Going from smartphone to dumbphone...anyone done it?

[roguerower]

I was looking at my budget over the weekend and a couple of things that popped up that I thought I could sve on was cutting out cable TV and going from a smartphone to a dumbphone. Cutting cable will probably save me $50-60 and changing phones will net me ~$50/mo. Cable is easy because of netflix and redbox but I'm still up in the air about the phones.

I don't use the majority of my plan except for texts where I avg about 75% usage a month. I don't use the data all that often but I've found that when I do use it it's because I really needed something.

So the question I pose is, has anyone gone from smart to dumb and how hard was the transition?

 

[kaerflog]

NO

 

[Trader05]

I was also thinking about this, mainly with the battery life differences. As long as i can text i'd be fine with that and about $20+ less per bill.

 

[airdata]

once you go smart, you never go back.

I've considered cutting out the iphone for budget reasons but I think it would be a huge adjustment. My iphone is also my alarm clock, and my camera and so many other things. It's worth $30/month to me.

 

[RedRooster]

I've also considered it, but I don't think I'd survive the work day without streaming internet radio(we don't have wifi here).
Selling the iphone itself would practically pay for a dumbphone plan for a year.

 

[MrX8503]

Never,

Going from a smartphone back to a dumbphone would be like giving up your car to ride your bike everywhere.

 

[dougp]

Or perhaps you should consider shopping for plans. If you don't travel, you could look into Cricket, Boost, Virgin Mobile, etc. that offer metro based unlimited plans for ~$50/mo.

You can also look at feature phones, most of them have features like smart phones, but lack the data package requirement. You could do that and then just eat the per/KB charge but that could get expensive.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

You can also look at feature phones, most of them have features like smart phones, but lack the data package requirement. You could do that and then just eat the per/KB charge but that could get expensive.

At least on At&t many of those phones are unbelievably bad. I looked at some before getting my Captivate and most of them had flawed ergonomics, completely unusable touch screens, and extremely poor software and UI's.

IMO iPhone/Android/WP7 are well worth the small increase in price compared to feature phones.

If you want to save money get rid of your texting plan and use Google voice with your smartphone.

 

[zerocool84]

Or perhaps you should consider shopping for plans. If you don't travel, you could look into Cricket, Boost, Virgin Mobile, etc. that offer metro based unlimited plans for ~$50/mo.

You can also look at feature phones, most of them have features like smart phones, but lack the data package requirement. You could do that and then just eat the per/KB charge but that could get expensive.

Many feature phones on carriers like Verizon and AT&T require a data plan, just a smaller data plan.

 

[dpodblood]

It all depends on what you use your phone for. If you only need it for calls and texting than you might as well give up the smartphone. If you're an app-aholic, or if you need constant access to web/email than your better off keeping it.

 

[shortylickens]

Never,

Going from a smartphone back to a dumbphone would be like giving up your car to ride your bike everywhere.

Not quite from car to bike.
More like luxury Asian car to barebones American car. Almost more trouble than its worth, but to go to nothing would be even worse. Giving it up entirely is impossible. You still need something.
Going with a laptop and using the wifi is like taking a bus every day. Big, ugly, clunky, but if you have no pride you wont care if your friends see you using it. And you'd save an assload of money. Overall its more practical but in todays society people prefer convenience to practicality. Thats why in a recession we buy overpriced phones with ridiculous data plans, and luxury SUV's with gas creeping to 4 bucks a gallon.

 

[LostPassword]

Buy a used unlocked phone. Even without a data plan, a smartphone gives you mp3, wifi, video, camera, games, etc.
Main reason I went with GSM carrier. Buy my own phone.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

virgin mobile has a $25 plan with a samsung intercept android smartphone. that is cheaper than even a dumbphone. if you need to save money i would just go get that. its pretty slow though, its not like droid or evo

 

[dpodblood]

Buy a used unlocked phone. Even without a data plan, a smartphone gives you mp3, wifi, video, camera, games, etc.
Main reason I went with GSM carrier. Buy my own phone.

It's true; You *can* use a smartphone without a data plan. It just means you will need to use WiFi to download applications.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Not quite from car to bike.
More like luxury Asian car to barebones American car. Almost more trouble than its worth, but to go to nothing would be even worse. Giving it up entirely is impossible. You still need something.
Going with a laptop and using the wifi is like taking a bus every day. Big, ugly, clunky, but if you have no pride you wont care if your friends see you using it. And you'd save an assload of money. Overall its more practical but in todays society people prefer convenience to practicality. Thats why in a recession we buy overpriced phones with ridiculous data plans, and luxury SUV's with gas creeping to 4 bucks a gallon.

This is about the best description that I've heard.

Smartphones are a nicety for most of us, and really just integrate basic functions that separate devices could handle (Internet browsing, email, alarm clock, GPS, P&S camera etc.). It allows you to carry all of that in your pocket, and to always have those things with you and ready to use at a moment's notice.

Personally, I could get away without a smartphone, but that would also mean buying a GPS, buying a tablet (since it's not always practical to take my laptop out just to check email), buying a P&S camera, and the baggage to lug all of that around. It would also mean loading everything into the car every time I want to go out, and taking it back out when I get home (since it gets too cold at night). Overall, a major pain in the ass.

So, I just pay the smartphone tax for the peace of mind.

 

[dpodblood]

Another option would be to go with a dumbphone, and an Ipod touch if you don't mind carrying 2 devices.

 

[shortylickens]

Another option would be to go with a dumbphone, and an Ipod touch if you don't mind carrying 2 devices.

Provided it has the wifis and you knew you always had wifi access during the day, that would totally work. But looking up a contact on one and manually punching in a number on the other would get tiresome eventually.

Also, for road navigation it would suck. You need cellular access to keep downloading maps while driving. Unless the iPod touch can do offline maps of your neighborhood.

 

[airdata]

It's true; You *can* use a smartphone without a data plan. It just means you will need to use WiFi to download applications.

Anybody know how 3g unrestrict works? If I didn't have a data plan, would my 3g unrestrict make it like i was always connected to wifi? or do they really know the difference behind the scenes?

 

[Gooberlx2]

I've considered it. Last I looked, it didn't seem to make sense on Sprint (for our family plan). Without data, you lose on the "anymobile anytime" feature. So the increased cost for minutes kinda kills any savings.

 

[roguerower]

Or perhaps you should consider shopping for plans. If you don't travel, you could look into Cricket, Boost, Virgin Mobile, etc. that offer metro based unlimited plans for ~$50/mo.

You can also look at feature phones, most of them have features like smart phones, but lack the data package requirement. You could do that and then just eat the per/KB charge but that could get expensive.

Not possible. I'll be moving around for work at least once a year. Having to change all that crap would be a massive pain in the ass.

This is about the best description that I've heard.

Smartphones are a nicety for most of us, and really just integrate basic functions that separate devices could handle (Internet browsing, email, alarm clock, GPS, P&S camera etc.). It allows you to carry all of that in your pocket, and to always have those things with you and ready to use at a moment's notice.

Personally, I could get away without a smartphone, but that would also mean buying a GPS, buying a tablet (since it's not always practical to take my laptop out just to check email), buying a P&S camera, and the baggage to lug all of that around. It would also mean loading everything into the car every time I want to go out, and taking it back out when I get home (since it gets too cold at night). Overall, a major pain in the ass.

So, I just pay the smartphone tax for the peace of mind.

This makes the most sense out of everything said.

Another option would be to go with a dumbphone, and an Ipod touch if you don't mind carrying 2 devices.

I already carry a work phone (nextel direct connect), my cell phone, and a leatherman on my belt. Anything else and I'll start frying my nuts.

Like I said, I don't really use everything all the time, but damn, when I need that data access, it saves my ass.

Looks like I'll just have to shop around when my contract is up in June.

 

[kaerflog]

The only decent prepaid GSM network that I know of is Simple Mobile that runs off T-mobile network.
Its $50(no tax) for unlimited minutes text and 100mb data which is perfect since you only need data when you really need it.
Sure its not as cheap as virgin or metropcs but you can use any high end unlock GSM phone on the network.
We're talking about any T-mobile or ATT phone as long as its unlocked.

I've cut down alot of stuff like no cable but I will not gimp on my mobile phones.
Like someone said earlier, its so valuable in so many ways that I'd rather just pay for the service.

 

[notposting]

Can you get a work discount? Also when you cut back on cable, be careful. We have Comcast and it's actually cheaper to get internet plus the Limited Basic (basically the networks and some shopping channels) than just internet. But it gives us our standard OTA channels in clear-QAM HD, which is cool

I do know someone who got rid of his iphone and went to a dumbphone. Of course, he bought an ipad to carry around to replace the iphone

edit: what everyone else said. It's my alarm clock, gps, restaurant looking up, random internet search and trivia to win arguments device, browsing at lunch, camera connected to the web, dropbox and thusly baby pic photo album linked machine, flashlight, level, email checking, text messaging, home server checking on, changing roms because I can and I am a nerd, (s)nes/gb*/sega replacement, notepad for grocery shopping, package tracking, music playing, wired and wifi tethering, media center remote controlling, egg timering, office document and editing, do everything device. You would have to chop off my arm to get this thing away from me.

 

[T2urtle]

you never said who was your carrier... consider dropping down to a feature phone with a lower cost data plan?

I have tmobile, now they offer a unlimited( lies tho i think its 2gb capped) $30 plan or they also have a $10 200mb plan. that can save some coin right there. of course if you go over it will not save you any coin. I average about 1gb on 3g and 4gb on wifi according to my data counter app. of course now that i got a itouch... there is really no way in measuring total now.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

if you can get a virgin mobile smartphone for $30 a month why would you consider a dumbphone???????????????????????????????????????

 

[shortylickens]

if you can get a virgin mobile smartphone for $30 a month why would you consider a dumbphone???????????????????????????????????????

They only have 2 smartphones. One Android and one Blackberry. And neither one is particularly good.