Mom needs a cell phone?

ride2bhi · 10-03-2002, 04:26 PM

Hello,
Finally convinced my mom to join modern society and get a cell phone, in case she has car trouble or any such emergency. Anyone know of a good plan with minimal cost and low number of minutes? She needs a cheap, but compact phone as well, any suggestions on models? Looking for around $15-$20 a month with about 100 minutes, maybe voicemail, but not vital. Also would need good coverage.

Showtime · 10-04-2002, 12:34 AM

Sprint had some deal with rebates the phone came out to like -$150. The low plan i think is $35 a month. With the cash back that averages out just under $23 a month.

Check amazon to see if its still good.

-jel

caribiner23 · 10-04-2002, 10:22 AM

My folks went for a prepaid plan from Verizon Wireless.

If your mom is only looking for the occasional or emergency call, this may be the way to go. The time never expires and you only use what you pay for, at least that's how I understand it.

SpeedEng · 10-04-2002, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by caribiner23
My folks went for a prepaid plan from Verizon Wireless.

If your mom is only looking for the occasional or emergency call, this may be the way to go. The time never expires and you only use what you pay for, at least that's how I understand it.

Im pretty sure it does expires like every 30 days you would need to get a refill card and add it to the phone if not I think the min will expire

ride2bhi · 10-04-2002, 12:26 PM

Yup, they expire. Leaning towards Sprint. Thanks for the input.

ride2bhi · 10-04-2002, 03:20 PM

Ok, found a pretty good deal if anyone is interested in an emergency phone. We went with AT&T Wireless prepaid plan. It is $100 to start which includes a Nokia 5165. You also get a $50 rebate and two $25 prepaid phone cards. The seller for us was that if you renew your minutes before 45 days, the minutes don't expire and roll over. This allows her to pay $10 every 45 days and her minutes accumulate. Long distance is included, the only real catch is that if she leaves So Cal, then she is charged a roaming rate, which eats up her credit pretty quickly. Not bad for her though since she will probably use 10 minutes a month.

johnnymk · 10-05-2002, 05:56 AM

I looked at all of the prepaid phone plans: Freeup, AT&T,Verizon, Tracfone. Of all the prepaid phone plans, Virgin is the best. They charge 25 cents per minute for the first ten or 6 minutes?, then 10 cents afterwards. You have to renew every 3 months, which isn't too bad. The only problem is that the phone is $100, but a few weeks ago, they had a $20 rebate. They also give you 10 or so minutes with the new phone.
You can get it at BestBuy. I am seriously considering it.

iDave · 10-11-2002, 06:22 PM

Sprint in our area has a $20 / month plan that gives you about 60 minutes maybe less. It is the least expensive monthly plan that I could find but it does not give any kind of deal on a new phone.

For a phone, ask around. There is a good chance you know of someone who is upgrading theirs. My brother just upgraded to 3G and gave me his old phones, chargers, leather cases and all.

tweeteresa · 10-12-2002, 09:15 AM

theres lots of places where u can get phones for free. and about her not using her minutes...just WAIT til she has the phone, the minutes will be gone before you know.

ride2bhi · 10-15-2002, 01:29 AM

Thanks for all the respnoses. I still feel as though we got a pretty good deal with AT&T but as with all deals, there is a tendency to be biased once the purchase has been made. It's funny that you mentioned that she would probably use up her minutes pretty quickly because I asked her the other day how the phone was working. Her answer, "I don't know, I haven't used it yet." After 2 weeks, she still hasn't used it yet! I feel better that at least it is there for an emergency, but sometimes wish she would embrace technology just a little...

iDave · 10-15-2002, 07:48 AM

It’s really not a bad idea for her to go ahead and use it a least a couple of times just to make sure that it works and to be familiar with it for when it is really needed.

10-03-2002, 04:26 PM	#1
ride2bhi Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 362	Mom needs a cell phone? Hello, Finally convinced my mom to join modern society and get a cell phone, in case she has car trouble or any such emergency. Anyone know of a good plan with minimal cost and low number of minutes? She needs a cheap, but compact phone as well, any suggestions on models? Looking for around $15-$20 a month with about 100 minutes, maybe voicemail, but not vital. Also would need good coverage.

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10-04-2002, 12:34 AM	#2
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	Sprint had some deal with rebates the phone came out to like -$150. The low plan i think is $35 a month. With the cash back that averages out just under $23 a month. Check amazon to see if its still good. -jel

10-04-2002, 10:22 AM	#3
caribiner23 Commander Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,127	My folks went for a prepaid plan from Verizon Wireless. If your mom is only looking for the occasional or emergency call, this may be the way to go. The time never expires and you only use what you pay for, at least that's how I understand it.

10-04-2002, 12:26 PM	#5
ride2bhi Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 362	Yup, they expire. Leaning towards Sprint. Thanks for the input.

10-04-2002, 03:20 PM	#6
ride2bhi Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 362	Ok, found a pretty good deal if anyone is interested in an emergency phone. We went with AT&T Wireless prepaid plan. It is $100 to start which includes a Nokia 5165. You also get a $50 rebate and two $25 prepaid phone cards. The seller for us was that if you renew your minutes before 45 days, the minutes don't expire and roll over. This allows her to pay $10 every 45 days and her minutes accumulate. Long distance is included, the only real catch is that if she leaves So Cal, then she is charged a roaming rate, which eats up her credit pretty quickly. Not bad for her though since she will probably use 10 minutes a month.

10-05-2002, 05:56 AM	#7
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	I looked at all of the prepaid phone plans: Freeup, AT&T,Verizon, Tracfone. Of all the prepaid phone plans, Virgin is the best. They charge 25 cents per minute for the first ten or 6 minutes?, then 10 cents afterwards. You have to renew every 3 months, which isn't too bad. The only problem is that the phone is $100, but a few weeks ago, they had a $20 rebate. They also give you 10 or so minutes with the new phone. You can get it at BestBuy. I am seriously considering it.

10-11-2002, 06:22 PM	#8
iDave Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: May 2001 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 52	Sprint in our area has a $20 / month plan that gives you about 60 minutes maybe less. It is the least expensive monthly plan that I could find but it does not give any kind of deal on a new phone. For a phone, ask around. There is a good chance you know of someone who is upgrading theirs. My brother just upgraded to 3G and gave me his old phones, chargers, leather cases and all.

10-12-2002, 09:15 AM	#9
tweeteresa Captain Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,621	theres lots of places where u can get phones for free. and about her not using her minutes...just WAIT til she has the phone, the minutes will be gone before you know.

10-15-2002, 01:29 AM	#10
ride2bhi Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 362	Thanks for all the respnoses. I still feel as though we got a pretty good deal with AT&T but as with all deals, there is a tendency to be biased once the purchase has been made. It's funny that you mentioned that she would probably use up her minutes pretty quickly because I asked her the other day how the phone was working. Her answer, "I don't know, I haven't used it yet." After 2 weeks, she still hasn't used it yet! I feel better that at least it is there for an emergency, but sometimes wish she would embrace technology just a little...

10-15-2002, 07:48 AM	#11
iDave Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: May 2001 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 52	It’s really not a bad idea for her to go ahead and use it a least a couple of times just to make sure that it works and to be familiar with it for when it is really needed.

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