Vodafone UK is today launching Vodafone Red Hot, its first plan designed to allow pay monthly customers to rent the phone most in demand, changing it every year, without the need for a large payment upfront.
Building on the successful introduction of Vodafone Red, Vodafone Red Hot gives customers unlimited calls to UK mobile and landlines (starting 01,02,03), and texts, 2GB of internet and WiFi on a 12 month contract from £47/month which also includes insurance.
This contract currently gives you the choice of an iPhone5, Samsung Galaxy SIII or a Samsung Galaxy Note II
Vodafone’s Mark Howe said:
Red Hot is our way of acknowledging that everyone’s mobile needs have evolved. For some people, being up to date with the latest new tech is a big part of who they are and that’s certainly the case where new smartphones are concerned. But the tech comes with quite a large price tag attached to it and many people take 24-month price plans to spread their expenditure out.
An iPhone5 16GB on Red Hot will cost you £708, compared to the £499 list price from Apple, you’re getting 12 months of service for around £17.40 a month. With the unlimited landlines, texts and 2GB of data this is not a bad deal, except that you have to return the handset at the end of the contract, and depending on the condition you may get the next one for free or have to pay a charge if its scratched or damaged.
So, as usual, you’d be better off buying the phone outright and having it as an asset you can sell on again when you’re ready to upgrade…
Check out the main details of Vodafone Red Hot here, and the full T&Cs here.
This post was written by Rob Gordon, an IT geek, gadget lover and blogger. Rob has been using the internets since 1994 when the only streaming video was that coffee pot in Cambridge (rip)….
Follow Rob on Twitter – @robgordon – about.me/robgordonuk
