Although we have been full-time for a few years, we are finally free of the need to have smart phones on which to get our e-mail and use for data purposes. We have a Verizon Jet Pack Mi-Fi which we have used everywhere we go for Wi-Fi, and therefore e-mail/data use. The Jet Pack has met all of our needs in that regard. We plan to keep the mi-fi. We went into a Verizon company location to see about the 65+ plan for our phones, since we expect all of our data needs to be met by the card, and with the text option, the shared minutes will work for us. We were told we could change our plan and include texting for an extra 10 bucks/line/month, but couldn't use our smartphones, as they require a data plan, which we no longer want. So we were told if we had our old Verizon phones we could switch back to those. We don't have old Verizon phones, so I asked how much new basic (talk & text) would be and was told $250 each, which is full retail, since our contracts aren't up 'till 02/14. At that time we could get new basic phones at a very reduced cost for a new contract The change in plan would save us $100/mo. So the math is clear, but does anyone know if I have to buy new basic phones from Verizon? (I couldn't get a straight answer from them). Years ago, when I lost a cell phone (no insurance) with ATT, a sales person told me "don't pay retail here, go buy a ATT pay as you go phone, and put your SIM card in that). From Target and Wall-Mart, Verizon pay as you go phones, which are text capable are available for a fraction of that $250 the Verizon store wanted. Since my knowledge of all this is very limited I'd like to know if any of you have thoughts or experience. It seems pointless to go buy new phones even if a bargain, if they won't work. Thanks in advance for any input.
Richard
Lucky Mike said
01:51 AM May 23, 2013
suggestion would be to go into best buys or walmart and ask.....they probably will work they are on the same system......I had a prepaid mifi and I passed it on to another RVer who had it added to his service........verizons prepaid phones also give you the option of going contract
Ricos Ride said
03:36 AM May 23, 2013
You can buy used Verizon cell phones fairly cheap on E-bay Narrow your search with "no data"
Technomadia said
04:56 AM May 23, 2013
Yup.. buy an out of contract phone elsewhere and just activate it on your plan. Plenty to be found on eBay, etc. The SIM from your existing smartphones may or may not be compatible with a 'dumb'phone, but you should be able to just call with the new device's ID number and get it quickly switched over on your plan with no change in your contract terms.
- Cherie
bjoyce said
05:03 AM May 23, 2013
An old style Verizon phone won't even have a SIM card.
Although we have been full-time for a few years, we are finally free of the need to have smart phones on which to get our e-mail and use for data purposes. We have a Verizon Jet Pack Mi-Fi which we have used everywhere we go for Wi-Fi, and therefore e-mail/data use. The Jet Pack has met all of our needs in that regard. We plan to keep the mi-fi. We went into a Verizon company location to see about the 65+ plan for our phones, since we expect all of our data needs to be met by the card, and with the text option, the shared minutes will work for us. We were told we could change our plan and include texting for an extra 10 bucks/line/month, but couldn't use our smartphones, as they require a data plan, which we no longer want. So we were told if we had our old Verizon phones we could switch back to those. We don't have old Verizon phones, so I asked how much new basic (talk & text) would be and was told $250 each, which is full retail, since our contracts aren't up 'till 02/14. At that time we could get new basic phones at a very reduced cost for a new contract The change in plan would save us $100/mo. So the math is clear, but does anyone know if I have to buy new basic phones from Verizon? (I couldn't get a straight answer from them). Years ago, when I lost a cell phone (no insurance) with ATT, a sales person told me "don't pay retail here, go buy a ATT pay as you go phone, and put your SIM card in that). From Target and Wall-Mart, Verizon pay as you go phones, which are text capable are available for a fraction of that $250 the Verizon store wanted. Since my knowledge of all this is very limited I'd like to know if any of you have thoughts or experience. It seems pointless to go buy new phones even if a bargain, if they won't work. Thanks in advance for any input.
Richard
- Cherie