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3UK offers 6 month contracts to some new customers

The race to zero continues.

3 are, to my knowledge, the first network in the UK to launch 6-month contracts. Ricky, who runs our BlykWatch column, spotted this yesterday.

If you talk to 3 about a pay monthly contract, they’ll want to put you on an 18-month deal. But they MIGHT (will, probably) offer you a 6-month break clause, thus (from their site terms and conditions):

6 month minimum term contract offer available for a limited period to new approved customers registering on either Mix & match 300 or 500 with either the LG U300, Nokia 6151, Nokia 6288, Sony Ericsson Z610iR, Sony Ericsson K610iR or 3 Skypephone. Free calls and chat are for Skype-to-Skype calls and chat messages made in the UK or while roaming on a participating sister network. Fair use policy and terms apply.

Do check the contract terms and conditions — but apparently Ricky was told he could then upgrade (to a new handset?!) or cancel with no penalty after 6 months.

Smart.

It does make sense. I reckon a ton of SMS Text News readers would (like me) go out tomorrow and buy a 3UK contract to get a nice new Nokia N95 8GB on, say 25 quid a month, with an unlimited data add-on. The 6-month option is a nice assurance… but the reality is, if you’re happy, you’ll keep it for longer. 3 might as well have your money for that period of time.

I’ll see if I can find out more about this. Could be useful when I come to get my rumoured N82…

Case in point:

screenshot

15 quid a month and a free Nokia N95 8GB AND 300 mins/texts a month? If you could get that on a 6 month deal (now, I know it’s only for Mix/Match/Sony and some Nokia handsets) you’d take it, right?

In fact even on an 18 month deal, that’s a minimum of 270 pounds spend and a hot rockin’ deal for an N95 8GB… although you’d need to stump up another fiver for unlimited data but even at 360 quid it’s still a better deal than buying the handset in your Nokia store of choice for at least 500 pounds.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Ewan,
    Is it common for NorMobs to carry multiple sims in the UK? It's not common at all here in the States. Sometimes I get the feeling that some people carry 1 sim for making voice calls, 1 sim for SMS and 1 sim for data. Am I way off here?

  2. Jeb were you referring to me? From my experience NorMobs, only carry one sim about really! People look at me very oddly when I get both my phones out!

  3. RickyC,
    I wasn't referring to you but you would be a good example. The only people who carry 2 phones here in the US are people who have a business and personal phone. otherwise, it's only 1 per person. Though in other countries I've visited people carry 2 and 3 or more sometimes because of the better rates for each service and cheaper “in” calling to the same network.

  4. As you know i write the BLYK watch column, but my main number is actually a a postpay T-Mobile contract! If you look at my age demographics 16-24 in the UK I would say most people only have one phone and one sim!

  5. RickyC,
    I wasn't referring to you but you would be a good example. The only people who carry 2 phones here in the US are people who have a business and personal phone. otherwise, it's only 1 per person. Though in other countries I've visited people carry 2 and 3 or more sometimes because of the better rates for each service and cheaper “in” calling to the same network.

  6. As you know i write the BLYK watch column, but my main number is actually a a postpay T-Mobile contract! If you look at my age demographics 16-24 in the UK I would say most people only have one phone and one sim!

  7. RickyC,
    I wasn't referring to you but you would be a good example. The only people who carry 2 phones here in the US are people who have a business and personal phone. otherwise, it's only 1 per person. Though in other countries I've visited people carry 2 and 3 or more sometimes because of the better rates for each service and cheaper “in” calling to the same network.

  8. As you know i write the BLYK watch column, but my main number is actually a a postpay T-Mobile contract! If you look at my age demographics 16-24 in the UK I would say most people only have one phone and one sim!

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