DW is looking to upgrade her flip phone to a smart phone. Mind you, we are nearing the age of 70 years and are moving like snails compared to the speed of technology. Secondly, we don't want a contract nor costly monthly plan. I believe her current pay as you go plan is about $20 a month via Tracfone. We plan to travel more and she like to take pics and send to her sister, facebook, etc. In other words do more than talk, already exhausted that function of a phone (but I didn't say that). I believe we can bring our own phone to a plan like this, but what is a good solid phone that the price won't cost an arm and a leg?Oh yeah, a big screen!

If you want cell service when traveling your options are very limited. Verizon while expensive is your best option. Followed by AT&T. Both do have pay as you go plans.

I upgraded my old Tracfone dumb phone to a new smart phone for free. Found a deal on the web offering a free Motorola Moto-e phone just for the purchase of an annual Tracfone card. So for $99. I got a new smartphone, one more year of Tracfone service with my preferred provider (Verizon), and triple minutes amounting to 1200 minutes. I easily transferred my old Tracfone number and all the old minutes I had to the new phone for even more time banked. I am enjoying all the nice apps available, the music, the camera, etc.

If you get the right TracPhone it uses Verizon towers. Wife has a Moto E and is on Tracphone. Has minutes, some data and text. It uses our home wi-fi when at home and campground wi-fi when traaveling.and she does her Facebook. Being with Tracphone you should be familiar with their plans. If you text a lot you can buy just text without adding extra minutes and data. Data can be used as wi-fi and you can buy extra. Check Amazon for phones as many of the Tracphones are cheaper.

Does she want touch screen? Does she want lots of apps or just the basics (FB, tip calculator, camera, etc.)? Is she comfortable typing on a touch screen or would she prefer a QWERTY keypad?I have a Blackberry Q10. It's touch screen, but has a QWERTY keypad (does make the screen smaller, but I text a lot, so the keypad is more important). I don't get as many apps as other operating systems but I get the ones I need (gasbuddy, call blocker, flashlight, color LED - this last is wonderful, I have my contacts color coded and I can keep the ringer turned off and know who's calling/texting/emailing by simply looking at the color and speed of the indicator light. I can discreetly know who's contacting me while in a meeting, etc.).

It all depends on how much you use your phone for calls, and mobile data you expect you'll use? Also, which mobile carrier do you prefer?For Verizon, take a look at PagePlusCellular.com, same company that runs TracPhone. Monthly plans as low as $12., or pay as you go for as little as $10. for 4-months, but only 3G data as this rate.For Sprint, you can actually get free service plan from RingPlus.net. They typically have several available, but their free offers change often. For instance, they currently offer an Eternity Free Plan with unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and 1.8G of 4G LTE data by keeping $15. top off in your account.I have 3 iPhones on PagePlus, and Samsung Galaxy S and Note on RingPlus, and have been satisfied with both services.

What's a good semi-smart phone? | Good Sam Community

ncscz
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
garmp1 wrote:
In other words, pay for 30 minutes of talk, text, data each and get 90 per.
Charging the phone now. We'll see how this works. No wonder I drink!!!
Thank ya all!

All TRACFONE Androids triple the purchased amount. The minutes do not expire as long as you keep the service active. You must add an air time card every 90 days. If you run out of data, you can add a data only card that does not extend your service end date. $30,40,60 for 2,4 or 6 gig.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Mar 14, 2016
garmp1 wrote:
Guess I should have been a little more specific in my question. DW wants a smart phone, but neither of us are smart phone savvy. And yes we are looking for both a phone and plan recommendations. Just really need the basics; camera, the web, gas buddy, raindar, maps and a few assorted other apps. No contract and a reasonable price with a broad network coverage. She'd probably do some texting and email, but heavy usage of these would be on the MacBook.
Thanks for all the great replies.

Walmart is your best bet. The clerks in the phone department will assist you. Real Good selection of inexpensive phones and expensive phones all with FREE talk, text and data plan called "Straight Talk", NO contract for $45.00/mo.

Just pay every month with loadable card or by credit card. Note: IMHO don't do it by looking it up on the internet. There are great deals INSTORE that are not on their website.
garmp
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2016
Yeah, it's day two of the new phone and she is totally enchanted. The phone's OS is the same as our tablet, which is constantly in her hands on our trips, so the maneuvering thru the system was rather easy. If she can call anyone or answer is another question. We'll see.
Thanks again to all. I forwarded a link to this site so she could read the comments for herself.

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