cell phone suggestions for a teen

[Partridge4ever]

Thinking surprising my 13 y.o. DD with a cell phone. I don't even know where to begin. What kind do teens want? She would use it to text mostly. Do they have built in MP3 players? And what service has the best rates for 2 lines? Right now I'm with T-Mobile and I pay $30 a month, 300 minutes, no texting. I did some poking around last night and it looks like a family plan will more than triple my bill.

 

[glitterkittyy]

You'll want one with a full keyboard (QWERTY). There are lots of different kinds to choose from.

T-mobile just came out with some new plans that include talk and text. Have you looked at their new plans?

 

[3boymthr]

We're doing the same with DS13 for christmas.

I took him to the cell phone store on the pretext of getting some accessories for my own cell phone (which I did) but that wasn't the real purpose of our visit. While we were there he started playing with all the phones.

I asked him well, if I were to replace my phone what kind should I get. He went to this one that slides both ways with a full keyboard and standard phone keyboard. Not something I would have picked. I thought for sure he'd want one of the cool touch phones or the MIL-spec phone DH has.

I went home went on the internet was able to order/get the phone he liked for free after activation charges with a 2 year contract (which I added onto our contract). The best part is I don't have to activate it until the day before christmas so no charges while the phone isn't being used.

I'd suggest you try this with your DD.

Now as for plans, etc. Only you can determine what is best for your needs. We had to stick with our current carrier as they are the only one's with whom we have service in our yard (none work in the house, but at least they ring so we can go out in the yard).

 

[mjkacmom]

How about a gc for a phone? Dd13 knew what she wanted (and knew what she didn't!). Make sure to get unlimited text - she barely used her minutes, because most teens just text.

 

[mom2boys]

Thinking surprising my 13 y.o. DD with a cell phone. I don't even know where to begin. What kind do teens want? She would use it to text mostly. Do they have built in MP3 players? And what service has the best rates for 2 lines? Right now I'm with T-Mobile and I pay $30 a month, 300 minutes, no texting. I did some poking around last night and it looks like a family plan will more than triple my bill.

I highly recommend an unlimited texting plan or a prepaid plan. You don't want any surprises. We have an unlimited text plan for $35 per month for all 4 of our pohnes on a family plan with AT&T.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Oh yes, get WAY more texting than minutes. Teens rarely call each other anymore, and they will send a text with only one letter or word in it!! Those add up QUICK!

As for the Mp3 abillity, my kids don't use their phones to listen to music, but they DO take pics & video with them. It's important to get a phone with a keyboard too.

 

[lovetoscrap]

At the recommendation of another DISer I got my DD a phone and plan from Kajeet. I am really happy with it! All of their plans include unlimited texting, which is all she really wanted. The plan prices are quite low. Kajeet is marketed for kids specifically and has some great parental control features.

 

[momof1princess]

At the recommendation of another DISer I got my DD a phone and plan from Kajeet. I am really happy with it! All of their plans include unlimited texting, which is all she really wanted. The plan prices are quite low. Kajeet is marketed for kids specifically and has some great parental control features.

i'm very curious about kajeet. please, tell me everything you know, lol. do picture messages cost extra? can the phones be used to go online? do the rates go up? i saw a special on the website for $14.99 per month, and am wondering if that's only for the first few months. the phone prices are outrageous, but the phone would pay for itself with what it would save us compared to our regular wireless carrier (phone + 9.99 + 20.00 unlimited texting).

 

[Partridge4ever]

Thanks for all the replies! I remember reading about kajeet in a magazine awhile back.

 

[Partridge4ever]

I just went to kajeet's website. What's the catch? It sounds too good to be true. Do they let grown-ups get it?

 

[lovetoscrap]

i'm very curious about kajeet. please, tell me everything you know, lol. do picture messages cost extra? can the phones be used to go online? do the rates go up? i saw a special on the website for $14.99 per month, and am wondering if that's only for the first few months. the phone prices are outrageous, but the phone would pay for itself with what it would save us compared to our regular wireless carrier (phone + 9.99 + 20.00 unlimited texting).

Unfortunately I don't know much. We got it for DD about 2 months ago when they had a special where it is $20 for unlimited texting and I think 120 mins a month? We bought the bottom of the line phone. Actually she did. She had to pay for it herself and decided she didn't need an expensive phone!

So she doesn't have picture texting. But I didn't see anything that said it cost extra? I am sure that somewhere it says "all rates are subject to change" but supposedly we are locked into the $20 special rate we got so I wouldn't expect they would raise the standard rates too much. And there is no commitment, so if they do you just move on.

DD just wanted unlimited texting for a reasonable price and this more than fit that need. She probably only has used less than 10 minutes in actual talking on the phone, and those are all to me!

I absolutely LOVE the parent controls. I have it set so that she can not send or receive texts or calls from 9:30 pm to 6:30 am, so I know that she isn't texting her friends at all hours of the night. BUT, you can also add phone numbers that she can ALWAYS call-- for us that is our home phone and cell phones. So if she is at a sleepover and needs to call me at 2am she can, despite the fact that her phone is set to not send or receive during those hours.

You can also block numbers from the parental controls or put in just the numbers you want them to use.

I think there is some way to get internet but I am not familiar with all that. I know I just got an email about it, but I am not very tech savvy at that stuff. She just wants to text her friends so that is all she does.

I just went to kajeet's website. What's the catch? It sounds too good to be true. Do they let grown-ups get it?

That is what DH and I said too! The only real "'catch" we did find is that there is a slight upcharge (service charge?) in the very fine print. But I think it was like 5% which on the $20 bill isn't really enough to be upset about. They don't ask for an age when you sign up. Anyone can get it!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Here is the text of the email that I just got from them:

Great news -- kajeet Mobile Web is here! Kajeet Surfing + Google Maps and Mobile IM have merged to form this new-and-improved service! Before, your kid was able to view a handful of great kajeet-approved mobile sites on the handset. Now, we offer four levels of Mobile Web access so you can customize where your kid can and cannot surf.

Access to FREE Mobile Sites: This includes Dictionary.com and Google Maps.
Free of charge (this means standard Mobile Web rates don't apply)

Access to More kajeet-Approved Mobile Sites: These are sites we think are useful for kids on the go, including Weather, ESPN, National Geographic and more!
Standard Mobile Web usage rates apply.

Access to Social Networking + IM: This includes sites like Twitter and Facebook and also includes instant messaging... a great way to keep your kid connected!
Standard Mobile Web usage rates apply.

Access to Open Internet: You can let your kid surf the entire World Wide Web!
(Please note: turning on access to Open Internet will also automatically turn on all Mobile Web access levels) Standard Mobile Web usage rates apply.

The standard rate for Mobile Web access is only $0.35 per 0.25MB - this will be deducted from the Kid Wallet. This includes access to kajeet Mobile IM (if you allow it), which will no longer be charged separately at $6.99/month). Remember, you can check your Account Activity to monitor usage levels.

Also for an additional $10 per month you can add a GPS tracker. While I don't need that now, in 2 years when she starts driving that may be a good thing!

 

[bananda]

get something with a camera (preferably 2mp or higher), bluetooth, memory card and music player. these features are pretty standard now i think. oh, and something with a big screen

 

[Ohiodislover]

I agree w/ the unlimited texting. Those add up fast.

Also, not sure how it is w/ t-mobile, but w/ ATT, I made sure my girls didn't get a PDA. The media plans for a PDA are $30/month, rather than the $10 that DD has. She still has unlimited online to check emails, facebook, etc.

I also agree w/ the camera. Many have quite nice cameras, and the pics turn out great. It is nice to have a camera in your pocket at all times.

 

[golfgal]

Unfortunately I don't know much. We got it for DD about 2 months ago when they had a special where it is $20 for unlimited texting and I think 120 mins a month? We bought the bottom of the line phone. Actually she did. She had to pay for it herself and decided she didn't need an expensive phone!

So she doesn't have picture texting. But I didn't see anything that said it cost extra? I am sure that somewhere it says "all rates are subject to change" but supposedly we are locked into the $20 special rate we got so I wouldn't expect they would raise the standard rates too much. And there is no commitment, so if they do you just move on.

DD just wanted unlimited texting for a reasonable price and this more than fit that need. She probably only has used less than 10 minutes in actual talking on the phone, and those are all to me!

I absolutely LOVE the parent controls. I have it set so that she can not send or receive texts or calls from 9:30 pm to 6:30 am, so I know that she isn't texting her friends at all hours of the night. BUT, you can also add phone numbers that she can ALWAYS call-- for us that is our home phone and cell phones. So if she is at a sleepover and needs to call me at 2am she can, despite the fact that her phone is set to not send or receive during those hours.

You can also block numbers from the parental controls or put in just the numbers you want them to use.

I think there is some way to get internet but I am not familiar with all that. I know I just got an email about it, but I am not very tech savvy at that stuff. She just wants to text her friends so that is all she does.



That is what DH and I said too! The only real "'catch" we did find is that there is a slight upcharge (service charge?) in the very fine print. But I think it was like 5% which on the $20 bill isn't really enough to be upset about. They don't ask for an age when you sign up. Anyone can get it!

Do you pay $20/month for your plan? Our kids' phones with unlimited texting are only $10/month on our Verizon plan.

 

[NotUrsula]

Be careful with giving camera phones to teens. There can be strong temptation to use them innapropriately, whether for "sexting" or for cheating in class.

I'm not letting DS have camera capacity on his phone for quite a while; because with him it is better to just avoid the opportunity for spontaneous stupidity.

If he wants to take a photo, he can take one of his cameras. (He has more than one because he gets Dad's hand-me-downs, but none of them is small enough to conceal in a pocket -- his Dad is into serious cameras.)

 

[monkeybug]

I haven't read any of the other replies, or what provider you use, but honestly I would never buy anything but an Iphone ever again. If you bought an ipod, a phone, a gps, and portable internet separately it would add up to way more than the Iphone costs, and that doesn't even factor in all the apps you can get (lots free!) I can't imagine my life with out it!!!

 

[momof1princess]

ok, so the kajeet phone is a monthly charge ($20 in the PP's case) and then there's a 5% "upcharge" too?

 

[tar heel]

I can't say strongly enough how important it is to get UNLIMITED TEXTING. She will text more than you think is possible.

We got our 15-year-old a new phone in September, and the store messed up setting up the service and didn't put the texting package on his phone. It's amazing what 6,000 texts equals when you pay as you go. I got to see what a $1,200 cell phone bill looked like! We did negotiate a deal with Verizon and did not have to pay all that, thank goodness.

monkeybug -- a lot of us can't afford Iphones (and their service) for our kids or ourselves...

 

[clutter]

I agree w/ the unlimited texting. Those add up fast.

Also, not sure how it is w/ t-mobile, but w/ ATT, I made sure my girls didn't get a PDA. The media plans for a PDA are $30/month, rather than the $10 that DD has. She still has unlimited online to check emails, facebook, etc.

I also agree w/ the camera. Many have quite nice cameras, and the pics turn out great. It is nice to have a camera in your pocket at all times.

Realize (at least with ATT) that unlimited texting does not include picture texting. To do that, you need to pay for data. And if you don't get it, I highly recommend that you turn off the data access so you don't get hit with data charges.

Not having data access also limits the ability to download ringtones and wallpapers (big things to my dd12). You can do some transfers if the phone has one of the mini SD cards.

OP, you should be able to add a phone to your plan for $10/month and unlimited texting to her phone for $20 or to all phones in the plan for $30/month or so.

I agree that I would let your dd pick it out. Go out, look around, decide on the service. My dd spent months drooling over phones while waiting until she was allowed to have hers.