Hi! I lurk quite a bit but post rarely (shy, you know). Perhaps my current dilemma will bring me out of my shell.
Currently, my carrier is Straight Talk ($30/month plan). Reputation aside, Tracfone/ST has been good for me. I'm considering leaving only because I have outgrown my phone (R451C). The ST Nokia smart phones are tempting, but require the $45 card. As an alternative, I'm considering Page Plus and Virgin Mobile. A smaller part of me is considering Net10 as well (because it would be identical to my current service but $5 less/month--my usage is quite low due to a busy life and bad browser).
Option One: Virgin Mobile $25 or $40 plan. Unlimited data, text and sufficient minutes. I would probably buy the Intercept. Android and unlimited data make this tempting. However, I would not have 3G coverage in my city (lots of opportunity for wifi though) and even voice coverage can be spotty in areas surrounding my city (so says the coverage map).
Option Two: Page Plus $30 plan (and this is what I most want to discuss). I'm a little hazy on what is and isn't allowed on PP. No Blackberries and no prepaid phones, right? Can I buy a new Verizon phone outright and expect all of the features to work? I have searched but have found conflicting information.
I don't need a smart phone, but I do want a better web experience. My phone absolutely must have an mp3 player, a qwerty keypad, and be 3G capable. Obviously, I'm looking for a Verizon phone. Wifi would be nice but probably out of my price range. I want to be able to use my music player and web browser simultaneously. My current phone will not allow me to do anything else while listening to music and I find that to be a major annoyance.
The only phone I find remotely interesting on Page Plus's website is the refurbished EnV. That's an old model, right? I've also looked at the Reality and a couple of not-insanely-expensive androids, like the Devour.
Does anyone have experience with the above phones/know if they meet my specifications? Please feel free to suggest other models that meet my requirements, especially if they're known to work on Page Plus. I'm a serious plan geek, but my knowledge of current devices is limited to the AT&T lineup ('cause that's what I sell for a living).
Thanks so much in advance!
Currently, my carrier is Straight Talk ($30/month plan). Reputation aside, Tracfone/ST has been good for me. I'm considering leaving only because I have outgrown my phone (R451C). The ST Nokia smart phones are tempting, but require the $45 card. As an alternative, I'm considering Page Plus and Virgin Mobile. A smaller part of me is considering Net10 as well (because it would be identical to my current service but $5 less/month--my usage is quite low due to a busy life and bad browser).
Option One: Virgin Mobile $25 or $40 plan. Unlimited data, text and sufficient minutes. I would probably buy the Intercept. Android and unlimited data make this tempting. However, I would not have 3G coverage in my city (lots of opportunity for wifi though) and even voice coverage can be spotty in areas surrounding my city (so says the coverage map).
Option Two: Page Plus $30 plan (and this is what I most want to discuss). I'm a little hazy on what is and isn't allowed on PP. No Blackberries and no prepaid phones, right? Can I buy a new Verizon phone outright and expect all of the features to work? I have searched but have found conflicting information.
I don't need a smart phone, but I do want a better web experience. My phone absolutely must have an mp3 player, a qwerty keypad, and be 3G capable. Obviously, I'm looking for a Verizon phone. Wifi would be nice but probably out of my price range. I want to be able to use my music player and web browser simultaneously. My current phone will not allow me to do anything else while listening to music and I find that to be a major annoyance.
The only phone I find remotely interesting on Page Plus's website is the refurbished EnV. That's an old model, right? I've also looked at the Reality and a couple of not-insanely-expensive androids, like the Devour.
Does anyone have experience with the above phones/know if they meet my specifications? Please feel free to suggest other models that meet my requirements, especially if they're known to work on Page Plus. I'm a serious plan geek, but my knowledge of current devices is limited to the AT&T lineup ('cause that's what I sell for a living).
Thanks so much in advance!