The number of UK mobile networks continues to expand with new MVNOs popping up rather frequently. Today I’ve learned about two more options for those on the lookout for a new SIM-only plan. Three has just launched Smarty, and Vodafone is readying Voxi (from 8th Sept), both offering particular attractive qualities, depending upon your data usage patterns.
Smarty
Smarty’s unique proposition is that the network will buy back unused data chunks by the way of discounts to your next month’s bill. This is a SIM-only network set up by Three which has just three tariffs to choose from, for now. Check out the tariff chart allocations and pricing below.
All the plans are 30 day rolling contracts that include unlimited UK minutes and texts. At the time of writing Smarty hasn’t put into place calling abroad, roaming (calls / texts / data), or premium number support but promises that it is “working on it”. Hopefully it will mirror the Three Advanced plan roaming countries and terms of use.
It’s with data use things get funky, but in a good way. Smarty says that all the standard plans have £5 allocated to provide you with unlimited calls and texts and any data aloowance has been added at £1.25 per GB. You start with what you feel is a comfortable plan and if you under utilise the data you paid for, you will get credit back on your bill next time around. Credit is calculated in MBs and at the same rate as you bought it. So you won’t get short changed as data is not bought back in rigid GB sized chunks for example.
Voxi
Voxi is yet to launch but has been announced (via Engadget) for an 8th September debut. Like Smarty, it will start with just three 30 day plans but they are somewhat more expensive. Voxi is said to be designed “for and with people aged 25 and under” and includes some niceties aimed particularly at social media enthusiasts.
Voxi offers the following 30-day 4G plans:
- £10 = 2GB data
- £15 = 5GB data
- £20 = 15GB data
The particular appeal of Voxi is that heavy social media users shouldn’t impact their data allowances when using key social networks / apps, as follows: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter and Viber. That would be much more attractive if it included YouTube and Spotify, for example, but we know those apps/sites are rather data hungry.
If you approach 80 per cent usage of your data allowance you will get an alert from Voxi, followed by another at 100 per cent. Subsequent data is charged at £3 per GB.
Voxi sounds superior to Smarty in that its roaming terms are already published. You can use your phone as you do at home in 50 destinations at no extra cost – including countries outside the EU, such as Switzerland and Turkey. If you are wondering, the unmetered data use within the aforementioned social media apps also applies when roaming. Voxi SIMS can be pre-ordered now.
Helping you choose between Smarty and Voxi will be your pre-existing awareness and experience of the Three/Vodafone network strength and availability where you live and work.