Family Plans, Smartphones and Data packages????

[maggiew]

We currently have Verizon Wireless Family plan with 5 lines. It is the 1400 minutes with unlimited text. We pay about $150 per month for all the lines. Our plan will need to be renewed soon. But now Verizon has the rule of requiring data plans if you have a smart phone. I have a Palm Centro currently but no data plan. The others have an Alias 2, which I do not think is considered a smart phone.

I am looking into options. I would like to get a smart phone and the data plan for myself and maybe my college age daughter. My husband and mother do not need data plans. I'm still on the fence about my 16 year old. But getting data plans for everyone will be sooooo expensive!! I think $150 per month is crazy already!!!

What are my options???? Are other providers any cheaper?? I just don't know what to do. It is all so confusing.

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[Sagginit]

i was just on verizon looking at phones and plans. my contract is up and i want a smartphone with data but its confusing. i think i want to drop my minutes and out of network texts to bare minimum so the extra for the data wont be such a hit, but i have no idea what phone i want or need. i also was thinking about getting a smartphone with no data and adding it later if i wanted it but then i realized i had to get the data plan too. i hate getting a new phone.

 

[maggiew]

I was just doing some research on the internet and found that Virgin Mobile has a pre-paid plan for $25 per month with unlimited text, email, data and web and also 300 minutes. That sounds good. The phones are limited (e.g. Blackberry requires a higher plan), but everyone recommends the LG Rumor Touch. But you have to buy the phone ($149 for the Rumor Touch). Some are cheaper and the Blackberries are more expensive.

Maggie

 

[tinker&belle]

If you get decent coverage from them, Sprint might be a good fit for you. We have 1500 minutes with everything data. (All texts, web, and data included. I think 2 lines retail for 129.99/month.)

 

[SandrA9810]

What about dropping the minutes down?

And which carrier allows free lines to kids now?? Plus verizon is opening up the free calls with more options. Instead of just your favorite 5, it's any one on verizon, and isn't it like 10 people now??

I know with AT&T if a new plan comes out that is cheaper than your current plan, they don't always drop it. So you might want to check out which options you do have and if it's currently the cheapest. Like are you paying individually for unlimited texting for each line, and is there an unlimited family plan that would be cheaper??

I don't think you'll find a cheaper option with AT&T though, and I think they only allow for 4 lines max.

Ohh yeah, check with your employer, many allow a 20% discount with most carriers. You just show your paystub in one of the stores and they add it to your account. It pretty much just saves on all the taxes and fees, but every bit helps.