Bitog smartphone cheapskates

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Andrew1972

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My daughter is using an iPhone 5 that has no active phone plan. What is the least plan you can get that allows it to text or call as needed(rare) to us. A tiny bit of data would be nice.

I can spend $20/month to add to my Verizon plan but is too much. She is managing extremely well on wifi so data is less important.

Thanks!
 
Tracfone, $100/yr. for 1200 minutes, 1200 texts, 1200 MB/1.2 GB of data, buy more as needed. I generally use Google Voice for texting on wifi, email on wifi, very seldom use data. I have an iPhone 4, running Verizon CDMA.
 
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I have to assume it must be a Verizon phone in order to add it to your plan. I have used freedomPop which is great for light use. Calls do use data. Not sure if a Verizon phone works with them. Mine was a gsm phone like att or tmobile.

might check our Walmart prepaid plans for Verizon too.
 
Originally Posted By: madRiver

I can spend $20/month to add to my Verizon plan but is too much. She is managing extremely well on wifi so data is less important.

Thanks!


You must have some seriously awesome VZW plan. It's typically $30/mo to just add a smart phone, then the cost of data, taxes and fees on top of that.
 
Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: madRiver

I can spend $20/month to add to my Verizon plan but is too much. She is managing extremely well on wifi so data is less important.

Thanks!


You must have some seriously awesome VZW plan. It's typically $30/mo to just add a smart phone, then the cost of data, taxes and fees on top of that.


It's $20/smartphone (x2) + $54($70 with corp discount) for data(10gb). It's just over $100 per month but committed 23 more the for a "free" iPhone 7. Additional phone is $20/month.....
 
I'm kind of in the same boat with my wife-her main cell is Virgin Mobile, but they have been gradually increasing the cost of texts & calls, causing her to run out of $ before her plan renews every 90 days. So she has been using my son's old Verizon iPhone 4S with GV to cut WAY down on how many texts she burns through-& it's helped quite a bit. Eventually I'll get a plan for hers & mine-but being a cheapskate I'm stalling...
 
Originally Posted By: Warstud
I think the OP want's to use the iPhone with a different carrier and pay less than $20 a month?


Yep I think $20/month is too much. I just want her to have ability to text over SMS no wifi. She is beyond active and it would make life a tad easier tracking down our 11 year old.
 
The OP did not mention if the iphone was originally for ATT or for Verizon.

Are they not different and can only be used for certain carriers, GSM versus CDMA?
 
This one is interesting. Truphone has no monthly minimum. Free incoming calls and texts. 9 cents per minute outgoing. AT&T network. Intended for international travellers, can be used in many other countries. $30.00 upfront includes $15.00 worth of usage.
https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/
 
Originally Posted By: JustinH
The OP did not mention if the iphone was originally for ATT or for Verizon.

Are they not different and can only be used for certain carriers, GSM versus CDMA?


Depends entirely on the phone. Being an iPhone that has the hardware to be on both GSM and CDMA. Typically the less expensive phones and carrier branded phones only work with one type of service. Verizon and Sprint are CDMA and AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM.
 
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Why don't you dump Verizon and go with Consumer Cellular. First phone is around $20/month which includes 250 min, 2000 texts and 200mb. A second or third or fourth phone is 10 bucks/month and data/texts/minutes is shared for all phones..screw Verizon/ATT
 
You might have to get a basic $10 flip phone for the cheapest plans. She can still use the iPhone in WiFi at home.

Ting wireless gets you 100 minutes and 100 texts on a basic flip phone for about $10/month ish.
 
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