A smartphone with a very basic plan?

D

dab_baken

New member
Hello all,

I have never owned a mobile phone before, so I am looking for my first one. Currently, I use an iPod Touch for mobile computing. It provides games and basic computer functions as well as internet and email when Wi-Fi is present. What I am looking for is similar to the iPod Touch but with a cellular phone option as well.

Ideally, the phone/plan would have:
basic computer, games, documents, pictures, videos, music player, etc.a large touch screen or a full keyboardemail and internet with Wi-Fi connection (no data plan)something around 200 minutes a month
GPS, camera, texting, and international connectivity are appreciated but not absolutely necessary

I'm only willing to pay a monthly cost for minutes (and maybe texts), but I still want full internet access when I find a Wi-Fi network. I'm really trying to stay under $30 a month. I am willing to spend a decent amount for the device.

My location is in the Dallas, Texas area. I travel frequently in the United States and Western Europe.

I like the look of the Android operating system. I want more customization options than Apple's iPod system gives me.

The main uses of this phone for me would be music player, email, and basic calling.

Thank you very much for any advice!
 
Pageplus is perfect for you. 30 gets you the best value (1200mins 2000 texts), you can buy any Verizon phone or even other CDMA phones provided you want to hack around with them. You can go cheaper and get the $80 plan for a year, 2000 minutes the whole year! I bought a Droid before it was stolen, then got another one the price was 200 and 100 respectively. An Evo with a bad ESN might be all you need, but then again you don't sound very knowledgeable about cellular devices, and hacking is kinda hard. I suggest getting a Droid or Eris and rooting it and putting CM7 on it, its very easy.

Just read about you going to Western Europe. You can't hack them, but the Droid 2 has a world edition phone. Or you can just use whatever phone is around there.
 
Te carrier should be the first consideration. What good is a cheap plan if you can't use it because you have no signal.

You first need to find out which carrier(s) have the best coverage where you plan to use the device - where you live, work, travel and play. Not all carriers have universal coverage and they all have holes in their coverage areas. Verizon and Sprint are CDMA. At&t and T-Mobile are GSM. Totally different technologies and the phones are not interchangeable. If you travel to Europe, you probably should look at an unlocked At&t phone.

So pick the carrier first and then start looking at phones and plans and prices. Not the other way around.
 
I am leaning towards the LG Optimus V on Virgin Mobile. Any comments? I know it wont work internationally, but I think it meets my other demands.
 
It lacks a lot of features that I take for granted, but its not a bad deal. I just never liked dealing with VM since I heard bad things, same with Cricket. My friends don't have a problem with it though, its not a bad deal at all, unlimited texting and whatnot.
 
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