Need some phone advice...

[Caveman]

I'm with Verizon...

I've got a BB 9650 that I love aside from the crappiness of the phone part of the phone...

The wife has a Samsung Convoy which is a "ruggedized" non smart phone (we don't need a data package for here).

She dropped the Convoy and now only the speakerphone works... So, looking to get her another phone.

We are up for 1 phone upgrade on our family plan. We'd like to be able to tap into the smart phone market but don't want to pay for emails, etc since we'd never use it (just the graphical interface would be nice etc...). We are ok getting another Convoy style basic phone...

Is it true that smart phone can't work unless they are tuned to receive emails, and surf, etc...?

Do you have any recommendations for a good, cheap phone?

Any advice?

 

[ImDonly1]

I'm with Verizon...

I've got a BB 9650 that I love aside from the crappiness of the phone part of the phone...

The wife has a Samsung Convoy which is a "ruggedized" non smart phone (we don't need a data package for here).

She dropped the Convoy and now only the speakerphone works... So, looking to get her another phone.

We are up for 1 phone upgrade on our family plan. We'd like to be able to tap into the smart phone market but don't want to pay for emails, etc since we'd never use it (just the graphical interface would be nice etc...). We are ok getting another Convoy style basic phone...

Is it true that smart phone can't work unless they are tuned to receive emails, and surf, etc...?

Do you have any recommendations for a good, cheap phone?

Any advice?

If you buy a smartphone on ATT, VZW, and Sprint they will force you to buy a data plan. Not sure about t-mobile.

You can go prepaid and use any phone you like on t-mobile's prepaid service or ATTs, then you don't have to buy a data plan.

Or buy an unlocked phone from overseas, then ATT or t-mobile won't know its a smartphone and won't force you to buy a data plan (note ATT or t-mobile only, not VZW or Sprint since they don't allow non-VZW, Sprint phones on their networks).

Or go with virgin mobile, it has cheap plans that include a lot of minutes and unlimited texting and data.

Since you said the convoy, google says its a verizon phone. So you will have to switch carriers if you want a smartphone without data.

 

[smartpatrol]

AFAIK you cannot purchase a smartphone without a data plan to go with it.

 

[Caveman]

Thanks folks... Yeah, I was thinking there may have been a way around the data plan being crammed down our throats if we have no need for the data... So... Back to just looking for a good, reliable, no-frills phone... Any recommendations?

 

[shortylickens]

Thanks folks... Yeah, I was thinking there may have been a way around the data plan being crammed down our throats if we have no need for the data... So... Back to just looking for a good, reliable, no-frills phone... Any recommendations?

If you get a smartphone, you will wanna use data.
Trust me.
If you absolutely, positively dont want to use data, then I know for a fact you dont need a smart phone.
Again, you will just have to trust me.

Normally in these cases I recommend a basic Nokia as they tend to have the best battery and call quality for the price. But I am not sure if VW even has a Nokia right now, much less a selection.

 

[swanysto]

You could look into the LG cosmos. It has a decent little color touch screen, and you don't need a data plan. Be careful though, cause if you use the internet or download apps, you will get charged heavily.