Posted on 07/07/2008 4:28:12 AM PDT by Sun
I can't get cell phone service where I live because of environMENTALists' restrictions (cell towers aren't pretty), but would like to have a cell phone in my car for emergencies. Since I can't use the phone at home, I'd like the least expensive phone possible.
Any suggestions?
Liberals boycott Walmart - but I assume you’re conservative - what’s your problem with Walmart?
Any cell phone, activated or not, can call 911.
You can purchase pre-paid cell phones at 7-11s and grocery stores.
Alternately, if you just want to be able to call 911, get a used Motorola RAZR and stick it in the car. Best reception/signal of any of the “conventional” handsets. No program or service needed to call 911.
I think the best would be the free one they give you when you sign the contract.
Forgot to mention - if you get an old phone, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work. The old analog cell network has been getting turned off, permanently, in stages across the US.
Digital only, now.
None of the RAZRs from Motorola are analog, so any of them should be a safe choice.
Hi Sun!
I don’t know, but will you ping me if you get any good info?
I was thinking about getting a Jitterbug because my eyes are so bad I can’t see those teeny tiny numbers anymore.
I have had a Tracfone for about two years now. It’s get better coverage than Cingular or Verizon. Mine costs about $8 a month. I would recommend them.
Jitterbugs are incredibly expensive. My father in law got one and it had the worst reception. They let him out of the contract because they told him it would work at his house and it didn’t.
I had heard 911 calls were analog - that emergency calls could be made from digital dead zones. Is that wrong?
I forgot to add that with a Tracfone, there is no contract. You can get out of it anytime.
If you want to use one at home and you have a wireless network for your computer, T-mobile phones can give you coverage there.
“what’s your problem with Walmart?”
They are in bed with China and now sell abortion-type pills in their pharmacies (forgot which kind).
$14.95 Trac Fone
With pay as you go cards
Thanx.
I would like to be able to call a garage, if the car breaks down, a family member on rare occasion, directions when I’m lost going to an out-of-town wedding, etc., that kind of thing.
I never heard of Jitterbug, but like the name. :)
Thanks for the heads up.
I wonder if there are any places where I can get a cheap one with big numbers?
When it comes to China there are no American virgins.
“I have had a Tracfone for about two years now. It’s get better coverage than Cingular or Verizon. Mine costs about $8 a month. I would recommend them.”
Thanx, where do they sell them? Radio shack? Can you order them through their website?
“Jitterbugs are incredibly expensive.”
Well, that’s out. :)
I’ve seen the same, pay as you go, AT&T “Go” phones that WalMart sells offered in K-Mart. $20 for the phone and you pay for what you use.
” forgot to add that with a Tracfone, there is no contract. You can get out of it anytime.”
I like that.
“If you want to use one at home and you have a wireless network for your computer, T-mobile phones can give you coverage there.”
I have a dial-up computer, but in the future, I might get a wireless. Good to know.
Yeah but if you dont use you card minutes up withen the time allotted you have to go through the resequensing the initiation again.
And what got my goose was I got a cell phone spam call in to my phone from the trac fone company that ate my minutes.
“$14.95 Trac Fone
With pay as you go cards”
Sounds good. Where do they sell them?
:)
“I’ve seen the same, pay as you go, AT&T “Go” phones that WalMart sells offered in K-Mart. $20 for the phone and you pay for what you use.”
Good idea. I’ll check out K-Mart. Thank you.
Hey Califreak, you might want to try K-Mart, too.
“you have to go through the resequensing the initiation again.”
What does “initiation” involve? Do all cell phones need to be initiated?
Incorrect. Aside from early first generation and some specialty models, digital cell phones don’t even *have* analog transceivers.
On some models, though, 911 puts the phone into a higher output state.
Which is interesting since all Tracfone does is resell airtime on the ATT/Cingular network (among others, but ATT is the preferred network).
I often find people reporting crappy Cingular/ATT signal often have/had the crappy free Nokia phones and that when I used a RAZR I could get signal where they couldn’t.
“Try Virgin Mobile for a good “POGO” service. Nice phones, and very small minimum refill amounts with 90 day expirations. Radioshack carries them.”
Thanks. I’ll check out Radioshack for Virgin Mobile, too. Sounds good.
Califreak, another one to check out.
I have had good experience with Virgin Mobile. They have good coverage area and no plans. I don’t use my phone much.
If you want to use one for voice calls other than 911, you have to activate your phone. Basically, you use the phone to call a customer service center and they set up your account and tell the network to accept calls from your phone.
Thanks.
Virgin is a reseller of Sprint airtime and uses their networks.
Why not just go straight to Sprint and cut out the middleman?
ALmost all vendors have some variant of the Motorola RAZR phone (getting repetitive here, I know, but they really are the best conventional phone you can get), which does have large easy to read numbers.
And it’s easy to use.
Can you order them through their website?
Yes, you get the best deals through their website.
Also, FYI, you should be aware that all the big national cell service providers are now offering unlimited airtime and long distance for ~$100 per month and some local/regional carriers offer unlimited for ~$40 per month. That may be a more economical way to go.
“I have had good experience with Virgin Mobile. They have good coverage area and no plans. I don’t use my phone much.”
Sounds like what I’m looking for then.
“Yes, you get the best deals through their website.”
Good to know.
“Yeah but if you dont use you card minutes up withen the time allotted you have to go through the resequensing the initiation again.
And what got my goose was I got a cell phone spam call in to my phone from the trac fone company that ate my minutes.”
I buy the yearly card. You only have to do the reactivation once a year.
I don’t know about the spam. I have never gotten any.
“If you want to use one for voice calls other than 911, you have to activate your phone. Basically, you use the phone to call a customer service center and they set up your account and tell the network to accept calls from your phone.”
Thanx. Sound easy enough.
“Had tracfone for the kids, but you continually need to pay to keep the service active if you do not use the phone.”
I buy the yearly card. You only have to reactivate once a year.
What state are you located in?
Takes about 10 minutes to follow prompts to initiate a trac phone.
I have one for emerg but I also just resigned with verizon for 2yrs and got a great Samsung with a 3mg pixel camera and my monthly pagage has 100 min with 500 free after hrs/weekends/long distance free/unlimited pics/text msg (just about) for $25 a month.
AND the #s on the phone are about a half inch and BOLD in font plus the clock on the front is by choice (meaning you can change it) is like a big ben face not digital.
Also I paid a couple of bucks to put Billie Holiday as my ring tone.
And instead of the beep beep (annoying) sound of hitting the numbers it is a mellow ding.
Best of all if you have a digital camara that you are familiar with using the cell phone camara works the same way VERY user freindly.
And I annoy easily with new electronics. So Word.
Trac Phone may be available at Rite Aide or Walgreens but Wally Mart does carry them...we are rural so dont have many stores withen a two hour drive so Wal Mart is it and I HATE going into wal mart...people shopping grabbing stuff in a hurry like its the end of the world ect...just a creepy atmosphere but they DO have precriptions cheap for those uninsured.
Even “$40 per month” is more than I want to pay since I would rarely use the phone, and can’t get service at my home, but thank you.
Pay as you go would be best for me.
New York State - upstate.
I’ve got a Tracfone for emergencies. It costs about $100 a year to keep it active, including around 500 minutes for the year (depends on exactly what phone & cards you get, plus coupon codes & so on). You can order them online or buy them in regular stores.
Then get an AT&T Go Phone (their prepaid program) RAZR (phone model) and go from there (no pun intended). Largest network, best coverage, and if they put up a tower in your area and you decide you want to use your phone more, converting to a regular plan is pretty easy.
Note that ALL the prepaid plans from all vendors have issues with limitations, some rather strange.
Is Trac Phone the brand, or is Trac Phone a type of phone?
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