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<p>I believe you can add $1 for year 2 => $4.20/mo.</p>
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<p>All 50 states, not just the lower 48? Sounds good.</p>
<p>Limited cellphone use might be a good thing healthwise, looking back years from now.</p>
<p>Did they let you reactivate your old phone dadII or did you have to buy a new phone? If you had to buy a new one, what did that cost? What did they charge for an activation fee?</p>
<p>By the way, I’ve had my phone for more than 2 years. Even though I may be eligible for a new phone, it never seems to be “free”. There always seem to be some charges or cost to get the new “free” phone, so I stick with what I have. I don’t NEED a new phone. Mine is perfectly fine. Does your wife really “need” a new phone every 2 years? That seems like an unnecessary acquisition.</p>
<p>With a phone you’ll probably need a car charger, and possibly an earpiece or bluetooth (not safe to talk while driving otherwise. Will you be purchasing these too?</p>
<p>We have a family plan with up to 7 lines with Verizon. 700 shared minutes- unlimited texting/mobile web on three phones. H has a phone that doesn’t have a camera and it is about 7 years old. ( it was Ds old phone)
Very easy to assign new # to a phone.
I have a Blackberry which I learned to love
Last summer when H & I were in SF my phone died & I hadn’t upgraded mine for a while so I was due- the tour has just come out and while I was looking at other phones with qwerty keyboards to make communicating with my 19yr old easier ;), the sales guy talked me into the Blackberry.
But we get a big discount through H’s work.
It also saves me money- cause when I am out shopping- I can look up big ticket items that are " on sale" and see if they are actually a good buy.</p>
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<p>I haven’t specifically tried Hawaii and Alaska but I would doubt that they’d be excluded. You can call the rest of the world at cheap rates if you wish.</p>
<p>I find that it’s time to replace a phone if the battery is giving out. With cheap phones, replacing the battery can cost about as much as a new phone. Newer phones tend to be more efficient (chip process improvement), buttons can wear out and there may be newer features desired such as the ability to take pictures. One thing that I like about new phones is that they use Micro-USB ports for charging so that I can just buy a few cheap cables, leave them at home and the office connected to a computer and charge the phones at my desk without having to buy additional chargers.</p>
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<p>On our pay as you go plans (Verizon and AT&T), you prepay for your minutes. If you run out, your phone stops working. I think that these plans are ideal for teens where you want to place a limit on their talk time or where they pay for their minutes from their job or allowance.</p>
<p>I have used my phone in HI, no extra cost to me. It’s included.</p>
<p>I find that it’s time to replace a phone if the battery is giving out. With cheap phones, replacing the battery can cost about as much as a new phone. Newer phones tend to be more efficient (chip process improvement), buttons can wear out and there may be newer features desired such as the ability to take pictures. One thing that I like about new phones is that they use Micro-USB ports for charging so that I can just buy a few cheap cables, leave them at home and the office connected to a computer and charge the phones at my desk without having to buy additional chargers.</p>
<p>I haven’t found this.
More features mean more battery drain.
The battery on the 7 yr old phone works way longer before it needs a charge than the phones with more features. We did replace the battery I think once, it was about $20.
[LG</a> Mobile Phones - VX3200](<a href=“http://www.lgmobilephones.com/phone.aspx?id=1168]LG”>http://www.lgmobilephones.com/phone.aspx?id=1168)</p>
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<p>We were discussing the Google Voice service which requires a landline or cellphone. Though the best economic case for Google Voice is a landline.</p>
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<p>No it doesn’t. It depends on the features.</p>
<p>Semiconductors are made on a particular process technology. Pentium 4s were made on 130 and 90 nanometer processes. The processes for Intel chips went 130 - 90 - 65 - 45 - 32 and they are expect to go to 22 within the next few years. Each new process generation means that you can fit twice as many transistors in the same space. New process generations typically reduce power consumption and can improve performance because electrons have less room to travel from device to device. This is why computer chips today use far less power per unit of work than computer chips of a few years ago.</p>
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<p>The older batteries supplied more wattage and were heavier. They could put out a stronger signal but you’re also exposed to more radiation. Modern cell phones negotiate signal strength so that they use variable amounts of power depending on where you are relative to the tower. If you are close to the tower, then they reduce their transmit power. If you are far away, then they increase it. So the newer stuff is smarter in how it manages power.</p>
<p>Standardized connectors are nice too. It’s nice to be able to charge your variety of household phones using the same power connector.</p>
<p>I took the comment as regarding the carpool to be addressing the need for a cell phone in case of an automobile accident. I keep my phone on silent while I’m driving but I feel much better having one with me so that I can call out if I need be. Plus, when I get where I’m going, I can check my calls and texts.</p>
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<p>Dad II…unless you are ON your wife’s contract with ATT…YOU will not be receiving a new phone. Only those ON THE CONTRACT are eligible to receive new phones when you renew the contract. Your 25 cent a minute “go phone” will not entitle you to a new phone.</p>
<p>Now you CAN take one of the “hand-me-down” phones when from your wife’s plan (when she gets new ones) and put your sim card in it…I suppose. BUT you need to check to see if the phone plan you have allows this. The “go phone” may not…is that the ATT pay as you go plan you got?</p>
<p>And when you get that two year contract…it’s not exactly “free” to get those new phones. ATT charges you for your new contract. The prices are buried in your contract with ATT. You need to do better financial research on this…unless it’s too late and you already got your phone.</p>
<p>The AT&T Go Phone plan allows you to upgrade your phone by taking the SIM card out to put in another phone. The operating system on the phone has to be AT&T compatible.</p>
<p>Thanks BCEagle…I guess Dad II means that he’ll be getting a new “used” phone…when the rest of his family gets new phones with the new 2 year contract.</p>
<p>What kinds of phones do your kids and your wife have, DadII? What eventual hand-me-downs are you looking forward to?</p>
<p>Another family on ATT. We have 5 phones on our family plan. Unlimited texting for all 5 phones. Free calls to all ATT phones. Rollover minutes. We don’t ever use all of our minutes up. Especially with free night and weekends. I have never heard of only having max of 3 phones. To add another line on our plan is 9.99.
I use the least amount of minutes. I have found the cell phone great if I am waiting for a call back from a Dr. Or if I am out and one of my kids or H needs to reach me. Sometimes H and I get separated in a store or airport and we can call each other. Or if we are traveling and we separate for part of the day. I can’t imagine my H not having a phone. Often my college kids will text me something that doesn’t need an actual phone call.
I can’t see you actually saving much by going with a Go phone.</p>
<p>What does your AT&T family phone plan cost per month for five people?</p>
<p>We have four pay-as-you go phones and they cost $8.33/month each for a total of a bit over $33. That covers fees, taxes, etc. I don’t know of any plans for three phones that beats $25/month.</p>
<p>My s’s don’t have land lines, so their cell is their lifeline (that, and the internet of course). They text a lot. Does the “pay as you go” include texting?</p>
<p>BCEagle, It doesn’t sound like you use your phones very much. For infrequent users, the pay as you go plan IS a good deal. Your price is good for what you get.</p>
<p>Like others here, we USE our cell phones frequently. We have three on our family plan, with unlimited texting, and free nights/weekends (we are off contract…we are paying for an OLD PLAN)…and 900 minutes a month. Our plan includes our landline, and our DSL. It is $151 a month for three phones, internet and a wall phone in our house with free in state long distance.</p>
<p>Two of the phones are $9.99. One is $49.99 and the unlimited texting is $24.99. The rest is internet and our house phone.</p>
<p>We could add two more lines to our phone for $9.99.</p>
<p>OH…we are all using four year old phones. No one has a data plan and no one has an IPhone or droid of the like. </p>
<p>DS, who DOES have an IPhone which is used for both personal and business is off of our family plan and has his own contract with ATT.</p>
<p>Yes, pay as you go includes texting. And browsing the web - though it is expensive.</p>
<p>Our internet + landline is $33/month. Basically due to some tough negotiating with the local phone company. Add $25 for cell phones so I guess our comparable costs are $58/month. The landline service has 150 minutes of local calling. For long distance (in-state or US), we use Google Voice and those calls are free. We got Sipgate recently too and that would allow us free calls in the US on the computer (as opposed to the landline). Most of our long calls are IP-based and therefore free.</p>
<p>I for one dislike IP based phone, for work and for home. We have it for work because it’s cheaper, and the sound is horrible.</p>