cell phone recommendation?

[jchuzi]

As a dedicated Luddite, I have resisted getting a cell phone. However, I would find one handy in case of emergencies. I don't want a smart phone and I refuse to lock myself into a contract.

Consumer Cellular, according to Consumer Reports, has top ratings for service and quality. I don't know anyone who uses that company but I have heard some good things about Tracfone, although CR reports less than stellar customer satisfaction.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[Xairbusdriver]

The prices mentioned in gunug's <thread> seems to indicate those types of phones are even more expensive than a "smart phone" for what you get! It's been decades since we had a phone like that and they never seemed cheap! The trick may be finding someone who knows how to activate a plain phone! I still remember getting the 'customer service' rep to understand I didn't want any texting with my first iPhone. She first told me she had a 'plan' that had free texting... for only $5/month. I asked her if it was "free" because she would be paying that for me each month... messed up her hair, if you know what I mean!

[Paddy]

Jon, I liked my LG Xenon, which I owned up until almost two years ago when I got my iPhone. It had a slide out keyboard. If you think you might use any texting, it makes life much easier on a non-smart phone to have a keyboard.

I'd recommend finding one used via Kijiji or eBay. If you get one that was an AT&T phone, it will work with Consumer Cellular, apparently.

That said - I'd never go back to a "dumb" phone. While I'm not quite as married to my iPhone as a lot of people I know, I find it very handy when I'm out and about - as a GPS, to compare prices or features when buying something, to text my kids, to check my email when away from my computer for long periods etc. I don't tend to use it as a camera for taking serious photos, as I own some superb "real" cameras, but do use it to send quick snaps of things when I'm looking for something for someone, or when I need to record something for posterity (quickly). I find it highly useful - far more so than I anticipated when I first got it.

[Jack W]

Jon,

I have a TracFone - it's a DUMB phone. Call/Receive/Text both ways only.
That's all I need.
I do NOT need to be connected to the world 24 by seven.

I can Text and call both directions.  And that's ALL I need.
I got it primarily for emergencies, so I don't encourage relatives, or anybody else for that matter, to call me on it.
I have a land line at home.

I am not locked into a contract.

It also has double minutes. The phone is a Samsung and cost $10 when I purchased it from Target a couple of years ago.
Minutes are $20 for 60 (times 2). Which I buy every 3 months.
A 120 minute card costs $30, so you get twice as many minutes for 50% more if you need extra.
When I add minutes, it also extends my time to 90 additional days.
I just have to add minutes before the expiration date. Then all unused minutes are still mine, and carry over forever.
If I don't add minutes before the expiration date, they are lost. But that hasn't happened yet!
Text messages (received or sent) deduct 1/3 of a minute each - so they are very cheap.

It effectively costs me around $7 per month since I never use all the minutes.

And no contract!

There are very many phone styles and types to choose from - I recommend checking TracFone site for pricing and features.

The retail box will say on the outside if the phone has Double Minutes.

Reception is on a par with the smart phones other people I associate with have.

My complaint is that the screen is very hard to see in bright sunlight.
But that is not uncommon.
And, since the keyboard is on the outside, it is fairly easy to butt dial.

Hope that helps.

Jack

[sandbox]

I've established a few accounts for folks who don't want a contract or complicated phones. Of course your location is very important for a reliable connection and around here T-Mobile works better than most. I can buy phones like a Samsung for about $20-30 and then have folks go to the T-Mobile site and sign up. For $100 annually you get 1000 minutes of talk and text. If you don't use the minutes you can carry them over to the next year. http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-as-you-go-plans
It seems to have worked out for everyone so far.... good luck!

[jchuzi]

Many thanks to all who replied. I haven't done anything yet (I'll become a card-carrying member of Procrastinators Anonymous, when I get around to it). I'll post back when I finally make a decision.

[jchuzi]

Jack,

I followed your advice and bought the same phone with TracFone service from Radio Shack. The salesperson activated it for me and the experience was painless. Maybe I'll even use it sometime...

Many thanks for your advice. BTW, my sister-in-law uses TracFone and says that it gives better connections than her Verizon landline (she now uses ATT Wireless).