I've got a mifi Jetpack and dumbphone now. Two things have happened that raise a question. A) I finally have a hard-wired internet access thru AT&T at home. Now I'm not relying on the Jetpack except when RV'ing, which tends to be a week to 10 days a month at most.B) My Verizon contract is up. I've been totally happy with Verizon, so will probably stay with them.I'm now thinking about a smartphone. It would be one that could be a mifi hotspot when I'm in the RV and want to use the computer. I wouldn't use it much or frequently. Probably will go 4G, but could get by with 3G.So is it practical to think of replacing what I've got with just a smartphone?Jim, "Keep clam and proofread."

IS your current contract unlimited? If so, buy the phone outright, dump the MIFI and download a program like PdaNet for your on the road needs, Thats the only way you will be able to keep the unlimited plan. Otherwise you will be stuck on one of their family share plans and believe me 4GB is not enough data.

"So is it practical to think of replacing what I've got with just a smartphone?"I do. I use Verizon prepaid which gives me unlimited phone and texting plus 4gb of data per month for $70. I get by with 3g. I am sure there are some better buys out there, but this is a start. Prepaid works for me as I enjoy new phones every few months. Smart phones provide a lot of functionality for things like checking email, quick searches, keeping up with Facebook, and a whole lot more.

I switched from Verizon to Straight Talk selecting a Straight Talk smartphone capable of using Verizon towers. Seamless transition - cost me about the same to move from two "dumb phones" on Verizon to two "smartphones" with unlimited text,data etc. Worth a look.

Current contract is limited to 5GB a month, with 4G access. I strongly suspect that 4 or 5GB a month would be more than enough for my needs now, and as stated, 3G would be good enough for my occasional mobile use. I don't have a need for a 'share' plan. Thanks so far.Jim, "Grammar Police: To correct and serve."

One bad side of using a smartphone for your computer ops is that it may tie up your smartphone. I know the earlier ones did...Right now we are getting by just fine with our small 3GB dataplan using our Verizon MIFI. When we want to go to a bigger dataplan will be looking into the MILLENICOM. Will stay on the verizon network no matter what we end up doing. It works the best for us camping off the power grid...Roy Ken

Smartphone vs Dumbphone + Jetpack (Verizon) | Good Sam Community

donn0128
Explorer II
Sep 20, 2013
IS your current contract unlimited? If so, buy the phone outright, dump the MIFI and download a program like PdaNet for your on the road needs, Thats the only way you will be able to keep the unlimited plan. Otherwise you will be stuck on one of their family share plans and believe me 4GB is not enough data.
TomG2
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
"So is it practical to think of replacing what I've got with just a smartphone?"

I do. I use Verizon prepaid which gives me unlimited phone and texting plus 4gb of data per month for $70. I get by with 3g. I am sure there are some better buys out there, but this is a start. Prepaid works for me as I enjoy new phones every few months. Smart phones provide a lot of functionality for things like checking email, quick searches, keeping up with Facebook, and a whole lot more.
ksg5000
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
I switched from Verizon to Straight Talk selecting a Straight Talk smartphone capable of using Verizon towers. Seamless transition - cost me about the same to move from two "dumb phones" on Verizon to two "smartphones" with unlimited text,data etc. Worth a look.
Handbasket
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
Current contract is limited to 5GB a month, with 4G access. I strongly suspect that 4 or 5GB a month would be more than enough for my needs now, and as stated, 3G would be good enough for my occasional mobile use. I don't have a need for a 'share' plan.

Thanks so far.

Jim, "Grammar Police: To correct and serve."
RoyB
Explorer II
Sep 20, 2013
One bad side of using a smartphone for your computer ops is that it may tie up your smartphone. I know the earlier ones did...

Right now we are getting by just fine with our small 3GB dataplan using our Verizon MIFI. When we want to go to a bigger dataplan will be looking into the MILLENICOM. Will stay on the verizon network no matter what we end up doing. It works the best for us camping off the power grid...

Roy Ken
srt20
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
RoyB wrote:
One bad side of using a smartphone for your computer ops is that it may tie up your smartphone. I know the earlier ones did...

Right now we are getting by just fine with our small 3GB dataplan using our Verizon MIFI. When we want to go to a bigger dataplan will be looking into the MILLENICOM. Will stay on the verizon network no matter what we end up doing. It works the best for us camping off the power grid...

Roy Ken

Verizon service, 4g, can talk and hotspot at same time. I do all the time. My phone is my primary Internet. I use ~20gbs a month.
vermilye
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
One possible problem, if you don't travel single, when the smart phone leaves the RV with the owner, there goes the internet connection...
Johno02
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
I use a smartphone on AT&T, and a Jetpack on verizon, prepaid each month. I have a small data allowance on the smartphone, which I rarely use up. As AT&T charges extra each month to use the smartphone as a hotspot, I don't do it at all. When we are on the road, I prepay the jetpack for however many months we need. The rest of the year, it costs me nothing. At home, I have wifi through cable package, so don't need any wireless data.
Javi1
Explorer
Sep 20, 2013
Just got rid of my smartphones, went back to dumb phones and couldn't be happier unless I find a way to keep more of my money. I bought a tablet and use the available wifi at McDonalds and other places for any internet I need.. cut my phone bill by 2/3..
MrWizard
Moderator
Sep 20, 2013
to help clarify
there is 4g service and 3 g service
data is in gb aka gigabytes

please use 'gb' or gig when discussing data