Ive had a variety of different mobile phones over the past four years all of which have been with Vodafone.I have always been part of a contract in which each month line rental is paid but recently with the help of increased nagging my parents have allowed me to become part of the pay as you talok world. They would never let me before not through lack of trust but as I have grew older they are finally beginning to allow it.

When I transfered to pay as you talk I kept the same phone and so all we did was phone the vodafone customer service line and they did something to my simcard so that it changed (probably all very complicated) but Im guessing that most of you will probably be buying your phone brand new. Vodafone sell a huge range of different mobile handsets from nokias and sagems to sony and trium. All of which come in a reasonable price range. The more expensive phones have a lot more features for example a phone with a built in camera can cost up to £250 (Vodafone website price) and others which have less features and are more simple can cost as low as £60.

Buying a phone is simple. Vodaphone mobiles are widely available and can be bought in most phone or electrical shops. They can also be purchased from the vodafone shop itself or online. Also many stores such as Argos and major catologues stock Vodafone mobiles.When you buy your Vodafone mobile it comes in a box along with a charger and £2.50 woth of free calling credit. Your mobile will automatically be programmed into the Smartstep price plan but if you're not happy on this you can change free of charge within the first 28 days after sending your first text or making your first phonecall. If you register your mobile you will also recieve an additional £2.50 of free calling credit.

~*~The Price Plans~*~

Smartstep.

This is the plan your mobile will automatically be on when you buy it. This plan is most suitable for those who use their mobile a lot throughout the day. The price plan is as follows :

Standard Call : weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 30p for the first 3 minutes of the day and 5p after that.
Vodafone to Vodafone : weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 30p for the first 3 minutes of the day and 5p after that.
Voicemail : weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 30p for the first 3 minutes of the day and 5p after that.
Calls to other mobile networks : weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 35p(per min)
WAP over GPRS : Vodafone/live sites - 0.01p per kb
other sites - 0.73p per kb
Text Messages : 12p for the first 3 each day then 9p after that.

Firststep

This price plan is most suitable for those who use their phone most at weekends and on an evening. The price plan is as follows:

Standard calls : Daytime - 40p(per min)
Evening/Weekend - 10p(per min)
Vodafone to Vodafone : Daytime - 40p(per min)
Evening/Weekend 5p(per min)
Voicemail : Daytime - 40p(per min)
Evening/Weekend - 10p(per min)
Calls to other mobile networks : Daytime, evenings and weekends - 35p (per min)
WAP over GPRS : Vodafone/live sites - 0.01p per kb
other sites - 0.73p per kb
Text messages (per message) - 12p

Nextstep

This price plan best suits people who use their phone constantly all the time. You are given a minimum allowance of 50p a day. Whether the 50p is spent or not it is deducted from your credit and the money cannot be carried over until the next day. The price plan is as follows:

Standard calls : Weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 10p (per min)
Vodafone to Vodafone : Weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 10p (per min)
Voicemail : Weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 10p(per min)
Calls to other mobile networks : Weekdays, weeknights and weekends - 35p (per min)
WAP over GPRS : Vodafone/live sites - 0.01p per kb
other sites - 0.73p per kb
Text messages (per msg) - 10p

Original

The original priceplan is probably more ideal for those who use their mobile less throughout the day rather than an evening. The price plan is as follows:

Standard Call : Weekday - 35p
Weeknight/weekend - 2p
Vodafone to Vodafone : Weekday - 35p
Weeknight/weekend - 5p
Voicemail - FREE!
Calls to other mobile networks : Weekdays, Weeknights and Weekends - 35p
WAP over GPRS : Vodafone/live sites - 0.01p per kb
other sites - 0.73p per kb
Text messages (per msg) - 12p

The original price plan has a £5 monthly service charge.

Some numbers that you may find beneficial if you own a vodafone pay as you talk mobile may be:

2345 - This is the vodafone top up line, this is the number you dial to put more calling credit onto your phone.

*#1345# - this number will display your balance on the screen so that you know how much calling credit you have left.

121 - this is the voicemail number see the above price plans for the call amounts

191 - this is the customer service number. This phonline costs 25p per minute when transferred to talk to a person.

Whilst being part of this service I can do nothingf but praise Vodafone. The customer service have always been very kind and friendly when we have phoned them and they have always tried their best to help us. Reception is always good with Vodafone and I have found that when abroad my phone has still worked. Th eonly problem I experienced was when I went to Iceland my phone worked but I believe that numbers must have changed as it would not allow me to top up - either that or I just didnt understand the language it was speaking when I dialled the number. It is very rare that I find myself without signal and I think that this is down to Vodafones wide services. Vodafone is an absolutely huge company and I think that itis available in roughly 87 countries. I would reccomend Vodafone to anyone considering it, I have always found them a great service to be with and the price plans are created so that one of them is perfect to suit the customers needs.

Thanx for reading
Love Jenni xx :o)