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Can you get a prepaid phone with GPS
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Metspitzer
Aug 29, 2012, 5:57:33 PM8/29/12
to
After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
package that does 250 min and 10M data.
I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
was hoping to get a cheap package.
Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
part of a data plan?
is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
package that does 250 min and 10M data.
I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
was hoping to get a cheap package.
Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
part of a data plan?
SMS
Aug 29, 2012, 7:23:53 PM8/29/12
to
On 8/29/2012 2:57 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
Wow, where are you in Georgia? My sister lives in Norcross and she can
> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
_only_ use Verizon if she wants coverage at her house, and elsewhere in
Atlanta it's also very good.
In Consumer Reports extensive annual survey of tens of thousands of cell
phone users, Verizon is the only carrier with any positive ratings in
Atlanta. T-Mobile is second, Sprint third, and AT&T fourth. Of course
the situation may be different in other parts of Georgia.
The GPS has nothing to do with a data plan. The problem you run into is
that most carriers won't allow smart phones on plans without a data
plan, or if they do there are all sorts of rules.
You might just want to check Verizon coverage with a cheap or free
Pageplus phone for a month and see how it works. It would only cost you
a few bucks to do that.
mike
Aug 29, 2012, 7:43:06 PM8/29/12
to
On 8/29/2012 2:57 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
You don't need any data plan for that.
The real problem is, what can you do with the gps data?
If you need to find yourself on a map, then you need web access.
I have a Palm Treo 850 with GPS. I use it as a PDA without any phone
service.
There used to be a software package from Mapopolis. It runs directly
on the phone/pda in Windows Mobile or PalmOS.
So, I can tell where I am from GPS without a data plan. Mapopolis
left the consumer business. Don't know if there are alternatives today.
You can also do the same with most any bluetooth PDA/Phone with a mapping
application using a separate bluetooth GPS receiver.
There are other services that imply GPS, but are actually location
services that estimate where you are from the cell towers you can see.
I think google took it further by looking at wifi hosts you can see.
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
Aug 29, 2012, 8:04:12 PM8/29/12
to
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:57:33 -0400, Metspitzer <Kilo...@charter.net> wrote:
>After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>package that does 250 min and 10M data.
Huh? Page Plus uses the Verizon network. Verizon covers Georgia quite well
>After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>package that does 250 min and 10M data.
(upgrading from 3G to 4G now).
>I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>was hoping to get a cheap package.
>
>Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
>of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
>part of a data plan?
Aftermarket stand-alone nav packages are available.
Dean Hoffman
Aug 29, 2012, 8:11:17 PM8/29/12
to
http://www.prepaidreviews.com/
http://www.phonescoop.com/
http://www.cellguru.net/index.htm
Happy huntin'.
Metspitzer
Aug 29, 2012, 8:19:20 PM8/29/12
to
It will tell you where to turn while driving. I am guessing GPS may
mean less. Finding out where I am standing is of no use.
Metspitzer
Aug 29, 2012, 8:20:00 PM8/29/12
to
That is the word I was looking for.......navigation.
Metspitzer
Aug 29, 2012, 8:22:18 PM8/29/12
to
there.
One of the bad things about the Internet is there is so much
information out there.
I am getting information overload with these phones.
bob haller
Aug 29, 2012, 8:51:50 PM8/29/12
to
MY GARMIN Nuvi works far better than ANY cell phone GPS i have ever
tried...
with garmins so cheap why use a cell phone? the bigger screen of
garmins is really nice too
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Aug 29, 2012, 10:03:58 PM8/29/12
to
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:19:20 -0400, Metspitzer <Kilo...@charter.net>
wrote:
Mapping requires data plan. The GPS alone can give you lattitude and
longitude, and in some cases altitude. Smart phone apps are available
that will make it into a speedometer and rate of climb indicator
without data plan.
wrote:
longitude, and in some cases altitude. Smart phone apps are available
that will make it into a speedometer and rate of climb indicator
without data plan.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Aug 29, 2012, 10:04:44 PM8/29/12
to
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:22:18 -0400, Metspitzer <Kilo...@charter.net>
wrote:
And sorting out the good is like sorting fly-shit from pepper.
wrote:
SMS
Aug 29, 2012, 10:06:22 PM8/29/12
to
On 8/29/2012 5:04 PM, k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz wrote:
> GPS or navigation? GPS is built in. Navigation requires the network. Sorta.
> Aftermarket stand-alone nav packages are available.
If you're on a limited data plan then those after-market packages are a
> GPS or navigation? GPS is built in. Navigation requires the network. Sorta.
> Aftermarket stand-alone nav packages are available.
necessity if you want to do navigation. Not too expensive.
SMS
Aug 29, 2012, 10:07:43 PM8/29/12
to
> I was thinking GPS would work like it does on my nephew's smart phone.
> It will tell you where to turn while driving. I am guessing GPS may
> mean less. Finding out where I am standing is of no use.
data. You basically download all the maps onto the memory card in your
phone. It works well.
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
Aug 29, 2012, 10:16:43 PM8/29/12
to
couple GB to store the databases.
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
Aug 29, 2012, 10:17:58 PM8/29/12
to
mike
Aug 29, 2012, 10:27:10 PM8/29/12
to
If you just wanna get from here to there, figger it out online
before you go and print a map or take notes.
GPS shines when you get lost or confused or detoured or change plans.
If you travel by car, get a cheapo self-contained GPS appliance.
They're small enough to fit in your pocket if needed.
Costs less than the data plan you'll need for something rarely used.
Don't leave it visible in the car. The broken window costs way
more than the GPS they stole.
GPS is of little use when you don't control the means of transport.
The bus driver ain't gonna go where you want. And if
it's too far to walk, you don't need GPS in your pocket.
There are always exceptions.
micky
Aug 29, 2012, 10:32:54 PM8/29/12
to
>After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>
>I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>was hoping to get a cheap package.
>
>Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
I'm still not sure of the details but you can get a lot more phones on
>is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>
>I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>was hoping to get a cheap package.
>
>Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
prepaid than the phone companies seem to suggest.
I just bought a Huawei some number, called a Fusion Phone, with
Android. I'm not particularly recommending it, becuase there don't
seem to be a lot of Apps for it. OTOH, maybe I don't know how to
look.
But I bring it up because ATT sells it as a Gophone, online and in
stores (or !25 at Walmart, but 100 at walmart.com). This comes with a
setup for data, etc.
But I bought mine used, and took the sim card from my very cheap
prepaid gophone (I thought all gophones were prepaid, and maybe they
were when I first got one, but they're not anymore iiuc) and put the
sim card in my new phone, turned off the Data, in the settings, and
now I have no Internet, except, get thks, whereever there is wifi.
which is a lot of places these days and growing. And it seems that
wifi is faster than cellphone data anyhow.
Ther3e is also a settting to turn GPS on and off, and I have the vague
aidea that GPS might be satelite and not cellphone data.
(That confuses me however. Using the Android Maps app, last Sunday I
was in a rural area, too far from any house to get wifi unless their
wifi is a whole lot more powerful than my brother's etc., and it
showed me where I was, on a map with no street names, but wchich did
have a state highway number. A few days later I was in the city,
but probably also not near wifi, and it gave me the location from
sunday, and when I got home, where i have wifi, it still gave the
location from Sunday. I think GPS is turned on but I' ntot sure and
the phone is upstairs.)
In fact on the ATT newsgroup, they pointed me to an ATT page which
sells if I have the prepaid smart phone, I CANT buy data. (I was
afraid I would use it accidentally, as I did with phone number 2.)
micky
Aug 29, 2012, 10:40:08 PM8/29/12
to
>>There are other services that imply GPS, but are actually location
>>services that estimate where you are from the cell towers you can see.
>>I think google took it further by looking at wifi hosts you can see.
>
>I was thinking GPS would work like it does on my nephew's smart phone.
>It will tell you where to turn while driving. I am guessing GPS may
>mean less. Finding out where I am standing is of no use.
You are HERE.
>>services that estimate where you are from the cell towers you can see.
>>I think google took it further by looking at wifi hosts you can see.
>
>I was thinking GPS would work like it does on my nephew's smart phone.
>It will tell you where to turn while driving. I am guessing GPS may
>mean less. Finding out where I am standing is of no use.
micky
Aug 29, 2012, 10:43:23 PM8/29/12
to
Another interesting thing is that I bought my phone on ebay from a guy
in Louisiana, and that rural road where i first got my location is
about 15 miles north of my house and I had never been there before,
but somehow it had a map of the area in t he phone.
I thought the maps came from the web but the location came from
satellites.
Is there anyway I dl'd the maps when I was at home 15 miles away? I
looked at the Maps app but didn't do much. When I first looked at it,
it said I was at my home, with a map.
I only have 2 gig, btw.
Of course it didn't give directions to any place. I think that is
called Navigate, and when I go there, it wants me to agree to
something, so I leave.
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:32:54 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:
in Louisiana, and that rural road where i first got my location is
about 15 miles north of my house and I had never been there before,
but somehow it had a map of the area in t he phone.
I thought the maps came from the web but the location came from
satellites.
Is there anyway I dl'd the maps when I was at home 15 miles away? I
looked at the Maps app but didn't do much. When I first looked at it,
it said I was at my home, with a map.
I only have 2 gig, btw.
Of course it didn't give directions to any place. I think that is
called Navigate, and when I go there, it wants me to agree to
something, so I leave.
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:32:54 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
Aug 29, 2012, 10:48:15 PM8/29/12
to
On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:27:10 -0700, mike <spa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 8/29/2012 5:20 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:04:12 -0400, "k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz"
>> <k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz> wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:57:33 -0400, Metspitzer<Kilo...@charter.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>>>> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>>>> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>>>> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>>>
>>> Huh? Page Plus uses the Verizon network. Verizon covers Georgia quite well
>>> (upgrading from 3G to 4G now).
>>>
>>>> I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>>>> all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>>>> was hoping to get a cheap package.
>>>>
>>>> Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
>>>> of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
>>>> part of a data plan?
>>>
>>> GPS or navigation? GPS is built in. Navigation requires the network. Sorta.
>>> Aftermarket stand-alone nav packages are available.
>>
>> Yeah
>> That is the word I was looking for.......navigation.
>
>Ask yourself why you NEED GPS???????
>If you just wanna get from here to there, figger it out online
>before you go and print a map or take notes.
...and then read them while you're driving.
>On 8/29/2012 5:20 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:04:12 -0400, "k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz"
>> <k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz> wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:57:33 -0400, Metspitzer<Kilo...@charter.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>>>> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>>>> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>>>> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>>>
>>> Huh? Page Plus uses the Verizon network. Verizon covers Georgia quite well
>>> (upgrading from 3G to 4G now).
>>>
>>>> I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>>>> all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>>>> was hoping to get a cheap package.
>>>>
>>>> Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
>>>> of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
>>>> part of a data plan?
>>>
>>> GPS or navigation? GPS is built in. Navigation requires the network. Sorta.
>>> Aftermarket stand-alone nav packages are available.
>>
>> Yeah
>> That is the word I was looking for.......navigation.
>
>Ask yourself why you NEED GPS???????
>If you just wanna get from here to there, figger it out online
>before you go and print a map or take notes.
>GPS shines when you get lost or confused or detoured or change plans.
>If you travel by car, get a cheapo self-contained GPS appliance.
>They're small enough to fit in your pocket if needed.
>Costs less than the data plan you'll need for something rarely used.
>Don't leave it visible in the car. The broken window costs way
>more than the GPS they stole.
>GPS is of little use when you don't control the means of transport.
>The bus driver ain't gonna go where you want. And if
>it's too far to walk, you don't need GPS in your pocket.
>There are always exceptions.
Metspitzer
Aug 30, 2012, 1:16:53 AM8/30/12
to
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/att/fusion-blue-prepaid.html#fbid=pk8R8DDCHt1
I did a chat with ATT (Amber). Amber said this phone does GPS
navigation. It is something that I probably won't use, but I would
rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
She said that to use the GPS I had to get a 5$ per month data package,
but I only had to do that on the months I use the GPS. She also said
that I could get a 15 dollar card and use it in a month. I don't
think that is true. The ATT says the package that comes with this
phone is 25 bucks. This may be a deal breaker. I was ready to go
with 15 a month. At a dime a min, 150 min would have been plenty.
Still 30 buck per month for a smart phone is as low as I have found.
mike
Aug 30, 2012, 8:12:47 AM8/30/12
to
If it's not on her script, she don't know jack.
Vendors play fast and loose with the term GPS.
If the mapping program is on the server, even if you do have a real
GPS receiver, what happens on a 1 hour trip?
How much data gets transferred back and forth? And what does that
cost on your data plan?
That's the primary reason I don't have cell service. It's far too
easy for something you didn't want, didn't know was running,
ended up roaming or wasn't
explained to you to rack up an astronomical phone bill.
Don't remember the carrier, but they advertise unlimited data.
If you go to the store, that's what they tell you.
But if you read the fine print that's buried in the fine print,
you get a very limited amount of 4G data, then it drops back to
2G speeds. At 2G, you can drive over and ask your buddy faster than you
can send and receive a text. ;-)
My $5 garage sale smart phone has GPS and the navigation program runs
on the phone. Only thing I can't do is make a call ;-)
SMS
Aug 30, 2012, 10:24:31 AM8/30/12
to
the U.S., a GPS is extremely useful for knowing where you are; paper
maps can't provide this information. Downloaded maps will show things
like subway stations. You can download Google Maps in advance so you
don't need 3G. With Google Maps you can't do navigation without a 3G
connection, but often it's sufficient just to know where you are.
When we were in China earlier this year a tablet with GPS would have
been very useful, but I was waiting for the Google Nexus 7 to come out
and it was delayed from May to July, which was too late.
Another thing to consider when traveling and choosing a phone or tablet,
is to be sure it has a USB OTG port so you can use a USB to Ethernet
adapter. Many hotels still have only wired Ethernet, and iPad users were
very upset at not being able to connect. Or bring a travel wireless router.
micky
Aug 30, 2012, 12:26:45 PM8/30/12
to
you want, but it is certainly less than 30 a month for a smart phone.
I started with a pre-paid GoPhone and, before they stopped selling
them, was paying $10 a month for 3 months. Now the minimum amount
might be $25 for 3 months, but it's a lot simplier to spend $100 for a
year -- less than a year actually because if you don't renew in time
you lose what is in there, so let's say 11 months. That's a lot less
than 360 a year.
And you can do this with a smart phone, probably the same smart phone
you are looking at, if you buy the phone separately and insert a Sim
from another prepaid GoPhone. This might work with non-ATT plans and
phones too. The phone either has to be locked for the provider you
plan to use, or unlocked and able to use any provider.
How you can get a prepaid gophone plan without any phone (so you can
buy the phone separately) I don't know if it's possible. But you can
get the really cheap phone that they provide. The one I started with
not only didnt' take pictures, it didn't accept downloaded ringtones.
It was just a phone. Taking the sim out of it and putting it in the
better phone took two minutes, and the new phone worked immediately.
They have three rates to use up that money. I'm paying $2/day that I
use the phone and nothing after that. I suppose I can't call beyond
Canada, but I make international calls rarely and from home anyhow.
This means I can only use the phone 50 days during the 11 months or
less and then I have to put more money in, which I think one can do
over the phone, even when no money is left.
Another might be 20cents a minute for every call, all day long.
Another plan might be a dollar a day that the phone is used and 10
cents a minute. I decided that on days I use the phone, I'd likelly
talk more than 10 minutes and that would cost more than the first 2
dollar plan.
.
>
>While anything's possible, I wouldn't take Amber's word for it.
micky
Aug 30, 2012, 12:32:54 PM8/30/12
to
On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:24:31 -0700, SMS <scharf...@geemail.com>
wrote:
>
>Another thing to consider when traveling and choosing a phone or tablet,
>is to be sure it has a USB OTG port so you can use a USB to Ethernet
>adapter. Many hotels still have only wired Ethernet, and iPad users were
>very upset at not being able to connect. Or bring a travel wireless router.
Good advice.
Although sometimes they only have wired in the room and wireless in
the lobby/lounge/restaurant.
Because my plane was late and I missed the connection, they gave me
an a day, 10AM to 5PM, at the Heathrow Hilton and I requested
Internet in my room for the laptop, which was no problem and no
charge, except it meant the room had a shower and no bathtub! And
iirc somehow, and now I can't imagine how, it took me more time to use
the wired than the wireless downstairs would have taken. . I'd never
used wired with this laptop before, so maybe that had something to do
with it.
wrote:
>
>Another thing to consider when traveling and choosing a phone or tablet,
>is to be sure it has a USB OTG port so you can use a USB to Ethernet
>adapter. Many hotels still have only wired Ethernet, and iPad users were
>very upset at not being able to connect. Or bring a travel wireless router.
Although sometimes they only have wired in the room and wireless in
the lobby/lounge/restaurant.
Because my plane was late and I missed the connection, they gave me
an a day, 10AM to 5PM, at the Heathrow Hilton and I requested
Internet in my room for the laptop, which was no problem and no
charge, except it meant the room had a shower and no bathtub! And
iirc somehow, and now I can't imagine how, it took me more time to use
the wired than the wireless downstairs would have taken. . I'd never
used wired with this laptop before, so maybe that had something to do
with it.
Metspitzer
Aug 30, 2012, 1:33:03 PM8/30/12
to
On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:26:45 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:
>On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:12:47 -0700, mike <spa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On 8/29/2012 10:16 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:57:33 -0400, Metspitzer<Kilo...@charter.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>>>> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>>>> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>>>> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>>>>
>>>> I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>>>> all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>>>> was hoping to get a cheap package.
>>>>
>>>> Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
>>>> of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
>>>> part of a data plan?
>>>
>>> Ok............I was ready to go with this:
>>> http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/att/fusion-blue-prepaid.html#fbid=pk8R8DDCHt1
>>>
>>> I did a chat with ATT (Amber). Amber said this phone does GPS
>>> navigation. It is something that I probably won't use, but I would
>>> rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
>>>
I did read your post. Your post was what made me zero in on a Gophone
and call ATT. I also went by an ATT store today. I was told that
with the smart phone, I would not be able to use the 15 data package
because the smart phone used the Internet all the time.
I explained to the guy that I only wanted an expensive phone so I
could use the features if I needed them. I did not plan on using
them. I also explained to him that I wanted an expensive phone so I
could take quality photos and listen to mp3s. (free stuff after the
cost of the phone)
I also have several health related text files that I wanted to be able
to display on the phone. I use Gmail and Google Drive. While I also
do not plan on using either from the phone, I would like to display
the information and store it on the phone.
I had money in hand and was ready to buy the phone, but he said that I
would not be able to use a smartphone without a 25 per month package.
I then had to pay extra to actually use the smartphone features.
I still want a good quality phone, but I was trying to get it for 15
bucks per month. (reserving the right to add data when needed)
I asked him if he had any prepaid phones that would take quality
photos and a good quality mp3s without using a data package and he
said no. The prepaid phones had a 1Mpix camera and poor mp3 player.
I would be pleased to hear if I am incorrect, and I may be, but I am
repeating info I got from ATT.
wrote:
>On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:12:47 -0700, mike <spa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On 8/29/2012 10:16 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
>>> On Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:57:33 -0400, Metspitzer<Kilo...@charter.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> After looking at countless phones, the only thing I have managed to do
>>>> is eliminate Page Plus. I am told that, although it does do Georgia,
>>>> the service is poor. It is a shame too. I was sold on the 12
>>>> package that does 250 min and 10M data.
>>>>
>>>> I was going to go with an expensive phone so I would be able to use
>>>> all the features of a smart phone, but since I don't use them often, I
>>>> was hoping to get a cheap package.
>>>>
>>>> Do any of the prepaid packages offer limited smart phone features? One
>>>> of the Page Plus phones I looked at said GPS. Would GPS be considered
>>>> part of a data plan?
>>>
>>> Ok............I was ready to go with this:
>>> http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/att/fusion-blue-prepaid.html#fbid=pk8R8DDCHt1
>>>
>>> I did a chat with ATT (Amber). Amber said this phone does GPS
>>> navigation. It is something that I probably won't use, but I would
>>> rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
>>>
and call ATT. I also went by an ATT store today. I was told that
with the smart phone, I would not be able to use the 15 data package
because the smart phone used the Internet all the time.
I explained to the guy that I only wanted an expensive phone so I
could use the features if I needed them. I did not plan on using
them. I also explained to him that I wanted an expensive phone so I
could take quality photos and listen to mp3s. (free stuff after the
cost of the phone)
I also have several health related text files that I wanted to be able
to display on the phone. I use Gmail and Google Drive. While I also
do not plan on using either from the phone, I would like to display
the information and store it on the phone.
I had money in hand and was ready to buy the phone, but he said that I
would not be able to use a smartphone without a 25 per month package.
I then had to pay extra to actually use the smartphone features.
I still want a good quality phone, but I was trying to get it for 15
bucks per month. (reserving the right to add data when needed)
I asked him if he had any prepaid phones that would take quality
photos and a good quality mp3s without using a data package and he
said no. The prepaid phones had a 1Mpix camera and poor mp3 player.
I would be pleased to hear if I am incorrect, and I may be, but I am
repeating info I got from ATT.
mike
Aug 30, 2012, 3:27:17 PM8/30/12
to
On 8/30/2012 10:33 AM, Metspitzer wrote:
>
> I did read your post. Your post was what made me zero in on a Gophone
> and call ATT. I also went by an ATT store today. I was told that
> with the smart phone, I would not be able to use the 15 data package
> because the smart phone used the Internet all the time.
>
> I explained to the guy that I only wanted an expensive phone so I
> could use the features if I needed them. I did not plan on using
> them. I also explained to him that I wanted an expensive phone so I
> could take quality photos and listen to mp3s. (free stuff after the
> cost of the phone)
>
> I also have several health related text files that I wanted to be able
> to display on the phone. I use Gmail and Google Drive. While I also
> do not plan on using either from the phone, I would like to display
> the information and store it on the phone.
>
> I had money in hand and was ready to buy the phone, but he said that I
> would not be able to use a smartphone without a 25 per month package.
> I then had to pay extra to actually use the smartphone features.
>
> I still want a good quality phone, but I was trying to get it for 15
> bucks per month. (reserving the right to add data when needed)
>
> I asked him if he had any prepaid phones that would take quality
> photos and a good quality mp3s without using a data package and he
> said no. The prepaid phones had a 1Mpix camera and poor mp3 player.
>
> I would be pleased to hear if I am incorrect, and I may be, but I am
> repeating info I got from ATT.
>
You're certainly allowed to want what you want.
>
> I did read your post. Your post was what made me zero in on a Gophone
> and call ATT. I also went by an ATT store today. I was told that
> with the smart phone, I would not be able to use the 15 data package
> because the smart phone used the Internet all the time.
>
> I explained to the guy that I only wanted an expensive phone so I
> could use the features if I needed them. I did not plan on using
> them. I also explained to him that I wanted an expensive phone so I
> could take quality photos and listen to mp3s. (free stuff after the
> cost of the phone)
>
> I also have several health related text files that I wanted to be able
> to display on the phone. I use Gmail and Google Drive. While I also
> do not plan on using either from the phone, I would like to display
> the information and store it on the phone.
>
> I had money in hand and was ready to buy the phone, but he said that I
> would not be able to use a smartphone without a 25 per month package.
> I then had to pay extra to actually use the smartphone features.
>
> I still want a good quality phone, but I was trying to get it for 15
> bucks per month. (reserving the right to add data when needed)
>
> I asked him if he had any prepaid phones that would take quality
> photos and a good quality mp3s without using a data package and he
> said no. The prepaid phones had a 1Mpix camera and poor mp3 player.
>
> I would be pleased to hear if I am incorrect, and I may be, but I am
> repeating info I got from ATT.
>
I've never had cell service, but I do have more smart phones
and PDA's than I can count on my fingers and toes.
I do have some opinions.
1) you want more than you're gonna get for what you're willing to pay.
People with lots of $$$ seem to swear by the iPhone.
2) NEVER assume anything about a phone from the specs.
Cameras are one such area. The range of focus is often dismal.
Closeups can be problematic.
I have a Treo 650. It takes wonderful 640x480 pictures.
I also have a Treo 850. Much higher resolution camera.
Outside, on a day that's not too dim or too bright, it does
indeed take pictures that take up much more space, but the
quality is lower than the 650. Indoors, there's no comparison.
The 850 pictures are worse than horrible. The 650 is very competent
in low light. I've had discussions with others who expressed
the same opinion. Megapixels sells phones, but doesn't necessarily
mean better pictures.
Mp3's are another disaster area. I have a drawer full of mp3 players
about the size of a bic lighter that run off one AAA cell. Plays all
day on a rechargeable cell. Takes 10 seconds to swap it out and keep going.
I can operate it with one hand thru my shirt pocket.
I experimented with Smart Phones for mp3. I dropped them on the floor.
I couldn't operate 'em without ripping them out of the case on my belt
and using both hands to navigate menus. PITA.
GPS is another issue.
Depending on where the satellites are at the moment, a smart phone
on your belt in the car may not work well. A Bluetooth GPS on the dash
can work much better and still talk to your phone or Pda.
But you can buy a whole GPS appliance for less than the cost of a bluetooth
GPS these days. And both are cheaper than a typical cell plan.
If you do find something that meets your goals, report back. I'd like
one too.
SMS
Aug 30, 2012, 7:25:41 PM8/30/12
to
On 8/30/2012 12:27 PM, mike wrote:
> GPS is another issue.
> Depending on where the satellites are at the moment, a smart phone
> on your belt in the car may not work well. A Bluetooth GPS on the dash
> can work much better and still talk to your phone or Pda.
> But you can buy a whole GPS appliance for less than the cost of a bluetooth
> GPS these days. And both are cheaper than a typical cell plan.
There are window-mounts for many popular smart phones that allow for
> GPS is another issue.
> Depending on where the satellites are at the moment, a smart phone
> on your belt in the car may not work well. A Bluetooth GPS on the dash
> can work much better and still talk to your phone or Pda.
> But you can buy a whole GPS appliance for less than the cost of a bluetooth
> GPS these days. And both are cheaper than a typical cell plan.
good GPS reception, and of course when using a smart phone as a GPS you
probably don't want in on your belt where you can't see the maps. The
bigger issue is that the screen on most phones is too small to make it a
good GPS, and the screens on larger phones make the phone too big to
make it a good phone. A 7" tablet makes a good GPS though.
sms88
Aug 30, 2012, 10:30:04 PM8/30/12
to
On 8/30/2012 9:32 AM, micky wrote:
> Although sometimes they only have wired in the room and wireless in
> the lobby/lounge/restaurant.
I also find that if there's both wired and wireless that the wired is
> Although sometimes they only have wired in the room and wireless in
> the lobby/lounge/restaurant.
faster because so few people are using it.
When we bought a tablet we at first were going to buy an iPad to support
the local economy, but it had too many drawbacks as something to take on
trips, the biggest ones being the lack of a USB port or memory card
slot. Not a problem when you're at home, or when you have another
computer to dock with, but a big problem when traveling with only the
tablet.
micky
Aug 31, 2012, 3:25:50 AM8/31/12
to
On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:33:03 -0400, Metspitzer <Kilo...@charter.net>
I understand, and the employees there only know what they know. and
they only know what they're told. . I have no doubt he believed what
he was telling you, but he's wrong. . In fact I found it hard to
believe too, as you can see if you read my thread reffed below.
Because I figured if it was true, I'd have heard of it before. In
fact I fell into it sort of by accident.
My ex-gf told me her new phone had wifi. I'd never heard of a cell
phone with wifi before, and it sounded free. What with work and
home, I'm near wifi almost all the time except when i'm in the car.
Someone on the att newsgroup gave me an ATT webpage where I could buy
a recon smartphone (although they only had one model) to be used as a
gophone, but there was no way on that page to buy it with the same
plan I already had -- $100 for 11 months or until I used it all up,
whichever came first, at $2 a day. I thought that all gophones were
prepaid (isn't that what makes them "go".) so I was confused. I even
had to chat with the chat girl on that page, and she told me pretty
much what the clerk at ATT told you, that I had to buy one of the two
plans on that page.
But I went back to the ng and they insisted, so I looked for the same
phone elsewhere, and found it at walmart, but when I got there it was
in ATT gophone packaging and mentoined on the outside someting about a
data plan, and I gradually realized it was just an in person version
of the webpage, with new phones instead of both new and reconditioned.
For some reason, I looked on the web and found the phone in Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190705299563?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
The features are listed here, and for other phones, go to
www.gsmarena.com where they have oodles of information.
Like I say, I don't know the phone well enough yet, so I'm not
recommending this model. I chose it because it was listed as ATT and
it had all the features I wanted, especially FM Radio (real radio,
from radio stations with antennas, not webradio or podcasts). It
works fairly well, especially if I didn't insist on listening to a
comparitively weak public radio station. But there are definitely
apps that won't run on it. The phone has only been out since
December, or February. Is that so little time that the apps haven't
been accomodated to it yet? OTOH, I don't need every app to run on
it as long as some app will do what I want. 1
I lost out on a previous auction, but for this onet I only paid $46
plus 10 dollars shipping. , and it was in excellent condition.
Things like car chargers are available very cheap on the web. Like 5
dollars. Vinyl screen protectors are like 4 or 5 dollars for 3,
instead of 21 dollars for one at Best Buy.
And all I had to do was take the Sim from my el cheapo go phone with
the 100 plan and put it in this phone.
So my total cost was $56 dollars plus whatever it cost to get the
first gophone. Not much iirc and most of the money went to minutes.
Maybe that's because the cheapest phone could not use data. It is just
a phone. I can't even download ringtones, and I can't connect it to
my computer. It has no jack except the charging jack and the earphone
jack. No data jack and it has no bluetooth. . It has 20 built in
ringtones and that's all you can have. It has no camera. So
whatever service they sell with it has no data, because it has no use
for data.
(Someone gave me a nicer phone,, into which I put the sim card, but I
lost that phone at home somewhere. So I went to ATT and they gave me
anotehr Sim card for free and put it in the first phone. So I was
using the first, simplest, cheapest phone when I bought the smart
phone.
This ng is not very busy, so it's easy to find my three threads. The
first one probably is not interesting to you but this one is. I
didn't cover everything it says. You should read it. There are
probalby other threads there that will int erest you, especially if
you have decided to go with AT&T.
Newsgroups: alt.cellular.attws
Subject: Wifi reception that doesn't use AT&T data
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:47:38 -0400
And read this one too. It has info beyone the question. :
Newsgroups: alt.cellular.attws
Subject: If I do get a data plan, does it roll over like minutes?
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 05:14:07 -0400
And the answer to the question is No. Every month you lose whatever
is left in your data plan, unless there is some exception to that that
they didn't know about. I would hate that.
Also read this.
http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?cv=821&sid=KB92543#fbid=LJOsLsEqWRX
It's hard to understand. This paragraph "Data Services for
Smartphones
To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
can't buy a data package even if he wants to. (though I think I could
hcange to a monthly plan if I tried. )
The rest of it should also interest you, and if you don't understant,
ask on alt.cellular.attws BTW, not every cellerar provider or
manufacturer ng is active.
Camera: 3.2 MP Family Line: AT&T Fusion
Cellular Band: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 HSPA/WCDMA (UMTS) 850/1900/2100
Carrier: AT&T
Model: At&t Fusion U8652 Storage Capacity: 512 MB
Features: 3G Data Capable, Bluetooth Enabled, GPS, Internet
Browser, Music Player, Touch Screen, Wi-Fi Capable, Speakerphone
Color: Blue
Bundled Items: Wall charger & Usb Charger
they only know what they're told. . I have no doubt he believed what
he was telling you, but he's wrong. . In fact I found it hard to
believe too, as you can see if you read my thread reffed below.
Because I figured if it was true, I'd have heard of it before. In
fact I fell into it sort of by accident.
My ex-gf told me her new phone had wifi. I'd never heard of a cell
phone with wifi before, and it sounded free. What with work and
home, I'm near wifi almost all the time except when i'm in the car.
Someone on the att newsgroup gave me an ATT webpage where I could buy
a recon smartphone (although they only had one model) to be used as a
gophone, but there was no way on that page to buy it with the same
plan I already had -- $100 for 11 months or until I used it all up,
whichever came first, at $2 a day. I thought that all gophones were
prepaid (isn't that what makes them "go".) so I was confused. I even
had to chat with the chat girl on that page, and she told me pretty
much what the clerk at ATT told you, that I had to buy one of the two
plans on that page.
But I went back to the ng and they insisted, so I looked for the same
phone elsewhere, and found it at walmart, but when I got there it was
in ATT gophone packaging and mentoined on the outside someting about a
data plan, and I gradually realized it was just an in person version
of the webpage, with new phones instead of both new and reconditioned.
For some reason, I looked on the web and found the phone in Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190705299563?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
The features are listed here, and for other phones, go to
www.gsmarena.com where they have oodles of information.
Like I say, I don't know the phone well enough yet, so I'm not
recommending this model. I chose it because it was listed as ATT and
it had all the features I wanted, especially FM Radio (real radio,
from radio stations with antennas, not webradio or podcasts). It
works fairly well, especially if I didn't insist on listening to a
comparitively weak public radio station. But there are definitely
apps that won't run on it. The phone has only been out since
December, or February. Is that so little time that the apps haven't
been accomodated to it yet? OTOH, I don't need every app to run on
it as long as some app will do what I want. 1
I lost out on a previous auction, but for this onet I only paid $46
plus 10 dollars shipping. , and it was in excellent condition.
Things like car chargers are available very cheap on the web. Like 5
dollars. Vinyl screen protectors are like 4 or 5 dollars for 3,
instead of 21 dollars for one at Best Buy.
And all I had to do was take the Sim from my el cheapo go phone with
the 100 plan and put it in this phone.
So my total cost was $56 dollars plus whatever it cost to get the
first gophone. Not much iirc and most of the money went to minutes.
Maybe that's because the cheapest phone could not use data. It is just
a phone. I can't even download ringtones, and I can't connect it to
my computer. It has no jack except the charging jack and the earphone
jack. No data jack and it has no bluetooth. . It has 20 built in
ringtones and that's all you can have. It has no camera. So
whatever service they sell with it has no data, because it has no use
for data.
(Someone gave me a nicer phone,, into which I put the sim card, but I
lost that phone at home somewhere. So I went to ATT and they gave me
anotehr Sim card for free and put it in the first phone. So I was
using the first, simplest, cheapest phone when I bought the smart
phone.
This ng is not very busy, so it's easy to find my three threads. The
first one probably is not interesting to you but this one is. I
didn't cover everything it says. You should read it. There are
probalby other threads there that will int erest you, especially if
you have decided to go with AT&T.
Newsgroups: alt.cellular.attws
Subject: Wifi reception that doesn't use AT&T data
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:47:38 -0400
And read this one too. It has info beyone the question. :
Newsgroups: alt.cellular.attws
Subject: If I do get a data plan, does it roll over like minutes?
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 05:14:07 -0400
And the answer to the question is No. Every month you lose whatever
is left in your data plan, unless there is some exception to that that
they didn't know about. I would hate that.
Also read this.
http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?cv=821&sid=KB92543#fbid=LJOsLsEqWRX
It's hard to understand. This paragraph "Data Services for
Smartphones
To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
can't buy a data package even if he wants to. (though I think I could
hcange to a monthly plan if I tried. )
The rest of it should also interest you, and if you don't understant,
ask on alt.cellular.attws BTW, not every cellerar provider or
manufacturer ng is active.
Camera: 3.2 MP Family Line: AT&T Fusion
Cellular Band: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 HSPA/WCDMA (UMTS) 850/1900/2100
Carrier: AT&T
Model: At&t Fusion U8652 Storage Capacity: 512 MB
Features: 3G Data Capable, Bluetooth Enabled, GPS, Internet
Browser, Music Player, Touch Screen, Wi-Fi Capable, Speakerphone
Color: Blue
Bundled Items: Wall charger & Usb Charger
SMS
Aug 31, 2012, 9:22:46 AM8/31/12
to
On 8/31/2012 12:25 AM, micky wrote:
> To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
> and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
> with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
> someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
> can't buy a data package even if he wants to.
This is true. This change occurred in April 2012. Prior to that, data
> To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
> and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
> with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
> someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
> can't buy a data package even if he wants to.
packages could be purchased even without a monthly voice and text plan,
and pay-as-you-go data was also available. This change upset a lot of
people that didn't use many voice minutes or do much texting, but that
did use a moderate amount of data.
What the carriers fear is that smart phone user will decide that much of
their data usage can be shifted to Wi-Fi, or even wait until other web
access is available. You can wait to upload photos, download videos, or
check Facebook. Even though average data usage among smart phone owners
has been increasing, the mean average is still around 500MB/month, while
the mode average is even lower.
Metspitzer
Aug 31, 2012, 9:57:52 AM8/31/12
to
On Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:25:50 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
I will have a look at the info.
Thanks
Thanks
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Aug 31, 2012, 9:18:48 PM8/31/12
to
On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:30:04 -0700, sms88 <scharf...@geemail.com>
wrote:
I travelled to europe with my Blackberry tablet and the limitations
convinced me to travel with the laptop from now on.
wrote:
convinced me to travel with the laptop from now on.
micky
Aug 31, 2012, 9:22:49 PM8/31/12
to
On Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:22:46 -0700, SMS <scharf...@geemail.com>
wrote:
>On 8/31/2012 12:25 AM, micky wrote:
>
>> To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
>> and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
>> with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
>> someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
>> can't buy a data package even if he wants to.
>
>This is true. This change occurred in April 2012. Prior to that, data
>packages could be purchased even without a monthly voice and text plan,
>and pay-as-you-go data was also available. This change upset a lot of
>people that didn't use many voice minutes or do much texting, but that
>did use a moderate amount of data.
>
>What the carriers fear is that smart phone user will decide that much of
>their data usage can be shifted to Wi-Fi, or even wait until other web
>access is available. You can wait to upload photos,
Yes.
> download videos,
Yes.
>or check Facebook.
Horrors. I don't think so. I know someone who actually totally
melted when she couldn't check Facebook.
>Even though average data usage among smart phone owners
>has been increasing, the mean average is still around 500MB/month, while
>the mode average is even lower.
It would be nice to get to get whatever $5 a month used to buy, so
that on rare occasions when there was no wifi, I could get some data.
And it's people who felt like that who got pressured into something
last April.
But, for me, only if I could roll over the unused part, and that's not
going to happen. Maybe in a couple years I'll crack, but I need to
get more friends first.
wrote:
>On 8/31/2012 12:25 AM, micky wrote:
>
>> To use data services, smartphone users must be on a monthly rate plan
>> and purchase a data feature package. Data Pay Per Use is not available
>> with smartphones on any GoPhone rate plan." seems to mean that
>> someone like me who is not on a monthly plan but on a 100 dollar plan,
>> can't buy a data package even if he wants to.
>
>This is true. This change occurred in April 2012. Prior to that, data
>packages could be purchased even without a monthly voice and text plan,
>and pay-as-you-go data was also available. This change upset a lot of
>people that didn't use many voice minutes or do much texting, but that
>did use a moderate amount of data.
>
>What the carriers fear is that smart phone user will decide that much of
>their data usage can be shifted to Wi-Fi, or even wait until other web
>access is available. You can wait to upload photos,
> download videos,
Yes.
>or check Facebook.
Horrors. I don't think so. I know someone who actually totally
melted when she couldn't check Facebook.
>Even though average data usage among smart phone owners
>has been increasing, the mean average is still around 500MB/month, while
>the mode average is even lower.
that on rare occasions when there was no wifi, I could get some data.
And it's people who felt like that who got pressured into something
last April.
But, for me, only if I could roll over the unused part, and that's not
going to happen. Maybe in a couple years I'll crack, but I need to
get more friends first.
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