Sky Mobile, which uses O2’s signal to power the service, goes on sale today after the TV giant announced late last year that its deals would let customers keep data they do not use in their plan in a “piggybank” each month.
The leftover data can be activated at anytime using the Sky mobile app. Customers will also be able to change their data plan each month – with Sky offering 1GB, 3GB and 5GB Sim-only plans.
Although, anyone wanting to get a new handset will have to wait until Spring before Sky offers them.
At the moment it only offers a range of 12-month Sim-only deals, with prices starting from £10 per month for 1GB of data, £15 for 3GB and up to a maximum of £20 a month for 5GB.
Existing Sky TV customers will receive unlimited calls and texts for free – an offer that will cost an extra £10 a month for those not with Sky TV.
Sky+ customers will also be able to sync their recorded programmes to their smartphone and watch them whenever they like for free.
The firm will also offer a “pay as you use” option for calls and texts, with phone calls costing 10p a minute and texts 10p each.
Experts have likened the new service to virtual network, Giffgaff, which is also powered by O2’s network.
Ewan Taylor-Gibson, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: “Sky’s SIM-only set up is distinctly comparable to giffgaff’s. Both piggyback off O2’s network and both allow customers to dial their plans up or down depending on their usage. Mobile users love that kind of flexibility – it shouldn’t be underestimated as a perk.
“However, it is only competitive as long as you’re a Sky customer.”
Sky said it hoped the service would be a "disruptor" in the mobile market.
A survey commissioned by Sky Mobile suggests that almost 20 million UK smartphone users deliberately buy more data than they need each month for fear of being overcharged.
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of those buying unnecessary data end up losing around 1GB of their allowance every month, while 21 per cent said they have no idea how much data they have left at the end of each month, the poll found.
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