Samsung has officially just announced the launch of its brand new - and insanely beautiful handset - the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Not scrimping on features, the Korean smartphone giant's premium phone is being touted as the major rival to Apple's rumoured new iPhone in September, so unsurprisingly, it doesn't come cheap. The high-end handset will set you back from a whopping £899 if you pick it up SIM free, with pre-orders set to open tomorrow (9th August) at 5pm GMT on phone network websites as well as on Carphone Warehouse, ahead of its launch on Friday 24th August 2018. The cheapest price we've spotted so far appears to come from Three, who have the luxury device for £53 per month for 30GB data, unlimited mins and texts, plus plenty of their network freebies. While the 128GB variant costs £899, Samsung's even more powerful 512GB is a staggering £1099. If you can't quite afford to fork out on a brand new mobile all at once, you can pay it off each month with … [Read more...] about How to pre-order Samsung Galaxy Note 9 as UK mobile networks announce prices
Pay you as go mobile phones
20m people losing money on mobile, phone and broadband for one simple reason
Busy lives and small print do not mix well. So it is easy to forget where you are with your telly, mobile and broadband contracts. Regulator Ofcom says that most consumers do not have a clue when their contract ends or what happens next. It suspects more than 20 million people are out of their minimum contract period. And if you are one of them, it could be costing you. When deals end Providers rarely tell customers their contract is nearly up. That is because most have a provision where there is an automatic price increase when it ends. For instance, Ofcom says that customers with a landline and broadband deal typically pay 20per cent more after their contract ends. Consumers with mobile phone contracts can also suffer greatly. A reader called Harrison, from Southend in Essex, told me that when his mobile contract ended in February the provider continued to charge him for his handset. He was furious as he had already paid this off during the initial … [Read more...] about 20m people losing money on mobile, phone and broadband for one simple reason
Five things to remember when getting a mobile phone in Sweden
This article is available to Members of The Local. Read more Membership Exclusives here. Choose wisely – you're in it for the long run Subscription plans for mobile phones tend to be on the longer side in Sweden, with 24-month contracts common. That's worth keeping in mind when you decide which operator to go with, as it makes cancelling subscriptions unpractical for most. If you do decide you've had enough but have time left on your contract, you'll be asked to cough up the remaining months' fees in a lump sum – a costly endeavour. An alternative could be asking your operator to switch to a cheaper plan (which some carriers allow), then paying out the fee on a month-by-month basis even if you don't use the phone over that time. It could still be an easier pill to swallow than footing thousands of kronor at once. Photo: Isabell Höjman/TT Keep an eye open for discounts Aged 26 or under? Good news. Many providers offer a reduced youth rate when signing up to a … [Read more...] about Five things to remember when getting a mobile phone in Sweden
Is driving using your mobile phone illegal in the UK, how much is the fine and do you get points on your licence?
THOUSANDS of drivers are caught each year by eagle-eyed cops after using their mobile phones at the wheel, with distracted drivers causing hundreds of fatal accidents on Britain's roads. Despite several high-profile campaigns and the government hiking up the fine if you are caught, some motorists persist in texting and calling while driving - but actually even touching your phone while driving is against the law, whether to check a message or use GPS. Can you use a mobile phone while driving? It has been illegal to touch a mobile phone - even with a hands free set - while driving since 2003. This includes using a mobile to follow a map, read a text or check social media. The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic as your engine is still running. You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Can you use hands-free? You can use … [Read more...] about Is driving using your mobile phone illegal in the UK, how much is the fine and do you get points on your licence?
Duty of Care: Mothers’ excessive use of mobile phones is driving behavioural problems among children, study finds
Parents’ excessive use of mobile phones has been linked to increasing children’s behaviour problems in the world’s first study of its kind. The research involving almost 200 families found that children whose parents were addicted to their phones were significantly more likely to have behaviour problems. Some 40% of the mothers and 32% of the fathers admitted some form of phone addiction such as being unable to resist checking messages, always thinking about incoming calls or texts or simply feeling they used it too much. This led to what the researchers dubbed “technoference” in their relationships with their children where their everyday interactions were interrupted by digital or mobile devices whether during face-to-face conversations or at meal or play times. Over the six months of the study almost half the families reported such “technoference” happening at least three times a day, 24% said it occurred twice a day and 17% at least once. … [Read more...] about Duty of Care: Mothers’ excessive use of mobile phones is driving behavioural problems among children, study finds