Old Man Going I-Phone ------ Advice Please

RoyB wrote:
The beauty of the VERIZON MIFI units is they are stand alone - do not need to tie up any of your phones - will connect to five or more of all your WIFI enabled devices (laptop/tablets etc). They are also direct connected to the internet using VERIZON as the Internet Provider. All of this is pretty much secured with passwords etc...

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My LG G2 phone can do voice and data at the same time so my phone isn't "tied up" and supports connecting up to 15 devices. The phone is just as secure and connects to the internet exactly the same as a MiFi complete with password. IMO, there is no "beauty" of a MiFi over a smartphone today as they have pretty much been eclipsed.

The only downside to using the smartphone as a hotspot is that it puts quite a drain on the phone's battery. I typically plug in the phone's charger when using the hotspot feature.

IMHO, you may find an iPhone a little easier to use. Actually, it's whatever you get used to. I wouldn't worry about a 5c being "old technology". The 5c will do most everything you could want. I've got a 5s and it's great. You may want to get the book, iPhone for seniors. It will help you out with the things you can't figure-out on your own. Get on to the App Store and take a look at some of the applications you can download. There are some really neat ones that really do help. For example, Gas Buddy will help you find cheaper gasoline, Gas Cubby will allow you to check the mileage and maintenance on your vehicles. OnStar will allow you to map a trip, check the status of your GM car, and in some cases actually track where your car is right now, in addition to being able to lock unlock, and start it remotely. And, of course, there's the Weather Channel, and on-line banking. And if you're a camper, there's an app to help you align you TV antenna, by showing you where the nearest TV towers are. JMHO

The beauty of the VERIZON MIFI units is they are stand alone - do not need to tie up any of your phones - will connect to five or more of all your WIFI enabled devices (laptop/tablets etc). They are also direct connected to the internet using VERIZON as the Internet Provider. All of this is pretty much secured with passwords etc...

If you use the MIFI sitting in WILSON SLEEK CRADLE with External Antenna rolling down the road is nice with all your other WIFI enabled devices up and running...

We are using the older DROID smart phones and it does all we want to do with one.

We also subscribe to SIRIUSXM in the mobile with the travel package which give us a great WX BROADCAST display and travel info - great $20 a month thing for us...

Roy Ken

Personally, you made a smart move. I did the same and it was the best thing I've ever done. No more BS calls and if you do get one, just block the number on your cellphone. I think you're paying for E911 to work via your cellphone bill. I would check with the city. I did register my number with the city and now get emergency calls. Personally, I hate IoS and dealing with itunes but that's just my opinion. I now have a Galaxy S5 but the S4 was a really good phone. AT&T upped my 15G data plan to 30G for free so I have plenty of data, plus they roll over unused data for the next month. I use Directv for the home and rig. Good move.

Realize that those "free" phones are not really free. The connection fee per contracted smart phone per month is $40. If you purchase a new phone through Verizon edge or bring your own, the connection fee is only $15 (on any plan over 10gb). So you are paying an extra $25 a month to subsidize each of those "free" phones that are already obsolete!. Over 24 months each free phone will cost $600!!! Why not just get 16GB iPhone 6 or new android on the edge plan for the same amount of money? Or even buy a used 5c and get that $25 per phone discount?

As stated above Mifi is not needed because all smart phones will act as a hotspot. So you should be able to get 2 brand new phones on edge plan and 20gb/mo with unlimited talk and text for $220, or bring 2 of your outside purchased smartphones and it will be $170

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
I'm going to dump my land line, dump my cable internet, throw away my two ATT flip phones and go to 2 I-Phones, an internet MyFi hotspot with 20 gigs/month of data----- for $240/month (all Verizon). Comments??

Sure - I try about every two months to find something cheaper from some carrier with equal coverage and fail. So try it and see if you want to drop down to 10G.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:

They are offering us Apple 5C's, Droid Max, or Galaxy S4 --- all basically free with a 2 year contract. I've been told they are all outdated phones. But would an old fellow like me care? Should I buy my own smart phones to get the latest?

Frankly? Naaaaaaaaaaaa - there's probably not much on the newer phones like the iPhone 6/6+ or the Samsung 6 that you'd *need*. I've got a 4s, 5s, 5c, and a Samsung S5 in the house. They're all fine. I'm not dumping my Samsung 5 for the 6. I'll wait and see what the next rev brings.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:

Oh, the precipitater in all this was the telemarketers driving us crazy on the land line. They are the only ones who use it, don't know why I pay the bill. Yeah, I tried the no call list, bought a commercial blocker, etc--- just too much hassle.

Just bear in mind that telemarketers will find you on your smartphone too. :)

And please read up on E911 or have a good discussion on the differences between E911 on a landline and a cell phone.

Some things are better, some things not so much. It's always a good idea to assume that the emergency responders won't know exactly where you are unless you *tell* them.

What do you want a smart phone for? That is the ? You need to answer first.
Mifi is nice, but not really necessary. Smart phones have wifi capabilities that just need to be turned on.
As fas as which smart phone, you need first to decide which technonogy. If you have other Apple products then its ammo brainer. Personally, I hate DWs Iphone, preferring my Android. But thats just me.