Cell Phone Plan for 55+

Check out Cricket. It uses AT&T's network so unlike T-Mobile it's actually useful in the Western part of the US, and the rates are very reasonable. Out here the only two viable networks are Verizon or AT&T (or budget carriers on those networks). Sprint and T-Mobile are non-starters.

outdoorlovers wrote:
For anyone 55+, yesterday T Mobile announced a new cell plan - $60.00 (taxes and fees included) for two unlimited lines. Requires auto pay. Such a deal! Yes, we immediately made the switch.

It all depends on what you want and need.

The DW and self have TracPhones (age doesn't matter) - on the yearly plan ($100) - which equates to just under $8. per month for each.
Minutes roll over, so...

Had 'em so long - and so infrequently used - both currently have over five thousand (5K) minutes on each..:C

Have used them all over the US - on rare occasions a call was roaming and two minutes were deducted for each actual minute of the call.

It's one of those - whatever rings your (cell phone) chimes!..:W

~

We are Tracfone users also. We were careful when we chose our phones and plans. The DW has Verizon and I have AT&T. This way we always have coverage. At $18 a month for both, we're covered. Not heavy users either. We also carry a hotspot for her facebooking.

Our two Tracfone Android phones on Verizon average about $16/mo for the pair. Combining them with our AT&T 4G/LTE and Verizon 3G unlimited data hotspots at $27/mo and the unlimited VOIP phone service capability they give our phones, our total cell bill including fees comes to $43/mo including Internet service for multiple devices. And we do stream movies, sports, etc. at times...

pnichols wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
When I'm camping the last thing I want to do is watch a movie...lol

What if you're out in the middle of nowhere boondocking and it's early evening and it's raining outside, or it's real cold outside, or you've read all the books you've brought along, or your RV doesn't need any tweeky maintenance, or you ran out of wood for a fire, or you've seen all the DVD's you brought along, or for various reasons you can't see at home the movies you'd like to see, etc..

Curling up in a cozy corner of your rig and watching a Netflix, or Amazon, or Hulu or whatever streamed movie using an unlimited data 4G plan (if it existed) ... it doesn't get any better than that.

All IMHO of course. I guess that twindling one's thumbs can pass the evening time, too. :)

I am sure Mr. Sidecar does no twiddling of his thumbs! Especially if his newly wed wife of 36 years is camping with him. They are "best" friends and enjoy being in one another's company. Netflix and Amazon movie department would go broke if they depended solely on Sidecar's hard earned dollars.

Lakeside

We travel a lot each year in the eastern half of the USA now as we got tired of traveling the western half other than to Alaska. Constantly hear fellow RV'ers complaining that they can't get service with T Mobile, Sprint, and the others while we have full 4G standing right next to them with Verizon. They usually scratch their heads or quit trying and when we see the same people again, most have changed to Verizon. Many have made a point of telling us that seeing is believing and some thanked us for the actual heads up true on the spot comparison they seen with their own eyes! Yet to hear any of them say they aren't very happy they'd switched. You will only get what you pay for. Cheap out, get less!

Verizon has by far the most towers of all and 4G with good signal is the norm almost everywhere.

We have 2 smart phones, a tablet, and a MIFI Jetpack for our 2 laptops we take along and have 6 GB of data bandwidth and it's real cheap at just over $110/month with our Verizon retirees plan. For a few bucks more/month, we can have unlimited data which we do when in Florida for about 2 to 2-1/2 months then change back to 6 GB when back home. We had the MIFI system all the way back when you had to cable tether it to a laptop with Alltel and Verizon bought Alltel and we had right away upgraded to the MIFI wireless Jetpack about 7 or so years ago and it works great anywhere and can have up to 10 devices connected to it all by password so very secure and not available to non-wanted or leeches! Wouldn't leave home without it!

The other plans seem to be fine for those who never venture far from home or off the Interstates and away from big cities but still want wireless service anywhere. What the heck good is a cellphone when needed or in an emergency and you have no service anyway! Think about it! About as good and smart as an anchor thrown overboard with no line attached! Pennywise, pound foolish but it may only be your live or family at stake!

SidecarFlip wrote:
When I'm camping the last thing I want to do is watch a movie...lol

What if you're out in the middle of nowhere boondocking and it's early evening and it's raining outside, or it's real cold outside, or you've read all the books you've brought along, or your RV doesn't need any tweeky maintenance, or you ran out of wood for a fire, or you've seen all the DVD's you brought along, or for various reasons you can't see at home the movies you'd like to see, etc..

Curling up in a cozy corner of your rig and watching a Netflix, or Amazon, or Hulu or whatever streamed movie using an unlimited data 4G plan (if it existed) ... it doesn't get any better than that.

All IMHO of course. I guess that twindling one's thumbs can pass the evening time, too. :)

FYI, if any of you belong to AMAC, they have some really cheap plans available.

When I'm camping the last thing I want to do is watch a movie...lol

The trouble with some/all of those so-called "unlimited" cellular data plans is .... their speed is thottled down.

You won't mind or notice the slower speeds while just texting, emailing, or general Net surfing, but try to get an unlimited plan at 4G speeds so that you can tether your phone onto a larger screen and stream Netflix or Amazon movies evenings all you want while you're camping. The sweet spot is unlimited data at high speed. Good luck finding that at a monthly price mortals can afford.