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.

T-Mobile has today launched a Time Limited Offer featuring FREE Android mobile phones on pay monthly contracts priced at just £6.50 per month (shown as £10.50pm in your basket, with a discount applied automatically).

Running for a minimum contract term of 24 months, the deals offer a choice between:

• Samsung Galaxy Mini
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) software
• 3.1″ touchscreen
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Built-in GPS

• T-Mobile Vivacity
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) software
• 3.5″ touchscreen
• 5 megapixel camera
• Built-in GPS

Along with your choice of FREE handset, the promotional price plan includes 50 minutes, 250 texts and 250MB internet browsing allowances. When added to your basket, the price plan shows at its normal price of £10.50pm along with a discount of £4pm, resulting in a monthly cost of just £6.50.

Optional T-Mobile boosters

During online checkout, you’ll be offered the option of adding various “boosters”, which can be used to beef up the price plan’s inclusive allowances at an additional monthly cost. Examples of boosters include unlimited texts, landline talk and calls to other T-Mobile UK customers.

Time Limited Offer

This special offer from T-Mobile runs for one week starting from today (16 March) and ending on Friday 23 March 2012. As always, these deals are subject to availability, so don’t dilly-dally if you fancy snapping one up.

» View all T-Mobile Android phone deals (opens in a new window or tab)

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.

T-Mobile Business has launched two new discount promotions for UK customers who buy direct from T-Mobile’s own online shop.

3 Months Free on Business Mobile Broadband

The first deal offers 3 months free on business mobile broadband with 1GB or 3GB monthly data allowances on 18 or 24 month contracts. In percentage terms, this equates to a discount of 16.7% and 12.5% respectively, assuming that you either cancel or negotiate a fresh deal at the end of the contract term.

» Buy T-Mobile Business Mobile Broadband (opens in a new window or tab)

25% off T-Mobile Business SIM-only

The second deal offers a 25% discount off all 30 day and 12 month SIM-only business price plans. If you’re happy to keep your existing handset (and assuming it’s either already locked to T-Mobile or is / can be unlocked to all networks), this can make for great savings on your ongoing mobile phone bills.

» Buy T-Mobile Business SIM-only (opens in a new window or tab)

SIM only contracts tend to be cheaper as they don’t need to factor in any handset subsidies (which you might otherwise carry on paying indefinitely if you were to stay on an old pay monthly price plan). T-Mobile’s SIM-only business price plans start from just £10+VAT per month.

For details of other mobile phone networks and dealers and fast, easy links to their online shops, visit our UK mobile phone shopping directory.