How to upgrade from a ‘nana phone’

If you still own an old basic cellphone, you may be forced to change soon.

Many people in New Zealand are still using basic phones that can only make phone calls or send a text.

But as the shutdown of our 2G mobile network looms, a lot of Kiwis will need to upgrade their old phones.

Although no dates have been announced, both Vodafone and 2degrees will soon close their 2G networks. Spark shut its down several years ago.

Don’t worry if you still use a socalled ‘‘nana phone’’, you have plenty of options with many new devices being affordable.

This may also give you the chance to move into the smartphone world and get the benefits of being able to access the internet and apps on the go.

First, remember you can keep the same phone number, but you’ll need to transfer it to a new Sim card for a new phone.

Your phone service provider can help with this and it’s important to get the correct card to make sure you get the fastest possible mobile broadband speeds.

Plan ahead

Many people who own basic phones rely on pre-paid Sim cards with long-life recharges rather than paying for a monthly plan.

Pre-paid makes sense if you don’t make a lot of calls and texts, but it becomes more complicated if you’re upgrading to a smartphone that will also need mobile data.

Most pre-paid deals only include data if you’re getting a 28 or 30-day recharge, but if you’re recharging this often then it’s probably better value to step up to an entry-level plan. Alternatively pre-paid users might be expected to pay for data per megabyte or buy a separate data pack – either of which can get expensive.

Everyone uses their phone differently so it’s important to crunch the numbers when deciding which deal is right for you.

Even if you intend to use a smartphone like a basic phone you’re still going to chew through a bit of mobile data in the background, but once you grow comfortable with the phone you’re probably going to start using the browser, emailing photos and checking maps.

It’s easy to get slugged with a hefty bill if you don’t stop to consider your data needs.

The best approach to buying a smartphone on a budget is to break the process into two steps; choosing a plan and choosing a handset.

Once you’ve decided which are right for you it’s much easier to shop around without the risk of being talked into going over your budget.

Phone plans

Try a comparison site like whistleout.co.nz to look through deals which include data.

You need to read the fine print and it’s worth comparing them to

the entry-level monthly plans which include data.

It pays to look beyond the big players like Spark and Vodafone – if your needs are modest then you’ll find often better deals from the smaller companies like Skinny.

A cheap plan with relatively expensive calls might still be the most economical option if you don’t make a lot of calls and want to keep your monthly spend low. If you’re buying a pair of phones on the same network, check if they’ll get free calls to each other.

Shop around and you’ll find that most telcos don’t want to sell you a decent budget phone on a cheap plan. They’d rather sell you an expensive phone on an expensive plan or else a pre-paid phone.

That’s why you need to look around rather than walking into a store and choosing from the handful of phones on display.

Staying basic

Your first choice is to upgrade to a 3G basic phone like the Samsung S5611 or Alcatel Onetouch 20.67 (clamshell style).

These basic handsets are fine for calls and texts and should suit people who want something that ‘‘just works’’ and aren’t keen on any extra bells and whistles.

Going smart

It’s easy to buy a flagship smartphone on an expensive plan, but things become complicated if you’re shopping for a decent phone on a budget.

Don’t just head down to the local phone store and let the salespeople tell you what to buy.

Chances are you’ll walk away with a phone that’s overkill for your needs, along with a monthly bill that’s much higher than you were hoping for.

You can choose between an Apple, Android or Microsoft phone.

Apple’s iPhones are

expensive and Microsoft’s Windows phones are generally last in line for new apps.

The cheapest option is Google’s Android and the best deal involves buying a handset outright and unlocked so it will work with any mobile network.

There are plenty of great budget Android handsets out there.

Take a look at the Motorola Moto G (2nd generation) for about $220, the Samsung A3 ($400), Huawei P8 Lite ($350), or the $150 Vodafone Smart Prime, though you need to use its prepay deal.

All these phones have 4G capability, which will allow to you access the internet a lot faster than standard 3G.

The more money you have to spend, the more devices you have to choose from.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for people shopping for a decent budget smartphone – the key is to consider your needs carefully and do lots of research before taking the plunge.

If a tech-savvy friend is offering advice, make sure they consider your requirements and recommend what’s best for you rather than what they’d buy for themselves.

Remember you can keep the same phone number, but you’ll need to transfer it to a new SIM card for a new phone. Your phone service provider can help with this and it’s important to get the correct card to make sure you get the fastest possible mobile broadband speeds.