Walmart Family Mobile smartphone

J

jkourkoulis2

New member
If I decide to sign up with Walmart's new Family Mobile plan I will need a GSM phone that I will use particularly for facebook, emails, and text messaging.

I'm not a big data user. So, I was thinking Blackberry but Walmart does not currently support BIS, but I heard there are ways to work around that problem.

Under $250, smartphone, emphasis on messaging and social-networking.

Suggestions?
 
If you want facebook, maps, Internet and email, you have to have a BB data plan. No way around it as that is the only way to get a connection to RIM.

And make sure Wal-Mart offers the coverage you need. They use T-Mobile which just doesn't have the network coverage of the other major carriers. Just because its cheap, doesn't mean it is good for you.
 
Since starting this thread, I have actually learned of a couple ways around the BIS and how to use a Blackberry with an regular data plan for browsing/email.

Secondly, T-Mobile does have decent service and coverage in my area. I wouldn't pay for a service that I couldn't receive.

More on topic: What is the verdict on Blackberry-like Nokias? Such as the e5 or e72 etc.

Are they reliable? Do they fit what I'm looking for?
 
you're correct. I have a blackberry on WFM and the internet works fine you just need to use Opera. some of the applications won't work unless you use wifi. the facebook app is one of them..but you can access facebook through Opera and use it just as well. I use Google Voice through Opera all the time. the only thing I can't make work is MMS. text messages work fine but no picture or media messages work for me. I'm very happy with TMobile's network an WFM/Tmobile's customer service.
 
Return2sender I am so happy to hear of someone who is successfully using a Blackberry on WFM.

If you find a way to use MMS please let me know.

Are you using Anworm's service books?

What model blackberry are you using and what carrier was it originally intended for?

Could you tell me what you did to your blackberry to get internet working without BIS?

Thanks!
 
@aligator.. try checking out www.timtechs.com, they have lines of smartphones to choose from and I think they have holiday promo ongoing..
 
Timtechs looks very expensive. I just bought a curve 8900 on eBay (refurbished) for $190. I am still looking for a phone for my brother (a facebook-happy teen). He's against touch-screens, and prefers a full qwerty. His budget is at about $200; I'm taking all suggestions!

I would also appreciate any links to guides on how to use a blackberry to it's full potential without BIS/BES.

Thanks, guys!!
 
I'm using an 8220. the facbook app won't work but opera works and so does the blackberry app store. download opera and use the settings web.omwtoday.com its kinda of a pain but I use google voice through opera and also facebook etc. a lot of the apps won't work because they try going through the bb server and i can't find a way to change that but if you can access it through opera you're good to go
 
You can get an iPhone (new or used), unlock it, and use it on the Walmart Family Mobile plan. I do what you do, calls and texts, but very little web stuff unless I'm in a wifi spot. I had an unlocked Palm Centro from when I was with AT&T that I put on the sim card for the Family Mobile plan in. The other day I bought an iPhone 3G off craigslist for $160, put 4.2.1 on it and did the redsn0w jailbreak and 6.15 modem firmware unlock. Stuck the sim card from the in and everything that I do has been working great.
 
Wow, an iPhone 3g for under $200... That might be the way to go.

Out of curiosity, what GSM Android phone comes closest to the iPhone 3g in practicality and general fun-ness (for under 250$ street value)?

EDIT:

Do you experience any lag using that iPhone 3g? I fear that stuttering and such would drive me insane. I would use this phone for light browsing, messaging (texting and email), and perhaps playing some online chess or games of that level. I just hate phone lag...

Can anyone recommend an android phone with an ebay value (very good quality) under $300 (preferably under $250) that can handle froyo, messaging, and browsing with very little or no lag. My friend has an Eris and I notice that there is a bit of lag when moving around home screens and I loathe that. Still looking for a good solution but I'm pretty settled on iPhone/speedy android under $300!! I do not want a physical keyboard!!!

What is the Android equivalent of the Blackberry Curve 8900? great build quality, screen and hackable. what Android gives the best build, screen and processor snappiness for the dollar?
 
This is my first iPhone so I don't have a comparison for phone lag. When I first got the phone it had 4.1 jailbroken and unlocked. It was incredibly laggy when i clicked on any app. I don't know if it was too many programs open, or that I hadn't put the sim card in yet, or what but it was annoying and I was going to return it the next day. But that night I put 4.2.1 on and jailbroke and unlocked it. Played around a bit and it was soooooo much better. The only time I notice any lag is when I have more than 4 or 5 apps open, but that I hear is normal on a 3g. There is an option in the redsn0w jailbreak to turn off multitasking so when you go back to home the program exits. I use iheartradio when i'm in a wifi spot and without multitasking enabled, i can't do anything else on the phone while listening to iheartradio.

Hope this helps you.
 
So, with your software setup are you able to use MMS?

EDIT: Hey, anyone reading this: I need a phone FAST. Under $300 new or slightly used on eBay (or similar reliable site). Best smartphone unlocked or Tmobile(preferably Android) on Walmart Family Mobile!

GO!!

: )
 
I just recently got the Vibrant. Doesn't have Froyo, but if your not afraid of flashing your phone, Samsung has leaked Froyo builds for it that can be easily flashed. Its very stable too.

The hardware is very good, 1ghz processor, 16GB internal storage, 4" SAMOLED display, etc... Again, if your willing to flash it to 2.2, very awesome phone.
 
Wow! I had no idea I could find such good hardware for around 300 on eBay!! Really good post! Thank you!!

So if I could compile a list.. (Approximate value)

$200: LG Optimus T

$250: ???

$300: Samsung Vibrant

Keep the suggestions coming!!
 
I just bought the Optimus T and plan on switching from Boost to WFM. I REALLY REALLY like the Optimus. Got it on ebay for $180 shipped.
 
That's a great deal. What condition was the phone in?

Any lag on the Optimus T? How responsive and clear is the screen? Those would be my only concerns about the quality of the Optimus T (along with firm build quality, but I've heard good things).
 
Condition of the phone was "excellent". It had been used, but it looked like it had only been used for about 10 minutes. The charger, headphones, USB cable, and manuals were all still in their sealed bags. Even came in the T-Mobile box. The phone still had protective tape around the metal trim piece and buttons.

So far I have experienced a little bit of lag in the following apps:
- messaging with the stock Android keyboard. I switched to "Better keyboard 8" and the lag is gone.
- Angry Birds, if I get impatient waiting for the screen to scroll over to the sling shot at the beginning of the level and swipe to move the the screen. But there is no other lag noticeable.
- NFS: Shift won't install properly, I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong or not though. The game installs then notifies me that there is a 100 MB update to download. I can't get the update to install properly, after downloading all I get is a black screen.

There is no other lag, pulling up different apps and switching from app to app. Pinch to zoom, multi-touch has no lag that I have experienced. I'm sure there will be certain things that it will lag in because it only has a 600MHz cpu, but keep in mind that it also has a dedicated GPU, which really helps with performance. However, they say that the phone's hardware cannot support flash.

The screen is very clear. Even small text looks good. It is very bright and very colorful. Nothing like a super AMOLED, but the clearest screen on a phone that I have owned. It is capacitive, but it feels like it might be plastic. Either way, I'm waiting on my Zagg screen protector...I will let you know about responsiveness once I get it installed.

I got the black/silver version, which is black soft-touch plastic with a brushed metal ring around the outside. It is a very nice looking phone and it feels sturdy in my hand.

I was initially concerned too. I mean, it is a brand new 2.2 capacitive touch phone that you can get for less than $200. Surely it can't be that good, is what I was thinking. I've only had it a day, but so far I am very impressed. Inexpensive does not mean cheap.
 
Activated the Optimus today, so far everything works perfectly. I had to call WFM to activate because the website asks for an IMEI # and it apparently doesn't like non WFM phones. Once I called though, Everything was up and going in a matter of minutes.

The data settings stored on the SIM card work just fine in the Optimus. No need to change anything.
 
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