new smartphone options to use on PagePlus?

[rh71]

Asking for mom who's still on a flip phone but wants to upgrade to a smartphone but doesn't need 4G (just wifi is fine). She's on the $80 prepaid annual plan that is minutes only and wants to keep it that way.

I saw on the PagePlus website there are phones she can purchase and it does not require a data plan - she only wants to spend $100 max and this is the best I can find for that price: https://www.pagepluscellular.com/phones/lg-optimus-dynamic-ii/

Is there another route we could go for $100 for a smartphone w/o data or contract? Or at least nearly as cheap? I think there are also limitations to which ones PagePlus supports on their network - which I know is Verizon. A couple of years ago I couldn't even get the Galaxy Nexus registered without "hacking" it - not sure if that's changed.

 

[rh71]

Alright I guess I'll ask this in case someone knows... not sure how Tracfone figures into it but it's in the Amazon description.

This phone is being sold by Page Plus on their site for $99 (link). On Amazon it is $80. Any reason I can't just buy it from them and activate?

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Optimus-Dyn..._cd_al_qh_dp_i

 

[cronos]

Handset rules are still the same for any plans lower than $29.99/month. Any Verizon phone as long as it's not a 'Verizon 4G LTE phone'. If you want to use 4G LTE phone than you need to 'flash' it so it will work (rates are around $40).

About the second question, no, you can't buy the Tracfone version from Amazon even though it seems like it's the same phone. It won't work. Your options are either phones sold by PagePlus directly or any non 4G LTE phone from Verizon postpaid (Verizon prepaid phones also won't work).

 

[ImDonly1]

Boost Mobile Moto G flashed to PagePlus is the best option.
It will work on the $80/year plan as I have one of there now.

I got the Moto G for $60 from Target. There are sales on the Boost Moto G for $60 somewhat frequently it seems.

There is a guide for flashing it online. It was the first phone I flashed was pretty straight forward but I am OK with flashing ROMs, etc.
Here is the guide
http://superior-automation.com/temp/MotoG.pdf
There are forum threads dedicated to flashing it on xda and howardforums.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1826191-How-to-flash-Boost-Moto-G-to-Page-Plus
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2681166

 

[Humpy]

Boost Mobile Moto G flashed to PagePlus is the best option.
It will work on the $80/year plan as I have one of there now.

I got the Moto G for $60 from Target. There are sales on the Boost Moto G for $60 somewhat frequently it seems.

There is a guide for flashing it online. It was the first phone I flashed was pretty straight forward but I am OK with flashing ROMs, etc.
Here is the guide
http://superior-automation.com/temp/MotoG.pdf
There are forum threads dedicated to flashing it on xda and howardforums.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1826191-How-to-flash-Boost-Moto-G-to-Page-Plus
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2681166

I think a flashed Moto G was the best option. Probably still is. With all the changes happening at PP, rumors etc., it's hard to say what to do. I have used the company for six years now and it seems there has always been a risk involved with picking a phone to use. $60 or so isn't too bad though. I think I just convinced myself to try to find a Moto G to replace my old Droid X2.

 

[rh71]

Regarding the flashing Moto G, I looked at the PDF. That seems a bit more than I'm willing to tackle (especially having to get a donor phone too). There's also the small risk that it won't work on PP these days and I'm out money to buy the phone in the first place. I may just have her pay the $99 for the LG. Thx for the insight.

BTW, do we have to have them block data if we're only on the $80 prepaid voice minutes plan and use wifi around the house? We don't want any surprise charges.

 

[vi edit]

I think PagePlus is now working with LTE Verizon phones. They are shipping SIM cards for it. No need to flash anything at this point as any Verizon phone should work.


If she wants something simple then I'd look at an HTC 8x on Swappa or Ebay. Windows phones are easy to work with and don't have as many things to screw up as Android.

 

[rh71]

I called Page Plus and they tell me the smartphones considered 4G are supported via new SIM card AND require at least the $29 monthly plan so we can't stick with the $80/yr minutes-only plan unless it's a 3G phone. Like the Iphone 4 (according to them). What other good smartphones are considered 3G only then? So much uncertainty when it comes to dealing with them.

 

[cronos]

I called Page Plus and they tell me the smartphones considered 4G are supported via new SIM card AND require at least the $29 monthly plan so we can't stick with the $80/yr minutes-only plan unless it's a 3G phone. Like the Iphone 4 (according to them). What other good smartphones are considered 3G only then? So much uncertainty when it comes to dealing with them.

Easy way to spot them is they don't show "4G LTE" anywhere (on the box/website/etc). There aren't really any 'good' 3G only Verizon phones that are newer. The best one is without a doubt the Moto G as mentioned above, but it's the Boost Mobile version (the Verizon prepaid version won't work) and it still needs to be flashed. The iPhone 4s will also work. Other than that, you're stuck with ~3 year old phones or older (e.g. HTC Droid Incredible 2), or of course whatever handsets that PagePlus (or dealers) are selling on their website.

 

[gmaster456]

Going with something like an iPhone 4 would be pointless as it is pretty much unusable for anything that someone would want a smartphone for. Either its the Moto G or an ancient android phone which wouldn't be any better than the iPhone 4.

Get her an iPod touch or iPad Mini.