Advice Wanted : Mobile Phones

[lathany]

I'm thinking of getting myself a mobile phone for when I go back to work (so that I too can announce "I'm on the train!") However, I know next to nothing about how to choose one (I've never bought one before).

My criteria are:

Use : To ring out in emergencies and semi-emergencies. I'm not interested in deals that provide chat time, I have a land line for that (it'll normally be switched off).

Features : Just the whole "phone" thing. I don't care about cameras, ring tones, text messages, games, etc (although, I'm mostly interested in the cheapest option so if it's cheaper to get a phone with them, that's fine). I also want something that would fit in my bag, but frankly anything smaller than a brick works (also I find the really small phones annoying).

Main want : Something cheap.

Any and all advice appreciated!

Comments

[adamsmithjr.livejournal.com]

You should be able to get a free phone from any of the big four when you sign up for a year's contract. I use Orange and am happy with them.

Alternatively, these days a lot of people have old phones they don't use and that they may be willing to give you. Then you sign up for a pay-as-you go package and pay very little.

Everyone still seems to think that Nokia have the easiest menus and the longest battery life, even if they're no longer the coolest phones. Don't trust me, though - my phone is positively steam powered.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I'm not particularly concerned about "coolest" (which I suspect will come as no surprise!). Pay-as-you-go is sounding like the best option for me.