the current Best Dumb phone?

[borisvodofsky]

Won't die when dropped.

Has qwerty

No bullshit features :thumbsdown:

LOUD ringer/speakers

UPdate:

I looked up all the phones you guys suggested so far...

This might sound rude, but they're not DUMB enough.. they all seem have the software bloat feel that could crash on me..

 

[rudeguy]

Tmo charm?

 

[AMDZen]

For which carrier?

 

[Gooberlx2]

LG enV has been the best and most solid qwerty dumb phone I've ever used. I've heard good things about the enV3 as well.

 

[zerocool84]

For which carrier?

This is really important. Verizon/AT&T will probably charge you extra for internet cus almost all phones that have a slide-out keyboard will be a "feature phone" to them so you'll have to pay extra.

 

[murphy55d]

This is really important. Verizon/AT&T will probably charge you extra for internet cus almost all phones that have a slide-out keyboard will be a "feature phone" to them so you'll have to pay extra.

Yep. I haven't been in the dumb phone market for awhile but I think you'll be hard pressed to find a qwerty phone without some kind of data commitment.

You could buy a Motorola Q off eBay and have a data block put on it. If you're on Verizon that is.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Which carrier?

 

[borisvodofsky]

Which carrier?

Oh, I didn't anticipate this being a problem.. buttttttt

My contract is Up, so I'm open to use any of the big carriers Tmobile, att, verizon.. ^_^

 

[zerocool84]

Oh, I didn't anticipate this being a problem.. buttttttt

My contract is Up, so I'm open to use any of the big carriers Tmobile, att, verizon.. ^_^

You should probably look into Tmobile then since they won't charge you internet for phones that just have a keyboard unless you look at every phone the other carriers have and see which ones don't require net with the phone.

 

[borisvodofsky]

You should probably look into Tmobile then since they won't charge you internet for phones that just have a keyboard unless you look at every phone the other carriers have and see which ones don't require net with the phone.

What's up with this Net issue. I go to those sketchy asian vendors who will make/break custom contracts "probably against policy" and give you any phone you want, for ANY carrier..

IDK if they do this for everyone, but I think if you go with at least 1 asian friend they'll do it. LOL racism ftw..

Same goes for the sketchy Indian vendors. :sneaky:

 

[zerocool84]

What's up with this Net issue. I go to those sketchy asian vendors who will make/break custom contracts "probably against policy" and give you any phone you want, for ANY carrier..

IDK if they do this for everyone, but I think if you go with at least 1 asian friend they'll do it. LOL racism ftw..

Same goes for the sketchy Indian vendors. :sneaky:

Well it's physically impossible to get any phone you want on any carrier since most of them use different radio frequencies but you can use a Tmobile phone on AT&T and vice versa and if someone will do it for you, a Verizon phone on Sprint and vice versa but this is much trickier. AT&T will do sweeps sometimes to check to see what phone you have and automatically "correct" your plan for whatever phone you have. Haven't heard of Sprint/Verzion doing it unless you illegally change the ESN number on the phone to something else. Your choice to take the risk.

 

[AMDZen]

I don't know if you care about music but I would look at the Nokia Xpressmusic line on T-mobile or the Sony Ericsson W (Walkman) series on AT&T. Namely the W760 on AT&T. Both do a lot but don't need the internet to do it.

I would go with the SE and AT&T personally based on where I live. AT&T 3G is excellent in Denver and the outlying areas.

Depending on where you live - now that is the next question ... T-mobile is horrible a lot of places in the country, but so is AT&T.

Regardless I would stay away from Verizon, they do not have good phones along the lines of what you are looking for. At least IMO. Sprint I really know nothing about but last time I checked around with them, they didn't have anything that appealed to me either.

 

[v8envy]

I've been enjoying my LG Tumor Ouch. Er, I mean LG Rumor Touch. It's on virgin mobile (read: sprint), so it's 300 minutes, unlimited text and web. Has a keyboard, the software is decent for a dumb phone. Youtube and google maps work well. Supports yahoo, google, microsoft IM and mail as well as IMAP/POP. Opera mini is usable. It's one of the smartest dumbphones -- almost the dumbest of smartphones, really.

Overall it's not a complete crap experience so long as you temper your expectations to match a $25/month including all fees plan.

You can side load j2me apps with the included USB cable if you get a microsd card (required to use as a music player anyway). I think it's $119 at radio shack if you hunt around for a $10 off coupon.

 

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Online%20Store/Phones.aspx

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans.jsp

Both pay as you go, no contract...

 

[rh71]

Yep. I haven't been in the dumb phone market for awhile but I think you'll be hard pressed to find a qwerty phone without some kind of data commitment.

You could buy a Motorola Q off eBay and have a data block put on it. If you're on Verizon that is.

Still very happy with my XV6800 on Verizon after returning the Droid X. Has wifi, requires no data plan or have other extra costs, good slide-out keyboard. Call and make sure it's still the case if you try for it. Plenty on ebay looks like.

 

[borisvodofsky]

I looked up all the phones you guys suggested so far...

This might sound rude, but they're not DUMB enough.. they all seem have the software bloat feel that could crash on me..

 

[Binky]

A dumb phone with a qwerty keyboard is nonsensical. Why would a phone maker put a keyboard on a dumb phone? Once you add a keyboard, the bloat increases significantly.

Great dumb phone = LG VX5500 or the older model the VX8600. No keyboard.

 

[murphy55d]

What do you need a keyboard for if you just want a dumbphone then, not to be rude?

 

[uli2000]

I think Verizon's GZone phones may suit you. The Brigade has a flip open qwerty keyboard, but it requires either a $10 minimum data plan or a $5 min push to talk plan. They also have a model called the rock that doesnt have a keyboard, but also doesnt require a data or ptt plan either. Both are mil spec shock and water resistant. I have a coworker that has a rock and he likes it. It also has a built in electronic compass which I believe the Brigade doesn't have.

Brigade

Rock

 

[pontifex]

I have a Samsung Convoy that I like for the most part. It's another ruggedized phone like the Bridage or one of the GZone phones.

Doesn't have qwerty keypad though. Loud ringers/speaker, good voice quality. Signal's little to be desired on mine but generally not a problem, especially when in less rural areas.

 

[shortylickens]

I am of the opinion Nokia still makes all the best low end phones, unfortunately they arent terribly popular in America and few low end models have a Qwerty keypad. My 3330 did, but that phone has not been available for a long time.

LG's might be the main suggestion for basic phones with full keyboards, BUT, I have had several and they've all got issues with freezing and rebooting randomly. The Env3 and Env Touch are especially bad. Voyager was horrible.

Assuming you just want to text, I would recommend T-mobile.
For phones, they currently have:
http://www.t-mobile.com/Promotions/R...T.ac=0640HOM04

And honestly, thats a great selection of phones that dont do a whole lot but have nice keyboards. In this instance I'd recommend a Samsung over a Motorola.

Go to www.phonescoop.com and investigate them.
Then go to Cnet for reviews, or www.infosyncworld.com and see what reviews they might have.

 

[hanoverphist]

LG enV has been the best and most solid qwerty dumb phone I've ever used. I've heard good things about the enV3 as well.

the enV was a great phone, i agree. i had one for a couple years, it was a tank. the enV3 has been a thorn in my side for a while, my daughter has it. ive replaced it 4 times for faulty keyboards (buttons stopped working on the front pad) and the battery seems to wear to the point that it is loose in the frame. if you hold it one handed and press the opposite side (like while texting) there is about a 70% chance it will shut off. there have been myriad other problems with it so far, but i havent ruled out "owned by teenage girl" as the causes yet.

 

[darkewaffle]

This is exactly the thread I needed. I'm just looking for a solid, hopefully slimmish, dumb phone with decent call quality and good texting support on AT&T, I'll be certain to take a look at some of the model names dropped in here.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

What do you need a keyboard for if you just want a dumbphone then, not to be rude?

To text....?

 

[Gooberlx2]

the enV was a great phone, i agree. i had one for a couple years, it was a tank. the enV3 has been a thorn in my side for a while, my daughter has it. ive replaced it 4 times for faulty keyboards (buttons stopped working on the front pad) and the battery seems to wear to the point that it is loose in the frame. if you hold it one handed and press the opposite side (like while texting) there is about a 70% chance it will shut off. there have been myriad other problems with it so far, but i havent ruled out "owned by teenage girl" as the causes yet.

Huh, sorry to hear of your problems. My brother's env3 has been a solid phone for him...except for when he dropped it in to a pool. But then he's a 35 year old man. :\

Someone else mentioned random reboots...and I do remember now that my env would occasionally do that. It was rare enough, though, that I could never discern a pattern.