I want a new dumb phone - any suggestions?

[soundasleep]

Well, my old Sony W580i slider phone is finally starting to come apart. As in, pieces are falling off of it. Still works though. Hasn't been able to make external sound for almost two years (due to extensive dropping...it's slippery!). But I'm starting to think I may have to replace it soon.

I've been thinking about it a lot and I really can't justify getting a smart phone. My contract ended a year ago so yeah, I could get a free/cheap phone. But I can't justify the $200-250 extra per year for a data plan. I really have no need to go online on a phone. And I got an iPod Touch for Xmas a few years ago, so I'm covered on the games front.

Unfortunately I have to stick with AT&T since they're the only carrier with reception in my apartment. Though the reception sucks. I live in a black hole.

I like the thinness of slider phones but I'd also go for one with a tactile QWERTY keyboard if there was a good one. I guess those are pretty much slider phones too.

Preferably a new phone (I damage them enough on my own). I like being contract-free but I'd probably sign a new 2-year if I could get something for free. Can't believe that even dumb phones are still like $250 without a plan! Sheesh.

Any ideas?

 

[shortylickens]

Low end Nokia from Tmobile.
Nokia still has the best phones with regards to battery life and call quality.
Buy the phone outright and get a SIM from AT&T with another free phone.

Wait, I see AT&T has one Nokia. But its not very good and they want 40 bucks on top of the two year contract.
Fuck that.

Since you dont plan on using data and you cant use tmobile anyway, I recommend you go to Amazon and find an unlocked GSM Nokia and get it. Just grab whatever looks appealing to you and in budget.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=wrl_up_...d_t=101&pf_rd_p=1294662362&pf_rd_i=2407749011

 

[soundasleep]

Low end Nokia from Tmobile.
Nokia still has the best phones with regards to battery life and call quality.
Buy the phone outright and get a SIM from AT&T with another free phone.

Since you dont plan on using data and you cant use tmobile anyway, I recommend you go to Amazon and find an unlocked GSM Nokia and get it. Just grab whatever looks appealing to you and in budget.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=wrl_up_l...d_i=2407749011

I think I like this idea! Forgive me, total newb with this stuff...so I can just plop an AT&T SIM into one of these phones? Would I be able to just use the one I currently have in my Sony phone? Does this cause any potential problems with AT&T?

 

[shortylickens]

Which Sony phone?
So far as I know AT&T is not too concerned provided you dont tether, which you wont be doing with a low-end Nokia anyways.

 

[Doboji]

PHanboy: get an iPhone
Appleboy: get an Android phone

 

[boomhower]

Which Sony phone?

Well, my old Sony W580i slider phone

..

 

[shortylickens]

BE QUIET YOU!



It will work fine, just swap it.

 

[Bateluer]

PHanboy: get an iPhone
Appleboy: get an Android phone

Quiet you.

I would be curious to know why the OP doesn't want/can't get a full smart phone though. Cost?

 

[Pliablemoose]

How many minutes/month do you need?

 

[soundasleep]

I don't want a smart phone because I don't want to pay an extra $200+ per year for something I don't need. I use minimal minutes, never even come close to using my 450 per month with AT&T and always have thousands of rollover. Have the $10 1000-text message plan and never come close to that either. All I really want is a phone with good reception & audio, decent battery life, a tactile QWERTY would be nice, and extras like an OK camera would be nice too. Maybe even WiFi?

But from what I'm reading around here and other places, it sounds like AT&T might not let me have an unlocked phone that they consider a "smart phone" (like one of those Nokias) without automatically adding a data plan.

I just want a no-frills (or, few-frills) phone! That works well!

 

[Bateluer]

I just want a no-frills (or, few-frills) phone! That works well!

Any of the regional/pre paid carriers work in your area? Virgin, Boost, Cricket, etc?

 

[pm]

In my experience AT&T won't require a data plan for a smart phone which you buy yourself - it's only when they subsidize it that they require a data plan. The only exception to this is the iPhone, which is a special case and requires a data plan no matter what.

If you chose a cell phone then before you buy it you can call them and ask them if they will require a data plan... but in my experience with my daughter and wife, they don't care about data plans for phones that you buy.

Doing this:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...es&Order=PRICE

This sorts all unlocked phones at Newegg by price. When I do this, the list doesn't look too bad in the $60-100 range.

This looks good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875176289
Samsung Blackjack II for $70
It's a "smartphone" with a keyboard. No WiFi though.

Or this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875205249
Nokia X2-01 for $80
It also comes with a keyboard. Also no Wifi though.

This is getting more up there, but an HTC Dash with Keyboard, WiFi, GPS, etc. for $120...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875502031

 

[Miscthree]

Not sure how much they cost nowadays but the nokia E71 and E72 are pretty sweet. I had an E71 for a couple years as a backup phone..great tactile qwerty, awesome battery life, lots of shortcut features. Almost as slim as a blackjack, and has a stainless steel back. Also has wifi, and you can run Opera mobile browser.

But don't get an E71x, it's filled with bloatware..it's possible to remove it, but just avoid it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Get a used Moto Droid, put it on Page Plus.

 

[tonygeor]

Jitterbug

 

[QueBert]

Motorola E815, great battery life, awesome reception and a damn nice screen. I don't care that it's like 6 years old. It's still one of the most solid phones ever made. And you can find new ones on Ebay if you look around.

 

[shortylickens]

Not sure how much they cost nowadays but the nokia E71 and E72 are pretty sweet. I had an E71 for a couple years as a backup phone..great tactile qwerty, awesome battery life, lots of shortcut features. Almost as slim as a blackjack, and has a stainless steel back. Also has wifi, and you can run Opera mobile browser.

But don't get an E71x, it's filled with bloatware..it's possible to remove it, but just avoid it.

I had an E71x and I didnt notice any bloatware.
Maybe I didnt get that far......

 

[soundasleep]

OK, this is great. Looks like there are lots of phones to choose from, as long as AT&T doesn't give me any hassles. I might even be willing to go up to the $150 range if it has WiFi and a nice camera...

Not sure about the Virgin/Boost thing (I'm in Los Angeles) but I do know that of the major carriers, only AT&T gives me any bars in my black hole apartment. And even then, barely.

 

[you2]

I've been happy with the sanyo scp-3810 (sprint). Its two years old; has very good battery life and good clairty. Your basic plain phone

 

[Miscthree]

I had an E71x and I didnt notice any bloatware.
Maybe I didnt get that far......

The bloatware was mostly games and such, that required purchase after a couple plays.

The OS for the E71 and the E71x is noticeably different as well..the latter runs very slow compared to the former, which might be why the E71x is so much cheaper, thus more prevalent.