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Old 03-19-2013, 12:43 PM   #21
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The cheapest phone is Metro Pcs. I spend 70.00 for unlimited text and talk for my son and I both
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Old 03-19-2013, 06:40 PM   #22
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I must not understand some aspect of this, otherwise these complex strategies seem a bit over the top. You can buy a T-Mobile unlimited cell plan for $50+ state sales tax for 30 days. Long distance in US is free. The phones from Wal-Mart cost less than $50, and no contract is involved. I used to have an ATT phone that dropped calls very often. With T-Mobile I drop maybe one per month. It is completely hassle free, and unless fiddling wth techology is a pleasure center this seems to be an easy way to handle communication needs.

It seems to me that a cell phone has every utility or more as a wireline phone, and you can put it in your pocket and take it along when you go out.

Ha
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Old 03-19-2013, 06:53 PM   #23
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If Sprint coverage is decent where you want to use the phone Ting ( www.ting.com) is an excellent option.
Ting.com is awesome! We have 3 smartphones and one regular phone; I have never paid over $95/month. That includes some heavy text users. Ting recently started selling used phones through glyde.com; you can also bring many Sprint unlocked phones over to their service. No contracts, just plain good customer service.

Also started trying out Talkatone; this app lets you make free calls over 3G or wifi from your smartphone using Google voice.
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Old 03-20-2013, 08:22 PM   #24
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I've used Consumer Cellular for years. Two phones, modest data usage at $30-$35 per month. Ask if they have any returned/refurbished phones, they cut the price for the phone. Consumer Cellular - No Contract Cell Phones with Affordable Cell Phone Plans
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Old 03-21-2013, 07:59 AM   #25
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I've used Consumer Cellular for years. Two phones, modest data usage at $30-$35 per month. Ask if they have any returned/refurbished phones, they cut the price for the phone. Consumer Cellular - No Contract Cell Phones with Affordable Cell Phone Plans
Thanks, we have considered consumer cellular. Also, they provide a small AARP discount. Out of curiosity, what model phone do you have?

Thanks,

Golfnut
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Old 03-21-2013, 04:24 PM   #26
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If the usage is broken down approximately even per the two phones, PagePlus has $12 a month plans with 250 min/250 texts. I use their prepaid refills - 2000 minutes that last a year for $80 (as low as $76 from CallingMart).

https://www.pagepluscellular.com/plans/
I have used this too for the last 2 months. Page Plus had a special when I signed up and got the 2000 minutes for $77. One thing I like about their deal is you get a reminder of how many $$$ you have remaining every time you place a call.
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Old 03-21-2013, 09:59 PM   #27
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I was a late arrival getting a cellphone, in Oct 2008, when I got a Verizon flip-phone (i.e., it didn't text or surf). I was not interested in sending texts or using the phone to connect to the Net. I just wanted a mobile phone to make and receive phone calls, nothing more. That remains true to this day. And, after I ERd and did not need to be on call or make j*b-related calls, my # of calls diminished considerably. Today, I suppose I use well under 100 minutes per month. That's just me, YMMV.

About a year ago I decided that my low minute usage did not justify the $55/month I was paying Verizon. So, since then, I researched alternatives. I decided on a Tracfone phone, the LG840 from Amazon, plus bought 600 minutes, with triple minutes for life, 6 months service, along with charging accessories, for some $75.00. No contract involved; just buy more minutes/months. I even got to keep my old Verizon phone number. When my time is about to expire this July, I will consider buying Tracfone's $100/one year/400 minutes (1,200 minutes with my "triple minutes for life" option). That should cost me under $10 per month. Suits my purposes.

This LG840 mobile from Tracfone is a hybrid between my old Verizon flip-phone and a true smartphone. It's what I think they label a "feature phone." (BTW: I got a Samsung tablet to surf the net when I am on the road. So, again, I am not interested in having a phone that can do what the tablet can do.)

So far I am happy with my decision to switch from my old Verizon flip-phone to my new Tracfone feature phone. It is costing me a lot less $ per month. The Tracfone always shows on the front window of the phone itself (and my online Tracfone account too) how many minutes and days I have left remaining--to alert me when I should buy more minutes/months.

The only disadvantage I have uncovered so far is that my new phone does not allow callers to leave me a voice mail if I do not pick up--unlike my former Verizon phone. Instead, I have to go thru my phone options to see if there were any calls that I did not answer, then call back if I choose. I have since learned this is because I did not get a particular Tracfone that provides this feature.
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Old 03-24-2013, 02:57 PM   #28
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The only disadvantage I have uncovered so far is that my new phone does not allow callers to leave me a voice mail if I do not pick up--unlike my former Verizon phone. Instead, I have to go thru my phone options to see if there were any calls that I did not answer, then call back if I choose. I have since learned this is because I did not get a particular Tracfone that provides this feature.
Well, the manual wasn't too helpful so I found online how to set up voice mail for this phone. So all is good after all!
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:05 AM   #29
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I hardly ever use my cellphone, but I want one handy in case of emergencies. I use a Tracfone with double and carryover minutes. I end up accumulating a lot of unused minutes. I get a year's service (actually a year and three months) for $70 by buying a $20 card then taking the $49 option of adding 365 service days. Suits me pretty well. Works out to about $4.70 a month.
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:03 AM   #30
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Thanks, we have considered consumer cellular. Also, they provide a small AARP discount. Out of curiosity, what model phone do you have?

Thanks,

Golfnut
Sorry for the delayed response, just noted your question. We're up to four phones now, $55 per month for 300 shared minutes, 500 shared text (before extra taxes).
one is a very basic Nokia 1600 candybar shaped phone
Two are Motorola basic flip phones (with camera, limited internet functionality)
One is a Nokia C3 with full keyboard.

None would be considered a smartphone.

Paid $15 each for the Motorola as we had a phone die (after 5years) and added one for youngest boy.
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Old 05-13-2013, 06:18 PM   #31
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New Concept...Just starting out
Buy Phone, join plan $4.99 add as many phones as you like... Pay only for usage... As of now, just a few phone available starting at $199.


ZACT
Go to Zact Site for calculator Roll your own plan ie. 500 min $9.43... 1Gig Data $24.63, 500 Texts $4.43... Rollover ok.
Sprint Network 4G/LTE network.

Zact: Build Your Own Wireless Plan, Down to the Last Detail | TIME.com

In the news today. Google for more details.
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Old 09-08-2014, 10:02 AM   #32
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Resurrecting this thread to thank those who introduced me to PagePlus. My Verizon contract ran out this month and I switched 4 low use phones to the $80 / 2000 minute (good for one year) plan. For $320 for the YEAR, I have Verizon quality cell phone service for 4 phones ! Amazing.
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Old 09-08-2014, 12:30 PM   #33
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Yes. It's amazing.

About a year and a half ago I bought an slightly obsolete unlocked smart phone.

I signed on with not the cheapest vendor but one that provided good service at a price about $40 a month under the big providers. As of today, I could literally through my smart phone in the trash can and I would still be well ahead of where I would be under a 2 year contract.

Of course, I am keeping my smart phone and pocketing the $40+ dollars a month.
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Old 09-08-2014, 12:40 PM   #34
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Originally Posted by imoldernu View Post
New Concept...Just starting out
Buy Phone, join plan $4.99 add as many phones as you like... Pay only for usage... As of now, just a few phone available starting at $199.


ZACT
Go to Zact Site for calculator Roll your own plan ie. 500 min $9.43... 1Gig Data $24.63, 500 Texts $4.43... Rollover ok.
Sprint Network 4G/LTE network.

Zact: Build Your Own Wireless Plan, Down to the Last Detail | TIME.com

In the news today. Google for more details.
With the recent demise of Zact, I am reminded why I really dislike putting out several hundred dollars up front for a carrier's proprietary phone.

If they won't activate a generic unlocked phone, I tend to pass.

-gauss
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Old 09-08-2014, 12:51 PM   #35
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Thanks to everybody for the responses. If there are add'l responses, I'm all ears.

I called T-Mobile iro their pay as go plans. They have a 1000 minute/text (each text is consider 1 minute) for one year. Cost is $100. Got a feeling the 1000 minutes would last me at least 1 year. My wife maybe 3 months.
This is what I use after a tip from one of the ER threads. I don't use cell phone a lot and will likely leave many minutes on the floor when my 1 year expires in 4 months. This amounts to less than $9/month for the "privilege" of having a cell phone around. I was glad to get rid of Verizon although I had to pay a contract cancellation fee.
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Old 09-08-2014, 01:49 PM   #36
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AT&T comes in good at our house, Verizon not. We use airvoice wireless' $10/month plan and it has been sufficient for our needs. I have it set up on autopay and they charge $10 a month to my credit card and it adds $10 to the balance on my phone. Voice is 4 cents a minute, texts are 2 cents each and data is 6 cents per mb. Unless we are traveling, we never come close to using our $10 and any remaining balance carries over. I probably could find a slightly better deal but am quite happy to have good cell phone service for $120/year per phone.

You have to bring you own phone but good AT*T phones can be found for $20 on up. DW has a nice little Android smartphone we got at Walmart for $50. I wanted something nicer and found a Samsung Galaxy S2 on amazon for $200.
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Old 09-08-2014, 02:17 PM   #37
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This is what I use after a tip from one of the ER threads. I don't use cell phone a lot and will likely leave many minutes on the floor when my 1 year expires in 4 months. This amounts to less than $9/month for the "privilege" of having a cell phone around. I was glad to get rid of Verizon although I had to pay a contract cancellation fee.
+1.

Not many years ago we were paying $400/mo for my family's cell phones. Now the kids are on their own, I have a Lycamobile 2 cents per minute pay-as-you go plan. I use our voip phone at home (we're in the country, so cell phone reception is poor here), so I only use my cellphone when I'm away from home. For the past year it's cost me less than $1/mo. My wife uses PagePlus for $30/mo. I'm much happier now.
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Old 09-08-2014, 02:33 PM   #38
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I'm still happy with my $100/year TracFone plan, renewed in July, with triple minutes--so some 1,800 minutes plus (with other incentives). With last year's balance carry-over, I still have some 2,500 minutes. I, too, don't use my cell phone much. Definitely not for web browsing. (But it also serves me as a watch, calculator, insignificant e-calendar and what-not.)
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Old 09-08-2014, 02:40 PM   #39
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Using ptel on their prepaid pay go plan. It's 5c/min for voice, 2c/text, and 10c/MB for data. You need to spend at least $5/month to keep your plan alive but unused money rolls over.
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Old 09-08-2014, 02:41 PM   #40
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I'm a TracFone person too. I bought a smart phone and always get triple minutes, text and data. I spend about 250.00 per year for two phones. Can't beat it.
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