Vodafone’s discount SIM only promotion has proved so popular that the mobile network has decided to extend its offer for another month. Now ending on 30 April instead of 31 March, Vodafone’s deals feature SIM only price plans costing from just £8 per month on 90 day or 12 month contracts.

» See Vodafone SIM only deals (opens in a new window or tab)

For more details – including summaries of the price plans and their inclusive allowances (calls, texts, mobile internet data and BT Openzone Wi-Fi) – see our earlier post here.

Vodafone has launched a discount promotion on two of its cheapest SIM only price plans. The tariffs will return to their previous prices at the end of March April 2012 (offer extended by one month), so buy now if you don’t want to miss out.

The cheapest of the price plans now costs just £8 per month and comes with unlimited texts and a choice of 90 day or 12 month minimum contract terms:

SIM only price plan	Minimum contract	Inclusive monthly allowances
£8 per month (was £10.50)	12 months	150 minutes, unlimited texts, 100MB mobile internet, 750MB BT Openzone Wi-Fi
£8 per month (was £10.50)	90 days	100 minutes, unlimited texts, 100MB mobile internet, 750MB BT Openzone Wi-Fi
£13 per month (was £15.50)	12 months	300 minutes, unlimited texts, 500MB mobile internet, 750MB BT Openzone Wi-Fi
£13 per month (was £15.50)	90 days	200 minutes, unlimited texts, 250MB mobile internet, 750MB BT Openzone Wi-Fi

» Buy Vodafone SIM only now (opens in a new window or tab)

Don’t delay – this offer ends on 31 March 30 April 2012.

Standard, Smartphone and BlackBerry SIM only options

Each of Vodafone’s discounted SIM only price plans is available in three versions. Simply check the box at the top of their SIM only price plans to switch between standard phone, smartphone and BlackBerry options.

The standard phone doesn’t include mobile internet or BT Openzone allowances. These are added at no extra cost when selecting the smartphone or BlackBerry options. The BlackBerry version also includes BlackBerry services and email, again at no extra cost. You really can’t sniff at that!

Vodafone vs Orange SIM only

Vodafone’s discounts bring its SIM only price plans within touching distance of Orange’s popular Dolphin 7 SIM only deal. Dolphin 7 costs a tad less at only £7 per month and has remained available to canny online shoppers for longer than expected. Orange’s ”limited time” tariff features 150 minutes, 500 text messages and 250MB mobile internet on a 12 month contract. See Vodafone’s site (via the link above) for full details on its discounted and other SIM only price plans.

A major perk of buying direct from Vodafone’s online shop is the chance, when buying certain products, to benefit from special offers in return for entering promotional codes.

During March 2012, promotional code offers available to customers who buy qualifying products online include free mobile phones, free data dongles and exclusive discounts in the form of 3 months half price line rental.

March 2012 offers

The following Vodafone promotional codes are planned to run until the end of March 2012:

Promotional code	Offer details
MSIM3HP	3 months half price line rental on ALL 12 month Vodafone SIM-only price plans.
3MHPLR	3 months half price line rental on all 24 month Vodafone pay monthly phone deals EXCEPT the iPhone4S.
FREESILVER	Free Samsung C3300 Silver mobile phone when buying the 12 month Vodafone SIM-only plan costing £20.50pm.
FREEC3300	Free Samsung C3300 Black mobile phone when buying the 12 month Vodafone SIM-only plan costing £20.50pm.
FREESMART	Free Vodafone Smart mobile phone when buying the 12 month SIM-only price plan costing £20.50pm.
FREEWHITE	Free Vodafone Smart White mobile phone when buying the 12 month SIM-only price plan costing £20.50pm.
FREE8520	Free BlackBerry 8520 mobile phone when buying the £26 BlackBerry 12 month SIM-only price plan.
FREEDONGLE	Free data dongle when buying ANY 12 month SIM-only contract costing £26pm or more.
FREE550	Free Vodafone 550 mobile phone when buying the 12 month SIM-only price plan costing £20.50pm.
FREE2600	Free Samsung E2600 mobile phone when buying the 12 month SIM-only price plan costing £20.50pm.

» Visit Vodafone’s online shop (opens in a new window or tab)

Line rental discounts are applied to customers’  bills automatically by Vodafone, with no cashback claims required.

Please note that, the intended expiry date notwithstanding, offers can end early depending on product availability. Only one code may be used per qualifying purchase.

How to use Vodafone promotional codes

To benefit from any of these deals, you can browse Vodafone’s online shop online as normal. As you select items to buy, you’ll see them added to “Your basket” on the right hand side of your screen. When you’ve finished shopping, click the green Checkout button beneath your basket.

This will take you to the “Check your basket” screen, which is where you’ll need to enter your code. The promotional code box can be found in the “Delivery and Promotions” section. Simply enter your promotional code where indicated (either type it in or use copy & paste), then click on “Apply”. Assuming that your basket contains the right qualifying item(s) and that the code you entered is valid, your basket’s contents will be updated to reflect the special offer. Then simply continue the checkout process as normal to complete your purchase. It’s that easy!

For fast, easy links to other mobile phone networks and dealers, see our UK mobile phone shopping directory.

Orange has launched a new, market-leading pay monthly SIM-only price plan that costs just £7 per month. Yes, you read that right: only £7 per month. But don’t hang about, as this is a “limited time offer”.

Going by the name of Orange Dolphin 7, this SIM-only deal represents great value, featuring monthly allowances that should prove more than sufficient for many UK mobile phone users:

- 150 anytime calling minutes
- 500 text messages
- 250MB mobile internet

Orange Dolphin 7 is offered on a 12 month SIM only contract.

» Buy Orange Dolphin 7 SIM only now (opens in a new window or tab)

Aside from the inclusive monthly allowances, Orange Dolphin 7 customers can also benefit from 2-for-the-price-of-1 cinema tickets with Orange Wednesdays.

“Out of plan” costs for this SIM only tariff (ie for any calls, texts and/or mobile internet browsing that fall outside of the inclusive allowances) are also reasonably priced.

Orange Extras

When buying the Dolphin 7 SIM-only price plan online, customers are offered the opportunity to add optional Orange Extras (none of which are compulsory). Extras offered at an extra cost per 30 days include:

- Orange Maps sat nav
- Photo messaging
- Orange games zone
- Sky News & Sports
- Extra mobile internet allowance
- International calls

Orange home broadband

Orange Dolphin 7 customers also qualify for Orange Broadband, which starts from only £5 per month for broadband and off-peak calls.

Keep your mobile phone number with Orange Dophin 7

Customers of other UK mobile networks who want to switch to Dolphin 7 can keep their existing mobile phone number. There’s no need to arrange this in advance: just order your Dolphin 7 SIM only plan online, then contact your existing network to request a PAC (Port Authorisation Code). Once received, contact Orange customer services and they’ll organise the transfer of your number onto your new SIM only plan.

See Orange’s site for more details and to buy the Dolphin 7 pay monthly SIM-only price plan online.

Every now and then, a mobile network will claim to offer something pretty remarkable. T-Mobile UK is currently basking in the limelight with an offer designed specifically for smartphone (including iPhone) customers. Whilst the deal is definitely a good one, it may not be quite as generous as the headlines may first lead you to believe.

From July 2011, T-Mobile UK is offering truly unlimited internet* usage as standard on new 24 month / two year pay monthly iPhone and other smartphone contracts costing £25 or more per month.

» T-Mobile UK – iPhone & smartphone deals

What’s the catch?

If it’s “truly unlimited”, why the asterisk, you ask?

I’m glad you noticed it. Actually, we put it there, because there is some small print (some might even say a catch) attached to this deal – even though T-Mobile hardly goes out of its way to bring your attention to it.

To be clear right up front, internet browsing on the phone and use of email on the phone are totally / entirely / utterly unlimited. Full marks to T-Mobile for that.

Things that aren’t included (perhaps contrary to initial impressions or expectations) include:

- tethering (using the phone as a modem for, say, a laptop PC)
- internet phone calls
- peer to peer file sharing

Also, if you choose a BlackBerry phone, the monthly price plan cost needs to be at least £25 excluding the BlackBerry bundle, which costs an additional £5.10 pm.

Note also that the unlimited internet allowance will be lost if you renew or upgrade your contract – and potentially also if you change price plans.

On the plus side, all price plans at the qualifying level and above include one flexible booster, which can be changed every 30 days if desired.

None of these caveats or conditions seem unreasonable – but they do exist, so be sure to read these and the other terms in full on T-Mobile’s site if you’re aiming to take advantage of this almost-as-good-as-it-seems offer.

And don’t forget to buy before the end of September 2011, or you’ll miss out completely!