What the main differences betwen the above? Do the connected phones still lack a lot of the features of a sim free phone?

sim-free means you get the phone "as-is" without contract, not tied to a network. you get the phone as described by the manufacturer.

a connected phone is generally tied to one network, and therefore cannot be used with a different network sim card. these phones are generally as standard, occasionally they come in a unique colour, and have network specific software which brands the phone as belonging to that network. My sagem phone says "vodafone" when you turn it on etc. but i could conceivably unlock this phone and use it on T-mobile or Orange without difficulty.

The main difference between a sim free and a connected mobile is the price you pay. Most networks offer free or discounted handsets as an incentive to sign a 12 month contract. A sim free phone is a non-subsidised handset and generally costs a lot more for the "freedom" it gives you.

[LV426]

In case you didn't work it out - a SIM free phone will not work on its own. You need a SIM card as well. But these are cheap or free depending on network and type of service.

As stated, buy a phone complete with SIM and it will be locked to that network. Buy a SIM free phone, and a separate SIM, and you can then change networks ((by getting a different SIM) whenever you like.

[woody67]

Don't O2 contract phones still come unlocked?

It can be a cheap way to buy a new phone if you get a good contract deal - the cost of a years line rental can still be cheaper than a sim-free purchase, so you just put your existing sim in and transfer the new phones sim onto the lowest tarrif and don't use it - cancel after a year.

SPs' generally tailor the phones start up screen and web/data settings for their own connection settings, but functionality is essentially the same for contract or sim-free

[jian]

Only T Mobile and Orange lock their phones, Voda and O2 have always come from the factory unlocked.

Cheers everyone! I might go for a free handset from 02 then and save my self a few bob. Back in the day i got a connected and it had a lot missing compared to sim free. Looks like things have changed.

there is noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo difference

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by jian

Only T Mobile and Orange lock their phones, Voda and O2 have always come from the factory unlocked.

I think you will find that Vodafone lock thier phones, My gx20 was locked and had to be unlocked before it would take a t mobile sim.

[Spooksta]

and BT phones????
locked... unlocked ?

[Battlestar]

Originally Posted by Spooksta

and BT phones????
locked... unlocked ?

Not sure.

I had a bt cell net nokia phone a while ago on contract, and when I sold it on to a freind who had an orange sim card it worked with no problems. I dont know wether that is the case now though.

[yaserk99]

BT phones come sim free all the time. i have bought a T610 from the carphone and my mate bought a e700 from the link and they both came sim free on BT. I DONT THINK BT BOTHER BUT if you wish to buy from orange or vodafone- the main culprits tend to lock the phones to they own respective networks. for example orange tend to change the menu. when i bought my Panasonic X70 from them they had changed the original menu and had their own although it is better than the menu on my sim-free d500- which i bought online from www.e2save.com on the vodafone network. suprised it wasnt locked . on new phones that you get from orange they also have a orange menu on the home screen which you cant remove the popular phones that have that is the grey d500, SE k700 and samsung e800. check the difference out lads.