Household Bills
It’s not so good to talk: data overtakes minutes in search for phone deals
Data allowance is now more important than minutes for mobile phone users seeking out the best deals.
According to uSwitch.com, almost three quarters of users couldn’t do without web access via their phones, while 71% wouldn’t want to part with their phone’s email functionality.
Over a quarter of mobile users chat for less than 30 minutes per month while 23% spend more than five hours each month browsing the web on their phones.
Almost a third of Brits have allowances of less than 300 minutes per month and just 11% have opted for unlimited minutes.
But a quarter reckon they use less than a fifth of their minutes each month, while less than one in ten (8%) uses more than 80%.
One in ten (13%) uses Apple’s FaceTime video messaging to communicate with loved ones, with a further 16% preferring to chat via Skype – both of which rely on data.
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Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: “With the advent of new methods of communication in the last few years, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to how we stay in touch with our nearest and dearest. But we’re no longer finding it quite so good to talk. As much as we love them, it can now be more convenient – not to mention cost-effective – to use technology such as Skype, email and instant messaging services like WhatsApp, particularly if people make the most of free Wi-Fi where available.
“It’s now up to networks to respond to this shift by providing mobile owners with an attractive – and affordable – selection of deals offering data, while it’s equally vital that consumers make sure they choose a plan which best suits their needs.
“Checking your previous bills and comparing the latest deals online before upgrading can help you identify the most suitable bundle of minutes, texts and the all-important data allowance for how you use your phone – a move which can easily help you save money.”