I Can't Decide What Phone & Plan To Go With...!!!

[DF]

I need a new phone - and plan to go with it. 'Seems like an endless list of providers/packages/deals.
'Don't spend nor depend on phones like others - want something minimal.
Any recommendations?

 

[jay moussy]

Google Fi maybe?

I have similar needs, and Fi works well for me.

 

[gone]

I gave up on all these plans and bought a Tracfone w/ 1500 minutes loaded and 1 year of service. I've done this the last few years, it's hard to beat a $60 a year phone bill. You can add minutes if needed, but that generally will last me a year. I use Skype for a lot of stuff, the phone is actually more of a disturbance for me than a plus. It's generally turned off, I tell people to come by and knock on my door, leave a note, email me, anything to get that phone out of my life.......so I can have a life.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Although I don;t use it, Comcast, my ISP and cable provider also has a cellphone service that;s pretty cheap. I actually think they tie into ATT's network.

 

[MattKing]

1) where are you planning to use the phone? This is important if you travel or regularly spend time in a place like a cabin in a location with limited cel phone coverage;
2) which carriers serve the locations you spend time at, or have good agreements with foreign/out of state carriers where you travel to?;
3) do the carriers that serve the areas you spend time at have plans - either prepaid or locked in month to month charges - that meet your needs and are at a price you like?;
4) which phones work with the communication protocols/bands used by the carriers you like in the locations you will use them?;
5) does the carrier whose plan you like offer a phone that works in the areas you will use it that has the features and physical configuration you want, at a price you want to pay? Sometimes it is worthwhile locking yourself in to a contract for a couple of years. Sometimes it makes sense to buy a separate unlocked phone and signing up for a "no commitment" or "one year commitment" plan.

See - it's simple!
It obviously helps if you live and spend time in an area where there is lots of coverage.

 

[Sirius Glass]

1) where are you planning to use the phone? This is important if you travel or regularly spend time in a place like a cabin in a location with limited cel phone coverage;
2) which carriers serve the locations you spend time at, or have good agreements with foreign/out of state carriers where you travel to?;
3) do the carriers that serve the areas you spend time at have plans - either prepaid or locked in month to month charges - that meet your needs and are at a price you like?;
4) which phones work with the communication protocols/bands used by the carriers you like in the locations you will use them?;
5) does the carrier whose plan you like offer a phone that works in the areas you will use it that has the features and physical configuration you want, at a price you want to pay? Sometimes it is worthwhile locking yourself in to a contract for a couple of years. Sometimes it makes sense to buy a separate unlocked phone and signing up for a "no commitment" or "one year commitment" plan.

See - it's simple!
It obviously helps if you live and spend time in an area where there is lots of coverage.

What plans are your friends and relatives on so that calls to and from them are not charged to you?

 

[DF]

I gave up on all these plans and bought a Tracfone w/ 1500 minutes loaded and 1 year of service. I've done this the last few years, it's hard to beat a $60 a year phone bill. You can add minutes if needed, but that generally will last me a year. I use Skype for a lot of stuff, the phone is actually more of a disturbance for me than a plus. It's generally turned off, I tell people to come by and knock on my door, leave a note, email me, anything to get that phone out of my life.......so I can have a life.

Yes - I had a tracfone 7 years ago - the 306G. Good solid phone fits in your pocket. I wish they made the same model for 5G.
Unfortuneately, I can't port my AT&T landline number to them.