There was a time around two or three years ago when network providers offered unlimited data on many of their premium priced call plans, even on the iPhone.
Hard to imagine now, when we live in a world where we are constantly reminded that we are nearing our data allowance – or even more annoyingly, hit with a bill for the extra megabytes on our monthly statement.
Mobile network 3 released figures this summer which show that the average smartphone user on their network now uses around 1.1GB of data per month, compared with 450MB last year. Those with iPhones or Androids with increased functionality used just under 1.5GB per month, which is a whopping 500MB over the monthly data allowance that 66% of UK Smartphone users have with their existing tariffs.
With the ever-increasing functionality of smartphones, our daily habits are shifting more and more away from the computer and onto our phones. Hence our reliance on data in our everyday lives is growing. As a result, the costs of running a smartphone on some networks can be an expensive endeavour.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the data hungry amongst us. Luckily, the glory days of unlimited Internet have come full circle – in the form of SIM only deals with Internet galore from companies such as giffgaff.
giffgaff offer a unique service to its community of users. Operating virtually and run by the ever growing community of members who pool their collective wisdom to enhance the user experience, this cost-effective network model allows huge savings to be passed on to smartphone users in search of tariffs with high data allowances.
giffgaff’s £15 goody bag (monthly tariff) gives you 400 UK minutes, unlimited UK texts, unlimited internet and free calls to users on the giffgaff network. O2’s closest tariff to this offers you 600 mins, unlimited texts and a mere 500MB of data for £21.50 per month. Plus you have to sign up to a 12 month contract to get this deal. Vodafone also offer the same deal on minutes and data but for £15.50, but again a 12-month contract is required. The story is much the same with the other providers.
So it seems that the best option for those who eat their way through serious data every month is to go with an unlimited data plan. After all, why should you have to worry about doing what you need to do on your phone? giffgaff have a range of options available for all levels of users. And best of all, there are no long contracts tying you down. You can roll from month to month and change your goody bag at any time. How refreshing is that? To keep up to date with news and offers from giffgaff you can follow them on twitter.