iPhone 2g

Hi folks,
This is a little off topic, but I would welcome your thoughts:
My son left his iPhone 2g in a taxi over a week ago and it hasn't been handed in by the driver.
He is devastated by the loss and would like to replace it, but hasn't any savings with which to do so.
I as a heartless father have suggested getting the SIM replaced (now ordered) and making do with his sister's old & basic Motorola until he saves up for a second hand iPhone on eBay. His suggestion is that he pays £25 a month for a 3G phone and contract (£10 more than his old contract).
My question is:
Is there another/cheaper way of going about things? For instance do any of the mobile companies provide iPhone 2g phones on contract?
MJ

I think the lowest you'll find is a 3G, however, with a new iPhone due in May/June, you might be able to pick up some offers on the 3GS or 4.

Matt

iPhone 2G is ancient, approaching 4 years old. Even if you could get one it simply wouldn't be worth paying for one on a contract.

You can get one for about £120 on ebay.

Most contracts will be for the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS.

A contract isn't the cheapest way to get one either, I bought my iPhone 4 outright and I'm on a PAYG operator called GiffGaff. I reckon I've saved quite a bit over a £35 iPhone contract. But obviously if you have no savings that's not an option.

Edited by deleted (Mon 21-Feb-11 21:54:27)

Practical question: did he have "Find My iPhone" enabled?

Was that even enabled on the 2G as the battery was pretty poor without push services being on.

Matt

Doesn't say so explicitly, but I read this site as indicating you need an iPhone 4.

FMI was possible on the 3GS too... but I believe it is free with the iPhone 4.

Matt

GiffGaff is a great service and the only way I can afford to run a 3G that I was gifted
mervt

In reply to a post by billford:

Doesn't say so explicitly, but I read this site as indicating you need an iPhone 4.

I had it on my old 3G. You need mobileme.

Edited by ian_c (Tue 22-Feb-11 11:32:58)

Works on the 3G as well. Don't think it was available on the 2G.

probably not what you want to hear, but in reference to some other posts... Find My iPhone is a reason to pay for MobileMe services on its own.

I too left my phone (iPhone4- bought outright PAYG on Orange) in a taxi, but I was able to get home and ring the minicab office and tell them exactly where the driver was; as it happened, driving west on the Talgarth Road heading back to the office. I picked up the phone shortly after he returned to base.

Marvellous.



A

Probably not, it didn't have a proper GPS chip did it? triangulation only?

Any new iPhone will - or should be - very interesting. And beautiful. And no doubt wonderful. Yummy.

My favourite for 'shape' was the 3GS - you could get a superb, protective and attractive case for it. Mine sold within a couple of days on Amazon after beIng advertised. I miss it.

My iPhone 4 is truely wonderful, but not very comfortable to hold in it's flat case. Sure, it's an amazing phone, but to hold, it's pathetic really.

The new iPhone 5 should just be a blinking good case. I'd be ecstatic with that. That, and a fix for the signal fault.
I've only noticed the pathetic signal deterioration affect 2 call only. One was on Skype, and one was from a caller using VOIP.

iPhone 5 should be a treat to behold. All being well...

In reply to a post by ian_c:

I had it on my old 3G. You need mobileme.

You can get it free on a 3GS if you have a 4 or an iPad on the same iTunes account - activate the service on one of them, and then it activates on the 3GS. Otherwise 3GS and 3G users need to pay for MobileMe.

In reply to a post by nonymouse:

probably not what you want to hear, but in reference to some other posts... Find My iPhone is a reason to pay for MobileMe services on its own.

I too left my phone (iPhone4- bought outright PAYG on Orange) in a taxi, but I was able to get home and ring the minicab office and tell them exactly where the driver was; as it happened, driving west on the Talgarth Road heading back to the office. I picked up the phone shortly after he returned to base.

Marvellous.



A

You're right Nonymouse -not what I wanted to read !

In reply to a post by ian_c:

Practical question: did he have "Find My iPhone" enabled?

Don't know if this is a service he could have used on the 2g Ian, but the short answer is no.

In reply to a post by gilesjuk:

iPhone 2G is ancient, approaching 4 years old. Even if you could get one it simply wouldn't be worth paying for one on a contract.

You can get one for about £120 on ebay.

Most contracts will be for the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS.

A contract isn't the cheapest way to get one either, I bought my iPhone 4 outright and I'm on a PAYG operator called GiffGaff. I reckon I've saved quite a bit over a £35 iPhone contract. But obviously if you have no savings that's not an option.

Yes, I agree with you giles. I have an iPhone4 and that's what I have done (using Tesco mobile -MUCH the cheapest way to do things)

He can't afford £120 hence his desire to get one via a contract.

In reply to a post by uno:

I think the lowest you'll find is a 3G, however, with a new iPhone due in May/June, you might be able to pick up some offers on the 3GS or 4.

Matt

Think you are spot on with that Matt.
If I can persuade him to wait, I think as you do that once iPhone 5 comes out he will get a better deal on the 3G or 3Gs.

That's a bummer. Keep and eye on eBay, I guess.

I realise that. But in the long run you're paying more.

Some contracts are two years long now!