Need help choosing a new cell phone

[mikki'smom]

My kids and grandkids are really pressuring me to joing the 21st century and get a cell phone that will allow me to text. I don't care about all the bells and whistles, so the iphone is definitely out. Please make recommendations for the best and the most economical.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

You should see if your kids can add you on to their plan. We have my parents on our plan (so it's 9.99 for each of their lines) instead of them having their own plan. cheaper for them that way. And I highly recommend going to the store and playing with the phone first and see what works for you. This might sound crazy but I think everyone should know how to text message.

It will be hard for anyone to recommend a certain phone since certain phones only work on certain carriers.

 

[golfgal]

I would get one with a full keyboard (Qwerty). It will be much easier for you to text with that. DS15 and DH just got the Samsung Intensity and they both like it. If it is time for your upgrade, go with the nicest free phone you can get.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

If Verizon is the carrier...

They have the EnV 3 which is a very nice phone. It opens like a book with a full keyboard (that's the qwerty reference, the letters in order of the left hand).

It's simple to use, and sturdy. It also has a camera, but it's really hard to find a phone without one!

Taking photos with the camera is "free" but sending them will require a data transfer and depending upon your service you may or may not end up being able to do that.

Regardless, it's a decent phone, not too big, but not so small you'll lose it by laying it down!

 

[golfgal]

I would also suggest getting the unlimited texting option since you have grandkids. You might not send that many text messages but they will send them to you and you have to pay for the incoming as well as outgoing. It will save you money in the long run.

 

[Hedy]

You should see if your kids can add you on to their plan. We have my parents on our plan (so it's 9.99 for each of their lines) instead of them having their own plan. cheaper for them that way. And I highly recommend going to the store and playing with the phone first and see what works for you. This might sound crazy but I think everyone should know how to text message.

It will be hard for anyone to recommend a certain phone since certain phones only work on certain carriers.

During the NYC blackout, my sister and her so couldn't call each other, but they could text.

 

[clutter]

You should see if your kids can add you on to their plan. We have my parents on our plan (so it's 9.99 for each of their lines) instead of them having their own plan. cheaper for them that way. And I highly recommend going to the store and playing with the phone first and see what works for you. This might sound crazy but I think everyone should know how to text message.

It will be hard for anyone to recommend a certain phone since certain phones only work on certain carriers.

ITA. I have my Dad on our plan. He doesn't use the phone (he is 87 and it's a bit too new-fangled for his taste), but he knows to keep it charged and where each of our numbers are programed in.

 

[golfgal]

During the NYC blackout, my sister and her so couldn't call each other, but they could text.

I was just talking to a coworker who's Granddaughter was in Chile during the bad earthquake and the phone lines were down, cell phone calls were not going through but text messages, because the don't take up much "space" on the lines, were going through.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I just got the Samsung Exclaim about a month ago and I LOVE it!! Its a dual slider and it has a full QWERTY key board and a regular phone key pad. I can text on either my QWERTY key board or on my key bad. I think it comes in blue/silver/ and raspberry.

 

[mikki'smom]

Thank you so much, everyone. I have jotted down all your suggestions. When I get to the cell phone store, they're going to think that they are dealing with a real pro.