There are few better times to buy a mobile phone than at Christmas. The phone networks and stores always make it a season to be jolly by offering all kinds of deals and promotions. Some entice buyers with extra talk minutes or free text messages. Others are a little less subtle and encourage punters to part with their cash in exchange for free games, watches or entry to big money competitions. Here's the best of what's on offer.
One2One's Football Kit
In a bid to persuade footy fans to go mobile One2One has unveiled what it bills as "The Offer of the Season". A penny under £100 secures its limited edition Football Kit, which features not only a Siemens C45 mobile, but a host of other football-related goodies. Top billing goes to the ultra-addictive PC game Championship Manager that's bundled with the package. Once the footy fan has shown Messrs Wenger, Ferguson and co how it is done they can take advantage of a booklet offering over £250 worth of special vouchers and enter a text message-based football game. The Siemens C45 is a small, but stylish model that has good battery life and includes Wap facilities - ideal for football fans who want to keep up with the latest scores.
Non-football-lovers might want to buy a One2One phone in the hope they might find it pays for itself. Each week some lucky punter will win £25,000, while 100 runners-up will grab £100 each. More details from one2one.co.uk
Vodafone's Wap attack
No gifts or gimmicks from Vodafone this Christmas. However, the network does have some introductory promotions for new customers. Provided they buy a Vodafone-connected phone before the end of December, punters can while away January making free Wap calls, downloading free ringtones and listening to their free voicemail. The package also includes 50 free text messages, free text alerts and free footy phone calls. The deal is only available on certain phones and certain Vodafone packages. For more details check out vodafone.co.uk.
A free watch from Orange
If you want to ensure that a mobile isn't the only gadget you receive this Christmas, consider buying a mobile from Orange. As an enticement to customers, the network is offering a free Casio G-Shock or Baby-G watch to anyone who buys a phone and signs up to one of its pay-monthly service plans. See orange.co.uk
Win a Mondo with BT Cellnet
Cynics might say that BT Cellnet is being a little Scrooge-like this Christmas given its rather limited selection of offers. However there's good news for anyone considering buying a pay-as-you-go Wap phone from the network as you will receive 30 days of free Wap calls. Cellnet customers who haven't yet registered with the network via the website are advised to do so, as three of the network's customers will soon be taking delivery of the GPRS version of the Pocket PC/mobile phone combi, the Trium Mondo. Register at btcellnet.net
Free rucksack from Virgin
Fancy a new rucksack? First you have to buy £20 of airtime from Virgin. This entitles you to a £20 discount on any Virgin phone that costs over £100. Choose your model and then claim your rucksack. If the phone you choose can download ringtones, you also get a free ringtones voucher. Visit www.virgin.com/mobile
Carphone Warehouse's on-line savings
If you know which phone you want there's an added incentive to buy it online from Carphone Warehouse. The store is offering £5 off the price of any mobile over £20 if you purchase it online via carphonewarehouse .com. The store will also give you up to £50 for your old phone and has a selection of deals linked to specific phones and networks.
Freebie-fest from The Link
If your Christmas list includes a Samsung mobile phone on a pay-monthly tariff, it's worth popping along to The Link. The store is giving away a free Samsung camera if you pay £9.99 for the Samsung R200 phone and sign up to BT Cellnet. Splash out more on the Samsung A400 at £99.99 and a bottle of Calvin Klein's unisex fragrance CK1 is yours. There are also freebies for those who plump for pay-as-you-go phones from BT Cellnet. Buy a Nokia 3310 at £129.99 and you take home £50 worth of accessories. Alternatively if you fancy Motorola's super-sleek V50 at £169.95 you will also leave the store with a Sekonda watch. More at thelink.com
