USE 3G PHONE IN FUTURE?

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some one earlier was looking for cheap phones. Recently I have seen a number of really cheap phones, some of which seem highly capable, for under $10, including one Android with a 6" screen (from Hong Kong) but they all lack 4g and some lack 3g.I know an elderly lady that tends to loose phones (or grandson steals them). I'm looking at a Trackphone Samsung 3g flip phone, very basic, no camera, and a Best Buy ATT go phone, also I think 3g. The trackphone has a double the minutes card. Thinking about one or the other, since I ASSUME they still work in the emergency mode. If ATT had double minutes that would be appealing, assuming same minute price, so she could use as regular phone. CAN A 3G PHONE BE USABLE IN THE FUTURE? THANKS
 
3g will be around for a long time, there are also non-phone devices that depend on them. 2g is being phased out by ATT in a month.


For a future proof heavy duty flip phone, Rugby 4 can be had for around the 50 dollar mark, a flip phone with 4g and wifi.

Very doubtful any Smartphone made in the last few years would be 2g only. The internet would be extremely slow anyway.
 
Depends on your carrier and how far out you are talking...

Verizon is in the process of turning off 3G already, with the goal of being completely off in 2021.

ATT has no immediate plans to decommission 3G as most of their voice calls still drop back to 3G - and they can't go away from that until most of their phones support Voice over LTE. As time goes on, more and more of their devices will support that.

Sprint has no plans to decommission as of yet.
 
I'm looking for cheap for an elderly lady that loses phones and then has no emergency 911 contact. If the phone lasted a year it would be ok by me. The trackphone has a double your minutes (does ATT?) no camera. and she MIGHT wish to buy a minutes card with 2x function. Old, poor health, no phone, NOT my relative, worthless relatives on her part, just don't want something that dies the 911 in 6 months. A friend just got an ATT go phone free this month because his 10 year old phone was to be obsolete at 1st of year. I can spring $10 for a year of emergency for her.
 
Originally Posted By: ford46guy
3g will be around for a long time, there are also non-phone devices that depend on them. 2g is being phased out by ATT in a month.


For a future proof heavy duty flip phone, Rugby 4 can be had for around the 50 dollar mark, a flip phone with 4g and wifi.

Very doubtful any Smartphone made in the last few years would be 2g only. The internet would be extremely slow anyway.


+1 I had a rugby before I switched to Iphones. I loved that phone. It did everything I wanted and was always an optional weapon should I get mugged.
 
Yes, you can make an emergency call, regardless of carrier or paid service if you can get a signal - and that is the catch.

So long as a signal is availible that is compatible, the phone should work. That being said, carriers are not required to keep older services running forever - they can make a business decision to discontinue.

As an example, my early cell phones were analog, and my carrier made a decision to end support for them - kicking me into the age of phones that could text, etc... on the 2G network...
 
How do you tell what gen your phone is? I have an LG39C and some simple searching did not reveal. then again, I guess Verizon isn't turning off 2G for a while, so I have a couple years.
 
I'm going from the spec's that usually appear near the phone in ad/description. size, weight, cdma, 3g, battery amperage, etc.
 
Originally Posted By: Warstud
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: Warstud
I got my Triple Minutes Tracfone from HSN

http://www.hsn.com/shop/cell-phones-trac...Suggested=false


What Network for coverage..... ATT, Verizon or Sprint


Verizon.....But I think you could get any of the three depending on location.


It also depends on the make/model of phone for who's tower the phone uses.
 
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