Hi

I am 47 and I am a mobile virgin.

The time has come, however, for me to get one.

Can someone help me.

I will not be using the phone that much. Just for occasional calls/texts.
I would like to be able to access the internet to browse occasionally (mainly newspaper articles when I'm away weekends/holidays. I would need to look at five or six websites a day for about half an hour in total).
It needs to be on the Orange or O2 networks.
I am not bothered about other aspects (phone/music etc etc etc).

Should I go PAYG?
How much would accessing internet cost me? What phone should I use where I can do that relatively easily? Someone did recommend Nokia 95 but as I said I am new to this game so advice would be great.

I don't mind going to an independent mobile phone shop for advice but I don't even know the names of those.

Please, is anyone out there going to help me?
Name of the best shop to go to would be good . . .

At the minute you're asking an extremely vague question so I don't think anyone knows how to answer it.

If you're only going to use the phone occasionally i.e. emergency use mainly; then you should go PAYG. However, if you want the internet which, in my opinion is a pain in the backside on most phones and very expensive, a 12 month contract may be better. Why does it need to be on Orange or O2 - most networks offer contracts with 'any network, any time' minutes.

If it absolutely has to be Orange or O2, then go to their retail outlets and pick up the brochure and work out what kind of handset you want or ask a salesman for advice on what you want it for. I really hate motorola handsets and stick to mainly Samsung and Nokia, so you need to find what's easiest for you to use. BUT, don't buy straight away - you then should compare at various other retail stores or online when you know which handset you want.

thanks kappo

i will take your advice and go to Orange/O2 this week and have a good look around

best

tonypne