Get unlimited calls and texts for a fiver

Forget Skype and other fancy deals, here's a new way for you and your loved ones to get unlimited calls and texts for next to nothing...

These days, communication is everything. With sites such as Twitter and Facebook mapping all our movements, it's little wonder random people often know more about you than your family.

It's scary, but the costs of staying in touch with loved ones 'the traditional way' (i.e. via phone and text) can mount up, and even those quick 'where are you' calls soon eat into your free allowances or top ups, especially if you're on a pay as you go deal.

But a range of add-ons and plans have cropped up in recent months, meaning you can now talk to your friends and family more, for less!

Family ties

T-Mobile recently launched its Family Booster service, which gives up to five members free calls, texts and picture messages to each other for just one £5 a month payment.

The only catch? Every member of the group must be a T-Mobile customer.

OK, changing networks is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you are already signed up to a contract. But the package is particularly ideal for parents who want to ensure their sons or daughters can always contact them.

Teenagers have no excuses for not calling home to let mum and dad know where they are, and everyone can reach each other in the event of an emergency. And the cost is restricted to just that £5 monthly payment.

Members of the group don't need to be related, and whether you're university flatmates, a family, or simply a group of close friends, as long as you are all on the same network, you can take advantage of the deal.

You can also cancel the service at any time, meaning you can keep in touch without tying yourself in for the long term.

The recent emergence of these deals doesn't surprise me. As customers look for price over provider, networks are increasingly looking for ways to keep customers loyal to them. And how better than to keep it in the family?

Rival plans

T-Mobile is not the first to launch this service, with other networks offering similar deals.

Here's a look at what's on offer:

T-Mobile's deal is the best of the three on offer. Not only is it cheaper than O2's service, but it offers more value than Vodafone, where only calls of up to 60 minutes are included.

The only downside of the T-Mobile deal is that the person who pays the fiver a month must be a pay monthly customer on a Combi, Flext or Solo (SIM only) plan, in contrast to the Vodafone and O2 deals where the principal customer can be a pay as you go user.

Overall, I think this is a good add-on for families wanting to keep in touch without worrying about big bills. However, if you plan to sign up with friends, it may be a good idea to keep a kitty aside, so one person isn't saddled with the bill each month while others talk and text for nothing.

If you're currently with a different network and want to take advantage of one of these deals, but also want to keep your number, ring your existing provider and ask for your Porting Authorisation Code (PAC).

It's free as long as you're not still in a contract. Give this code to your chosen provider, and they'll do the rest for you.

Finally, not to be left out, if you are a new or existing Orange customer, you are entitled to Magic Number, where you can talk to a nominated Orange number or landline for up to three hours a day, free of charge, or up to an hour for 20p if you're on pay as you go.

Getting out of a tight spot

If you don't like the idea of having to pay a monthly fee to keep in touch, or you only carry your phone for emergencies, many pay as you go deals now come with added extras, so you can always get in contact, even when you've run out of credit.

For example, Orange's Reserve Tank will lend you £2.50 if you ever run out of credit. Using the service costs 5p more per minute or text, so it should be used for emergency calls only. When you next top up, your call and text prices revert to your standard rates.

To set the service up, text TANK to 2002. When you find yourself in need of a credit boost, simply call 450 from your phone.

O2's offering is slightly better, and if you've got less than 50p credit on your phone, its 'Lend Us a Quid' service will credit your balance with an extra £1. What's more, if you pay back the money within seven days, you won't have to pay anything extra for the service - if not, they'll charge you 25p.

To set up, call 4444 free from your mobile and select the 'Lend Us a Quid' option.

Vodafone's service is called IOU. It costs 30p to use and credits your account with £2 when you need it most. To set up, call or text IOU to 468, and it will automatically kick in when you run out of credit.

Finally, T-Mobile's Call Me Back service gives you five free texts per month to ask people to call you back. It's available to all U-Fix and pay as you go customers, and gives you the security of knowing you're never left high and dry, even when your credit runs out.

More: The dos and don'ts of getting a mobile phone deal / The best mobile phone tariffs!