Gyroscopic Investing

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?

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.

Look at StraightTalk.

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

http://www.straighttalk.com/serviceplans

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...

Storm wrote: 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.

Pointedstick wrote:

Storm wrote: 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.

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.

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

doodle wrote: 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.

Pointedstick wrote:

doodle wrote: 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.

1NV35T0R wrote:

Pointedstick wrote:

doodle wrote: 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.

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.

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.