Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 13:44:33

Title: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 13:44:33
Hi peeps, I need to get a new cheap and basic mobile for my mam because hers is on the way out. All the cheap ones I see are sim free. How do I get it to work? Do I still need the old sim? Does the phone have to programmed? Etc etc!

Thanks peeps
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: TheBoy on 20 October 2012, 13:47:05
SIM free are normally more expensive, as no network subsidies.

SIM free means you can chuck any old SIM in, its not locked to a specific network...   ...although be careful if its a Whorehouse supplied handset, as they tend to lock to the first SIM that goes in.
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 14:02:53
Ok thanks for your help, I know you can get unlocked phones but the ones I'm looking at say there isn't even a sim card slot. Don't know how that works? :-\  they seem to be quite cheap as well because even though they're new, I think they must be old stock
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: TheBoy on 20 October 2012, 14:05:02
SIM free shouldn't be locked (taking into account the underhand Whorehouse tactics mentioned already).

The idea is you use your old SIM, or buy a new SIM on your preferred network.


My network provider, GiffGaff, does not sell handsets, so I have to buy SIM free phones.
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 14:22:07
Ah I get you now! Thanks
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: STMO123 on 20 October 2012, 15:14:50
SIM free shouldn't be locked (taking into account the underhand Whorehouse tactics mentioned already).

The idea is you use your old SIM, or buy a new SIM on your preferred network.


My network provider, GiffGaff, does not sell handsets, so I have to buy SIM free phones.
I'm going with giff gaff when my contract runs out, I'll get my galaxy s unlocked and use that.
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 20:49:14
After further reflection it seems that I'm a pleb! I thought a sim free phone didn't take a sim, in actual fact it does, but it just isn't supplied with one! Think that's right!
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: tunnie on 20 October 2012, 20:57:45
You always have to have a SIM, thats what contains the mobile number & network details  :y

Dongles have them too, numbers are allocated to them, but you can't dial them.  :)
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: PhilRich on 20 October 2012, 21:00:05
After further reflection it seems that I'm a pleb! I thought a sim free phone didn't take a sim, in actual fact it does, but it just isn't supplied with one! Think that's right!





Not a 'Pleb' Geoff, just technologically challenged, just like the other 95% of us! ;D ;)
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: Varche on 20 October 2012, 21:03:44
You always have to have a SIM, thats what contains the mobile number & network details  :y

Dongles have them too, numbers are allocated to them, but you can't dial them.  :)

And a first on the forum? My landline has a SIM. I can receive texts but not voicemails which suits me just fine!
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: geoffr70 on 20 October 2012, 21:16:29
After further reflection it seems that I'm a pleb! I thought a sim free phone didn't take a sim, in actual fact it does, but it just isn't supplied with one! Think that's right!





Not a 'Pleb' Geoff, just technologically challenged, just like the other 95% of us! ;D ;)

Yes, technologically challenged! That's a good way of putting it! All this technology stuff is getting too complicated for me now, and I'm only 30 haha! It all used to come naturally, not now
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: Vamps on 20 October 2012, 21:49:06
Miss Vamps keeps me right but has oft been known to say 'I have shown you that loads of times' ....... :D ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: Martian on 20 October 2012, 21:55:16
I'm going with giff gaff when my contract runs out, I'll get my galaxy s unlocked and use that.
There's an app on the play store that will do that for you
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: TheBoy on 20 October 2012, 22:05:00
You always have to have a SIM, thats what contains the mobile number & network details  :y
It doesn't hold the number...


Dongles have them too, numbers are allocated to them, but you can't dial them.  :)
/Panto mode

Oh yes you can - most dongles support voice, and all support texting.
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: STMO123 on 21 October 2012, 11:17:37
I'm going with giff gaff when my contract runs out, I'll get my galaxy s unlocked and use that.
There's an app on the play store that will do that for you

Thanks Mark, seen that one  :y
Title: Re: How do sim free mobiles work?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 October 2012, 11:24:17
You always have to have a SIM, thats what contains the mobile number & network details  :y
It doesn't hold the number...


Dongles have them too, numbers are allocated to them, but you can't dial them.  :)
/Panto mode

Oh yes you can - most dongles support voice, and all support texting.

Indeed. Very few GSM chipsets don't support voice (and the ones that don't are a major PITA for us  :-X).