Cell phone question. I have an unconnected cell phone I want to use text. Is there a way to do normal texting without a cell phone line?

Chickensoup | O5.18.22 | Chickensoup

[Chickensoup]

Cell phone question. I havnoe an unconnected cell phone I want to use text. Is there a way to do normal texting without a cell phone line?

[Jamestown1630]

TracFone may be able to sell you a pay-as-you-go plan; it’s not much more than $26.00 for 2 months and you get a limited number of calls/data/texts, that accumulate if you don’t use them. But you have to remember to renew it or you’ll lose everything you’ve saved up.

I’m not sure if there are limits to how old your phone model can be, but I doubt it.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Yeah I think its not ad free though so you might get some annoying ads and stuff but all of those free apps have that.

not sure if you have apple device but if you do here is the link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/textfree-private-texting-app/id399355755

[Pontiac]

Later

[Chickensoup]

I got it to work!

Thank you!

[Getready]

TracFone. Now owned by Verizon. Fifteen bucks a month minimum. 500 texts, 500 minutes a month 0.5 gigs of data...rolls over every month so it builds up. Or try the free “obama” phones. Or try wifi services( I am not sure you need a number,but you probably can use a free email program and get “text” and other crapola that way). No need for a phone “text” service. Lots of free crap out there.

[Charles Martel]

Try searching "How to Text without a SIM card".

There are apps such as TextNow that allow you to send and receive text messages using your phone number, even if your old phone doesn’t have a SIM card.

[ronniesgal]

and 3 times in a row!

[Afterguard]

I would say NO to your question. If you do not have a SIM card, or your SIM card is unlocked with no carrier assigned, the only thing you can do with the phone is dial 911. That much is a federal (FCC?) requirement. Otherwise you just have teeny-tiny boat anchor.

[Nifster]

They will have to email you

[eastforker]

consumer cellular. less than $20 a month for what you want

[Bobalu]

You can get a tracfone on ebay for 79.99
that comes with a year of service.

1500 talk minutes
1500 texts
1.5gb of data

My sister used to just get a new one each year
and transfer unused minutes to it.

Works well, they used to give you a new phone
but now include a refurb because of the chip shortage.

You can get a google voice account for free that
lets you text and call via wifi... but they are short of numbers and your number may not match your location... but it still works.

Visible wireless has a 25/mo deal that has unlimited
talk/text/4g internet. It is on the Verizon network.
It lets you do hotspot so you can get online using
your home PC via wifi from the phone...

[Big Red Badger]

Well,
At least we are not being
Held Hostage in a
Piggly-Wiggly!

[Mr. K]

my sister was once bitten by a moose

[SamAdams76]

An active phone with a valid number is required for SMS texting.

Short answer is you cannot text with an unconnected cell phone. You must be connected to a cell network and have a valid phone number.

[Deaf and Discerning]

I don’t know if this answer the question, but if I wanted to write a reminder note to myself, I could either:

(a) if cellphone is functioning wirelessly, then I text a msg to myself, or

(b) On my Lively cell phone, I can store a note in my app “Keep Notes”

[jjotto]

Tracfone has phones for $20 or less. 90 days of service for $19.99 ($80/year, less than $7/month).

[Chode]

Soup, pls read that again, It doesn’t have a cell phone number... 8^)

[Blurb2350]

Thanks for the suggestions. I currently have a CrapFone (aka TracFone) and it costs something like $25 for 3 months, with a cap on usage. I’ve never even come close to that cap, and I have no use for text or data (if “data” means internet). The problem is that TracFone has begun pestering me to get a new phone to be compatible with 5G . . . at least I assume that’s why they’re pestering me. I just want a functioning phone for emergencies, ideally with a set package of prepaid minutes that’ll be there when I need it, with no automatic renewal. That reminds me, I need to call the bank and have them block all charges from TracFone. My sister is still being charged even though her phone hasn’t been compatible for several months. What a nightmare.

[Irish Eyes]

interesting answers

[Seruzawa]

“My sister is still being charged even though her phone hasn’t been compatible for several months. What a nightmare.”

That sucks. If only there was an agency that was tasked to deal with such fraud....