Paul Turner

Ikea has launched its own mobile phone service called Family Mobile (which piggybacks on the T-Mobile network). This is “pay as you go” service offering very competitive rates when compared to other UK providers.

Basically it is a flat rate of 9p per minute whether you are calling a land line or another mobile phone, regardless of the network. Text messages are also reasonable at 6p each.

The service allows you to automatically top up your balance when a pre-set minimum is reached, so there is no need to worry about buying top up vouchers, and as it is aimed at family usage you can have multiple phones on the same account.

If you need to buy a handset then their prices do look more expensive than other service providers, so it will probably be cheaper to bring an existing handset or buy one elsewhere and take their SIM only option.

If you already have a phone that is compatible with the T-Mobile network then it should work, otherwise you may need to get your phone unlocked. Your existing provider may be able to do this for a fee, alternatively you can try and do it yourself. There are several sites on the internet that can give you the necessary information. One example is http://unlockme.co.uk/.