Dumb phone

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well, I made a comment in the Photography Group about buying a new smart phone since Verizon, my carrier, is switching data plans and, of course, things will get more expensive if I wait to buy a new phone. I need to do this before the 28th. It started lots of comments, some of which may be of more general interest.

There are days when I think I'll go back to a dumb phone that only does what a phone is supposed to do. But I do sometimes use the camera. I do use my phones GPS and occasionally I look something up. I do not</ strong> text. If I want to communicate I call and speak to the person or leave a message. How quaint.

I will copy others my and others comments as replies and maybe we'll have more of a discussion.

UPDATE: I Love my Samsung Galaxy S3. SUPER SMART!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

F.  we are techie slow at our house - no fax - if it can't be e-mailed, it doesn't happen. Because of my age, I keep holding on to the land line, but really we never call out on it and get so few important calls that I  can't justify the cost.  I don't even quite understand what Diane and Nancie said about hot spots and droids - I am on the edge of getting it but just not quite there yet.  And wouldn't that be even more expensive?

We have dumb phones that have a crummy camera.  We text a lot (or I do) because the younger friends and relatives pretty much only text.  I would prefer to speak, but.....   I really wish I had a GPS though because mapquest isn't always right or available to me.  I prefer a key pad also and a flip phone that fits into my pocket is a must.  Try finding that!

[Pauline Rackley]

I also have Verizon because of service problems where I live. When my dog (Afghan, not Doodle) chewed up my old flip phone, I had to get a new one. Our contract was over, so I had to get a new one, but I also just wanted a phone to make calls and fit in my pocket. I got a Samsung Gusto 2 from Verizon for 49.99 and and a 30.00 upgrade fee. It is very similar to my old one. It is a flip phone, small, has a camera and I'm sure can do other things. So far I am happy with it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think that $30 upgrade fee is such a crime. But what can we do?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's the phone I just bought, paid the same price you did, and am just paying $50/month for unlimited calling while I decide what to do. But I've been told the coverage may not be as good without a contract, because they use different towers or something. I don't travel, so that's not a problem.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't see how they could or would use different towers. Maybe you are talking about roaming fees?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, I'm sure they told me they use different towers. Nothing was said about roaming fees.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Could it be 3G versus 4 G or something? It just makes me wonder.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know, but I was told that about the towers and having problems with recpetion by clerks at three different stores. Apparently it only happens if you travel to places where the signal isn't so strong or something, so I'm not too worried about it.

But I can't buy a song to use as a ringtone becaue I don't have an account. :(

[F, Calla & Luca]

Who could explain this to us?

[Diana Erhart]

My husband is out of town for a few more days but I will ask him when he returns.  I assume you are asking about reception being different if you have a contract or not and Karen being told about them using different towers.  If that is not correct, please let me know.  From what I know of this I think that she was totally told bad information but let me check with my husband before you hold me to that.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Exactly what we are asking and we would appreciate having this clarified. I can understand a problem with different signal strength in places but not based on whether you have a contract or not. Thank you!

[Diana Erhart]

I spoke with my hubby on the phone last night and he has never heard anything like having different towers usage for if you have a contract or not.  Given his knowledge of the network and how it works he doesn't think that is even possible.  Now, when you are roaming you will bounce off of different towers and some of those may not be verizon towers, but that has nothing to do with if you have a contract or not.  Karen, can you let me know where you are located and perhaps which stores you were in?  He wanted to follow up on this and try to make sure that people are getting correct and clearly understood information.