New cell phone dilemma.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoiseBoy My experience is largely for Illinois and like RE2Boys, I've found that data coverage on interstates between cities is non-existent. .

That's interesting as it may be an Illinois issue. I travel all over the U.S. (and Canada) on oil & gas projects (for 25 years now) and find that along the interstates is where I get the best coverage. I usually see cell towers along the freeways, too.

Since having cell phone starting in 1988, I have used AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, the clones (PagePlus, Straight Talk, etc), and some provider names you would not recognize and never had a connection problem along a highway. I have problems in remote areas of North Dakota west of Minot, but that is to be expected.

My current provider is Page Plus (Verizon towers) and I have issues in southeastern Oklahoma as for some strange reason, they don't have service there. That area is populated too.

[kramer]

I just wanted to add a quick note here. I use an Android (KitKat) application called Pocket Casts to manage my podcasts (both audio and video) on my Samsung Tablet.

This application does not have the option to install it on the microSD card. But it stores everything you download on the microSD card automatically. So right now, it is using about about 20 Megabytes in application space and cache in the main memory. But it using 1 Gigabyte on my SD card -- these are all the podcasts and videocasts that I have downloaded and archived on my device.

So this application is accommodating a microSD card perfectly for me.

[Lsbcal]

Any recommended podcasts?

[zinger1457]

With my previous cellphone, which was really lacking in internal memory, I used an android app (app2sd) which manages the movement of apps to the SD card. When installed it will scan all your apps and tell you which ones can be moved to the SD card or if you install a new app it will automatically (if supported) pop up and ask you if you want the app installed on the SD card. Seemed to work good for me.

[ivinsfan]

Does anyone have any experience with Republic Wireless, I want smart phone ability and free national calling only when we are away from home. We have a grandfathered dumb 4
phone plan that we use for our business. RW seems as though it might give me what I need at a good price, if it works as advertised. I noticed it was endorsed by Mr MM.

[Sirka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivinsfan Does anyone have any experience with Republic Wireless,

We use Republic; started with the DEFY XT, but upgraded to Moto X as soon as it came out. It is a real smart phone and the screen is big enough for my big fingers. We use $10 plan except when we travel and need the Internet. It is easy to switch right from the phone.
Often I log on to wifi when at Kaiser and other places - as a guest. It is same as using a wifi on our laptop.
They did over the air update last month (no problem), so we now have Kit cat OS. DW loves the phone, she checks Facebook, email, inventory and shopping list while in the store. It's great! One phone is enough for now, but I might get another when they cut the price. They have specials now & then. It works for us (unlimited everything), but it is not for everyone.

[bld999]

I bought a republic moto-x in January, and so far it's been fine. I also use the $10 plan, which gives you handoff between wifi and Sprint cellular. That plan gives you copious data via wifi and phone only while on sprint. So far it operates fine and saves me about 30 bucks per month compared to my previous verizon contract with old dumb phone.

I think if I was still running a business, I would get something using verizon's network, simply because it has better coverage and seemed more reliable. Retired, I can work with the holes in the network and have become pretty good at finding wifi to allow data when away from home while maintaining the 10/ mo. plan.

Republic's phones will not work on any service besides theirs, one caveat you need to get comfortable with, and I am sure it is frequently a deal killer.