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SIM only

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SIM only also sometimes referred to as a SIM only deal, a pay monthly SIM or a SIM only contract.

[1] Commonly sold as a product by mobile telecommunications companies, the term SIM only refers to a type of legally binding contract between a mobile network provider and a customer. The contract itself takes the form of a credit agreement and is subject to a credit check.

[2] Within a SIM only contract the mobile network provider supplies their customer with just one piece of hardware, a SIM card, which includes an agreed amount network usage in exchange of set monthly payment to be made by the customer. Network usage within a SIM only contract can is measured in minutes, text, data or any combination of these. The duration of a SIM only contract can vary depending on the deal selected by the customer but in the UK they are available over 1, 3, 6 and 12 month periods.

SIM only contracts differ from mobile phone contracts in that they do not include any hardware other than a SIM card. In terms of network usage SIM only is typically more cost effective than other mobile device contracts because unlike these other contracts a SIM only deal does not offset the cost of a mobile device over the contract period. Short contract length is one of the key features of SIM only which are made possible due to the absence of a mobile device.

[3] SIM only is increasing in popularity very quickly. In 2010 pay monthly based mobile phone subscriptions grew from 41 percent to 49 percent of all UK mobile phone subscriptions.[4] According to GFK 250,000 SIM-only mobile contracts were taken up in the UK during July 2012 alone, the highest figure since research company GfK began keeping records.

Increasing smartphone penetration combined with financial concerns are leading customers to save money by moving onto a SIM-only when their initial contract term is over.

References

  1. ^ Walter, Matt. "What is SIM Only". Comparisim. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Comparisim". Comparisim. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. ^ "A nation addicted to smartphones". Ofcom.
  4. ^ "UK sales of SIM-only mobile contracts set a new record". The Fone Cast. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
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