TalkMobile introduce two contract tariffs

[mobaholic]

TalkMobile, a MVNO run on the Vodafone network by the carphonewarehouse, has now introduced contracts as well as PAYG SIMs, from £7-50 per month.  They are also offering handsets with their contracts.

There are 2 tariffs: one for talkers and the other for texters.  The tariff for talkers is called "SIMpletalker", and that for texters "SIMpletexter."  Both offer free voicemail retrieval in the UK.

I believe that the SIMpletexter is the cheapest contract on the market for texts at just £7-50 per month, and for unlimited texts at £12-50 per month.

The SIM only contracts run for 30 days, but those with handsets for the much longer period of 24 months, and cost from £8-49 per month.  Only one of these is a 3G handset and offers Wi-Fi - the Sony Ericsson W910I - , and even that is not shown to give HSDPA browsing ( although I believe that it does on 2100 MHz ( which is used on '3' and T-Mobile, but not Vodafone AFAIK. )

Details may be viewed here.

The choice of handsets, which cost more, is shown here.

An interesting feature of these contracts is that they offer "unlimited" internet for a day for just 30p ( rather like Virgin ).

The FUP says:-

Unlimited texts is subject to a fair use policy of 3000 text messages.  We reserve the right to charge for usage above this limit at the standard price plan rate for texts.  Unlimited mobile internet is subject to a fair usage policy of 25MB per day then subject to a charge of £1 per MB thereafter.  You will be notified by text message when you are approaching the fair use policy threshold and advised that charging will apply if this threshold is exceeded.

[Graham]

I believe the "unlimited" text package is actually £12.50 a month.

Nonetheless, this still appears to be the cheapest sim only package offering "unlimited" texts in the UK.

Apologies for the forthcoming rant, but how on earth these networks can get away with marketing packages as "unlimited" when they mean 3000 texts in this case, or even 2000 texts in the case of CPW O2 is quite beyond me.

[delaro]

for normal users 2000txts is more than sufficient 

[mobaholic]

I believe the "unlimited" text package is actually £12.50 a month.

Correct Graham: I have corrected the mistake in my OP thanks.       

for normal users 2000txts is more than sufficient 

2000 texts may be enough for your personal use delaro, but Graham's point, which which I agree, is that such a low limit makes a mockery of the term 'unlimited'.       

[nixforfun]

I am not trying to defend the networks but 3000 texts translates to 100 texts a day. I don't think a normal user can or will send 100 texts each day. Consistent use beyond this limit will in most cases be done by someone for commercial purposes for which they are entitled to charge extra. Even if a normal customer exceeds the 3000 texts limit for a month, I have not heard of cases of people being charged- would be interested in knowing if anyone has !!!

Regards
Nik

[Graham]

I agree that 2000 or 3000 texts is substantial, but that really is not the point.
If the packages are not without limits, then they should not be permitted by consumer law to market them as such. I think it is deception on the part of the networks to do so.

[mobaholic]

..... If the packages are not without limits, then they should not be permitted by consumer law to market them as such. I think it is deception on the part of the networks to do so.

Agreed: it is clear misrepresentation in my view.