Alot of the tariffs out there now are more text based, but they will all include some talk time be it 60 mins or 120 mins. My advice would be to get with one that gives you double minutes and texts for the first 3 months. They are a good deal as you will get lots of loverly texts and minutes for half the price.
Also go into a network shop, see what THEY have to offer you. In the network shops such as orange and Vodaphone they will be really nice and try to make you buy their tariffs. But in the high street shops that cater for all networks they will be more interested in earning there staff incentive bonus which is no help to you.
As for phones, go for a make which you know and trust. For many this will be Nokia. In the past when I have changed phones to a different manufacturer I have spent and good 2 weeks trying to figure it out and never really got on with the phone.
But bare in mind that the more expensive you contract is the cheaper the phones will be and visa versa.
Hope this helps
Fred :lol: