Upgrading from SPV - how?

[Guest solo]

Probably a dumb question, but here goes ...

I have had my SPV for nearly a year now, and I see a number of new smartphones just around the corner...

So if I want one of these new phones what are my options?

I don't know much about upgrading handsets, so I thought I would make a fool of myself asking here rather than walking into an Orange shop and making a fool of myself there!

I am assuming I can simply buy a new model SIM and contract free (probably expensive), but are there any other options?

Cheers,

Solo

[Guest zenabi]

If you decide you want to stay with Orange for another year you can simply buy a new handset for the Pay Monthly price of it. You can keep your old SPV if you wish.

[Guest Rob_Quads]

Thats not quite true.

You will have to pay a special upgrate price which will often be much more than the standard cost of the handset on a new contract.

Reently I have been told that Orange have also changed the criteria and to get the best deals you need to have been with them for 18 months not 12.

The upgrade price can also depend on your monthly bill. Spend alot and it probably won't be too much but if you have a small bill i.e. £20/£30 its more than likely it will be quite large. My brothers fience was told it would cost £100+ to upgrade her phone to one that was currently free on a new contract!!!! due to her monthly bill of £30. The stupid thing was she has been with orange for almost 5 years and always had a bill of £70+ until she got her latest phone. Due to it being so crap she never uses it so the bill went down. That still made no difference and they said "wait till you have been on the current contract for 18 months and try again"

[Guest zenabi]

Ah yeah, thanks for that Rob, I forgot about the (crappy) change to the upgrade terms.

Solo: It'll probably be best if you goto an Orange shop and ask, or just call customer services.

[Guest gspacedboy]

Have Orange posted these new 'Crappy' upgrade terms on their web site?