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

[VastRWCon]

“Why would you want anyone texting you?”

Heck, I don’t want anyone calling me either!

[justme4now]

Google Voice says ..

You must have an existing US-based mobile or landline phone number to qualify.

[justme4now]

Go to HSN dot com or wait for their deals on tracfone’s on Tv!

I got my lady a Samsung phone and a 1500 text/data/minutes card for $79.00!

The phone itself normally sells from 200 to 350 dollars anywhere else and the data card is normally $125.00!
(A 4 or 500 dollar deal for $79.00!)

The card is good for a year and you only need it when you leave home.

She hasn’t used any of the card yet because she access everything on our home wifi!

You won’t find a better deal anywhere.

I purchased a Motorola Tracfone the same way a year ago and it’s been great!

The phones seem to do everything the thousand dollar one’s do.
They just don’t have the really expensive camera’s but the camera’s they do have are very good.

[sten]

Get a wireless raspberry pi and case for ~$35

Connect to open wifi for free at most fast food places

Create a free email account at Google or any provider of choice

Then you can send endless emails for free with attachments. Only hitch would be the need to connect to free wifi.

Alternatively, you could install a VPN on the raspberry pi and connect to your home internet. Then you have email capability 24x7

[HollyB]

I know iPhones can connect to iPhones via wireless. And even FaceTime.

[HollyB]

I only respond to a few people calling me. It’s always by text. I hate talking on the phone.

[justme4now]

Check these out, low and high end, depending on your need!

https://www.qvc.com/electronics/phones/tracfone/_/N-mlt0Z1z1393y/c.html

[bigiron]

Go to HSN or ebay. Tracphone for 70 or so $. Gives you a phone & 1500 minutes 1500 texts & 1.5 GB data. Is good for 1 year from activation. It is on Verizon network.

[Rio]

Google Voice will issue you a phone number. You send and receive texts via internet (wifi). To anyone else, it looks just like they’re texting with to cell phone. It’s free. Google is probably spying on your messages when you use it.

https://voice.google.com/

[pax_et_bonum]

Lol!!!

[pepsi_junkie]

whatsapp exists for this purpose. It has been used overseas for years because it uses the IP network to send texts instead of cell service that they have to pay for and has limited data.

I’m not sure it’s still the standard but it used to be. When I was doing business in Spain and Brazil I had to use it, it’s what all my customers were using in both countries. It works fine here too, no cell service required. BUT the receiver needs to have it installed too.

[Shanty Shaker]

The Iphone can receive and send message using an Apple ID.

[DelaWhere]

Wife and I fired Comcast 3 yrs. Ago...

Hotspot for Internet, plus we each have phone, video conference AND messaging FREE using “2nd Line” only thing I can find against it is you need to keep using it to keep it a active. No limits either, just need an internet connection, wifi from anywhere .

[S.O.S121.500]

BOOKbump

[Delta 21]

Tracfone. I second that.

I use so little I had ran out the time limit on my last purchase so I just bought more time for my roll-over everything. A personal observation is that I have a hell ofa lot less painin the ass complaints about my phone service than a lot of everyone else other than premium unlimited hookups. Over the last 5 years I have averaged about $12-13 a month for Tracfone.

[ReformedBeckite]

..... needing it only for emergencies .....

I'm not totally positive about this but I think you can call 911 on any cell phone whether it has a contract with phone service with it. Some people get new phones and keep the old cell phones around in junk draws for many years, If I'm correct they can use those old phones to call 911 if the battery is charged up. Can some one verify this for me.

[nicollo]

This may be the oddest question ever on FR.

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This thread could go ballistic...

[Blurb2350]

That sounds like the best arrangement — a block of 1500 hours (or whatever) that’s valid for a year. Thanks. One more question: How exactly does it work? Do I get a new, unique SIM chip that replaces the one in my existing phone? Do I have to get a new phone every year or when the minutes run out? Sorry for the insipid Qs . . . I really don’t understand this stuff. And I certainly don’t want any cellphone service provider to have access to my credit card. I’ll need to have my bank issue me a new credit card as it is to get TracFone to quit autobilling me every three months.

[MayflowerMadam]

Does your device have to be an Android or iphone to use Google Voice?

I’m holding on to my old BlackBerry classic like grim death. Can no longer use it for calls and texts since BB ended support in January.

Has the best keyboard, and I do connect to wifi and use for Internet. It would be great to use it for voice and text but without the BB interface it might suck.

[Az Joe]

I only talk on the phone when I make obscene phone calls.

Obscene texts just don’t float my boat.