That Guy
Homegrown Unknown
- Location
- Monterey Bay
Attack of the Phones...
The Attack of the Phones
- Thread starter SifuPhil
- Start date
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
Phone Zombies!
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
Well, I finally broke down and took a rather convoluted path - we'll see where it gets me.
I purchased an LG Optimus Extreme smartphone from eBay for $25 - factory reconditioned but guaranteed to be 100% working.
It can use Google apps so I know I can put on it what I need to do my business, such as the QR code reader.
Thing is, it's designed to be used with Net10 service, and only after I bought the phone did I discover that you can only use a $50/month plan for unlimited everything. I know that isn't expensive compared to other plans, but to me it's still highway robbery when all I need the phone for is verification and for getting paid with my precious bitcoins. I don't talk, I don't text, I don't post on Facebook - if I do that stuff it's through my laptop.
So ...
The phone hasn't even arrived yet (today or tomorrow) but I'm already looking into "unlocking" it, which means putting in a different SIM card, entering a code and then being able to use ANY carrier you like. My plan, if the unlocking is successful (or even possible - I haven't determined that yet) is to use Consumer Cellular as my service - they have a $12/month plan that would be perfect for my needs.
Keep your dialing fingers crossed for me ...
As a funny aside, the same phone if purchased through CC is $450!
I purchased an LG Optimus Extreme smartphone from eBay for $25 - factory reconditioned but guaranteed to be 100% working.
It can use Google apps so I know I can put on it what I need to do my business, such as the QR code reader.
Thing is, it's designed to be used with Net10 service, and only after I bought the phone did I discover that you can only use a $50/month plan for unlimited everything. I know that isn't expensive compared to other plans, but to me it's still highway robbery when all I need the phone for is verification and for getting paid with my precious bitcoins. I don't talk, I don't text, I don't post on Facebook - if I do that stuff it's through my laptop.
So ...
The phone hasn't even arrived yet (today or tomorrow) but I'm already looking into "unlocking" it, which means putting in a different SIM card, entering a code and then being able to use ANY carrier you like. My plan, if the unlocking is successful (or even possible - I haven't determined that yet) is to use Consumer Cellular as my service - they have a $12/month plan that would be perfect for my needs.
Keep your dialing fingers crossed for me ...
As a funny aside, the same phone if purchased through CC is $450!
Pappy
Living the Dream
Phil.....funny but I have the same darn phone. I bought mine on Amazon and use Trac Phone minutes on mine. Nice phone and good luck with it.
i really haven't figured all the goodies on it yet.
i really haven't figured all the goodies on it yet.
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
I already downloaded the user manual for it and my head is swimming. I think I really need to wait until I have the phone in my hand - the directions will make more sense.
Interesting that you use Tracfone minutes - I know that Tracfone, Net10 and StraightTalk are all sister companies, so I thought they'd all demand I take the most expensive plan.
Ugh - why is life so complicated?
I shied away from iPhones because I'm not a big fan of Apple. I know those phones are supposed to be the cat's pajamas but as I mentioned I only need this for a few specific tasks, so I'm trying to do it on the cheap.
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
I had some bad experiences with an Apple II computer many moons ago when I was just starting up in the computer world, so I think I've carried that experience with me all my life.
I know they're supposed to be cutting-edge and they used to have that whole hippie thing going for them, but in my eyes they've sold out to the Establishment much more than IBM ever did.
But, as you say, different strokes.
That Guy
Homegrown Unknown
- Location
- Monterey Bay
Oh, man, should asked me first! I could have gotten you the Extra Extreme Max3 . . . !
That Guy
Homegrown Unknown
- Location
- Monterey Bay
Gawd, I am such an old fashioned stick in the mud longing for the days when a phone was just a phone . . .
Get a horse!!!
Get a horse!!!
SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
That looks more like the first breathalyzer!
Well, I received my phone courtesy of USPS yesterday. It's a factory re-manufactured one, which I suppose means they take it apart, dust it a bit and stick it all back together again. It came with all the accessories - charger, cables, battery and a dinky little 4Gb memory card.
It charged up quickly - within 4 hours - and so far seems to work 100%. I don't have any service yet because I was planning on unlocking the phone to use it with Consumer Cellular, but the more I'm researching the more it seems as if I'm going to have to stay with the Net10 service that the phone was originally set-up for.
It's actually not bad as services seem to go - $50/mn for unlimited talk, text and Web ($45 if I set up a recurring payment plan with my credit card). Still more than I wanted to spend but I guess I can write it off as being a business expense.
It has a little virtual keyboard that appears on-screen for texts and such, but the bloody thing is so tiny that my big ol' fingers seem to want to hit two keys at the same time. I think there might be a hidden trick to enlarging the keyboard - when I get a few spare hours I'll check the online manual (the literature they sent with the phone only covers activation and the most basic functions).
So far, so good - considering I bought it on eBay it actually powers-up, takes pictures and seems to respond well. Now for the ultimate test when I get service ...
The story continues ...
Well, I received my phone courtesy of USPS yesterday. It's a factory re-manufactured one, which I suppose means they take it apart, dust it a bit and stick it all back together again. It came with all the accessories - charger, cables, battery and a dinky little 4Gb memory card.
It charged up quickly - within 4 hours - and so far seems to work 100%. I don't have any service yet because I was planning on unlocking the phone to use it with Consumer Cellular, but the more I'm researching the more it seems as if I'm going to have to stay with the Net10 service that the phone was originally set-up for.
It's actually not bad as services seem to go - $50/mn for unlimited talk, text and Web ($45 if I set up a recurring payment plan with my credit card). Still more than I wanted to spend but I guess I can write it off as being a business expense.
It has a little virtual keyboard that appears on-screen for texts and such, but the bloody thing is so tiny that my big ol' fingers seem to want to hit two keys at the same time. I think there might be a hidden trick to enlarging the keyboard - when I get a few spare hours I'll check the online manual (the literature they sent with the phone only covers activation and the most basic functions).
So far, so good - considering I bought it on eBay it actually powers-up, takes pictures and seems to respond well. Now for the ultimate test when I get service ...
The story continues ...