<p>Husband and I are looking to replace our basic phones (Verizon) that are over 3 years old. It appears that 85% (my estimate) of the phones available now require some sort of data plan (minimum $9.99/month - not totally sure what that gets you - I got the impression it was email and he mentioned something about 850(?) preselected web pages you can access). </p>
<p>We really weren’t looking to add to our already high enough monthly bill, but the actually PHONE choices that don’t have data plans is practically nothing! And most of those look pretty much like what we already have - and had 5 years ago!</p>
<p>I didn’t need a lot of bells and whistles but hoped to have something updated AND (real important) something with a bigger screen (for my 50 year old eyes) and better keyboard (50 year old fingers). </p>
<p>So, I’m first of all FRUSTRATED. Second of all, looking for any opinions/your reviews of the following Verizon phone types:
LG Ally
LG Touch (D has this, so I know a good bit about it)
Samsung Reality
Samsung Intensity</p>
<p>Anything else you have that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. :)</p>
<p>A former co-worker bought phones from Amazon and then got them working with Verizon, perhaps with a SIM replacement. There’s a term for this kind of phone but I don’t recall what it is. I think that it can be easily used in other countries too with a SIM card replacement.</p>
<p>It’s true that the majority of new phones coming out are smartphones that require data plans. However, there are many still out there that do not. </p>
<p>All of the ones you have listed are smartphones. If you don’t need the data plan, just get a regular flip phone or something. It’s not worth the money if you’re never going to use it. And many non-smartphones are free now :).</p>
<p>Wish I could help more, but I’m not with Verizon. My family uses T-Mobile and my parents just got rid of their Razrs after years. They got free, nice phones with no data plan :).</p>
<p>I get all that ^^^ but I guess I had hoped to get an actual better PHONE for us than what is available - as in, larger screen, qwerty keyboard, etc. We DO lots of texting and I hate the little screen on my eyes!!!</p>
<p>I understand your rant but if misery loves company you might feel better that AT&T does this as well. It obviously must be a big moneymaker for them.</p>
<p>They do have some more basic phones that don’t require the ‘upsell’ data/text/TV plans (who really wants to watch TV on their cell phone??) but not usually the fancier ones. </p>
<p>In addition to checking directly with Verizon, check other places that sell Verizon like Costco and Best Buy since they sometimes have the higher level phones available for a lower cost and some (but not many) without requiring the tacked-on data plan.</p>
<p>Note - Since you do a lot of texting, don’t they have one of the higher level phones (maybe not highest) that only requires a texting plan to qualify for the subsidized phone?</p>
<p>^^^ agree that you should check all the different places that carry the dealer and the phones as they all carry different phones. When I replaced my phone with AT&T last year I really wanted a flip phone and after looking online direct with AT&T, and with the 2 local dealers I finally found an AT&T flip phone I liked (no data plan required) at Walmart.</p>
<p>My kids both have Cosmos with Verizon. The high schooler threw a fit when he realized that it didn’t have a video camera. After I threw a fit of my own and tossed it out the window of the car (in the grass near the bank drive-through), he decided he could live with it. He did pick it out.</p>
<p>I have an ATT pantech qwerty phone that is not smart, though I can add internet & voicemail for $15 if I am traveling, so that works for me. Ask them for texting NOT smart phones, there should be some choices</p>
<p>^^ I did and anything besides the flip (which had no qwerty and no larger screen) had a dataplan - except the Intensity (I think) or a couple online - but they were also really small and TEENY text buttons!</p>
<p>How does that work - you can buy a Verizon phone from Best Buy, walmart or whatever and have it be part of your family plan???</p>
<p>Yes. Walmart, bestBuy and all those places carry various brands - AT&T, Verizon etc. You can get a phone through them as part of your plan just like you can at an AT&T store or AT&T online. They just log into your account and do it. The girl in Walmart even transferred all my address book over for me (the new phone took a different sim). The phones can also vary in price between the different outlets.</p>
<p>It appears that 85% (my estimate) of the phones available now require some sort of data plan (minimum $9.99/month… </p>
<p>You’re touching on a very sensitive topic for me, since MOST of the smart phones will cost you an additional $29.99 per month, whether you want to use e-mail, internet, etc. or not. Verizon has what, maybe TWO free phones to choose from??? We did a free phone replacement for my daughter, only to find out her new free phone won’t work in Europe (Bulgaria) where she is for the next 3 weeks!</p>
<p>Last year my D got a LG Touch and my S got an EV3 (or something like that) - no data plan on either. If I wanted to buy either of those exact phones today, I have no choice but to pay a minimum of $9.99/month dataplan on either of them. So, last year dataplan was a choice, today it is required. :(</p>
<p>BCEagle91 Verizon does not use SIM cards that is a GSM network while Verizon uses CDMA. I went through a lot to get my D a US phone (it was more complicated than getting her student visa) and what you may want to look into is Page plus Cellular. It has worked out fantastic for us. For 44.95 a month she gets unlimited Talk and text as well as 20Meg of data. If you are interested PM me as I do not want to clutter this site with a long piece. If you go to their web site you can get a everything you need about their plans and such but what they do not tell you is that you bring almost any Verizon phone over to them and keep your number. We have had it now for 1.5 years and from my perspective it is a fantastic pay as you go program.</p>
<p>D just got the Samsung Reality 2 weeks ago. I just texted her to ask if there was anything she didn’t like about it and she said no. She has verizon, and online it cost her $19.99 with her new contract. She did have to add the 9.99 data plan, but she was okay with that. </p>
<p>She ordered it online, and it was delivered Fed Ex in less than 24 hrs, $19.99 total price.</p>
<p>My kids got the droid, buy one get one free, and I got the reality. yes it is too much money, but we use verizon and it works the best where d goes to school. I love the reality and am having fun with it. (this fron the one who had the free flip phone)of course the kids love the droid. now there will be no excuses why D doesnt contact me, I can text her , email her, call her.</p>
<p>I don’t have any problem with the price of the phones themselves - many are quite cheap, and I have a $100 credit anyway - it’s the additional monthly data fee that I"m not happy about - and that it is a requirement on so many of the phones. </p>
<p>I just looked online at Verizon - still am not excited about the choices…</p>
<p>Agree that you can get an unlocked phone on ebay, but be SURE the phone’s registration # isnt attached to someone elses account. You can ask the seller to show you a screenshot of the registration # and you can call the cellphone provider to confirm (I hope I am using the right term- I think its the registration #)</p>
<p>I like the forum discussion and ratings of phones on phonescoop.com You can also pull each phone co up and see what phones they offer.</p>
<p>Have you been to a store to look, abasket? I ordered over the phone this last time and was not thrilled with my phone–it does not have the qwerty keyboard that you wanted anyway. Next time, I will not buy anything without looking at the real phone.</p>