Contract versus Cash versus Blackberry versus Contract type

[icsoka]

Hi,

I have really got no ides what to do to save on money here. I have an MTN contract 500 anytime but i spend on average 800 Rand.
I want to get a new phone now since my contract is up for renewal.

Do i buy a new phone cash and buy prepaid?
Do i just take a contract again say a 350 Anytime ?

I want to get black berry because my girlfriend and family are abroad and its cheaper for me in terms of SMS.... i will use BBM right?
the blackberry just seem to difficult to use though with the small keys i tried to type a message and i was so slow, does that just come with time?

On the with money stuff, so i want to maybe get a phone cash and then just get airtime, not sure which is a better option here contract versus pre-paid.

Please assist me here as i am not really sure and i dont want to be stuck as i was with a useless slow symbian Sony Ericsson phone for 2 years which i ended up smashing. I have the nokia 2730 classic and it just works, although now a smart phone.

Thanks.

Tibor

 

[Azbubu]

Buying a phone cash never seems to be a good idea. Unless you get it for way under what the service providers charge.

 

[icsoka]

Hi, can you give me an example....for instance i would like ot get a blackberry and i have been told by a few that buying it cash is better idea....but that;s from people abroad though and not living in SA.

still not sure.

 

[Friggs]

I stand under correction but aren't prepaid call rates generally more expensive than contract call rates? So the same R800 on prepaid will theoretically give you a lot less 'talking time' than on a contract. Also, if you are going to have it for at least two years then why not just get the phone for free, why pay cash?

What you need to do is get the call rates for the package you are on and work out how much actual talk time you are getting on contract and if you will get the same on prepaid. I haven't worked it out recently but back in the day it worked out a lot cheaper to make a lot of calls on contract than on prepaid. I think it only makes sense if you aren't spending much on your package, otherwise I reckon you will be buying airtime constantly...

Regarding the bbm, shouldn't be an issue, I haven't tried bbm but whatsapp works perfectly with people in other countries and no additional rates or anything funny.

 

[WatchMan]

As to pre-paid calls being charged at a higher tariff than contract calls - that's an affirmative. But this excludes 'soft' contract options, i.e. Topup, etc. The 'soft' contracts are charged at prepaid rates.

Your option is quite simply actually. If you can communicate satisfactorily using the data then get a BB.
If not, or you need/want a 'real' smartphone then go for it. The first option would be the most cost effective monthly.