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17 November 2012 ~ 0 Comments

EE found to be dodging tax

EE, the network bringing 4G LTE to the UK and the parent company of Orange and T-Mobile, have been shown to be avoiding untold billions in tax. They join Vodafone and LycaMobile amongst the shamed ranks of companies avoiding their tax liabilities.

EE’s latest accounts show that it has not paid anything at all in corporation tax in the UK. It is thought that the company is manipulating accounts so it technically makes a loss in the UK and can avoid paying taxes. This is despite the company spending millions for the spectrum required to provide 4G services and annual sales of £6.8 billion in 2011. Vodafone have been reported to be dodging £6 billion of UK taxes but it’s not clear exactly how much EE should be paying.

The revelations come as the debate about mega corporations failing to pay tax in the UK hits a peak. Activist group UK Uncut points out that people are told they must pay their taxes and that there’s no alternative to the ideological cuts to public services. Corporate tax dodging is thought to cost the state almost £100 billion per year yet, thanks to the Coalition’s crippling cuts and normal people are suffering while HMRC allows companies like EE and Vodafone to avoid paying taxes.

EE may legally be allowed to make use of this loophole while it lasts, but the British public are getting impatient will morally dubious tactics like this.

What’s your take? What do you think of EE not paying any corporation tax? Are they greedy thieves or smart? Do mobile companies have a social obligation to pay a fair rate of tax? And do you think the government should do more about it?

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14 November 2012 ~ 0 Comments

Giffgaff price changes and new goodybag

At the beginning of the month, budget mobile network Giffgaff implemented their latest price restructuring. After an in-depth community consultation regarding mobile data usage, they decided to retain their great-value unlimited data tariffs but increase the monthly cost a little. What was previously the £10 goodybag has now gone up to £12 per month and you still get 250 any-network minutes and completely unlimited texts and mobile internet. And that’s on top of unlimited Giffgaff-to-Giffgaff calls and texts.

While this might not seem like the best news, Giffgaff have claimed its necessary to ensure the longevity of the unlimited data deals. It may be an extra two quid a month but it’s still by far the cheapest deal in the UK for mobile internet.

Also, in our opinion, there’s actually a good side to this. Mobile users have long been requesting cheaper tethering-enabled mobile data from Giffgaff ever since they launched their long-awaited Gigabags. Now, Giffgaff have replaced the £10 goodybag with one than allows tethering. So you can finally get a package that includes calls as texts but that also allows you to use the same SIM in a tablet or dongle or even connect it to your laptop or PC. You can even use your Android phone as a portable wifi hotspot.

The new £10 goodybag will come with 1GB of mobile internet with tethering allowed as well as the usual 250 minutes, and unlimited texts. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any other UK deal than that. We’ve had a chance to try out the new goodybags over the last few days and have to say that the data speed on the new goodybags is very good indeed. And the tethering really is a godsend – it feels like a great luxury to be able to use your phone as a wifi hotspot for your laptop, tablet and whatever else when out and about, on a train or wherever.

Don’t forget, you can now get Giffgaff SIM cards including £5 extra credit absolutely free. And we’re still offering new nano-SIMs for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini – they also have the £5 free credit.

What do you think of this change? Was it for the best or are you annoyed to have to pay more? Have you found any better deals elsewhere? And are you enjoying tethering on Giffgaff?

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12 November 2012 ~ 0 Comments

Top 5 Nokia Lumia 800 cases

Our site has been giving a lot of attention to the Apple and Android devices lately, but what about Windows Phone and Nokia? If you’ve got a new Nokia Lumia 800 you may feel a bit disappointed about covering up the colorful phone design with a bulky case, but there are some out there that offer a decent amount of protection whilst keeping your phone looking swell.

Ecell Head Case Designs Range

Only £4.95

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Ecell Head Case
Ecell’s Head Case Designs range may not be the most protective of cases for your Nokia Lumia 800, but they are extremely stylish and there are many different designs to choose from. The case itself is made of plastic and attaches itself to the back of your handset giving your Lumia a little bit of extra grip and a small layer of protection if you happen to drop it.

The Head Case designs range don’t wrap around to the front of your phone so it may look less attractive if the case colour conflicts with the colour of your device, and if you drop it on a hard surface, it isn’t really going to do much to impact the fall. However, with the sheer range of high-quality designs, they are sure to add some colour to your Lumia 800.

Price
Protection
Durability
Style
Portability

 

EMARTBUY Lumia Wave

Only £1.25

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EMARTBUY Lumia Wave
The Lumia Wave case consists of a hard silicone gel and covers your Lumia 800 with a stylish wavy design. The case will snugly house your phone without any major difficulties and gives it a sturdy, yet lightweight feel.

The case only comes in a blue colour, but there is also a red polka dot version and a purple colour for anyone who doesn’t like the blue design. The case does seemed to be aimed at females yet.

The silicone case itself feels impressively tough for the price, and it’s likely to do a great job of keeping your Lumia in shape whilst preventing it from getting any scratches from day-to-day use around the house.

Price
Protection
Durability
Style
Portability

 

Supergets flip leather case

Was £4.99 Now from £2.99

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Supergets flip leather case
For only £3, Supergets are giving Nokia owners the opportunity to get their hands on a decent leather case, a stylus pen, a screen protector, and a polishing cloth. The leather case has a plastic clip to attach your Lumia to, and a few pockets to keep credit cards or cash in. It has convenient holes for the camera, charger port and headphone jack which will keep you from fiddling around with your phone and taking it in and out of the plastic hold. This is especially important with the Supergets flip case as the plastic feels a little tacky and will break easily under pressure.

As for the other accessories, the stylus pen is useable, but perhaps a little on the thick side; it’s useful for cold days or writing neat notes, but personally I’d find it far quicker and more convenient to use my fingers. The screen protector is a little difficult to place on the Lumia correctly, and if you muck up it’s gone, but it is nice Supergets have included this in the package. The same goes for the small cleaning cloth which is handy for stopping grease and dust from clogging up your phone.

The leather itself is quite thick and will protect your device from any damages or common falls that your phone may come across in its lifespan. The Supergets flip case also comes in a few different colours at different prices.

Price
Protection
Durability
Style
Portability

 

Nokia CC-1031

From £3.85

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Nokia CC-1031
The Nokia CC-1031 is an official accessory for the Nokia Lumia 800, which means it could possibly be the most protective compared to third party accessories, but it’s also probably the most expensive.

If you’re happy with the black colour, you can grab yourself a case for a very pleasing £3.85, otherwise you’ll have to fork out around three times that amount for a more attractive coloured version.

The case is made of rubber and can easily be taken on and off the Lumia 800 without splitting, and manages to keep a super slim form factor when using it with your phone. The rubber case does a good job at absorbing the impact of small drops, but from a higher distance from the ground, and other variables that could happen in a natural environment, it’s hard to tell if the the extra price does the overall product a bit of an injustice. It’s very easy to access all the phones physical buttons and ports when using the case though, and the official name definitely gives us the satisfaction of a decent quality control over the items before shipment. Overall, it’s a smart and functional case for a decent price.

Price
Protection
Durability
Style
Portability

 

Nokia Functional Case

Was £19.99 Now from £14.41

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Nokia Functional Case
The Functional Case is another product by Nokia so its quality is of a much higher standard than most other accessory suppliers, and it fits tightly to the Lumia 800’s chasis. The leather has been smartly moulded around the plastic holder instead of being stitched, and unlike the Supergets case, the plastic is sturdy and durable. Surprisingly, the case isn’t all that thick and fits in your pocket without any hassle.

The leather case comes in black, white and brown, at a few varying prices, with the white one being the cheapest at £14.41, which is currently saving you over £5.

The leather flip design won’t be for everyone though, and although the magnetic clip is tucked away neatly, it covers the USB charger and SIM slot which for some may be quite frustrating.

In summary, it’s a great-looking case and, as well as being smart, it will do the job of looking after your phone. The product is more expensive than the other cases on the list, but for more money you’re paying for a better constructed product that will keep your device safe from all sorts of bumps and falls in its rather lengthy life time.

Price
Protection
Durability
Style
Portability

 

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