Teens and Iphones

[jrmasm]

Is the combination a terrible idea?

Here's the story....yesterday DD14 cracked the screen on her phone (a Shine I think). She is not eligible for an new phone until next July (AT&T). She's had a phone since she was 11 and hasn't broken/ lost one before yesterday.

I am eligible for a new phone but was holding off until Xmas because I wanted an Iphone GS.

I was thinking about getting a G for myself now and putting her sim card in my old phone and then in July, ordering a Gs and swapping the sim cards to that she got the G. Will this even work?

Also, even with a case, the screen doesn't seem totally protected to me. Is it crazy to even consider giving her an Iphone? And does anyone know if they can be insured?

TIA!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

The main reason I wouldn't do an iphone is the monthly package you have to have with it. I heard it's about $45 per month.

We pay about $100 including all taxes and stuff for 4 lines shared. I wouldn't buy any phone that would cause us to spend more on a monthly basis

 

[Frantasmic]

Why would you not want to go ahead and get yourself a GS now?

You can buy cases with some sort of flap that protects the screen.

 

[tinatark]

Our son (15, high school soph) has one - he pays for the data plan (works during the summer). One of our requirements for him to have the iphone is that he make all A's and B's - otherwise the phone goes away. ATT will turn the data plan "off".

You know that you can buy a "go phone" at Wal Mart, Target, etc. and put her SIM in it for her to use, right?

 

[NewCrew42]

The main reason I wouldn't do an iphone is the monthly package you have to have with it. I heard it's about $45 per month.

We pay about $100 including all taxes and stuff for 4 lines shared. I wouldn't buy any phone that would cause us to spend more on a monthly basis

You would pay for a package like that with ANY type of phone that can have the services that an iPhone has. I pay that for my Tilt, (which I am told at the phone store is old and that I really need to get a new phone.)

 

[NewCrew42]

We gave our DS14 an iPod Touch for his birthday, like the iPhone but without the phone part.

HUGE mistake. I so wish we would have given him the iPhone instead. Now he carries his Ipod Touch and his phone around all the time. One more thing to keep up with, although like your dd, he has never lost or broken a phone or iPod. He did wash his old iPod in the washer, which caused it not to work as well, but he never complained and did not ask for a new one. So, when his birthday came around we gave him the iPod Touch. We never even thought about giving him an iPhone, I don't know why it didn't cross our mind. We were thinking music and NOT phone I guess.

If I had it to do over again, I would give him the iPhone. I think it sounds like you have a great plan. Your DD has shown to be responible.

Oh, my DH has an iPhone which he got after DS's birthday. Trust me, they are sturdier than you think. DH is harder on phones than any of us.

I also think DH and DS have screen protectors on their devices to keep them from getting scratched.

 

[jrmasm]

Our son (15, high school soph) has one - he pays for the data plan (works during the summer). One of our requirements for him to have the iphone is that he make all A's and B's - otherwise the phone goes away. ATT will turn the data plan "off".

You know that you can buy a "go phone" at Wal Mart, Target, etc. and put her SIM in it for her to use, right?

Wait!! Do you mean I can buy a cheap prepaid and swap the card and it will work with my plan? If that's what you mean, I didn't know that!!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Yes, you can use a cheap phone from Target, etc.. Or you can use an old phone with the same service that is not being used anymore.. This can be yours or a friend/family member. The phone may not be current you just need to swap the Sims card. Even AT&T will mention this with phones for kids..

When you do get the new phone and if you get a child an expensive phone, take out the insurane. Make them pay for it. It builds responsibility. I know some will totally disagree, but it has worked perfectly for us. You never know what could happen. You get your child the IPhone and a friend has to call home. Your child offers and the friend accidently drops it... You never know. Good luck with your decision.

 

[jrmasm]

Ok, so I buy a cheap phone, swap the sim cards and that's it? Same phone number etc as on her old phone. I don't have to have AT&T do anything?

Thanks, you've been really helpful and I'm much happier about going this route!

 

[agnes!]

When my DD's old phone stopped working, her contract wasn't up so we just swapped her sim card with one of our old phones and were good to go. Can't beat "free"! Now after her replacement phone started acting up, we did get her a newer phone with a decent keypad. I'm with the folks who balk at the cost of monthly data-plans for the IPhones and their brethren...around $40/month extra?!? $480 extra a year is a little much for me.

agnes!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Ok, so I buy a cheap phone, swap the sim cards and that's it? Same phone number etc as on her old phone. I don't have to have AT&T do anything?

Thanks, you've been really helpful and I'm much happier about going this route!

Yep, you will be all set. DD had a phone that died a little bit before the contract was up. We got it replaced with a brand new phone. She used it for a month, then she got her new phone. She loans the phone out to her friends it they get into the "gap" area, or are waiting for a replacement.

 

[sbell111]

I'd just buy her a phone off of ebay.

 

[OK!]

The iPhone data plan is $30 a month, which is the same price as the data plan for BlackBerries and other smart phones through AT&T. I got a 3GS in June on launch day and have never loved a device like I love this one. Before that, I was carrying a BB Bold and a 16GB iPod Touch everywhere; as I was eligible for an upgrade, I was able to get double the storage capacity on my iPhone for much cheaper than the same size iPod Touch AND I was able to consolidate devices (and sell the Bold and iPod Touch on ebay, which more than covered the cost of my iPhone). Win-win.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Is the combination a terrible idea?

Here's the story....yesterday DD14 cracked the screen on her phone (a Shine I think). She is not eligible for an new phone until next July (AT&T). She's had a phone since she was 11 and hasn't broken/ lost one before yesterday.

I am eligible for a new phone but was holding off until Xmas because I wanted an Iphone GS.

I was thinking about getting a G for myself now and putting her sim card in my old phone and then in July, ordering a Gs and swapping the sim cards to that she got the G. Will this even work?

Also, even with a case, the screen doesn't seem totally protected to me. Is it crazy to even consider giving her an Iphone? And does anyone know if they can be insured?

TIA!!

When our DD broke her phone and wasn't yet eligible for an upgrade she used one of the old phones. She did not get a new phone until she was eligible for a free upgrade. Making her wait really made her appreciate the new one all the more.

iPhones cannot be insured. That, alone, would keep me from getting one for a 14yo, no matter how responsible. Also, it won't be as easy to swap sim cards for iPhones as you have the phone synced to a computer. Swapping the cards will be a huge hassle as the data (apps, contacts, etc.) is stored on the phone, not the sim card.

Another reason I wouldn't get the 14yo the iPhone is the data plan that must be purchased. It is $30 on top of your monthly plan. This $30 does not include texting. IMO, no teenager needs a phone/plan that costs that much. They may want it, but they do not need it and that's a big difference.

My advice would be to get her a regular phone now and then wait until the next time she is ready for an upgrade to consider the iPhone. That will put her at the age where she can get a job and pay for the $30 data charge herself. Not only will it give her the responsibility of working for what she wants, paying a portion herself will also add to the care she takes with the phone.

DD17 will be due for an upgrade just before she goes to college and we have agreed to discuss an iPhone. We will buy her the phone for her birthday and pay for the plan and our family texting package. She will pay the $30 per month for the data package.

As for getting one for yourself, definitely do it. I have one and it is a terrific device. It has truly revolutionized my life.

 

[tinatark]

The gophones at WalMart/Target, etc are cheaper than buying one off ebay.

Don't get the very cheapest one, though - it is just a POC... I think we used the flip phone that's kind of mahogany-colored successfully. $69 I think.

 

[sbell111]

The gophones at WalMart/Target, etc are cheaper than buying one off ebay.

Don't get the very cheapest one, though - it is just a POC... I think we used the flip phone that's kind of mahogany-colored successfully. $69 I think.

My understanding is that the 'go phones' only work in the 850mhz band and not the 1900mhz GSM band, resulting in poor reception in many areas.

 

[OK!]

iPhones cannot be insured. That, alone, would keep me from getting one for a 14yo, no matter how responsible.

If you purchase the iPhone at a Best Buy, they can be insured through their service. There's also another company called (I believe) Square Trade that offers iPhone insurance as long as you purchase the insurance within 30 days of purchasing the phone. So it can happen. It ain't cheap, but it can happen.

 

[MushyMushy]

Didn't read the other responses, but just wanted to chime in real quick. LG Shine has a problem with screens cracking for no reason. My son's and daughter's Shines cracked within a week of the other, then we got new ones on warranty and one of the new ones cracked! I didn't believe that they just cracked themselves until I started reading up on it after a Google search.

If it's still under warranty, you might want to call them and don't take no for an answer.

 

[Ohiodislover]

We are also w/ ATT and tried to do this a few months back. I was able to get a new phone, but DH wasn't, and he was craving an IPhone.

We would have had to switch phone numbers to do it. The sim cards for the Iphone are put in before they are shipped, and are unable to be switched, like in regular phones.

And as others have said, a PDA plan is required for an Iphone. There are many other phones on ATT that are not PDAs, with a lot of the same features- just not the apps. Then it is only $10 to add the media plan.

 

[OK!]

We would have had to switch phone numbers to do it. The sim cards for the Iphone are put in before they are shipped, and are unable to be switched, like in regular phones.

That's weird. Did they tell you that at the AT&T store? They switched my SIM right in front of me, and I know of others who upgraded to the 3GS and simply swapped the SIM out of their existing 3G iPhone and then turned around and sold the 3G on ebay for a pretty penny. That's why they enclose a little tool that looks kinda like an unfolded paper clip with every iPhone--so you can use it to open the SIM tray located next to the headphone jack on the top of the phone.