The smartphones from a few years ago that are now under $100 were the $500 phones of their day. An iPhone 5c will last you years (unless you shatter the glass).
Easy replacement you do yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zoyp6RmFjQ
I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 at approx $400 for T-Mobile (1700 & 2100 freq) and I really did not need all the features. I just wanted a phones with a 4g data connection.
I have T-Mobile and none of the older phones would work at 4g on their network as T-Mobile only recently upgraded their network for LTE. Next year and after the phones will be much cheaper to buy and more models available to use.
I choose an android phone because they do not lock the phone as much as apple.
You can buy an app called PDAnet to connect the phone to your computer.
I can install PDAnet without needing to jailbreak it. Apple blocks the install unless you jailbreak. http://www.junefabrics.com/iphone/index.php
In a year or two you can buy smartphones cheap that have the same capability as the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5.
When looking for a phone make sure it matches the freq that they use. http://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/frequencies-by-provider/
The screen for the iPhone is $49... wow. My Samsung is $170
http://www.repairsuniverse.com/iphone-5c-lcd-touch-screen-digitizer-replacement.html?utm_source=JerryRigEverything&utm_medium=iPhone%205c%20Black%20Screen&utm_campaign=JerryRigEverything
Awesome info., minnesota_bound. Thank you.
That's unnecessary now. Built-in system WIFI Tethering is included on all modern iPhones since iOS 7 was released a couple of years ago and does not require carrier permission.