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I started a thread a while ago (which turned into a flame war) about smart phones. Basically, I said that I do not have a smart phone because I refuse to pay the ridiculous data plan charges, especially since I have WiFi access most of the time. My wife and I each have a "dumb phone" and we have Verizon. Verizon is the only network that offers acceptable coverage where I live, so I am not interested in any non-Verizon networks. Currently, we are paying $45 plus taxes and fees per month. $20 for my dumb phone, $20 for my wife's dumb phone, and $5 for the plan, for a total of $45 per month.
Unfortunately, if we were to upgrade to smart phones, Verizon would charge us $40 per month per smart phone, and we would no longer be eligible for the $5 plan. If we got the absolute cheapest plan that Verizon would allow us to have, the 500 MB plan (which sounds useless) that would be $20 per month. So the total would be $40 + $40 + $20 per month, for a total of $100 per month. That is more than double what we're currently paying ($45 per month) for smart phones that we will hardly even be able to use.
Also, it seems that the iPhone (which is what we would want if we were to get smart phones) is not one of the free phones that we're entitled to every 2 years. It seems that Verizon charges $199.99 for an iPhone. Since my wife and I would both need one, that means that the total cost over a 2 year period is $199.99 + $199.99 + (24 x $100) = $2799.98.
However, with our free phones, we are paying only 24 x $45 = $1080 over a 2 year period.
Several people in that thread recommended Straight Talk, a "low cost" carrier that uses the Verizon network. However, it seems that they charge $45 per month, (so $90 per month for my wife and I) but we'd have to pay full price for the phone. They charge $650 for an iPhone. So the cost over a 2 year period would be $650 + $650 + (24 x $90) = $3460! Even worse than Verizon! So how is this a "low cost" carrier?
Is there any way that I could get 2 iPhones on the Verizon network without paying so much money? And why would anybody use those "low cost" carriers?
Unfortunately, if we were to upgrade to smart phones, Verizon would charge us $40 per month per smart phone, and we would no longer be eligible for the $5 plan. If we got the absolute cheapest plan that Verizon would allow us to have, the 500 MB plan (which sounds useless) that would be $20 per month. So the total would be $40 + $40 + $20 per month, for a total of $100 per month. That is more than double what we're currently paying ($45 per month) for smart phones that we will hardly even be able to use.
Also, it seems that the iPhone (which is what we would want if we were to get smart phones) is not one of the free phones that we're entitled to every 2 years. It seems that Verizon charges $199.99 for an iPhone. Since my wife and I would both need one, that means that the total cost over a 2 year period is $199.99 + $199.99 + (24 x $100) = $2799.98.
However, with our free phones, we are paying only 24 x $45 = $1080 over a 2 year period.
Several people in that thread recommended Straight Talk, a "low cost" carrier that uses the Verizon network. However, it seems that they charge $45 per month, (so $90 per month for my wife and I) but we'd have to pay full price for the phone. They charge $650 for an iPhone. So the cost over a 2 year period would be $650 + $650 + (24 x $90) = $3460! Even worse than Verizon! So how is this a "low cost" carrier?
Is there any way that I could get 2 iPhones on the Verizon network without paying so much money? And why would anybody use those "low cost" carriers?
You're not comparing apples to apples. Straight Talk gives you 3GB per month per line. For Verizon, that much data (6GB) would be $70, not $20.
So Verizon would be 400+(24*150)=4000, which is considerably more than the Straight Talk plan.
To answer the question in your subject, yes, there are a lot of options to get smartphones cheaply. You can get a decent Android phone for under $200 and there are GSM networks that charge $35 per month per line.
But to answer the question in your post, no, it isn't possible to get the latest iPhone with service on the Verizon network cheaply. You picked one of the most expensive phones on the most expensive network.
My wife got a Windows phone for $50 and uses it on T-Mobile. The monthly cost is pretty good. It's $0 a month as part of our family plan. Verizon costs too much for what you want.
You're not comparing apples to apples. Straight Talk gives you 3GB per month per line. For Verizon, that much data (6GB) would be $70, not $20.
So Verizon would be 400+(24*150)=4000, which is considerably more than the Straight Talk plan.
Good point. But either way, it's more than I am willing to pay.
Quote:
To answer the question in your subject, yes, there are a lot of options to get smartphones cheaply. You can get a decent Android phone for under $200 and there are GSM networks that charge $35 per month per line.
But to answer the question in your post, no, it isn't possible to get the latest iPhone with service on the Verizon network cheaply. You picked one of the most expensive phones on the most expensive network.
Unfortunately, Verizon is the only carrier that offers good coverage where I live. I'm used to having the Verizon network on my dumb phone, so any other network would be a downgrade.
You cannot get any current flagship phone, which the 6 and 6+ are, for any less then $199/each.
A 99 cent phone is a good deal (I'm used to cell phones being free, but I'd obviously pay 99 cents for a major upgrade). Unfortunately, the data plan is still more than I am willing to pay. In any case, is the iPhone 5C that much of a downgrade compared to the current model?
I...not willing to pay more than the $45 plus taxes and fees that I'm currently paying for 2 dumb phones.
You will not be able to have 2 smartphones on Verizon for $45 per month.
Look at PagePlus, 29/month, 500MB, 60 total for 2 lines. They use Verizon network and will activate most Verizon phones. There is a 12 dollar plan but only 10Mb of data, you can blow thru that in minutes if you are not careful.
500Mb on a smartphone is doable but you will need to watch your data usage. I have data always off, turn it on when needed, I dont do any music or video streaming, just weather, traffic, and occasional browsing. Some months I use over 500M, sometimes less.
Straight Talk, Tracfone and others have similar plans where you provide the phone and buy their service. Or you can buy their phones.
However with all these companies, you have no store to go to when you have issues, you have to call, and it can be an ordeal.
You can get used phones and put them on the page plus service. I had a droid 2 running on page plus for a couple years. Just keep the mobile data turned off.
I'm not up to date on which better smartphones will work on page plus or selectel. I have a Galaxy S4 Active running on Cricket wireless.
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