Best bang for the buck no contract prepaid phone.

[balloonshark]

First off I know very little about cellular phones and cell companies, 4G, 3G, LTE, sims cards, etc. The phone will be used in Elkins, WV zip code 26241.

The phone will lightly be used for calling and texting. It will mostly be used as a toy for apps and use with wifi. They don't need a data plan at this point. A phone with flexible options like rooting, sd card, sim card, etc. would also be a bonus.

For price I'm seeing occasional $20 deals at slickdeals but I'm not sure if they would work in that area. For plans we need the cheapest plan/s with the longest time between refills.

 

[soulcougher73]

The Verizon version of the Moto G can be had for $25 at Best Buy right now if Verizon is good in your area.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/verizon...lack/3041063.p?id=1219086346405&skuId=3041063

 

[isekii]

The verizon version of the Moto G can be had for $40 right now if verizon is good in your area.

Verizon Moto G is prepaid only
and it's $25 bucks at best buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/verizon...e-black/3041063.p?acampID=0&ref=8575135&loc=0

 

[balloonshark]

I was just looking at the phone. It was $20 earlier but I don't think Verizon works in the area .

 

[paperwastage]

http://opensignal.com/coverage-maps/US/

http://www.sensorly.com/map/2G-3G/US/USA/ATandT-Mobility/gsm_310410#q=Elkins,+WV+26241,+USA|coverage

http://vzwmap.verizonwireless.com/dotcom/coveragelocator/default.aspx?zip=26241

http://www.h2owirelessnow.com/mainControl.php?page=coverage

opensignal/sensorly says AT&T or US Cellular is the best in your area (Verizon roams in 26241 "Extended digital coverage")




i'd get an AT&T MVNO (Cricket, AIO... starts at $30, or H2O pay per use $10 every 90 days @ $0.05/min or text )

these MVNO have discounted phones (Eg Moto E/G), or just buy one full retail and use it on them.



WIndows phone? 635 is the cheapest and available for $47 (can be unlocked easily)
http://www.amazon.com/AT-Nokia-Lumia-635-Contract/dp/B00LBFFSNM

 

[vi edit]

The most important thing is knowing what providers actually work in the area. WV isn't exactly the mecca of cellular coverage. The GSM providers (ATT & TMobile) may have terrible signal strength. Know what carriers work in your area then figure out what phones work with that carrier. If it's the CDMA providers (Verizon, Sprint) then your choices get narrower.

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks for the help and for the maps. They are much better than the maps I found. Small towns in WV do suck when it comes to cell coverage. US Cellular has been around forever in that area but it's good to see AT&T is an option.

The H20 deal looks pretty good considering they are paying $20 every 90 days. It also seems to work in that area. What type of phone, locked or unlocked and/or sim card is needed to work with H2O? I'm really am clueless about phones. I just need to know what to look while looking for deals.

I'm also willing to be patient looking for deals. If there is a awesome phone that occasionally goes on sale cheap and works with AT&T post your suggestions.

 

[paperwastage]

What type of phone, locked or unlocked and/or sim card is needed to work with H2O? I'm really am clueless about phones. I just need to know what to look while looking for deals.

I'm also willing to be patient looking for deals. If there is a awesome phone that occasionally goes on sale cheap and works with AT&T post your suggestions.

H2O uses AT&T's network... so you need a phone that's compatible with (GSM) AT&T network

quad band 2G/3G (which is present in almost all the GSM phones nowadays), (optional) LTE bands 12/17/5/ 2/4

If you buy a locked AT&T phone, you probably need to unlock it (easy, just submit a request to ATT). If you buy a phone locked to another AT&T MVNO, you'll need to unlock it too (might be difficult). If you buy an unlocked GSM phone, no issues (other than checking LTE compatibility)

Nokia 635 is the phone that always goes on sale (sub $50) and works on AT&T and can be unlocked for H2O.... for android, maybe the Moto E/G around $100?

 

[balloonshark]

Thank you very much paperwastage. You've been very helpful and it's appreciated! I will keep an eye out for all of the keywords you've mentioned.

One last question. If we get a Windows 8/8.1 phone will it update to windows 10 for free? It would then be able to run android apps then correct?

 

[zerogear]

One last question. If we get a Windows 8/8.1 phone will it update to windows 10 for free? It would then be able to run android apps then correct?

Yes with Caveat. You'll get the update if the hardware is able to run Windows Mobile 10, it'll run Android apps IF the developers decide to make it available on the Marketplace (as it runs on emulation mostly)

 

[soccerballtux]

LG G2 is a fantastic deal but might be outside your budget and needs:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7843817-32g...one-for-at-t-175-free-shipping?src=SiteSearch

just wait until that pops up on front page again they've done it pretty regularly

 

[paperwastage]

One last question. If we get a Windows 8/8.1 phone will it update to windows 10 for free? It would then be able to run android apps then correct?

get an android phone if you want to run android apps.... don't hope for windows 10 + possible android compatibility

 

[balloonshark]

Yes with Caveat. You'll get the update if the hardware is able to run Windows Mobile 10, it'll run Android apps IF the developers decide to make it available on the Marketplace (as it runs on emulation mostly)

get an android phone if you want to run android apps.... don't hope for windows 10 + possible android compatibility

That is good to know. Thanks for the advice. Android sounds like the best bet at this point. Plus I imagine it would take a while for Win.10 to run smoothly after release.

LG G2 is a fantastic deal but might be outside your budget and needs:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7843817-32g...one-for-at-t-175-free-shipping?src=SiteSearch

just wait until that pops up on front page again they've done it pretty regularly

It looks like it would be an excellent deal with a mover's coupon. I should probably also have them check for used GSM phones in the area.