Welp, the time has finally come. I’ve resisted buying a cell phone as long as any human being could possibly resist. First, because in the early years the month-to-month cost was just out of the question. Then as I watched the fellow humans chattering their way up and down the malls and, in a yakfest-induced haze, stumbling in front of traffic and bicycles and crashing their cars and running down small children in pedestrian crossings, I thought none of that foolishness for moi! Also, truth to tell, I have a kind of moral aversion to going around attached to a tether.
I don’t WANT to be “connected,” damn it. I value my solitude and I especially value peace and quiet. Why would I want to be jangled at or vibrated at as I’m going about my daily errands? And everyplace and everytime else?
On the other hand…
On the other hand we have the superannuated Dog Chariot, that worthy wagon resting quietly in the garage. It has 112,000 miles on it (which reminds me: time for a service appointment), and it’s 12 years old, about 175 years in people years. Every time I get into that tank, whether it’s just to drive over to the Safeway or whether to make a serious junket to Scottsdale or to my friend’s house in Waddell, I wonder if the thing is going to get there and back without crapping out. In times of yore, it wouldn’t have mattered much: car craps out, you walk to the nearest gas station and call for help on a pay phone.
But today there are no pay phones. And people expect that everyone, no matter how poor, owns a cell. And so if they see an old lady standing by the side of the road, what are they gonna do? Nothing, of course. They’ll assume I’ve called someone and am waiting for them to show up.
So, just as a matter of safety, I think I’d better have a cell phone.
Fortunately, the little business earns enough to pay the freight…with pretax dollars. Accountant says the S-corporation can justify buying me a cell phone, it needing a phone number with which to communicate with its clientele. And also fortunately, prices have come down a little.
T-Mobile has prepaid plans that offer significantly more time and power than I need, and that do not lock you in to a contract you can’t escape. For $30, I can get 100 minutes of talk time, unlimited texting, and unlimited Web browsing. And no contract harassment.
A hundred minutes is an hour and forty minutes. I very much doubt if I spend almost two hours a month on the phone! And even if I did, it appears that some of these gadgets will plug in to your wireless service, and in that mode the thing isn’t using up your “minutes.”
You have to buy your phone when you use one of these prepaid plans. T-Mobile’s prices for these devices are exorbitant: $250 for an Android phone that you can get from Amazon for $189, with free shipping.
This thing, which appears to be a slightly outdated 4G gadget, is well reviewed by consumers. As for T-Mobile’s service, it is reviled slightly less than other communications carriers. No one seems to like any of them. Conveniently, this outfit seems to have a store on every corner, so if push comes to shove you can go in and speak to a human. Not that the humans can do much for you: when you do business with the company online, you’re treated as though you were doing business with an entirely different entity from the T-Mobile that appears in strip malls. However, I did learn that you don’t have to buy the phone from them to get it up and running on their network.
Decided to get a smartphone instead of the cheapest walk-around plain telephone I could get, because that seems to be the way to extract the most value from these plans. The $30 service allows one to connect with a smartphone, so it seems kind of ridiculous to pay for service and then not use it.
In that department, the Android seems to be the most sensible way to go. The iPhone is way too expensive, because to operate it you have to buy three different plans: a voice plan, a data plan, and a text messaging plan. With AT&T, for example, the data plan will cost you $15; the cheapest voice plan, $40; and the cheapest texting plan $5 a month for 200 messages sent or received. That’s a bare minimum of $60 a month, plus gouges for “taxes and fees,” plus gouges for exceeding the allowed number of phone calls and random incoming text messages over which you have no control.
Sixty bucks a month for a phone! That is outrageous. Even if I could afford it, which I most certainly cannot, I wouldn’t pay it. Thirty is also a shade on the high side, but it’s marginally affordable.
The low-rent plans advertised by AARP are universally reviled. I’ve developed a flinch reflex around those AARP “bargains,” after the Delta Dental fiasco. And, I might add, after learning that Safeco can provide more homeowner’s and auto coverage for significantly less than The Hartford does in its AARP plan. Check out some of the hilarious yowls of rage over Consumer Cellular, one of the plans advertised by AARP. At best, opinions are mixed. Cricket? Costs more than T-Mobile; enrages customers. Jitterbug? If these customers could award negative stars, they would.
T-Mobile doesn’t appear to be any better, especially of late, although it’s highly rated by PC magazine. A Consumer Reports survey found it was less hated than AT&T but less liked than Verizon or Sprint. Verizon has a prepaid plan, but it’s $50, more than I can afford. About $40 a month is the tops. Apparently there’s no limit on the amount of time you can talk, but why should I pay $120/year more for time I probably won’t use? You do get an alleged deal on a less expensive phone at Verizon, but according to CNET you can get that cheaper elsewhere, same as you can get the Samsung Exhibit II cheaper than T-Mobile’s price.
It appears to be a toss-up. A 2011 Consumer Reports round-up, available online only to those who are willing to pay to peek, suggested smaller carriers are preferable to the large networks and plugged Consumer Cellular along with TracFone, Straight Talk, T-Mobile, and Virgin Mobile.
TracFone has cheap monthly plans, but the company’s website is opaque. You can’t tell what you’re actually going to get for $10, $20, or $30 a month. For the $30 plan, you get 200 minutes over thirty days, but evidently there’s no web-surfing, no texting??? Impossible to tell.
Straight Talk has a $30 plan with 1,000 minutes, texting, picture messages, free 411 calls, all with no contract. You have to do business with Walmart to get it, unfortunately, but it looks like a better deal than T-Mobile.
For $30, Virgin Mobile gives you 1,500 minutes (take that, Straight Talk!). It also gives you 1,500 text messages, but only 30 megabytes of Web access. Interestingly, this outfit includes the extra dings and gouges billed as “taxes and fees” in the base fee, so presumably you don’t pay more than advertised. Here, too, for just $50 you can get a Samsung phone with an actual keyboard, helpful for texting. LOL! Click on the in-house reviews for the phones, and the same reviews come up for every phone! What d’you bet their customer service is comparable?
Do you have a prepaid, no-contract monthly cell phone plan? If so, which one do you use and how do you like it?
Update: Here’s what came of this scheme, thanks to the generous advice of readers!
And so it begins….
Take it from me, I’ve carried a cell of some kind since the Motorola brick days, it will become like a part of your body in short order. Texting is the real killer app of cellphones; it’s easier by far to communicate with these little telegrams than with a voice conversation.
An android or iPhone is definitely with it, those little location aware apps like urban spoon are great.
Also, bite the bullet and go with a major carrier, despite the constant complaints on the Intertubes. You have some leverage with them, and their billing systems are reliable (your mileage may vary). You might want to reconsider the iPhone though, iCloud has a usabilitythat you don’ appreciate until you use it.
@ Vinny: Do you think any of the major carriers is better than the others? And T-Mobile does rank among the major carriers, right?
Alas, as much as I’d love to have an iPhone, I really think $60+ is more than I can afford. If one has to pay that much to get a decent carrier, then the fact is, I can’t afford a cell phone.
If all you *need* the phone for is emergencies, why is it important to be able to check email? All you need is a phone that dials out. If you *want* to be able to access email and other stuff, you have more options. And of course, those options will cost you money and they don’t come cheap (and never will be cheap) because people willingly say, “Yessir, may I have another,” to get the latestgreatestfastest technology just to say they have it, even though it really doesn’t do what they want or need it to do.
When I first got a cell phone, I went with TracFone, because I was poor and had no credit and it was the only thing available that didn’t require a credit check. I traveled alone for work and it just wasn’t safe to be out there alone if I got stranded. When I got married, the Geek nearly had a heart attack because I had a prepaid phone that wasn’t even digital! Horrors! We’re with T-mobile.
We refuse to buy into the smartphone hype and have basic phones with plain old service — no surfing, no texting, no crap. It costs us $60 a month for two phones. Getting locked into a contract isn’t such a bad deal as it might seem, as long as you don’t move out of their service area. I’m thinking lately about getting a blackberry — people look at me like I have two heads because I can’t immediately text them a reply if I’m in the car. But until they figure out a way to make bluetooth grow appendages that can type, I’ll suck it up and stick with the plain old phone I’ve got.
@ Julie: Hm…that’s a worthwhile thought. To their credit, the guys at T-Mobile also suggested that I don’t actually need a smartphone. Imagine a sales clerk not upselling you but trying to downsell you! I’ll take another look at that option.
I too, succumbed to a cell phone in case of car accidents around 9 years ago when I was 54.
But I got, and still have, a plain vanilla T-mobile plan that is $20 a month. I can’t remember how many minutes I get, but who cares? It’s for emergencies and still meets my needs.
OMG. Speaking of T-Mobile and the general state of telecommunications customer service, you’ve gotta see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fikfhYznqhw&feature=related
I don’t know how much you’d actually use your cellphone, but I pay about $15 a month for a prepaid Verizon that I’ve been using since my freshman year of college (senior this year). There’s a lot of different cheaper plans, but I had a bad experience with Virgin Mobile so I wouldn’t ever recommend them.
My parents don’t believe in cellphones, but I needed something when I went to college as I was in temp-housing and had no phone, so I got the one I have, and it’s been great. All it does is make phone calls and text, which has been all I need. It’s not fancy like my classmates, but I love it.
However, prepaid cellphones (and my parents land-line) seem to have really bad problems with solicitors. I’ve just learned to ignore anything that isn’t in my area code. That is one big problem with them I think which you may want to talk to different companies about. Different carriers may have different issues with that.
And a lot of times, no matter the prepaid provider, you can get a $100 top-up that will make your minutes good for a year and that way you don’t have to worry about paying every month. There’s generally a lot simpler plans for people who don’t really need the phone for more than emergencies/short calls.
Whatever you do–I don’t recommend tracphone. I rip my hair out every time my mother mentions it because that’s the kind of cellphone they temporarily used and it was so annoying.
If you do decide to go with a smartphone then going with an Android phone is likely better for you than an iPhone. iPhones won’t use wifi for voice only for data, although many Android phones do. If you are planning to build your business up, a smartphone may come in handy to check email, note new contacts, etc. And some free apps are awesome for carrying important reference files and making notes. Dropbox and Evernote are my absolute favorites for this, although I use them strictly for personal stuff since we aren’t allowed to use them for business. (Not secure enough).
I’m one of the lucky ones when it comes to mobile devices. My work reimbursed the purchase price of my iPhone and pays the majority of the monthly bill. I just have to subtract my personal use when I submit expenses (an estimate is OK, so no involved record keeping is involved). My personal use of voice is pretty much limited to evenings and weekends, and our standard work plan has 500 free N&W minutes for talk as well as unlimited data. So I only figure my “personal” use is about $10 a month (and it’s likely less than that).
I recently was switched to an unlimited voice plan with approval from my boss due to my heavy usage of the phone for work calls. Starting last winter I was getting bills as high as $230 per month because I do so many conference calls from home. (When the work day starts at 7 AM and ends at 8 or 9 PM, it kind of makes sense to not confine it to the time spent in a cube on an office phone.) The unlimited calling plan is about $60 a month; plus data, taxes, etc. my bills will be around $100 a month now.
I have 200 text messages a month included with this plan, too. I never send that many text messages, though, since I don’t have kids (it seems people with kids/teens do a lot of texting with them) and don’t text back and forth with friends messages like “OMG!” “Yeah, right!” “where are u?” “yum, yum” etc. (That right there was four text messages. OMG, only 196 messages left this month! 😉
I use AT&T for my plan. I hate the fact that they will occasionally drop my calls like a hot potato for no reason, but the coverage in my city and the cities I am likely to visit for work is excellent. And they are the only carrier who allows for simultaneous data and voice use on the iPhone. (Yes, I sometimes need to check my email or something on the device while I am talking.) On the other hand, my friend with an Android smartphone and Verizon carrier got much more consistent coverage during a road trip from Chicago to Santa Clara, CA. Seems Verizon has better coverage along the interstates, although neither of us got a signal in parts of Wyoming and Utah.
Look closely at the coverage maps of the different providers. That may help you decide, too.
I too was a late comer to cell phones. I just have a basic pre-pay phone with virgin mobile. I buy a card and am required to buy $20 every 3 months. I do occasionally call and text but it is working just fine for me. I don’t really use it much.
I hate paying for a cellphone…that being said, it is the only way I am able to communicate with the nieces and nephews….they only text….will not talk on phone unless emergency :>)
Can you piggy back on your son’s plan? sometimes family plans are cheaper….my sister and bil have 4 phones and only pay slightly more than me with one phone….
Tried that. He’s not having any of it. I think his employer subsidizes his phone.
30 year old here so you know I have a fully hooked up phone LOL that being said, why not drop the landline and find which services is fantastic in your area?
You may actually save money. Also what is your internet/tv maybe you can bundle in with that (VZ offers that service – although they are super expensive when it comes to wireless world IMO).
I have sprint for The Wife and I and pay about 120 a month but that includes literally unlimited everything.
Well, to start with, I don’t have cable TV. The DSL connection works only with the computer, and Cox doesn’t offer cell phones. Qwest does, but I wouldn’t do business with Qwest again if it was the last phone company on the planet.
In my old age, I forget stuff. I put things down and lose them. If I carelessly set something down in a place where I’m not in the habit of putting it down, it can be days before I find it. Sometimes it in fact is lost…on a few occasions, I’ve never found objects that I failed to put back in an accustomed spot.
This is particularly true of telephone headsets. I have five of them attached to the land line.
With five phones around the house, when I “lose” one, I can always find another one. But if I only had one little cell phone, it would soon be gone. I can’t afford to go a day or two or three without a telephone.
All of which, I guess, is another good argument in favor of getting the cheapest talk/texting cell phone on a month-to-month no-contract plan. 😉
I’ve been using Tracfone for a year ~ no complaints here. Ditched ATT and their $300/month phone bill and gave everyone formerly on my ATT plan a prepaid cell phone. Told them that if they didn’t like it to provide their own arrangements and that’s what some of them did.
My spouse bought a $10 Tracfone flip phone and says it’s just fine. I got my phone free as did a couple of my kids via special offer at the time. I get double minutes for every airtime card I buy, my kids get triple minutes.
I spend around $30 a month but, if the kids weren’t texting me every five minutes, I could make those minutes last a lot longer and perhaps get it down to $10/month.
If I need to make phone calls, I use either my laptop or desk top to make Skype calls and I stay off the cell phone to save minutes. I do a lot of emailing too and …… I just make it work.
My kids use their iPhones mostly for looking up restaurant and store locations or for travel directions. I just try to organize myself in that regard before leaving the house on a trip.
I’d like a smartphone but I’m holding out for lower monthly costs. Until then, I’m sticking with Tracfone although I may check out Straight Talk and Virgin Mobile to compare costs one of these days.
We use Straight Talk and have great service. I use the $30 a month plan and my husband has the unlimited $45, which is still half of what we were paying with AT&T.
I use a cell phone very seldom – got it more traveling in the car alone. I didn’t even give the # out to more than a handful of family. I use Tracfone and buy the minimum minutes/time three months at a time. They do let you roll over your minutes you have some left and your “time” is up. I think you can text on it but haven’t tried, you can connect to the web but I only rarely do.
Works for me but then again it is more for security than talking on the phone to family and friends.
I’ve had a Tracphone for several years because my children insisted I have something for emergencies in the car. I can text on it, but don”t (a grandchild taught me “just in case”). I pay $20 every 3 months and roll over what minutes are left.
Most of the time it is turned off. Only a few people have the number. Once a week or so I turn it on and check if anyone has left me a message, but family members know to E-mail me or call my land line.
I don’t have the prepaid servive but I have T-Mo. Have had them for years…since they bought out VoiceStream. I have always had good CS with them (and maybe a bit better than some since I’m an old customer). I always get someone who’s able to help and communicate clearly (I noticed the reviews link complained about outsourced call center). My sister is a loyal Vz fan.
With the major carriers, the contracts subsidize the phone. TMo will give me the same phone price as a new customer if I’m wanting to upgrade at the time my contract is up. At least they have in the past. I think they still will.
I think with a smartphone, you must have the data plan. a friend had that complaint with Vz since she didn’t want the data then (now she has an iphone; go figure). So if you really don’t need a smartphone, stick with the conventional phone as it will be cheaper.
Good luck!
I have a Verizon LG phone and a prepaid account. My cost is about $25 a month. The account is depleted at $1 per day someone calls me plus 10 cents a minute, and another fee for texting. This works for me because I’ve trained my family that email is better for getting in touch with me and most days no one calls me.
Sorry I’m not much help. We pay $140 a month to Sprint for 2 Samsung Epics with unlimited everything. Since we use so much of the data plans for the business and talk and text a bunch, it makes sense for us. But totally not for you – I get that, lol. Good luck!