Cheaper smartphone plans

[Pointedstick]

I'm looking to cut expenses and eyeing that $65/month smartphone plan. I'm sure I read somewhere recently about a company that charges you $15/month for an all-inclusive plan, with the caveats that you have to stay on WiFi most of the time (not a problem) and you have to use a certain Android phone they've specially modified (whatever). I seem to have lost all the information and now I can't find any mention of it anywhere on the internet! Anybody know what this is? Or have other cheap smartphone plans or tips?

[hoost]

I use google voice to eliminate my text messaging plan.  You need to have data service for it to work properly, but I've had it for a couple of years now and love it.  You can forward to multiple phones, which is handy when I'm in south texas and don't have verizon signal.  I use an at&t prepaid phone.  It's also handy if you're overseas, as you can forward to an international number; you just have to make sure you have enough credit in your account.  You can also forward it to google talk and answer calls on your computer.

[Reub]

Look at StraightTalk.

http://www.clarkhoward.com/topics/cheap_cell_plans/

http://www.straighttalk.com/serviceplans

[Storm]

I think you're talking about Republic Wireless.  If you're willing to use the lowest possible android phone and stay within wifi range 90% of the time, perhaps this is the plan for you...

[Pointedstick]

I think you're talking about Republic Wireless.  If you're willing to use the lowest possible android phone and stay within wifi range 90% of the time, perhaps this is the plan for you...

Ahh, that's it! I see they raised the price from $15 to $19, though; maybe that's why I couldn't find it! Is the LG Optimus really a bad phone? I know next to nothing about the Android platform.

[Storm]

I think you're talking about Republic Wireless.  If you're willing to use the lowest possible android phone and stay within wifi range 90% of the time, perhaps this is the plan for you...

Ahh, that's it! I see they raised the price from $15 to $19, though; maybe that's why I couldn't find it! Is the LG Optimus really a bad phone? I know next to nothing about the Android platform.

It's probably not a very good phone.  Personally I'm too addicted to my iPhone to switch to a low priced carrier, although I do fit their model because I'm at home within wifi range 99% of the time.

[Greg]

For a low priced plan, I'd say look into Virgin Mobile. I have it and love it. Good phone selection, uses Sprint's network, and you can get 300 minutes per month, unlimited text and data for $35 a month. Great deal in my eyes.

[doodle]

If youre not opposed to only using your phone with wifi (it's available almost everywhere now) just get an iPod touch 4th generation 8 gb model (it has a built in mic) used online for like 120 bucks and download heywire app for free texting and get the magic jack app for 10 dollars a year for free calling and voicemail. I've done this for a year and will never go back to cellphone until they drop the yearly plan prices to under 100 bucks

[Pointedstick]

If youre not opposed to only using your phone with wifi (it's available almost everywhere now) just get an iPod touch 4th generation 8 gb model (it has a built in mic) used online for like 120 bucks and download heywire app for free texting and get the magic jack app for 10 dollars a year for free calling and voicemail. I've done this for a year and will never go back to cellphone until they drop the yearly plan prices to under 100 bucks

This is very interesting. The iPod Touch lacks a cell radio, so you really don't need to ever make calls outside the house when there's no WiFi available? I can see doing such a thing as a replacement for a house phone but without knowing how you manage to make it work, it seems a little too hardcore for me! But man, hats off to you.

[Greg]

If youre not opposed to only using your phone with wifi (it's available almost everywhere now) just get an iPod touch 4th generation 8 gb model (it has a built in mic) used online for like 120 bucks and download heywire app for free texting and get the magic jack app for 10 dollars a year for free calling and voicemail. I've done this for a year and will never go back to cellphone until they drop the yearly plan prices to under 100 bucks

This is very interesting. The iPod Touch lacks a cell radio, so you really don't need to ever make calls outside the house when there's no WiFi available? I can see doing such a thing as a replacement for a house phone but without knowing how you manage to make it work, it seems a little too hardcore for me! But man, hats off to you.

If you wanna go really cheap, I hear carrier pigeons are at record low prices right now. Supply and demand.

[MediumTex]

If youre not opposed to only using your phone with wifi (it's available almost everywhere now) just get an iPod touch 4th generation 8 gb model (it has a built in mic) used online for like 120 bucks and download heywire app for free texting and get the magic jack app for 10 dollars a year for free calling and voicemail. I've done this for a year and will never go back to cellphone until they drop the yearly plan prices to under 100 bucks

This is very interesting. The iPod Touch lacks a cell radio, so you really don't need to ever make calls outside the house when there's no WiFi available? I can see doing such a thing as a replacement for a house phone but without knowing how you manage to make it work, it seems a little too hardcore for me! But man, hats off to you.

If you wanna go really cheap, I hear carrier pigeons are at record low prices right now. Supply and demand.

You could just write letters to people.

Seriously, though, I really like the ipod touch idea.  Doodle has mentioned it before and I liked it then too.

I have a 4th gen 32 gig ipod touch and I just love it.

[SteveGo]

I use the t-mobil pay as you go plan. You buy minutes, they last for a year after you have spent a few $$ with them. Their phones are GSM, meaning they have SIM cards. You can buy a tmobile phone, or an unlocked phone (that is set up to work with t-mobil). My wife wanted a smart phone, so I bought a refurbushed one from t-mobil, and swapped out the SIM card from the phone she already had. I have it set up to use wi-fi for data.

Whenever her voice minutes run low, I put another $25 in, and that lasts her another 3 months or so. She is happy with the solution. She is not a big user of social media, and usually checks her email at home. She is happy, and therefore so am I.

This works if you are willing to use wi-fi for all your data.

[AdamA]

I just started using Straight Talk (www.straighttalk.com).

$45/month or $495/year.  Unlimited talk/text/data.

I got a cool droid for $99 that works just fine.  It's only got 4GB of memory, but you can get a memory card if you want.

I was a big iphone guy for a long time.  $130/month. 

This service so far is just as good, although some people may not like the cheaper phone.  iphones are available, but I read mixed reviews.