Cell Phone Challenged

[Iambjm]

Okay, I am at my 2 year upgrade (which Verizon clerk told me they are doing away with)and I would like to get a new phone. Here is the question, I have an LG ENV2 and I do like it most of the time, but my husband always complains that the call quality is bad. So I start researching on the internet, and while the newer phones look really cool I don't think I need all that junk. I use around 100-150 minutes a month and the only time I go much higher is when I am with my fishing buddies, texting average around 20-25 a month. When I look at just the feature phones like mine there is not much left out there, do I want to pony up another $30 a month for a data plan? I used to consider myself kinda savvy when it comes to computers and such but the newer technology is really confusing me. Any suggestions about a good plain old feature phone that works great?

[pureinsanity]

are you opposed to multimedia phones?

[upnorth]

You don't need a data plan unless you get a smart phone or use the phone to access the web.

[pureinsanity]

You don't need a data plan unless you get a smart phone or use the phone to access the web.

Some carrier require you with a new contract to have the data plan.

[Iambjm]

Not sure what you mean by multimedia, my LG Env2 can access the internet but they hit me for $1.99 per megabyte. It has navigator on it which I never use, camera (gets lots of use), music player (use occasionally), can text and send and receive pictures. I guess they call mine a feature phone. Hubby has my old Samsung which we have on a prepaid account, pay $100 good for up to a year and last year he only used $35 of it so we re-upped and he can rollover the remaining $65 to this year. I figure I will let him use it more so we don't waste the money. His yearly bill figures out to a little over $8 a month.

[pureinsanity]

your phone would be a multimedia phone. I would see if you can block the data, keep the phone and just use it for text and calling

[BobT]

Quote:

Some carrier require you with a new contract to have the data plan

That's assuming they don't care about losing you as a customer. In this age of electronics I would find it very difficult, no impossible, to believe they can't disable that feature if they want to satisfy you as a customer.

[Iambjm]

After talking with a good friend today I am thinking of getting a CasioGzone multimedia phone, which is similar to the one I have but it is ruggedized supposedly to military standards. My friend said for the $30 a month I would have to pay for the data plan I could get myself a small laptop or netbook to take with me on my trips and just head to somewhere that has WiFi and get on the internet. I did just buy a laptop for the other half, but somehow I don't think he will let it out of his hands.

[pureinsanity]

when i bought a windows phone I just wanted it as a phone and then wifi capable. I spent hours on the phone with Verizon reps bringing up issues. They wouldn't budge on the data plan. I explained to them everywhere I go has wifi. From my home to my work place I can pretty much grab open wifi on the whole drive to work. They said I had good points and would bring it up in the next meeting. But I doubt it ever came up.

Some carriers require it based on the contract with the phone manufactures. For instance black berry requires data to even function or so I was told. It needs the data to run on the black berry network.

[upnorth]

I have not heard of carrier that will let you get a smartphone without a data plan. Probably more to do with the cost of the phone and having to get a pay back than convenience for the customer.

[pureinsanity]

I have not heard of carrier that will let you get a smartphone without a data plan. Probably more to do with the cost of the phone and having to get a pay back than convenience for the customer.

Thats true! you can threaten to leave them. They don't really care though. all the carriers are pretty much the same these days.

[LightningBG]

I have a "multimedia" phone (samsung rogue) that I was able to just do a $10 data plan. The "smart" phones required the $30 data package. I got my dad a real simple camera phone with no data plan at all, but he can still text.

With your limited use, would a prepaid save you money at all?

[zamboni]

If I weren't under contract, I would look into Boost. $35 a month for unlimited data/talk/text. You can't beat that with a stick

[Matt C]

Okay, I am at my 2 year upgrade (which Verizon clerk told me they are doing away with)and I would like to get a new phone. Here is the question, I have an LG ENV2 and I do like it most of the time, but my husband always complains that the call quality is bad. So I start researching on the internet, and while the newer phones look really cool I don't think I need all that junk. I use around 100-150 minutes a month and the only time I go much higher is when I am with my fishing buddies, texting average around 20-25 a month. When I look at just the feature phones like mine there is not much left out there, do I want to pony up another $30 a month for a data plan? I used to consider myself kinda savvy when it comes to computers and such but the newer technology is really confusing me. Any suggestions about a good plain old feature phone that works great?

My wife LOVED her LG ENVY. She thought it was very easy to type/text with. It had a decent camera as well for thos fish pics.

Good sound quality and she never complained about dropped calls or anything.

She has since moved to a Blackberry.

[Iambjm]

If I weren't under contract, I would look into Boost. $35 a month for unlimited data/talk/text. You can't beat that with a stick

In doing a ton of research, Boost mobile, Sprint, Virgin Mobile are all out because of either very limited or no coverage where I live. Who would have thunk that my dream lot would turn out to be such a challenge. Wild Blue for internet (yuck) Dish network for TV (yuck again), and cell coverage challenged. I do spend some time at Upper Red lake in the winter, where I do need coverage in case my other half needs to get a hold of me. He has disabilities. I have actually toyed with the idea of going on a prepaid plan and that may happen.

[MN Mike]

It won't be long and coverage won't be as much of an issue as it is now. Lightsquared has been making the press lately and will be going into testing soon, hopefully with the way technology moves these days, it won't be long and we will get to take advantage of it, I've always had good luck with Verizon but I like their concept, at 7 billion in investments, I think they are pretty serious about it.

Mike

[Iambjm]

Thank you Mr. Gore for the internet (tongue in cheek). In doing my research for a new phone I have been reading all the reviews and the phone I was leaning towards has had a lot of problems with shutting itself off. Looking more and more like I will be keeping mine.