Following hot on the heels of its pay monthly launch of Apple’s iPhone 4s, mobile network operator Three is now also selling the iPhone 4S on Pay As You Go price plans through its UK online shop.

The store aims to offer all versions of the handset (16GB, 32GB and 64GB models in black and white):

» iPhone 4S on Pay As You Go from Three

Handset listings may vary from time to time depending on stock availability – for example, the iPhone 4S 16GB white is currently missing from the online store’s PAYG section for this reason.

Three offers best value iPhone 4S contract deals

Three has already successfully established itself as a top choice in the UK for customers seeking the best value on contract-based deals for the iPhone 4S.

» iPhone 4S on Three contracts

Different editions of the iPhone 4S and 4 on The One Plan 24 month price plan currently account for four out of the network’s top five sellers in terms of “handset + tariff” combinations.

Three SIM Only iPhone tariffs

The other spot in the top five belongs to Three’s “Text 300″. The 24 month version of this SIM-only price plan is currently occupying third place in the bestseller’s list and offers great value for money if you’re planning on keeping an existing handset or have bought a SIM-free mobile phone elsewhere.

» SIM Only deals on Three

SIM Only deals are available on regular size SIM cards and on micro SIMs, the latter being required for use with both the iPhone 4 and the 4S. So when buying online, be sure to select the correct tab (“iPhone 4 micro-SIM”) within 3′s online shop to see the right deals.

In so doing, Apple wrong-footed hordes of journalists, analysts and mobile industry commentators, who’d collectively generated vast wordage speculating about the impending iPhone 5, only to discover that its arrival wasn’t so imminent after all.

The choice of name makes abundant sense, as the dimensions and outward appearance of the iPhone 4S are almost identical to its predecessor (good news if you already have an iPhone 4 case that you’d like to keep using – and even better news for case manufacturers).

In terms of functionality, the iPhone 4S delivers a number of significant advancements including:

- An 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording
- Other camera optics improvements including an additional lens, a wider f/2.4 aperture (for better low light performance) and refined LED flash
- Dual-core A5 processor chip, delivering up to 2 x faster performance and up to 7 x faster graphics
- Intelligent switching between two built-in antennae for better call quality
- Siri personal assistant software, offering advanced voice-based control and interaction with the iPhone

iPhone 4S contract deals

The iPhone 4S is currently available to pre-order from many UK mobile networks on pay monthly contracts for planned delivery from 14 October 2011 onwards:

» Buy the iPhone 4S direct from Vodafone (with 3 months “data test drive”).
» Buy the iPhone 4S direct from T-Mobile
» Buy the iPhone 4S direct from Orange
» Buy the iPhone 4S direct from Three
» Buy the iPhone 4S direct from O2

 SIM-free / unlocked iPhone 4S

Apple’s latest smartphone can also be purchased direct from Apple’s UK online store. These handsets are supplied unlocked, so can be used on any UK network when inserting a compatible micro SIM card.

» Buy the iPhone 4S SIM-free / unlocked direct from Apple UK

Apple Store’s prices include free UK shipping, with pre-orders currently scheduled for delivery within 1-2 weeks from ordering.

SIM-only iPhone 4S price plans

Many UK networks offer “SIM only” price plans specifically for the iPhone (delivered via SIM cards in the required micro SIM format).

Monthly costs for SIM only plans are typically much lower than for iPhone contract deals, as there’s no handset price subsidisation (implied or otherwise) included within the monthly cost.

iPhone SIM only deals come with as short as 30 day minimum contract periods, though longer terms are also available. See the UK mobile networks’ online shops via the above links for more details.

The Apple iPhone 4 16GB is now available in black or white priced from FREE (ie no initial cost for the handset) plus £30 per month.

» iPhone 4 16GB on 3 from £30 per month

The offer is based on 3′s Text 300 price plan, which includes:

- FREE iPhone 4 16GB Black or White (brand new, not refurbs)
- 300 minutes (to any UK network at any time) per month
- 5,000 text messages per month
- 500MB internet allowance per month
- Based on a 24 month contract

The dealer’s iPhone selection also features other offers for this and other iPhone models, with a wide choice of inclusive allowances at various initial and ongoing prices. Options include other price plans on 3 and tariffs from other UK mobile phone networks including O2, Vodafone and Orange.

Check out what’s flying off the virtual shelves at Vodafone’s UK online shop this week. The network’s top ten pay monthly mobile phones are presented below in alphabetical order.

Various optional extras are available at a modest extra cost on Vodafone’s pay monthly price plans – examples include their Sat Nav Pack and inclusive calls to 0870, 0845 and 0800 numbers.

1. Apple iPhone 4 16GB on Vodafone

- Black or white
- Choice of 12, 18 and 24 month price plans
- Handset price from FREE to £299 on pay monthly price plans
- Monthly cost from £26 (over 24 months)

2. Apple iPhone 3GS 8GB on Vodafone

- Not the latest model, but it’s a more affordable option and no slouch!
- Black only
- Handset price from FREE to £199 on pay monthly price plans
- Monthly cost from £26 (over 24 months)

3. BlackBerry Bold 9780 on Vodafone

-  5 megapixel camera, QWERTY keypad, touch sensitive trackpad
- GPS satellite navigation, 3G, Quad band, Twitter & Facebook social networking
- Mobile internet service with push email
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £26 per month
- Monthly cost starts from £20.50 (over 24 months with £99 initial cost)

4. BlackBerry Curve 8520 on Vodafone

-  2 megapixel camera, QWERTY keypad, touch sensitive trackpad
- GPRS, Quad band, Bluetooth, one touch keys
- Mobile internet service with push email, IMs and Facebook updates
-  Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £15.50 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs with BlackBerry internet service

5. BlackBerry Curve 9300 on Vodafone

- 2 megapixel camera, QWERTY keypad, touch sensitive trackpad, dedicated media keys
- Fast 3G connection, GPS satellite navigation, slight rubber finish for better grip
- Mobile internet service
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £20.50 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs with BlackBerry internet service

6. BlackBerry Torch 9800 on Vodafone

- 5 megapixel camera with picture stabilisation, autofocus and “zero shutter” (take pictures without infuriating delays after pressing the button), slide out QWERTY keypad
- Touchscreen with pinch to zoom (for the first time on a BlackBerry), touch sensitive trackpad
- Mobile internet service with push email, social network apps (Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn)
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £31 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 12, 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs with BlackBerry internet service

7. HTC Desire on Vodafone

- 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, 3.7″ touchscreen
- GPS navigation, 3G, WiFi, Quad band, Bluetooth
- Android OS, instant delivery of Twitter and Facebook updates, emails delivered to your home screen
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £26 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs, monthly cost from £20.50 (£99 initial cost over 24 mths)

8. HTC Sensation on Vodafone

- 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, face detection, geo-tagging and HD video recording
- 1.2 GHz processor (faster than HTC Desire HD or Sony Ericsson Arc), 1GB internal memory, 8GB card slot
- Android OS, 4.3″ touchscreen with QHD SLCD technology, 3G, Quad band, GPS, Bluetooth
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £36 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 12, 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs, monthly cost from £26 (£199 initial cost over 24 mths)

9. Nokia C3 Slate on Vodafone

- Slate or Pink colour versions
- 2 megapixel camera, QWERTY keypad, MP3 player
- Multi IM (log in to one, chat to friends on multiple messaging services)
- One click access to multiple social networks
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £10.50 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 12, 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs

10. Samsung Galaxy S II on Vodafone

-  8 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, HD video recording, 2 megapixel front facing camera
- 4.3″ super AMOLED Plus touchscreen display, super slim 8.49mm depth
-  Android 2.3 OS, 1.2 GHz processor, Cisco AnyConnect VPN
- FREE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN BOXSET (ends 30 June 2011)
- Handset from FREE on pay monthly price plans from £36 (over 24 months)
- Choice of 12, 18 or 24 month Vodafone tariffs, monthly cost from £26.50 (£299 initial cost over 24 months)

These and many other popular mobile phones are available to buy online right now at Vodafone’s UK online shop.

1. Apple iPhone 4 16GB Black – on The One Plan

- 5 MP camera with LED flash and HD video recording
- 3.5″ touch screen Retina display
- FaceTime video calling
- The One Plan: 2,000 minutes, 5,000 texts, all-you-can-eat data
- £69 handset cost + £35 pm over 24 months (or £19 + £40 pm)

2. Samsung RV150 2/320 Laptop + ZTE MF112 USB Modem – 3 mobile broadband (15GB)

- 2.1GHz Celeron Dual Core T3500 processor + 320GB hard disk drive + Windows 7 Home Premium
- 15.6″ LED HD 16:9 Superbright gloss display
- Free ZTE MF112 Black USB modem included
- Mobile broadband 15GB monthly data allowance
- FREE initial cost + £1.99 delivery + £36.42 pm over 24 months

3. Apple iPhone 4 16GB White – on The One Plan

- 5 MP camera with LED flash and HD video recording
- 3.5″ touch screen Retina display
- FaceTime video calling
- The One Plan: 2,000 minutes, 5,000 texts, all-you-can-eat data
- £69 handset cost + £35 pm over 24 months (or £19 + £40 pm)

4. SIM Only – 3 SIM 300

- Keep your own phone and get inclusive calls, text and data with 3′s SIM only deals
- SIM 300 – 12 month contract
- 300 minutes, 3000 texts, 1GB mobile internet
- FREE initial cost + £10 pm over 12 months (or £15 pm on a rolling 1 month contract)

5. Samsung Galaxy S II – on The One Plan

- 8 MP camera with LED flash and HD video recording
- 4.3″ Super AMOLED + screen
- Android OS, 16GB internal memory
- The One Plan: 2,000 minutes, 5,000 texts, all-you-can-eat data
- FREE initial cost + £35 pm over 12 months