Best Contract Deal for the Wizard

[Guest aatari]

Hey all...

Okay so I've made up my mind on the phone... i definitely want the Wizard (and I just cant wait for Hermes as no solid eta has been provided). As like so many other posters here, I'm an orange customer with a C500 looking to upgrade to the m3000. Orange in their absolute stupidity are not getting the m3000, so that leaves me with T-mobile or bundling the Qtek 9100/imate kjam with a vodafone/o2 contract.

I was hoping someone could clarify the following regarding all of the different wizard makes:

- apart from cosmetic differences, are they exactly the same (ie. CPU speed) I only ask this as someone reported their wizard as having twice the cpu speed of all others listed.

- is going direct with T-mobile the best offer (in your opinion?)

The best offer I can find is this:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menui...mc_id=QM_Google

- FREE T-Mobile MDA Vario

- 400 voice minutes to call any UK network any time

- 40MB of internet browsing

- Just £23.50 / month (for 9 months) : i.e. Months 1-6 is 23.50, Months 7-15 is 55, Months 16+ is 23.50

I'll bundle the odd 100 texts or something as well but in general that should keep me sorted, as I will definitely use the inclusive EDGE 40mb. I usually dont like 18 month contracts, but alas, what else can I do considering Orange doesnt have the m3000.

Has anyone dealt outside of T-mobile for this offer (used a third party for a better offer), or has anyone bundled the Wizard (k-jam, qtek) with a contract somewhere else?

I would be greatly appreciative if anyone could provide their feedback...Im providing Orange my 30 days leaving notice starting today...b@stards.

nb. happy to provide a referral to anyone who can point me in the right direction. ;)

aatari

[Guest Rab_UK]

I did exactly the same as you last month.. left orange after about 8 years as they weren't doing the wizard..

I bought mine direct from a t-mobile shop. You can get it online a bit cheaper but getting it direct from t-mobile means you don't have to mess around with cashback cheques, been stung with them in the past..

I also got a free bluetooth headset with mine for taking out insurance (which you can cancel within 14 days)

also taking the self serve option saves another 3 pounds a month..

I'm on web&walk 200 and it costs £16.50 a month (and £35 when it is full price for 6 months)

Good deal with the 40mb gprs.. makes the phone a lot more usable.

Hey all...

Okay so I've made up my mind on the phone... i definitely want the Wizard (and I just cant wait for Hermes as no solid eta has been provided).  As like so many other posters here, I'm an orange customer with a C500 looking to upgrade to the m3000.  Orange in their absolute stupidity are not getting the m3000, so that leaves me with T-mobile or bundling the Qtek 9100/imate kjam with a vodafone/o2 contract.

I was hoping someone could clarify the following regarding all of the different wizard makes:

- apart from cosmetic differences, are they exactly the same (ie. CPU speed) I only ask this as someone reported their wizard as having twice the cpu speed of all others listed.

- is going direct with T-mobile the best offer (in your opinion?)

The best offer I can find is this:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menui...mc_id=QM_Google

- FREE T-Mobile MDA Vario

- 400 voice minutes to call any UK network any time

- 40MB of internet browsing

- Just £23.50 / month (for 9 months) : i.e. Months 1-6 is 23.50, Months 7-15 is 55, Months 16+ is 23.50

I'll bundle the odd 100 texts or something as well but in general that should keep me sorted, as I will definitely use the inclusive EDGE 40mb.  I usually dont like 18 month contracts, but alas, what else can I do considering Orange doesnt have the m3000. 

Has anyone dealt outside of T-mobile for this offer (used a third party for a better offer), or has anyone bundled the Wizard (k-jam, qtek) with a contract somewhere else?

I would be greatly appreciative if anyone could provide their feedback...Im providing Orange my 30 days leaving notice starting today...b@stards.

nb. happy to provide a referral to anyone who can point me in the right direction.  ;)

aatari

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest bluesxman]

I did exactly the same as you last month.. left orange after about 8 years as they weren't doing the wizard..

I bought mine direct from a t-mobile shop. You can get it online a bit cheaper but getting it direct from t-mobile means you don't have to mess around with cashback cheques, been stung with them in the past..

I also got a free bluetooth headset with mine for taking out insurance (which you can cancel within 14 days)

also taking the self serve option saves another 3 pounds a month..

I'm on web&walk 200 and it costs £16.50 a month (and £35 when it is full price for 6 months)

Good deal with the 40mb gprs.. makes the phone a lot more usable.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

O2 are currently offering the XDA mini s for £50, cheapest tarrif is £19pm for 12 months. It's cheaper over the contract but you don't get the generous gprs allowance.

[Guest bongobongo]

I just got the Vario on Relax 300 self-serve with Copilot full retail kit thrown in for free. £29/month for an 18-month contract, but 12 months half price (£14.50). The sales guy on the phone said it was an error on the web site since on other pages this deal costs £200, but they honoured my order and those of a few other people I know of. Link: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menui..._300_MDAVarioCP

You just pay £6 delivery, and don't have to worry about arcane cashback cheque procedures! I was interested in the web n walk, but 300 minutes is about right for me, and £10 a month for a few megabytes of data as an add-on bundle still gives a cheap deal.

[Guest quartershade]

I just got the Vario on Relax 300 self-serve with Copilot full retail kit thrown in for free.

Ha! I was planning to get that deal and then I went to buy it and it changed! aaaaaah. oh well. im gonna try to follow your link to see if I can still buy it through that. it might just work. I did want 12 months though.

If that doesn't work, o2 do it for £50 on o2100 (£25 for 12mths) which is ok, but no gps :-( I'll have to buy tomtom or something.

John

[Guest majorjam]

You CAN get qtek 9100 on orange from buymobilephones.net just ordered 1 on anytime 200 tarrif for £39 for 9100+ £30 month (12 month contract) ;)

(hopfully will not have all the o2/tmobile preloaded rubbish! + wifi should be g 54mbit)

Edited January 18, 2006 by majorjam

[Guest mr_naughty]

Hey all...

...

- is going direct with T-mobile the best offer (in your opinion?)

I placed an order with Mobilefun.co.uk, but then they told me that T-Mobile had refused to give me the Web and Walk 400 tariff, due to my credit rating.

I then called T-Mobile, and they said they'd be happy to give the WW400 contract.

After several more calls I could not unblock this deadlock, so I placed the order directly with T-mobile (Web and Walk 400, 12 months half price, self service and 50 texts) and cancelled the mobilefun deal. T-Mobile delivered immediately, whereas mobilefun had been having supply problems. Although I am losing about £50 over the contract duration when compared with the mobilefun cashback offers, I don't have pay out then claim back the cashback.

I'm not a fan of the cashback deals. I'm currently owed £140 cashback from my last contract which I'm having trouble being paid due to a change of address.

In conculsion, I can recommend dealing direct with T-mobile.

40Mb a month is an insane amount of GPRS. It means I don't think about the cost of connectivity, so use the device more than I otherwise would. Even with what is liberal use for me, I'm struggling to use more than 10Mb a month.

[Guest yutingkuo]

O2.co.uk:

£ 50 phone

£ 19 / month for 12 months

so about 290 in total.

Not much included data though.

Phone is unlocked

[Guest chewbacca]

O2.co.uk:

£ 50 phone

£ 19 / month for 12 months

so about 290 in total.

Not much included data though.

Phone is unlocked

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

got to the student section of the o2 website, the phone is £25 and £19 with 75 mins and 300 texts. just recieved mine yesterday. well impressed after doing the corporate install.

ace

[Guest aatari]

I just got the Vario on Relax 300 self-serve with Copilot full retail kit thrown in for free. £29/month for an 18-month contract, but 12 months half price (£14.50).

Copilot Full Retail kit?? - does that include the bluetooth GPS or just the software?

I'm gonna try to get the WW400 online deal but ask them to throw in the copilot softare ;) wish me luck!

(just cancelled my orange contract and got my pac code)

[Guest samsul]

Copilot Full Retail kit?? - does that include the bluetooth GPS or just the software?

I'm gonna try to get the WW400 online deal but ask them to throw in the copilot softare ;)  wish me luck! 

(just cancelled my orange contract and got my pac code)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, its the full kit with bluetooth GPS. I managed to get one for free, but they have changed it to £199.

[Guest quartershade]

Yes, its the full kit with bluetooth GPS. I managed to get one for free, but they have changed it to £199.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I managed to get this deal too, thanks to some guy posting a link to an old offer . One of my friends was about to get it too but t-mobile must have realised and they changed it from free to £199 last week.

So thanks to bongobongo who posted the link you saved me £200!

Edited January 24, 2006 by quartershade

[Guest Swampie]

I'm hoping to get an MDA Vario when my Orange contract expires early/mid March.

Current deals all seem to come in at around £430 - £450 for the 18 month contract (on Web'n'Walk 100). I rarely use 120 mins per month at the moment, and don't want their 'self service' option (50p per minute to CS - even automated CS! - with a max of £5 per call!!) Examples being:

T-Mobile direct (shop/online)

£69.99 handset

12 months half price, 18 month contract, £30 per month normal.

£69.99 + (12 * £15) + (6 * £30) = £429.99 (av £24 per month over 18 months)

Mobileshop

£0.00 handset

6 months half price, 18 month contract, £30 per month normal.

£0.00 + (6 * £15) + (12 * £30) = £450 (av £25 per month over 18 months)

I like the Web'n'Walk tariffs simply because of the generous data amounts. I doubt I'll actually use all that - but I'd like to never have to worry about data usage.

Does anyone know where I can get the MDA Vario cheaper than above? I'd love to get it at Free + 12 month's half price (£360 for 18 months - av £20 per month). I've seen Mobilefun advertise this, but that uses cashback, and I've heard some negative comments about Mobilefun, especially regarding their cashback dealings. I've used Mobileshop before, and been pleased with their handling of cashbacks - but they're not offering anything better than T-Mobile. I must admit, I'd like the ability to walk into my local T-Mobile store if I get a problem with the handset.

Any advice? (I realise offers may change in the next 5-6 weeks before I'll order).

Thanks

[Guest Alsicole]

I went to the T-Mo shop on Sunday to get the offer you're referring to. The guy in the shop told me the phone would be £69.99 without insurance or £9.99 with insurance. I didn't want the insurance. He made me read the info carefully and highlighted the 14 day cooling off period for the insurance. Hope this helps!

Edited January 25, 2006 by Alsicole

[Guest Emad]

Depends what type of contract you want really.

One option is always to pick up the wizard (say by buying it on my ebay auction ;)) for about £300, then picking up one of the 12 month line rental free deals here: http://phones2udirect.co.uk or a similar store (onestopphoneshop etc) and seling the handset you get with that (l6 sells for about £70).

So you get 12 months 1000 minutes off peak or similar, wizard, for about £230. Not bad.

[Guest Swampie]

Depends what type of contract you want really.

One option is always to pick up the wizard (say by buying it on my ebay auction ;)) for about £300, then picking up one of the 12 month line rental free deals here: http://phones2udirect.co.uk or a similar store (onestopphoneshop etc) and seling the handset you get with that (l6 sells for about £70).

So you get 12 months 1000 minutes off peak or similar, wizard, for about £230. Not bad.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True - although buying second hand gets rid of any warranty you may have had (warranty is often tied to the original purchaser, with original named/addressed receipt).

Add into that, you're relying on the cashback paying out (okay with some stores, horror stories with others). And then you're possibly not on the contract you're after - I'm after around 100 (maybe less) cross network minutes per month (wife is still on Orange OVP Virgin), and generous data allowances - Hence T-Mobile Web'N'Walk.

[Guest mrploddy]

True - although buying second hand gets rid of any warranty you may have had (warranty is often tied to the original purchaser, with original named/addressed receipt).

Add into that, you're relying on the cashback paying out (okay with some stores, horror stories with others).  And then you're possibly not on the contract you're after - I'm after around 100 (maybe less) cross network minutes per month (wife is still on Orange OVP Virgin), and generous data allowances - Hence T-Mobile Web'N'Walk.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My deal for the Wizard was with T-Mobile

129.99 up front for the handset

UFix 15 for 12 months paid off at one go for £171

So HTC Wizard + UFix 15 (50 mins) = £301

Compared to £440 blank. It was a doddle to remove the T-Mobile branding btw.

[Guest Stomly]

Already have a vario, but I just spotted this for you guys,

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/t-mobile/8264.htm

MDA vario on relax 100 12 month contract £3.95 for the handset and £23 a month for 12 months.

£276 for line rental, £3.95 for the gadget.

Total of £279.95.

[Guest welshgaz]

Got mine from http://coolsmartphone.fonetasticwarehouse.com/

Web n walk 100 (40Mb GPRS, 100 mins xnet) £15 for 6 mths, £30 for the last 6. Loads of great deals for the different packages though.

Welshgaz

[Guest Swampie]

Got mine from http://coolsmartphone.fonetasticwarehouse.com/

Web n walk 100 (40Mb GPRS, 100 mins xnet) £15 for 6 mths, £30 for the last 6. Loads of great deals for the different packages though.

Welshgaz

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's just an rebadged Mobileshop site.

You are aware that Web'n'Walk is an 18 month contract? First 3 months are half price (automatic from network), next 12 months are £30 per month, final 3 months are half price (and then remains half price for ever until you upgrade, or do something to cause you to have another minimum term imposed).

Overall, the cost for the 18 months is £450 (average £25 per month). I'm not too sure about going with Web'n'Walk any more, as 18 months is a long time without a new WM handset upgrade (they keep adding new ones with more gadgets), and I doubt I'd need 40MB per month as it has WiFi would should reduce my reliance of GPRS. I have WiFi at home and work - so would I do better with a lower priced 12 month contract and add in a 6MB data bundle to use when away from free WiFi?

Relax 100 (12 month) @ £23 + £5 6MB GPRS bundle + £3.95 handset price = £352. Almost a £100 saving over the Web'n'Walk and can upgrade after 12 months. I wouldn't get the half price forever line rental though at the end of the contract, but then again, I'd only get that if I didn't upgrade after 18 months. Seeing as I've been waiting to upgrade my C500 from about month 9 or 10 of a 12 month contract, what will I be feeling like in another 9/10 months, let alone 16 or 17 months!

Edited February 6, 2006 by Swampie

[Guest Alsicole]

I've checked a few of these offers and T-Mo themselves are offering the best deal on Web N Walk 100 - first 9 months half price £15 (£13 if you do self serve) next 6 months at £30, then final 3 months at £15/£13. You can also get the phone for £9.95 if you agree to the insurance, but cancel it during the 14 day cooling off period (chap in the T-Mo shop pointed that out). Most of the online offers are only offering 9 or 6 of the 18 months at half price, and in some cases you have to claim that back via cashback. T Mobile do it automatically straight from your direct debit.

[Guest Swampie]

I've checked a few of these offers and T-Mo themselves are offering the best deal on Web N Walk 100 - first 9 months half price £15 (£13 if you do self serve) next 6 months at £30, then final 3 months at £15/£13. You can also get the phone for £9.95 if you agree to the insurance, but cancel it during the 14 day cooling off period (chap in the T-Mo shop pointed that out). Most of the online offers are only offering 9 or 6 of the 18 months at half price, and in some cases you have to claim that back via cashback. T Mobile do it automatically straight from your direct debit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yup, I've spoken to someone at T-Mobile who indicated that T-Mobile direct will give you 12 months half price (out of 18) but other retailers will only give you 6 months half price (all automatic from the network). Any addition to the 6 month half price offer other retailers are providing will be via cashback.

I'm still in 2 minds whether to go with an 18 month contract. Will I want a new handset in 12 months? Handset only has 12 month warranty, what if it dies? Do I *really* need 40MB per month as I have WiFi at home and work? You also have the benefit of half price line rental for ever after 18 months (as long as you don't get an upgrade etc). In practice though - after 18 months, I'm probably going to be looking for an upgrade or to move to another tariff etc - so I'll ignore that part when making the decision.

Then there's the question about having the Self Serve option. If I can manage it all on the internet, then a £2 per month (£36 through whole 18 month contract) seems worth it. However, at 50p per minute, max £5 per call to CS should I have a problem not solved online worries me. Will you be stuck on hold? Does this time cost 50p per minute - I'm guessing so. So, over 18 months, if I made 7x 10 minute calls to CS, I'll lose any saving I'd have made.

If I went with T-Mobile direct, at W'n'Walk 100 with Self Serve, it would be £13 per month for 12 months, £28 per month for 6 months and £9.95 for handset with insurance (£69.99 if I didn't get insurance - question is, would they reclaim the difference in price if I cancelled??). Total cost for 18 months would be £334 if I get insurance and cancel (assuming they don't claw back the difference). Average cost per month being £18.56

Oh decisions decisions...

Edited February 8, 2006 by Swampie

[Guest jimbob_no1]

I've just ordered one with mobilefun.co.uk. They've got a deal going where the MDA Vario comes with CoPilot Live 6 Navigation Pack for no extra cost. The monthly tariff is slightly higher than the Vario on its own mind you, but it's a good deal for me.

[Guest Swampie]

I've just ordered one with mobilefun.co.uk. They've got a deal going where the MDA Vario comes with CoPilot Live 6 Navigation Pack for no extra cost. The monthly tariff is slightly higher than the Vario on its own mind you, but it's a good deal for me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd be interested to hear your experience of Mobilefun - I've heard some very bad reports of them (basically lying about stock - "In stock, immediate dispatch" when you order, then get an email saying 14 days delivery as they're out of stock).

Which contract did you go with? I'm not looking to go for anything above Web'n'Walk 100. From Mobilefun they charge £90.95 for handset, plus 6 months half price line rental. Total cost is £90.95 + (£30 x 12) + (£15 x 6) = £541 (£30 per month average)

Incidentally, T-Mobile direct are doing this offer for £219.99 + 12 months half price rental. Total cost is £580 (£32.22 per month). So Mobilefun is a noticable saving, but any problems with the setup means dealing with their help line/posting phones back etc. Buying from a T-Mobile store gives some peace of mind though (for me anyway).

Going with T-Mobile direct, without GPS software etc is £334. That leaves you with £207 to spend on a GPS solution. From Expansys, CoPilot Live 6 is £174. TomTom Navigator 5 is £195. The question is, which is better - TomTom or CoPilot? Either way, buying it separately is still cheaper by £12 to £33.

[Guest JamieDow]

I would be wary of Mobilefun. They claimed to have a case in stock about 8 months ago for my phone, after 3 weeks they had taken money but not despatched it and no contact. I advised them to cancel the order and ring me when it is in so that I can decide whether I still want it. They got it in stock 3 weeks later, charged me and despatched it without letting me know.

I rung them up and explained that I wanted a refund and that at worst I will pay for postage back but want the full refund for original postage and cost of item. They refused to refund me the money so I had to dispute the payment through Visa who gave me the money back.

I rung them again and said if you want your stock back arrange for it to be collected as i'm not paying to send it back....it took them 2 months to arrange for it to be collected.