Verizon Cell Phone help

I don't have one currently I'm having issues with, I'm wanting to get one. I have a Pre-Pay Trac Phone, but just doesn't get a signal much of the time here in MS (and this isn't the only time it hasn't). I use a Verizon Air Card in my Computer for internet access, and am happy with their coverage. I use an external antenna on my Air Card (which stays in a Wireless Router, not the Laptop), and don't want a hotspot to take the place of that, as I'm afraid the antenna helps the signal at times. However, I might try it and see how well it worked, and if it did as well (or better) than the Air Card, I wouldn't be opposed to dropping it (well out of satisfying the contract on it) as I'm sure it would be cheaper.

I know "jack" about the new type phones, and am looking for suggestions. Honestly, I'd like to get one free with a 2 year Contract, and one I could connect my Laptop to, in the event I was happy with it and could ditch the Air Card (and save $60/mo). I need to keep some type of communication line with family open in event of emergency. I'm asking here 1st (as opposed to Customer Service at Verizon) to try and get an idea of what might be most cost effective.

I have a 5G limit on my Air Card (which I've never come close to exceeding), and while I somewhat limit my calls (and have never sent a text), I would use it more (calls) if it were cheaper than the Pre-Pay.

I'd like to make calls naturally, be able to try-out the connection of my laptop for internet (which I'm guessing what is meant by "hotspot"), and have a camera (which I imagine they all do now a days) with a Data Limit I wouldn't worry about exceeding (somewhere in the neighborhood of the 5G I have now) with a fair bit of talk time.

Anyone familiar with, or maybe just got something relating to all this babble which might help? Now, for all you "Techies"......English please :Rofl

Thanks!
Brian

just read an article on cell phone bills for less than $50, check out nbcnews.com, might give you an idea. One guy has a smartphone for $50/month using straighttalk via walmart, don't think the smartphone was the latest/greatest but unlimited text/voice and data for $50/month is hard to beat with a stick.

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Originally Posted by jimp

just read an article on cell phone bills for less than $50, check out nbcnews.com, might give you an idea. One guy has a smartphone for $50/month using straighttalk via walmart, don't think the smartphone was the latest/greatest but unlimited text/voice and data for $50/month is hard to beat with a stick.

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You know, I'm sort of disappointed in you jimp. I was on the Main Forum Page, saw you were the last reply, and totally expected some kind of "Waterproof" remark.

Angry Kitty put the fear in 'ya, didn't he :Rofl

Here's the link to the article jimp mentioned:

A smartphone bill under $50? Red Tape readers reveal their cell secrets - Red Tape

Just read it, and I think I'll stick to just wanting a "phone". That said, I still want to get it through Verizon, as I've had the best luck with them, and talking to many locals, it's generally what they have too.

I'll just leave my internet connection alone, no complaints on it, and in 3 years have only been unable to connect once.

ask WB or go to IS house fer dinner and ask

Kinda talked myself out of one of them "bells and whistles" phones billbob, I probably wouldn't figure-out how to work it anyways. I'll just stick to a "2 cans and a string" phone as long as it's through Verizon. I generally like to keep things simple, no sense in changing now.

I have a Verizon prepay phone. $.25 a minute coming or going. I buy my minutes in $100.00 increments, which are good for 1 year. Most times I can get close to a years use for $100. I don't chat on my cell phone, I make the call and hang up. Never had a problem so far with not being in a an area with no service.

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Originally Posted by Shellback

I have a Verizon prepay phone. $.25 a minute coming or going. I buy my minutes in $100.00 increments, which are good for 1 year. Most times I can get close to a years use for $100. I don't chat on my cell phone, I make the call and hang up. Never had a problem so far with not being in a an area with no service.

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Dang my TracPhone is only 10 cents/minute :yikes(that's counting I get double minutes, was included on my $10 phone). I hear ya' on the signal, why I want to go Verizon.

WB gets to stay at IS house :Rofl:Rofl

Neon, is the Tracfone a CDMA or GSA unit? Tracfone uses the big carriers network. If you stick with a Tracfone CDMA unit you should be able to use it in IN and Miss on Verizon's network since they are mainly CDMA.

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Originally Posted by SirBob

Neon, is the Tracfone a CDMA or GSA unit? Tracfone uses the big carriers network. If you stick with a Tracfone CDMA unit you should be able to use it in IN and Miss on Verizon's network since they are mainly CDMA.

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That's a question I can't answer ('cause I don't have a clue), how could I find-out?

Well, I just searched, and according to what I came-up with, it's GSM, one reasons being there's a SIM Card under the battery, but another being the phone is an LG420G, and Google replies say it's GSM.

I had a phone to start with that didn't fold/flip-closed, and replaced it with this one. I haven't liked this one near as well, doesn't have near the battery life as my 1st (not that it has anything to do with my issues).

Would it state on a new phone (if I were simply to replace this one and stick with TracPhone) which type it was?

Thanks for the help!

ETA: Reading this: Which Tracfones are CDMA? | eHow.com

Says:

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Warning

• New CDMA Tracfone devices are not sold in areas that have GSM service. If your location has GSM service, you will need to purchase a CDMA Tracfone when you are in an area without GSM service. Another option is to purchase the phone at the Tracfone Web site. When asked to enter your ZIP code before you begin the search for phones, insert the ZIP code of a location without GSM service. If you enter your own ZIP code, the phones offered will not include any CDMA Tracfone devices.
  
  

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I'd like to keep my same number (central IN area code) for calls to be local for family, but from what I'm gathering if I'd find a place down here to buy one which was CDMA, that would be doable. Now I just need to figure-out how/where to buy one.

Thanks again, that gives me a starting point.

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Originally Posted by NeonMoon

Here's the link to the article jimp mentioned:

A smartphone bill under $50? Red Tape readers reveal their cell secrets - Red Tape

Just read it, and I think I'll stick to just wanting a "phone". That said, I still want to get it through Verizon, as I've had the best luck with them, and talking to many locals, it's generally what they have too.

I'll just leave my internet connection alone, no complaints on it, and in 3 years have only been unable to connect once.

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Thanks Brian, keep those dollars coming in. You are supporting my pension fund.:HandsClapping:biggrin

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Originally Posted by Don G

Thanks Brian, keep those dollars coming in. You are supporting my pension fund.:HandsClapping:biggrin

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Always willing to help the old fellers out Don :Rofl Seriously, they have the best coverage, no doubt about it, if you benefit from it, all the better :ThumbsUp

I just emailed TracPhone to see what they suggest the best solution would be. This tech stuff makes my head hurt :Doh:

:banghead



:popcorn

I got senior plan from Verizon. 250 min fer 29.95 plus govt fair share. Plain phone that takes pictures. Samsung. I help DonG out.

By age I don't qualify as a Senior CP, now if they went by condition, I'm there :Rofl

Got a reply from TracFone (didn't realize I'd been spelling it wrong), and they told me to go to the local stores phone shopping to buy a CDMA phone. This was after an attempt to call me, regarding my complaint of lack of signal.....duh. I'm sure they realize that in areas covered by GSM signal (AT&T), stores don't carry the CDMA (Verizon) phones. I found this odd, since they (TracFone) sells phones from their site, but never offered to sell me one. I'd read to skirt their selective sales, you have to select (place in basket/shopping cart) by using the zip code of an area which doesn't have GSM service (which I have a zip in Arizona), and it asks for a zip from the get-go (I looked). Seems kinda silly to me just in order for them to keep customers from getting reception for the sake of profits. I know "if ya' ain't happy, go elsewhere". Shot myself in the foot more than once, so not in a rush to make that move (just yet).

I found a phone (CDMA, the LG235C) for $30 including 2-day Shipping (Amazon). I guess once I get back to Sardis the 1st of next week, I'll order it and can switch everything over on the internet (can't wait to see how that goes). If that doesn't resolve my situation, I'm not sure what I'll do. Even if I went and bought a 2nd pre-pay locally (just leaving my current phone as-is) just to use for the remainder of my time in MS, I don't see how that would make any difference, as it would operate the same (GSM) as my current phone, just with a local number. Unless there's something I'm missing?

I'll post after getting the replacement phone next week to say if it made a difference or not, may help someone in a similar situation.

I'm not sure what you're driving at except maybe price. If you want a basic phone dirt cheap, sometimes referred to as "disposable phones" Walmart has prepaid Samsung starting at $9.95 online.

Gotta tell ya Neon....Does not matter what phone ya got or what company your service is through......getting a signal at Sardis is tough with any of them. At our Fall camp this year....one minute we had phone service....the next minute we didn't....same with internet on the phone. Sometimes you could move just five feet and get a signal. We had a lot of different phones out there....and thats just how it was.

ATT must have added a tower since camp. I now get 4g service all the time at the campground.

They might have....I know they needed too

TracPhone finally replied to my last email questioning why they didn't offer to SELL me a CDMA phone since they have them on their site. Their reply was that since my phone was over a year old, and out of warranty, they couldn't replace it http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...onfused009.gif

Pretty much decided at this point to wash my hands of them (they don't seem to have much in the way of customer service), but not until I'm back in IN, still have a couple hundred minutes to use anyway, I'll have to find places it'll work so I can use 'em. I'll just see what kind of deal I can get from Verizon since my Air Card is through them.