still in decent nick i went for a sim only deal with o2. for 20 quid a month i get 600 anytime any network minutes, 1000 texts and a free choice of bolt on. the options for the bolt on were unlimited texts, unlimited o2 to o2 cals, free weekend calls, free calls to landlines, or unlimited internet.

i went for unlimited net so ive got that plus 600 mins and 1000 texts for 20 quid a month. okay i dont get a new handset but im only on a 30 day contract. if my phone packs in i can either upgrade then or go and buy a good little handset like the 6300 for 60 quid from a store.

if you are going to commit for another 18 months and get a handset you have to look at what you need from your phone. do you need one with a 5 megapixel camera, do you need one with a lot of inbuilt memory or a memory stick. do you need 3g coverage, do you need something with quad band, are you using the handset for gaming/emailing. do you need a long battery life/standby time ?

you also need to decide which network you are going to be on as some handsets like the n75 and iphone are exclusive to certain networks.

perhaps you just want a handset that looks good as you are a bit of a poser. whatever you decide you are stuck with it for 18 months so i would reccomend a handset that has been released in the last few months.

once you have answered those questions i will reccomend a couple of handsets.

Boys, toys....

FFS, if you type a number in and press dial can you speak to someone at the other end?

the thing with 3 is that they have to offer more minutes and texts because their network coverage is crap. there isnt much point having loads of minutes and texts if you cant get a signal.

like everyone else, even npower, orange will have a retentions team whose job it is to keep you. they have a pot of money allocated to them and can spend it on keeping the customer. they may not be able to match 3 but its deffo worth a try.

you do need to be careful as orange will know exactly what deals 3 have at any given time so dont get carried away.

they will also ask you what handset 3 have offered so be prepared to ask for the handset you want.

you will almost certainly be better off upgrading instore rather than over the phone, as the stores have more money allocated to them when it comes to upgrades.

is there a particular brand you prefer using eg sony, samsung, nokia etc ?

you dont get the handset for nowt. thats all part of the con.

the adviser has a pot of money he can spend on each customer. the more expensive the handset the longer the contract, the higher the tariff, the less minutes and texts the customer can have.

in addition each customer is given a rating based on past usage. the more money the customer has historically spent the more important it is to keep them. if you regularly go over your monthly allowance and run up big bills you are like gold-dust and they will bend over backwards to keep you.

if you are like me and have never ever had a bill over 20 bar then theres no way they are going to give me a 500 bar handset on an 18 month deal. they would go bankrupt.

i can get you a new samsung 490 ( tocco ) for 200 bar if you want one. you could then go on a 30 day contract, sim only, and get unlimited texts and a fair wedge of minutes for 20 bar a month

ripper = puff.

Yeah yeah yeah, all very good and that.

But what the hell is Quidco?

Free money.

my contract is up next week and I want a new phone.

I've heard the Samsung Omnia is good but otherwise know sod all. anyone advise?