5punk

The Galaxy S II is a brilliant phone, and definitely the best bet at the moment. I've got a HTC Desire and it's getting updated to Gingerbread (2.3) around June time, and it first shipped with Eclair (2.1), so it's seen a good few updates which I can't complain about. Since newer Android versions can run on my now dated hardware, and considering what Google announced, I'm sure you'd get a few on the Galaxy S II as well.

Getting an iPhone 4 now would be a bit silly, and the iPhone 5 has been delayed until September.

Walked in to a three shop yesterday and asked about my upgrade options they offered me the phone there and then. Didn't even have to make a phone call or spend any money. Woop! Got the galaxy s II. Amazing phone, using the browser just now with swype. Innovative and crazy way of 'typing' lol. So far after half a days use, very happy with the decision!

Well, my phone situation has somewhat sorted itself, by my phone breaking.

Anyway, I'm thinking galaxy 2, suggestions for networks? Looks like Orange and O2 are my best bets, any thoughts?

O2 (by virtue of being a BT spinoff) have the best coverage across the UK, but you probably already know that.

network wise, i rate vodafone. but i think the others do better deals.
blackberry tard here, so i couldnt comment on other phones tho

oh, and this subnetwork thingy looks handy and cheap. http://giffgaff.com/
might be cheaper to use them and buy a phone outright than sign up to an expensive contract

That would be fun, but I've not got the cash to do it, so that's out the window.

http://ukmobilecoverage.co.uk/ is decent if you wish to check out coverage.

My experience in practice indictates the opposite of those maps, that as far as coverage goes Vodafone is the best, Orange second and O2 third. Perhaps they've done some work in the last year to remedy this, but it would be quite a turnaround.

Of course this is particular to the places I go and the phones on other networks of the people I have with me, but it's probably worth running the same experiment yourself if you have a cross-section of network users in the places you visit most.

Strangely enough in about 7 years of being with O2 I seem to remember more occasions when someone on another network has no signal while I do. Apart from on RAF stations who used Vodafone and refused to let any other service provider put a mast up. But then unless you live in the Hebrides or a remote Welsh valley it doesn't seem to be much of an issue nowadays.