MOBILE PHONES
Mobile phones: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/ is ok, and probably has widest coverage. But also check out Three (http://www.three.co.uk/).
The other network operators are O2 and EE. The last time I was shopping around, I found that
O2 was rather expensive, and EE just didn’t inspire me at all. That may have changed, and you may have a different
experience.
As well as these main network operators, there are Mobile Virtual Network Operators. Basically they are smaller operators that use the infrastructure of the main players. For example, GiffGaff uses the O2 network, but while O2’s tariffs are quite expensive in my opinion, GiffGaff is good value for money.
Coverage is generally good in the towns and near main roads. If you land up moving to a house in the countryside,
you may want to check which networks serve your area best. You can probably use your existing phones and
just swap in a new sim. There is a new ruling
that will prevent mobile phone companies from selling handsets that are locked to
their network. That’s good new for us because
it means that any handset will work on any network.
Read more about the mobile operators here:
https://www.comparethemarket.com/mobile-phones/content/a-guide-to-mobile-network-operators/
Some internet providers will offer to bundle in mobile phone
contracts too. In my opinion, for the sake of redundancy, I would rather have
different providers for those days when service is down. For the same reason, my wife and I are on
different mobile networks.
If you can afford it up front, please buy your new phones outright.
The on-contract, supposedly "subsidised" phones will likely cost you more
in the long term. In other words, go buy
a phone that suits you, from wherever has the best price. Then go get a sim-only contract or pay-as-you-go
package based on those best deals. The upfront
cost of the phone, plus the 24 months of sim-only contract will be less than a 24
month contract with the same handset and sim package.
Check https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/
for deals too.