Will we be able to get phones that don't require data plans in the future?

[DawnM]

I can see that.....that would make sense.

Once my older boys get into late high school and beyond, we may actually be more interested in spending the money for a different plan....but right now we are trying to keep cost down.

Dawn

I've been thinking about this for the past couple of days. I can't imagine that within the next 5 years there won't still be options for non-smartphones. I mean, I see little kids (8 years old, for example) with cell phones. I don't think that parents are going to want to buy them smartphones with data plans. I just think that there will still be a market for them. Although, whether the big companies like Verizon and ATT will worry about that niche is another question.

Maggie

 

[DawnM]

I talked to a friend last night. She has 5 phones on her plan, unlimited calling and full data on all phones plus insurance on all.....she pays, with insurance and taxes, $279/month!

When I talked to DH (who is an accountant!) immediately said, "You know in 10 years they will have paid almost $35,000.

WOW!

Dawn

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, how are you paying so little through Sprint?!

We dropped them as soon as we could because for two plain old phones, no data or texting, our bill was almost $100/mo after all the taxes and fees. And since I did want a data plan this time but DH doesn't, there was just no good way to do that - we'd have had to split our two lines onto different bills or pay for a data plan for DH's line as well even though he would never use it. We were quoted either $200/mo (before taxes and fees, of course) for a family plan with data or $100/mo for my line and $50/mo for DH's line if we went with two different accounts.

We're with MetroPCS now, unlimited everything for two lines for $70/mo and in our area they use Sprint's towers so the signal strength is the same and my new phone gets MUCH better reception than my old one.

 

[stm61]

we're stuck with Verizon. No other carriers have service in our area, including tracphones, and the service we do get is iffy at best. We get no service for data plans either. I tried one of those things you plug into the laptop, from Verizon, and they refunded everything since they don't have coverage in this area. I have a phone due to be replaced on the new every 2 plan, so I checked their website. They had maybe 8 phones that didn't require data plans. If they're going to phase out all non-data plan phones, they'll have to come up with a way to provide internet access to more areas.

 

[Kycha]

we're stuck with Verizon. No other carriers have service in our area, including tracphones, and the service we do get is iffy at best. We get no service for data plans either. I tried one of those things you plug into the laptop, from Verizon, and they refunded everything since they don't have coverage in this area. I have a phone due to be replaced on the new every 2 plan, so I checked their website. They had maybe 8 phones that didn't require data plans. If they're going to phase out all non-data plan phones, they'll have to come up with a way to provide internet access to more areas.

I totally agree. We are in the same boat. We barely get 1G here, you can just forget about 2, 3 or 4G. DH has a Verizon prepaid. And we had to go to a Walmart 50 miles away to buy it because our local Walmart(or any other store) doesn't sell them because we are out of their coverage area. The thing is, they are the only cell phone company that we can get any sort of decent signal from. When we moved here(1 1/2 years ago) we had Tmobile and the only time we got a signal was on a cloudy day. AT&T we get no signal at all. My brother and niece were here for New Year's and they got not signal whatsoever with their iPhones/AT&T. With Verizon, we consistently get one bar, enough to at least text.

 

[DawnM]

Well, I had Sprint for a solid 9 years paying their regular rates first!

So, when I called to tell them I was cancelling I think I happened to hit the right sales person who asked what it would take to get me to stay since I had been such a loyal customer for so long (no late payments, 9 full years, etc...). I told him I wanted a phone plan for $25! He gave it to me! In fact, he offered me more than I expected because he gave me 2 phones for $25 and the 3rd phone for $10 more. I think it is actually $30 and $10, but with the teacher discounts it comes to $35 plus $7 tax.

He never said it was a promotional deal and I have had it for 3 years, so I assume it is here to stay. When I called to ask about adding data to just my phone (which would have been available before Dec.) I was told they did away with that and it is all bundled for a family plan now. Unfortunately, that means a HUGE jump for me and they didn't offer me any discounts other than the teacher discount.

I told him, "LOOK at my current plan! Would you give it up?" He might have, but we just can't justify it at this time. Maybe in the future.

Do any of the other carriers give teacher discounts? In fact, I think Sprint only does it with teachers in certain areas because I didn't get it for 9 years prior and I was a teacher then!

Dawn

Wow, how are you paying so little through Sprint?!

We dropped them as soon as we could because for two plain old phones, no data or texting, our bill was almost $100/mo after all the taxes and fees. And since I did want a data plan this time but DH doesn't, there was just no good way to do that - we'd have had to split our two lines onto different bills or pay for a data plan for DH's line as well even though he would never use it. We were quoted either $200/mo (before taxes and fees, of course) for a family plan with data or $100/mo for my line and $50/mo for DH's line if we went with two different accounts.

We're with MetroPCS now, unlimited everything for two lines for $70/mo and in our area they use Sprint's towers so the signal strength is the same and my new phone gets MUCH better reception than my old one.

 

[mrodgers]

They had maybe 8 phones that didn't require data plans. If they're going to phase out all non-data plan phones, they'll have to come up with a way to provide internet access to more areas.

When I looked up Verizon, there were 25 regular cell phones and 34 smart phones.

 

[stm61]

When I looked up Verizon, there were 25 regular cell phones and 34 smart phones.

I only looked at the ones that came up free. I clicked a link from my acct. to replace the phone I have under the "new every 2 plan".

 

[stm61]

I totally agree. We are in the same boat. We barely get 1G here, you can just forget about 2, 3 or 4G. DH has a Verizon prepaid. And we had to go to a Walmart 50 miles away to buy it because our local Walmart(or any other store) doesn't sell them because we are out of their coverage area. The thing is, they are the only cell phone company that we can get any sort of decent signal from. When we moved here(1 1/2 years ago) we had Tmobile and the only time we got a signal was on a cloudy day. AT&T we get no signal at all. My brother and niece were here for New Year's and they got not signal whatsoever with their iPhones/AT&T. With Verizon, we consistently get one bar, enough to at least text.

I love living in the sticks, except when it comes to technology lol. We don't get great service on our property either, usually 1 or 2 bars. My son has perfected the "walk around the house and freeze when you get another bar" system The other plans available through T-Mobile, Alltel, Sprint, etc, are all cheaper, but we can't use them It's a real pain when my son goes 1/4 mile up the road to the neighbors. They get no service at all, which means I need to call the house phone, which may or may not get answered because 1) the kids are on the dial-up internet, or 2) they use a party line with 2 other family members, who are usually on the phone. I keep threatening to send up smoke signals My absolute favorite part of the whole situation is when AT&T sends me all these invitations to get DSL and cell service, for really great prices, and I can't use either. My kids are like "are they trying to rub it in or what?"

 

[Schachteles]

Yeah, and I know noone can predict....I was really just concerned! The regular phones are fading fast and they don't seem to be making many anymore.

Now, if 5 years I may find I would prefer the data anyway and may have the $$ to throw at it.

I think once my oldest is in college he will really want all of that. Well, he wants it now, but I mean it will be more of a need than it is now.

Sprint told me you can't just get data for one phone anymore, it is all bundled, so if you stay with a family plan, the entire family gets the same bundle.

They quoted me $150 for 4 phones on the data plan, plus $10 per smart phone in use. This is with a teacher discount. This would also include unlimited calling to any mobile of any network and a 1500 min. limit to call landline phones. Internet, TV, etc....all included. On top of that would be about $15 in tax. Dh's work would reimburse about $40 of that.....so our cost, with tax, would be about $130/month. I think I figured that out correctly with one smart phone and one blackberry without the $10 fee. Not really unreasonable, but since we only pay $35/mo plus $7 tax for a total of $42/month, I just can't justify the $90 or so MORE right now.

Dawn

Wonder when that change happened? Because we signed up with Sprint last April and my DH and I both have BBs and my daughter has a phone with only texting and we don't have to pay for any data for her.

 

[tinker&belle]

Wonder when that change happened? Because we signed up with Sprint last April and my DH and I both have BBs and my daughter has a phone with only texting and we don't have to pay for any data for her.

Are you paying 19.99 for her? The everything data plan can add phones for 19.99 apiece whether or not you add data to them.