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Thinking of finally upgrading my mobile and getting a new snazzy smart one, something like nokia n series, but havent really looked into what model just yet. I know you can buy the phone on its own without contract. So may buy one in an Asian city.
If you are only going to use it with a pay as you go sim card do you not get to use all of the mobile phone features, for example, web browsing, if the phone has that. Basically is it only worth getting these phones on a contract that allows you certain multimedia allowances rather than just a pay as you go that gives you 10 pouds credit or whatever? Hope i havent rambled too much.

p.s will be using the phone in the uk with one of the local networks

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It depends on the supplier. You really have to ask those who have actual experience with that celllular company.
I am from NZ so I can speak only for the NZ Vodafone supplier, on pay as you go, the web browsing does not cost you more but per MB or KB usage of data does cost more than a contract based plan comparatively. On a contract its cheaper but if you don't use it all its all sunk. For example they have like pay $X for such and such MB per month and if you don't use it all, any remaining will not be transferred to another month however I have heard in some countries and some suppliers that is possible. Some other services may require setup cost such as global roaming on pay as you go, whiile contract does not have this.

I am sure someone can help you with the UK location.

Remember in most countries if you don't use it in little as 1 month to a year they may delete your funds and delete your mobile number so you will have to purchase another pay as you go pack.

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From all I've experienced, pay as you go phones are bad news. You mention that you might not get all the features you'd get under contract, which is probably true, but the main disadvantage I've seen is they charge some very steep rates. They take advantage of the fact that you're getting one simply to have for emergencies and not to use very often. Mine had the option of a dollar a day, flat, plus ten cents per minute; or no flat daily charge and twenty-five cents per minute. You can see how it would get expensive either way. Really, if you want to go the prepaid route, a good calling account like onesuite is much better than a prepaid phone. It sounds to me, though, as if you're pretty excited about the features you'd get with this phone -- if that's indeed the case, then why not jump in and buy it with a contract?

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Your advice is fine for the US, but he's not in the US. Prepay can be better than contract for low use if you spend months at a time outside the country.

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