Finally joining the "data plan" family ....

[robnplunder]

Well, I have resisted getting smartphone up to now. The two main reasons were 1) we didn't want our lives to be centered around a technology, and 2) I refused to pay $200/month on top of everything else we pay (DSL, Dish, Netflix, XM, ...). When my 25 year old's cell phone finally died (stopped vibrating), my will to resist was broken. DW & DS are going to get their smartphones in a few days. I will continue to use my cell phone until it dies. Am I the only one in developed countries who is having this much difficulty in joining the "data plan" world? .

 

[jcretire77]

My wife just joined this weekend with a Galaxy Note 3 through Verizon. She is having fun with it. I have an Apple 4s which is fine, other than the screen is a bit small. We will share the 2GB $40 data plan. It's convenient to be able to look up stuff without a computer near. We are both still w*rking and connected for pages and emails through phones.

 

[ziggy29]

You're not alone, but we're only now starting to see data with some cell phone plans becoming reasonable as long as you aren't a data hog. Some operators are giving unlimited calling and text with a decent allotment of data for $30-40 a month now. It's close to the price point where I might actually consider a data plan instead of the prepaid option I use now which is a little cheaper than that usually, but allows data usage at rather expensive rates (relative to the data plans).

 

[Ready]

This topic reminds me of a shopping experience I had this weekend. We needed some house stuff from an arts and crafts shop named "Michaels". I am not sure if this is a nationwide company or not, but it sells almost anything related to arts and crafts.

I know they tend to use coupons a lot, so I pulled out my iPhone, brought up the "Retailmenot" application, and pulled up a 50% off anything in the store coupon. There was a long line in the store, and I was curious to watch the cash register displays to see if anyone else was using coupons. I watched at least five transactions before I was up, and did not see a single person using a coupon (either paper based or electronic). I was amazed. It took me all of ten seconds to find a coupon that gave me 50% off anything in the store. And what really amazed me was that these people in front of me all had smart phones, but they seemed really busy with all their texting and game playing, and didn't seem to know they could be saving 50% simply by pulling up an electronic coupon.

I can't imagine putting myself at a disadvantage like that by not having a smart phone. I routinely use it to find discounts while I'm on the road shopping, or to read reviews on products before I make a purchase at a store. Or to get me home when I'm lost, find a good restaurant to eat at, and on and on. My total bill for everything is $72.00 per month, and I think it's an incredible bargain for all it does for me.

And yes, it even lets me make phone calls too!

 

[NanoSour]

I've been an iPhone user since the beginning and DW and I each have 3 year old 4 versions. Now that I'm in ER I find we barely use the data that we're paying $45/month for. She gets 200 MB for $15 and I'm still on unlimited for $30 per month. That's $540/year and our usage for the past 4 months has averaged 100 MB total for both phones.

I am tempted to drop my unlimited data down to 200 MB and save $15/month, but just a tad gun-shy as you never know if I'd like that unlimited back again in the future. Currently, grandfathered in on AT&Ts original iPhone plan.

Anyway, when i think of paying $45/month of 100MB of data it makes my feel like I'm getting totally ripped off. Wondering if there is a better option that will allow us to keep the iPhones and get rid of the data plans and just use wifi. My understanding is that as long as I'm with AT&T and have a smartphone, I'm gonna be paying for a data plan whether used or not.

 

[Chuckanut]

There are data plans and then there are data plans. My plan is 42.50 a month for unlimited text and talk, and 2.5G of 'fast' data. After 2.5G are used I get much slower data speeds until my month renews. NO CONTRACT. I think contracts are a ripoff.

I bought my own GSM phone for mucho dollars, but in 16 months I will have paid for it compared to the contract plan rates of the big cell service providers. After that, I save about $30 a month compared to the two year contract plans.

Remember, NO CONTRACT. Then you are free to move to another provider.

 

[MichaelB]

Once upon a time DW thought I spent too much time on the internets, and it only got worse when I got an iPad. Then, this past January, we got iPhones. Since then she hasn't said a word ... too busy with her iPhone. Not being tethered to the desktop has been as positive for her as it was for me.

The trick now is to get off Verizon. The monthly fee includes the cost of new phones every 2 years. This is unnecessary for us. Virgin Mobile (Sprint network) didn't work out last time, but I'm hoping for better options by YE '14, when our commitment runs out.

 

[TrvlBug]

... ...I will continue to use my cell phone until it dies. Am I the only one in developed countries who is having this much difficulty in joining the "data plan" world? .

Nope, your not the only one. Funny story...we were at the Amaluna (Cirque) showing yesterday and one of the performers, doing the usual prior to performance spiel about no photos, audio, cell, etc. pretended to grab an audience members' ringing cell phone. She remarked that it was a flip phone and what an 'antique' it was! DH, tracking the 49ers and Bears games on his iphone, just turned to me and smiled!

 

[Katsmeow]

Am I the only one in developed countries who is having this much difficulty in joining the "data plan" world? .

Well, my mother doesn't have a smartphone. Of course, she is 89 and computer illiterate.

I get a lot out of my smartphone and couldn't really imagine not having one. I don't have a lot of data. With 4 people on our plan with smartphones on our plan + 2 iPads we share 4 GB of data. When it is just DH and I at home we can drop to 2 GB a month.

I use my iPhone all the time. But, if you wouldn't use the smartphone features then it would be a waste for you.

 

[Dreamer]

I have a flip phone also and it is a Tracphone. My DH has an iphone and I use his when we are traveling if needed. He is on my DD's plan and I give her $35.00 per month toward the bill. I buy a year card for my Tracphone and normally do not keep it turned on. I am getting ready to renew the year card and I have so many minutes on it now, that I should just leave it turned on.

 

[foxfirev5]

I'll admit I'm one of the last without a smart phone. As a travelling salesman I am beginning to get quite a bit ribbing about it. But, I'm not a slave to a device either, When someone sends me a text I simply call them and ask them "can I help you?".
It's quicker and I have all the sales I want. Maybe when I retire and have less to do I'll consider one.

 

[Ready]

I'll admit I'm one of the last without a smart phone. As a travelling salesman I am beginning to get quite a bit ribbing about it. But, I'm not a slave to a device either, When someone sends me a text I simply call them and ask them "can I help you?".
It's quicker and I have all the sales I want. Maybe when I retire and have less to do I'll consider one.

I guess this is where the anti-social side of me come out. I've always said that I wish these smart phones would just stop offering one feature - phone calls. I can't stand it when people call me for something that they could easily just email me about and let me respond when it's convenient for me. If I could convince everyone that my smart phone no longer makes phone calls, it would be perfect!

 

[MRG]

I guess this is where the anti-social side of me come out. I've always said that I wish these smart phones would just stop offering one feature - phone calls. I can't stand it when people call me for something that they could easily just email me about and let me respond when it's convenient for me. If I could convince everyone that my smart phone no longer makes phone calls, it would be perfect!

Never answered?
MRG

 

[Ready]

Never answered?
MRG

They know my phone works, so I just get yelled at if I don't answer or at least return the call. If the feature went away, then I guess there's nothing I could do about it.

 

[MichaelB]

I guess this is where the anti-social side of me come out. I've always said that I wish these smart phones would just stop offering one feature - phone calls. I can't stand it when people call me for something that they could easily just email me about and let me respond when it's convenient for me. If I could convince everyone that my smart phone no longer makes phone calls, it would be perfect!

This describes the iPod Touch. Does pretty much everything the iPhone does, without the telephone.

 

[braumeister]

DW and I have had iPhones almost since they first came out. The original iPhone, then we upgraded to the 3S, then to the 4S, and we'll probably be getting the 5S before long.

We both think we use them extensively, although we're frequently on wifi when we do. However, according to AT&T we obviously don't use them as much as we think we do:

I recently checked our phone bills for the past year, and we average less than 200MB per month each. The high month saw a total of just over 600MB combined.

 

[RockyMtn]

Still have my Motorola Razr V3 flip phone. Small, compact, light and makes and receives phone calls. When it dies I'll probably get another one off Ebay for $25.

Read somewhere that some guy was robbed at gunpoint. Robber took his buddies Iphones but laughed at his Razr and said "what the f*** is this and gave it back...so I have that going for me as well!

 

[Midpack]

Am I the only one in developed countries who is having this much difficulty in joining the "data plan" world? .

Nope. We resisted until just over a month ago when DW decided she couldn't stand being the only luddite among her smartphone friends. DW's stated reason was simply 'I'm tired of not being able to see pictures my friends send me.' She got the pics on her old semi-smart (voice/text/data) phone, they were just smaller and harder to see than she liked. None of them know how to use them for anything beyond phone/voicemail, text and maybe email - it's all mostly ego/status.

I am still not happy about paying $85/mo vs just over $30/mo before (both for two of us) - but I am enjoying using all the (mostly) free apps on the phone, and now enabled on my car nav system.

 

[frayne]

Call me a luddite but I will continue using my Verizon, LG flip-open phone for now as well as the foreseeable future.

 

[robnplunder]

Nope. We resisted until just over a month ago when DW decided she couldn't stand being the only luddite among her smartphone friends. DW's stated reason was simply 'I'm tired of not being able to see pictures my friends send me.'

Well, before deciding to join, I've got DW a smartphone to use as wireless device (no subscription). She can only use it at home, or other places with DSL service. She now wants to use it in cars, when shopping, etc.. She wants to connect with her friends from everywhere. We already watch too much TV and having smartphone everywhere is going to cut down on our quality time.

 

[Dawg52]

Am I the only one in developed countries who is having this much difficulty in joining the "data plan" world? .

Nope and no plans to get one. I have a tablet(haven't had it long either) and take it out of town with me. It does the job for when I need access to the internet. Around the house I use my laptop or the tablet.

I simply haven't found the need to be connected 24/7. Plus I like my prepaid cell phone plan which averages around $10/mo of use.

 

[ziggy29]

Call me a luddite but I will continue using my Verizon, LG flip-open phone for now as well as the foreseeable future.

It doesn't even mean being a Luddite. I've been goofing around and working with computers since about 1980. I have a degree in Computer Science and spent 26 years in industry before being unceremoniously downsized in April. But I never felt it was a cost-effective thing to do. I still don't really have a "data plan", though for the last 18 months or so I've had a smartphone on a cheap prepaid plan (using wifi most of the time). I went many years with an old T-Mobile prepaid plan, and I still have about 1000 minutes on it by renewing it for $10 a year, but I find I am using the phone more in the last year or so.

My own situation is complicated by the fact that AT&T and its MVNOs are my only option, since AT&T is the only carrier in town here. Even so, they have $45-50 plans from MVNOs which give 2 GB of data or so, and now some MVNOs are getting down under $40 for some decent data plans (assuming moderate usage). I'm currently using H2O Wireless (an AT&T MVNO) on a prepaid plan, but as I spend down my balance, I'm looking at their recently upgraded $30 plan which gives unlimited talk and text plus 500 MB of data. I'm pretty sure that's more than enough data for my needs, since I don't spend all my time out of the house glued to my phone.

 

[SteveNU]

We are switching to Republic Wireless. They have 4 plans to choose from $5 - $40 a month. They only offer one phone but it is a pretty good one. The phone uses WiFi for everything when it's available and if not then it uses sprint network. If there is no sprint signal then it roams to Verizon's network. We just made a trip to northern New Hampshire and the service was just as good on the $10 month plan as it was on my Verizon phone that I am paying $200 a month for three phones! Check them out if you don't need the latest and greatest iPhone

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

 

[Alan]

We still just have the one cellphone between us but DW got an iPod Touch a year ago and loves it. Same look and feel as an iPhone, and she can make telephone calls using Skype when connected to a wifi network.

However, she is making noises that we should really step up to a smartphone in a year or 2.

 

[ziggy29]

We are switching to Republic Wireless. They have 4 plans to choose from $5 - $40 a month. They only offer one phone but it is a pretty good one. The phone uses WiFi for everything when it's available and if not then it uses sprint network. If there is no sprint signal then it roams to Verizon's network. We just made a trip to northern New Hampshire and the service was just as good on the $10 month plan as it was on my Verizon phone that I am paying $200 a month for three phones! Check them out if you don't need the latest and greatest iPhone

I've been keeping an eye on them just to see how well their model works. (For us, it's a non-issue since, as I said above, we only have AT&T here.) But for me personally, the beef I have with Republic is that you have little choice in phones, AND (worse, IMO) that phone is hopelessly and forever locked into Republic. That's not a problem if you love the service and use it for years, but if it doesn't work for you, that phone becomes a brick.

Circumstances are different for different people, of course, but just as I no longer ever want a contract, I never want to use a locked phone ever again. I bought a Nexus 4 shortly before they were discontinued and after their last $100 price cut, for $199 and totally unlocked.