Got a letter from AT&T saying my phone won't work much longer.

[markw]

My trusty Mototola RAZR V3 is no longer. Viewing will be Tursday at 4 & 7 pm and the burial will be Wednesday at 9am in the local dumpster

I'm not a power user and my needs are simple. Heck, I don't even need a data plan. All I do is talk, read and respond to texts and, on occassion, respond to them.

But, after hearing my loving wifr complain about my obsolete phone (Mototola Razr) and needing a new battery, I gave in and replaced it with the cheapeast option AT&T had, a $39.95 Z222, which is commonly known as a "GO" phone.

Difference isthat ther was no activation fee, my existing plan is still in effect, and this doesn't count as a "free" replacement for re-enisting for another two years. That option is still open if I want to upgrade.

 

[j_garcia]

Moto is actually making some decent smart phones right now. Don't need to be a power user to use them because you CAN still do just the stuff you want, but I know where you're coming from. My phone has so many features that are cool...but useless...and that's why I don't use them

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Haha.

Metro PCS (we call it Metro Piece of Sh*t) has some 30 dollar ones. Bad service, bad phone..but, it rings, sometimes. Who cares. lol.

 

[lsiberian]

If you don't upgrade the day of your 2 year term ending you are flushing money down the toilet. You don't get the money back either. I recommend you head down to the ATT store and get the best android in the store.

 

[darien87]

Haha.

Metro PCS (we call it Metro Piece of Sh*t) has some 30 dollar ones. Bad service, bad phone..but, it rings, sometimes. Who cares. lol.

I've got Metro. People here call it "Ghettro PCS". Works just fine for me though.

 

[markw]

If you don't upgrade the day of your 2 year term ending you are flushing money down the toilet. You don't get the money back either. I recommend you head down to the ATT store and get the best android in the store.

As I said, I'm free to upgrade at any time I choose. They have been after me for years with a promise of a free, or cheap, phone. I haven't had a contract on this number for at least five years. But, there's nothing I need that makes me want to upgrade.

 

[lsiberian]

You pay a monthly fee known as a phone subsidy. If you don't upgrade the phone company pockets the money. It's built into the service plan.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

 

[Swerd]

I get similar letters from my phone company.

I'd go to them more often, except I always get the disturbing feeling that I need a lawyer with me whenever I talk to them .

 

[markw]

You pay a monthly fee known as a phone subsidy. If you don't upgrade the phone company pockets the money. It's built into the service plan.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

I loved my Razr. Why would I want to "upgrade" to something I didn't want or need and pay an activation fee* when I was perfectly happy with what I had?

*Remember, they wanted me to upgrade, not me. And, the totally free phone felt chintzy.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Mark, Check if T-mobile has good coverage in your area. Their $30 pre-paid plan is one to beat. Auto-renews with CC and the only catch you must buy the device full price in advance.
Luckily there are great cheap options:
This is really cheap - T-Mobile Prism - Grey - No Credit Check | Prepaid Phone Details | T-Mobile
This is a step above - Prepaid Samsung Galaxy Exhibit Used & Refurbished | T-MobileÂ*
and for truly modern phone at 3-year device price - Moto G by Motorola - A Google Company

No activation fees. Only fee is $10 sim card charge.

I'm currently on same plan. Coverage in NYC is great. I don't speak much and use Google Voice for my voice calls from home or work phones. I bought Galaxy S4 from tmobile it's an amazing device, but I suspect out of your price range.
In last 6 months or so I have never even touched close to minutes or g-d forbid 5gb of 4g data (it's 2g after that)


If Tmobile doesn't cover your area, option B is Sprint, or more precisely Sprint's MVNO - Ting.com - they have really great and flexible plans. Good for individual - about $40/m depends on usage, but really great for family

 

[markw]

Actually. AT&T has been pretty good to us and our area now needs to include most of Eastern Texas, sometimes out in the boonies, as well as the NYC Metro area. My phone is the least of our telcom issues. Wifey has an AT&T hotspot and a data plan for her two devices as well as well. We're kinds married to them.

As long as I can get/make calls and texts when needed, I'm jake.

And, Sprint pithed me the fluck off big time a few years ago. Never again.

 

[Pyrrho]

If all you are doing is talking a bit, T-Mobile is probably your best bet. You can do a prepaid phone and pay just $0.10 per minute (plus tax), with no monthly fee at all. You have to buy more minutes within a year (on day 364 is fine) and then your minutes that are left over will be good for another year. You also have to pay for the phone, but you can easily get one for little money. If you use 1000 minutes a year, it will cost you just over $100 per year. Again, no monthly fee. Compare that with your current plan.

Now, if you talk nonstop, then a monthly plan with unlimited minutes will be the cheapest per minute that you can get. But if you use it very little, you can likely save quite a bit with T-Mobile.

 

[sawzalot]

I had a family plan with two smart phones through att , it was ^^ pricey. I dropped off and left my wife there alone which lowered the rate significantly and then I proceeded to go with the pay as go and no contract for 50.00 per month /unlimited talk and text with enough data for me we now save a total of 65.00 bucks (monthly) by doing this. Me with 0 contract after being ball and chained for the past 10 years , free at last lol. I actually like the savings.
We could lower it by another 40.00 dollars if she went the same route but we need international calling and text so on the plan she stays.

 

[Alex2507]

I got the 100 bucks 1000 minute deal from tmobile. The first time it lasted me 7 months. I've sent a couple of texts all by my self. Flip phones rock.

 

[lsiberian]

Actually. AT&T has been pretty good to us and our area now needs to include most of Eastern Texas, sometimes out in the boonies, as well as the NYC Metro area. My phone is the least of our telcom issues. Wifey has an AT&T hotspot and a data plan for her two devices as well as well. We're kinds married to them.

As long as I can get/make calls and texts when needed, I'm jake.

And, Sprint pithed me the fluck off big time a few years ago. Never again.

In East Texas I found ATT to be the only service with decent service. Every Motorola phone I had was a disaster. Sure they put food on my table, but at some point it's time to move on.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

And, Sprint pithed me the fluck off big time a few years ago. Never again.

Not sure about source of your grudge towards Sprint, but if their coverage is good, you wont deal with them AT ALL.
It's a different service provider which uses Sprint for delivering the service.

do look up Ting.com

 

[Rickster71]

But, there's nothing I need that makes me want to upgrade.

If I understand correctly, that you can get a free smart phone.
I'd upgrade for the much superior camera since you have grand kids.
Don't use the data plan, if you want to save money.
The smart phone's texting is light years better than T9 texting.
Can't you and the Mrs go on the family plan and share? Just don't use data, but it's there if you need it.

 

[Adam]

Just out of curiosity, why won't your old phone work anymore?

 

[markw]

Just out of curiosity, why won't your old phone work anymore?

As of the monent it needs a battery. Not a biggie, but...

AT&T sent me a letter saying that my service will be "interrupted" within the next few months with their upcoming changes and my wife has been bugging me to get rid of that relic for something newer but I like the simplicity of the Razr.

So, for a one-time outlay of $40 I have a simple flip phone that does everything my old phone did and takes up about the same real estate. ...and no contract. My/our existing plan istill covers this. I can STILL avail myself of the plan phones and their discount pricing at any time if I want something glitzer.

FWIW, Mrs W, a trchnofreak fron the get-go, has an "old" Iphone 3 that she wanted to give me but I wanted a simple, reliable soluition and, with my sausage fingers, this might be the best option.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If I understand correctly, that you can get a free smart phone.
I'd upgrade for the much superior camera since you have grand kids.
Don't use the data plan, if you want to save money.
The smart phone's texting is light years better than T9 texting.
Can't you and the Mrs go on the family plan and share? Just don't use data, but it's there if you need it.

Only thing Free is a cheese in a mouse trap, I am referring to 2 year money stealing contracts. Do not do contracts !!

Do math instead. Add cost of the device + add 24 months of service and compare these.

Only important thing is to know which providers have good coverage in your area. You could go from there.