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As I've posted before, I am still using a basic phone (dumb phone) without a data plan. I have Verizon. The cost for a Verizon data plan is ridiculous. But the other carriers seem to offer lousy coverage in my area. I was wondering if perhaps one of the other carriers have improved, and then maybe I could upgrade to smart phones. From this thread, sounds like that won't be happening.
Since everyone's definition is different, what would you consider to be an affordable monthly amount for a smartphone with data plan? And you realize you have to be willing to fork out hundreds for a phone first or have it subsidized by locking into term?
The Cricket deal for $35 for 2.5GB (https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans) sounds like a great deal too considering that's a sweet spot for data vs. cost. I haven't had to use over 1GB/mo. 90% of the time I've had my grandfathered 6GB plan, but then again I'm in front of a computer all day. 2.5GB sounds perfect for most.
You can buy a used smartphone from Swappa and just jump on any of those plans. First and foremost, if you leave Verizon's network, be prepared to be frustrated with coverage.
You can get a Verizon loyalty plan with 2gb of data and unlimited everything else for $60 a month; that's pretty affordable.
Can't find that plan on Verizon's website. Does it still exist? Would I be able to use 2 smart phones on that line (one for me, one for my wife) for just $60? Or is the $60 just for the data plan and we'd have to pay extra to connect the phones? Hopefully it wouldn't be $120 for 2 phones under that plan.
For what it's worth, I am currently paying $45 per month plus taxes and fees ($20 for my basic phone, $20 for my wife's basic phone, and $5 for the plan). According to Verizon's website, a 2 GB plan is $40, plus $40 per smart phone, so it would be $120, which is nearly triple what I am paying now. So I have a bad feeling that the $60 loyalty plan would also be $120 per month. But since you know more about it than I do, I'd like to hear more. Thanks.
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If you were willing to give AT&T's network a try, you should check out Cricket. You can get 3.5gb a month for just $35, and since it is prepaid, you can try it out without giving up your Verizon phone and make the decision to switch after a month or two. That may be a good way to go if you are new to smartphones anyway.
Though it sounds like I would have to give up my phone number.
Since everyone's definition is different, what would you consider to be an affordable monthly amount for a smartphone with data plan? And you realize you have to be willing to fork out hundreds for a phone first or have it subsidized by locking into term?
The Cricket deal for $35 for 2.5GB (https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans) sounds like a great deal too considering that's a sweet spot for data vs. cost. I haven't had to use over 1GB/mo. 90% of the time I've had my grandfathered 6GB plan, but then again I'm in front of a computer all day. 2.5GB sounds perfect for most.
You can buy a used smartphone from Swappa and just jump on any of those plans. First and foremost, if you leave Verizon's network, be prepared to be frustrated with coverage.
Based on your post, sounds like I should stay with Verizon, even if it means staying with basic phones. Since you ask how much is "affordable": I am currently paying $45 per month plus taxes and fees ($20 for my basic phone, $20 for my wife's basic phone, and $5 for the plan) am I am honestly not willing to pay much more than that.
PagePlus might be an option, since you say it uses the Verizon network. But buying a phone at full price might defeat the price savings.
Based on your post, sounds like I should stay with Verizon, even if it means staying with basic phones. Since you ask how much is "affordable": I am currently paying $45 per month plus taxes and fees ($20 for my basic phone, $20 for my wife's basic phone, and $5 for the plan) am I am honestly not willing to pay much more than that.
PagePlus might be an option, since you say it uses the Verizon network. But buying a phone at full price might defeat the price savings.
I have discounts up the wazoo and still have to pay $85 after taxes for 1 smartphone ($30 grandfathered data) and 1 basic phone. If you want 2 smartphones you better expect to at least double your $45/mo. payment or it's a non-starter.
There's nothing wrong with used phones from Swappa. People upgrade their smartphones with the latest and greatest all the time so perfectly working and good condition phones are always available. You're upgrading from basic phones to smartphones. There will be no price savings any way you look at it. But considering what I have and use it for (much faster GPS, my music in every car, coupon finder, everything else a tablet does, etc.), less than $2/day... I like the benefits. Excuse me while I go play with my phone in the can.
I have optimum free wi-fi across NYC and Long island, so no data fee.
and I use prepaid service, on average, maybe $5-10/month. So my annual cost on cell phone+message+data is $60-120, and I upgrade my cell phone every 2 years, about $300 each time.
I have optimum free wi-fi across NYC and Long island, so no data fee.
and I use prepaid service, on average, maybe $5-10/month. So my annual cost on cell phone+message+data is $60-120, and I upgrade my cell phone every 2 years, about $300 each time.
That's OK for the occasional user, but a real pita for most.
^ I liked the OOL free wifi but it wasn't everywhere they want you to believe. I wished VZW jumped on that too, but oh well. Anyway, you can't use that as a GPS for example, or inside most stores when you want to comparison shop online.
If you want to keep it the cheapest possible, prepaid service with no data fee is $80 for 2000 minutes for a year on Page Plus. Texting you can just do Google Voice/Hangouts.
I have optimum free wi-fi across NYC and Long island, so no data fee.
and I use prepaid service, on average, maybe $5-10/month. So my annual cost on cell phone+message+data is $60-120, and I upgrade my cell phone every 2 years, about $300 each time.
I also use an iPod Touch with Optimum Wi-Fi. But Verizon won't let me get a smart phone without a data plan. So I use a basic phone for voice and text, and the iPod Touch with Optimum Wi-Fi for internet access when I'm away from home.
I'm on T-Mobile's $80 Unlimited LTE + $10 Data Match up to 5GB for a tablet plan, I've got an iPhone 6 Plus and an iPad Air with them. My bill with tax is $100 a month. Their service is great, I only have occasional trouble inside buildings and that's just because the iPhone 6 doesn't have Band 12. There are plenty of fantastic Android phones like the Nexus 6, Galaxy S6, G4 - and also many cheap ones - with LTE Band 12 that'll fix that issue.
There's also the $30/month 100 minute plan with unlimited messaging and 5GB LTE, throttled unlimited data.
Can't find that plan on Verizon's website. Does it still exist? Would I be able to use 2 smart phones on that line (one for me, one for my wife) for just $60? Or is the $60 just for the data plan and we'd have to pay extra to connect the phones? Hopefully it wouldn't be $120 for 2 phones under that plan.
For what it's worth, I am currently paying $45 per month plus taxes and fees ($20 for my basic phone, $20 for my wife's basic phone, and $5 for the plan). According to Verizon's website, a 2 GB plan is $40, plus $40 per smart phone, so it would be $120, which is nearly triple what I am paying now. So I have a bad feeling that the $60 loyalty plan would also be $120 per month. But since you know more about it than I do, I'd like to hear more. Thanks.
Though it sounds like I would have to give up my phone number.
You have to call up and ask for it; it's not available online. It's $60 per line. That's about as inexpensive as it gets with a smartphone.
You can also take your number to Cricket; but I would wait until you've tried it out for a month or two before doing so.
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