Cel phone for the winter only

My wife changed from TracFone last month going to PagePlus. Main reason was to activate an out of contract iPhone to replace her old TF. She doesn't use it a lot so we went with the $12/month plan, gives her 250 minutes, 250 text messages, and 20MB of data. Additional data is 10cents/MB, so we added $10 to the cash account (it rolls over every month) for when she runs over the 20MB. She doesn't use much data since she is on WiFi most of the time and has an iPad with a Verizon plan. If you don't want data and you are a very low user you can get by for as little a $10 every 4 months but you only get 100 minutes. When you us the 100 minutes or 4 months you pay another $10

greg0rn wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
get a Tracfone about $19.95, that comes with double minutes. buy a card with some minutes on it that will satisfy your immediate needs, when doubled. then sign up with their service protection plan for $5.99 per month to keep it active. then buy additional minutes as needed at sams/walmart, etc. this way your minutes do not expire.
bumpy

Thanks to all.

This is what I'll do then: Wallmart - Tracfone - card - service protection plan.

Do you think that it is a one Wallmart stop does it all and ready to go, including activation?

you have to call in to tracfone as I recall to initiate service. not really sure as I have changed tracfones about 5 times and had to call to switch service, can't remember what I did the first time.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
get a Tracfone about $19.95, that comes with double minutes. buy a card with some minutes on it that will satisfy your immediate needs, when doubled. then sign up with their service protection plan for $5.99 per month to keep it active. then buy additional minutes as needed at sams/walmart, etc. this way your minutes do not expire.
bumpy

Thanks to all.

This is what I'll do then: Wallmart - Tracfone - card - service protection plan.

Do you think that it is a one Wallmart stop does it all and ready to go, including activation?

www.pagepluscellular.com. No contract, but you need to provide your own phone. They are a Verizon re-seller and are on the Verizon 3G system. My $29.95 plan gives me 1200 voice minutes, 3000 texts, and 500 MB of data. They also have a $55.00 plan that offers Unlimited Talk and Text along with 2 GB of data. And a $69 plan that offers Unlimited Talk and Text along with GB of data. And it only takes one phone call to bump my $29 plan up to a $55 or $69.95 plan for a month or two.

I am also going to tell you to go into a Walmart, KMart, or Target and buy any Tracfone off the shelf. They have phones starting at $19.99. No data - if you get a Tracfone with data, you are going to pay for data with you minutes. This is good for a voice only phone and is priced accordingly. If you want a data plan also then my advice is to go to Walmart and buy a TMobile No Contract phone and when you activate it you tell TMobile that you want the $30 a month Unlimited Data (up to 5 GB at 4G), Unlimited Text, and 100 minutes Talk. They will know from the serial number that the phone is from Walmart and activate it with that plan. Refill every month with a card for $30 and when you don't want the plan any more stop refilling. If your IPAD is GSM and not CDMA you can take the TMobile Sim card and put it in the Ipad for data.

Lumia 520
There's this phone also.
It can be set up on Simple Mobile and Straight Talk also without unlocking from my understanding.
It's a great wifi only phone and is wifi calling capable.

I, on the other hand, want VZW to continue to make a profit and expand their coverage and business. expansion means jobs and more/better coverage for users like us. profitability means support for stock prices which makes shareholders like us happy. and yes if you have a 401k, 457b or similar investment you probably have shares of VZW in your portfolio. greedy would be a deserving label if prices were high but really poor service.

As much as I dislike greedy VZ they do have the most cell towers across the boonier parts of the US.

If you get a cdma model (not gsm) TracFone it should use the VZ network.

I believe buying your Tracfone at a Walmart in a mostly-VZ zip code will get you the cdma model.

Cell networks across the US have kept improving every year we've done our East Coast to West Coast trips but VZ's steady improvement has kept it out in front for rural coverage. Carrier choice for urban areas and Interstate highways coverage matters less.

I purchased a Tracphone Big Easy at Radio Shack. It was on sale for $10. Very easy to use and a very simple phone that works well with clear voice and high volume. Inside the box are coupons for extra minutes.

greg0rn wrote:
Several users indicated that Tracphone is the way to go. On their webpage there are many phone models that they provide, including reconditioned ones. My experience with celphones is rather limited (we have at home the most basic - a ten years old model.)

Perhaps you could advice me on the model. Thanks.

go to any walmart and check out their tracfones. I bought a new one because it was cheaper to do so than to buy a new battery for the one I had.
bumpy