Yes, some of these questions are ones we made up, and some are ones people have asked directly. However, these questions are all asked elsewhere fairly often, so maybe answering them will be helpful to someone.

If you want to suggest another entry for this page, please let us know. See the Contact page.

Why is it cheaper to get a new handset on a new contract than to upgrade?

The networks pay a commission to the dealer when a customer signs a new contract. This saving benefits you in the form of a lower price. It seems that the networks are less keen to subsidise upgrades, and are more keen to attract new customers than to keep existing ones happy.

You may find it cheaper to switch networks (taking your phone number with you) when you buy a new phone. You can switch back next time you change phones!

If someone calls and asks me to dial 90#, should I hang up immediately?

This is an old internet hoax. There was one make of company switchboard in the USA that would allow an incoming call to be connected to an outgoing dial tone in this way, but that loophole was specific to one system and was fixed decades ago. It could not work on any mobile phone, anywhere in the world. Try it for yourself by ringing your own mobile: it does nothing at all! You'd think that some of the people who passed on this "warning" would have had the sense to try it themselves first.

Can I send SMS messages from a web page?

Yes. You can send SMS from various web pages, though the free sevices can be a bit hit-and-miss for reliability. If you want to send to an Orange phone, you can send SMS from their web site at http://www.orange.co.uk

How can I connect my personal organiser to my mobile phone?

It depends. Some handsets manage standard Infra Red communications or even bluetooth, but it varies from handset to handset.

Can I save money by using a calling-card service?

Yes, if your mobile is on an Orange contract. You dial an 0800 number, then get a dial tone to dial on, charged to your calling card account. The mobile networks routinely discover these numbers, and make them chargeable (after a warning message) but the calling card services just issue new numbers. It's a charade: Orange gets paid for outgoing 0800 calls, and aren't really losing out (or at least not by much), but they don't want their call revenue undermined, so they have to be seen to be doing something.

Which is the best handset?

Which is the best TV programme? It depends on what you like, doesn't it? The most popular programmes are the soaps, which few would rate as quality programs. Similarly, the best-selling handsets are the cheap ones. Are they the best?

Which is the best network?

There is no network that is best everywhere. In general, they're all good enough, though that's less true of T-mobile in less populous areas. Coverage, customer service, charges, and many other factors come into the equation. Orange used to do best in independent surveys, for coverage and customer satisfaction, and offer you the choice of competing network's tariffs, but if Orange don't have good coverage where you need it, that's not much use.

Which is the cheapest network?

It depends on your calling pattern. If all your calls are to friends on O2, O2 is your cheapest. More normal calling patterns might give a different result. See the Costs section for details. One of the most popular tariffs for people who don't make a lot of calls is the Virgin Mobile tariff. In fact, for most volumes of use, the Virgin tariff is about the cheapest.

My local Carphone Warehouse offers to match prices. Why shouldn't I buy my next phone from them?

The problem is that price matching isn't what it appears. Carphone Warehouse and other price matchers claim to offer the lowest prices, but that's the opposite of the truth. They charge whatever prices they can get away with. By using other retailers' low prices to get lower prices from Carphone Warehouse means that you're not supporting (and keeping in business) the dealers who offer low prices, good value and good service. If the other dealers are not around, the Carphone Warehouses of this world will get away with charging full recommended retail prices.

Can I use an 0800 number for internet access from my mobile?

Yes, but it won't save you money. The mobile networks all charge for data calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers.

How can I download a custom ring tone?

You need to have it sent to you as an SMS message, through a SMS centre that supports the requisite 8-bit message headers. Many companies provide these as a service which you pay for by calling a premium rate phone number.

Will my Vodafone/O2 handset work on Orange/T-mobile?

Yes, but only if it was bought as a contract phone, and is a dual-band 900/1800MHz handset. PAYG O2 and Vodafone handsets tend to be locked so that they only work in the network they were bought for. Most modern handsets are dual-band.

Will my Orange/T-mobile phone work on another network?

Yes, but only if it is unlocked. See below.

Can I get my phone unlocked?

Yes. You can ask your network or service provider to unlock it, usually for a fee of £15 to £35, but sometimes only after the minimum contract term has expired (or at least been paid for).

Third parties may be able to unlock your phone, possibly more cheaply. How this is done varies from model to model.

If I get my Orange phone unlocked, will it still work on Orange?

Yes, even though Orange customer services may tell you otherwise.

How long should I charge my battery for?

For the initial charge, at least 14 to 16 hours continuous charging. After that, preferably overnight every time. See the Battery page for more details.

How often should I discharge my battery?

It depends on the type of battery, and your requirements. For NiCd and NiMH, discharging maintains charge capacity at the expense of shortening the overall life of the battery. A rough rule of thumb is to discharge a NiCd battery every other charge, and discharge a NiMH every tenth charge. You should never discharge a Li-Ion or Li-Polymer battery.

How long should my battery last?

This depends. Expect a NiCd battery to last up to 500 to 600 charge cycles. A NiMH battery slightly less. Li-Ion batteries fade away gradually. After 500 cycles, they have about half their initial capacity. You have to decide when the battery is "too small". Expect to buy an new battery every 18 months.

Can I get a new connection to Orange without buying a new handset?

Yes. Buy a Just Talk sim-only connection pack, but when you ring to register, say that you want to register on a contract tariff. Most people would be better off buying a handset at the same time, though. Check the low prices on offer for some models: useful as a spare, at the very least!

I get a bad echo on calls. What causes it?

This can be a network problem, or caused by poor signal, but it is generally sound from the handset's earpiece reaching its microphone. This is sometimes a result of having the volume set too high, but it is generally caused by the sound travelling down inside a leather phone case. Try removing the case and/or turning the volume down.

What is WAP and why is such a fuss made about it?

It is a protocol that allows wireless devices (notably mobile phones) to be able to access information easily and quickly. The fuss is a combination of marketing hype and genuine belief in the future of WAP. As handsets evolve and prices recede, combined with GPRS and 3G, it will probably make the dream of "Information Anywhere, Any Time" a reality.

Why do I have to pay a deposit to get roaming enabled?

Because of the cost of incoming calls, and the high cost of outgoing calls when roaming in some countries, the potential for enormous bills is all too real. Some people with normal bills of maybe £60 per month find that a roaming bill for a month (with the same pattern of use) exceeds £1,000. As a result, the networks require a stringent credit check before allowing roaming, and sometimes also want a deposit.

Who pays when a call is diverted?

The rule is simple: the caller pays the charge to reach the number dialled. The person who diverted the call pays for the diverted leg. The only exceptions are diverts to voicemail and divert using Orange Everyphone (where the divert leg is free to fixed phones and Orange phones).

What are the pin codes all for?

There are too many to explain here. See the Passwords page of the Security section for details.

Why do people shout into their mobile phones?

There are three explanations: The technical one is that mobile handsets don't have the "sidetone" (a little of the microphone sound fed straight back to the earpiece) that is present in fixed phones. People can't hear their own voice, so they assume the other end can't either. The less technical one is that they think the person at the other end will hear better if they shout (the opposite of the truth, in fact). The third and usual reason is that people simply aren't aware that they're doing it.

If my mobile network has no coverage, can I use another network to make a call?

No. People roaming from other countries can do this, but domestic users can't. This is probably a good thing. Paying roaming charges would increase your bills greatly: far better to expect your own network to provide better coverage!

If my mobile network has no coverage, can I use another network to make an emergency call?

No. The GSM standards require that it is technically possible, and your handset or its manual may suggest that you can, but the UK networks are not forced to accept such calls, and they choose not to.

I have GSM-ready modem. How can I connect it to my mobile phone?

You'll need a special connecting lead/adapter, specific to your modem and your handset. This will probably cost about as much as a dedicated data lead for your mobile, unfortunately.

Aren't there any other Frequently Asked Questions?

Quite possibly! If there is a question and answer you think is missing from here, please use the Contact page to let us know.

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