No Frills Phones and Service Plans - Comments Page 2

About a year ago, I went shopping for an all frills phone, with a provider that has no contract, and cheap. I found GoSmart. For $30/mo, I get unlimited calls and text with 2.5 G of data, but that's with automatic payments. It's $35/mo with internet payments. As far as the cell goes, I found a Samsung S5 (unlocked by Samsung, to keep the 1 year warranty. If a third party unlocks it, the warranty is void) for $400. Unlocked means that I can take my phone and go to any provider that will accept it (ie, if you buy a Verizon phone, and want to change to AT&T, you have to buy an AT&T phone. With an unlocked phone, you can take your phone with you to a different provider, if they will take it. I shopped around and found GoSmart). Just to let you know, I use 2-3000 (not a typo) cell minutes a month. Text is not my favorite, but I use it every now and then, and it's handy when you want to send photos. GoSmart has their own cheap cells, no contract, and great coverage.
PS I don't work for GoSmart. It's just a good buy.

Thanks, Bob, for the options and carriers that are available to those of us that are too busy to learn all of the "Way Cool" features of a smart phone. One question: When did the Colts get moved back to Baltimore? Do the Ravens know about this?

Use an old flip phone with $80 for 1 year 4000 minutes on page plus. Lasts me about a year; 2nd plan lasts 6-8 months for my wife's flip phone. The smartphones are limited to WiFi only (on my Internet service or public WiFi),including SIP phone & text messages.

We have been (mostly) satisfied Tracfone customers for over 10 years. We have a small summer cabin northern CA on the edges of cellular service zones and found that smart phones just weren't able to connect to the far away cell towers at all, but a modest Huawei H110C ($15 through Radio Shack online) no-frills phone+basic texting device works great. For really stubborn connection days, we add a Wilson Electronics cell signal booster to ensure a stable connection. We theorize that these phones, designed to be just phones without a lot of other features, may work better as phones than the jack-of-all trades smart phones. Thanks for another great article.

I have a verizon plan at $5+tax per month. Minutes accumulate. I don't use it much. Free to other Verizon's.

I have a verizon plan at $5+tax per month. Minutes accumulate. I don't use it much. Free to other Verizon's.

What are the no frill options if AT&T is the only carrier I can use for my area. Just calls and texting (no camera, no internet etc.)?

Agreed, but where do I get a simple cell phone I can make a call using a physical key pad and then turn off the phone. Please name the cell phones that have no camera and one end to speak into and the other end to listen. It is absolutely ALL I want and I too do not have time for anything else. it shouldn't need a tutorial and I just hate touch screens.

Bill