"Roger Mills" <watt.tyler@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:52gt3qF1o51kmU1@mid.individual.net...
> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> Tim Downie <timdownie2003@obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> "J B" <jb@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:52glesF1ocvunU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "John Smith" <*@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:CWEwh.4220$lV5.227@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
>>>
>>>> 1. Is there such a thing as a 'free' phone upgrade from Orange?
>>>
>>> Yep
>>>
>>>> I have never had one.
>>>
>>> Why not???? ;-)
>>
>> Maybe he's on PAYG or a Virgin OVP tariff?
>>
>> Tim
>
>
> The latter doesn't stop you getting free upgrades - I've had *two*!
> --
> Cheers,
> Roger
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As others say you will be locked into Orange for another 12 or 18 months if
you take their upgrade. So, I would take yourself off to Carphonewarehouse
and have a look at what they have on Orange, O2 or T-Mobile Pay as you go.
Most of these will be standard GSM stock rather than the locked versions
that other shops sell. You can generally tell this if you ask them to show
you a phone and it comes in a box without a network's logo and some
assitance will freely tell you if its locked or not anyway.

I have had 2 Motorolas and an SE on O2, Orange and T-Mobile and all were
unlocked for any network. This is MUCH cheaper than getting a SIM free
phone, especially from Expansys who are good but EXPENSIVE.