The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: MountainFlower on July 23, 2013, 10:51:41 AM
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We are a family of dumb phone users. I have recently switched us over to Page Plus (Father-in-Law) and Air Voice. DH's phone is almost 4 years old and starting to have memory problems. I think it's time to think about a replacement.
I'd like a wi-fi capable phone under $100. Used is okay. What do you recommend?
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Airvoice, if I understand correctly? So GSM handsets.
Something Nokia based would probably work well, something running Symbian... either an old S40/S60 device or an Asha 302 currently... maybe the Samsung GT-S3350, or Motorola EX226. I'm using a Nokia C3-00 (S40) myself, the wife is using a Nokia E61 (S60)... both can be had for around $50-75 on Ebay in pretty good condition and carrier unlocked.
If you want to look for specifics on features, try this search tool: http://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3
If you want a small recommended list of phones, I have some listed in this article (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2013/01/are-iphones-worth-it/), or you can peruse a handful of new choices over at the Shopping Hut (http://astore.amazon.com/techmeshugana-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2) (referral links - helps to support Technical Meshugana).
If you're wanting something Verizon CDMA based, it might just be easier to step up to Android when looking for a WiFi enabled handset.
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I've been using the Palm Pixi Plus on Page Plus for years now. You can get them off Ebay brand new for about $35. Unlocked or Verizon branded ones will work on Page Plus. You can transfer your cell # over easily through the Page Plus website, and these directions are the most useful ones I've found to set up the phone: http://www.kittywireless.com/pageplus/palmpixiplus.html
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don't know how much it'd be in the states but i'm using a nokia c3-01 and it's wi-fi enabled. i like it and it was the most basic phone my contract offered so i'm assuming it's pretty cheap. it's touch screen with a normal mobile keypad too which i like. looks and feels generally like a dumb phone (candybar) but with basic smartphone capabilities.
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I'd suggest an old android from craigslist. I picked up a mytouch 4g this weekend for $30. You can get other older gen phones <$50 if you don't need the newest/fastest (but still good) phones.
The reason I'd stay away from symbian is that the OS isn't as supported, namely I don't know how well voip/google voice/etc would be supported on it. And gingerbread android phones are rather cheap now and still quite capable.
You could do better than $50 for none android phones and I'm biased I know, but with the support on android phones, it makes it a lot easier to get by on older hardware IMO.