Phone/carrier suggestions

[A Jay]

There I was about to clean up from dinner and start on a fat bomb custard, while contemplating my AIM and my goal with the Work, and from the hanging pot rack above the counter (where I had placed my phone to listen to today's SOTT Talk Radio show) a pot top falls off and cracks/busts my screen.

So, needless to say I need a new phone. Any suggestions on models or carriers? I have no contract, so anything goes. Last time my phone stopped working I bought an old Iphone from my cousin who sells them online, her husband works for Verizon and gets people's trade-ins for free, and stayed with Verizon because they have great coverage (which important for me because I'm frequently driving through North Georgia/Carolina mountains).

As an aside, this isn't the first time I've had something break or stop working on me while trying to focus and hammer out my AIM.

 

[Mark]

I'd suggest if you can get a Samsung Galaxy S3 or newer ( S4, S5 ), those are great Android phones. eBay is where I'd look for a cheaper cost used one, making sure the seller has a return policy for DOA devices. If you buy a used one from an unknown person be sure you get the phone EIN ( serial number ) before buying and call the carrier of your choice to check that the phone can be activated -- e.g. it's not on a blacklist for being lost, stolen, etc.

Also you might look into an Otterbox brand case, those are really good too - the Commuter model is lightweight, reasonably thin, and very rugged and durable in terms of protecting the phone from drops. I know this because I have such a case and it withstood a few inadvertent gravity tests.

If Verizon covers the extreme edges of where you go ( which includes remote areas of the Carolinas based on their map - most all carriers publish a coverage map on their site somewhere ) then stick with them. Others such as Sprint, Boost, ATT, Virgin, etc may not have that same broad coverage.

 

[Renaissance]

There I was about to clean up from dinner and start on a fat bomb custard, while contemplating my AIM and my goal with the Work, and from the hanging pot rack above the counter (where I had placed my phone to listen to today's SOTT Talk Radio show) a pot top falls off and cracks/busts my screen.
...
As an aside, this isn't the first time I've had something break or stop working on me while trying to focus and hammer out my AIM.

I don't have any suggestions for a phone carrier but the above is pretty interesting. Sounds like either your sending a message to yourself or the universe may be. Any thoughts as to the symbology behind it?

 

[MusicMan]

A Jay, you might have a look at the following web page before deciding whether to invest in another phone. Your higher self may be telling you something:

_http://educate-yourself.org/cn/wifiandcellphonedangers03jul12.shtml

The page tells of the radiation dangers of Cellphones, WiFi devices, Microwaves and Smart Meters. It's within your free will to decide if you use them. Or not.

 

[Dirgni]

You do not necessarily need a new carrier. You just remove the SIM card from the broken phone and include it into a new one. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that SIM cards come in three sizes (mini, micro and nano) and purchase the new phone accordingly. Most modern phones work with micro or mini SIM. Newer Apple iPhones are the only phones needing nano SIM as far as I know. When you purchase a new mobile phone you can check if it can work with your old SIM card. If you keep your old carrier Verizon you may purchase a new fitting SIM (if needed) and ask them to transfer the money from your old prepaid SIM. Please check Apple description (or Apple Internet page) of your old phone how to remove your SIM from your broken phone.

You can also decide to throw away your old phone and that's it. :)

 

[Beau]

As far as carriers, I've heard really good things about Straight Talk - http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home

As soon as my contract is up I plan to switch to them. You can get $45/month with unlimited data. I know people who use it and haven't heard any complaints about losing service in the mountains.

 

[Ennio]

As far as carriers, I've heard really good things about Straight Talk - http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home

As soon as my contract is up I plan to switch to them. You can get $45/month with unlimited data. I know people who use it and haven't heard any complaints about losing service in the mountains.

Someone recommended Straight Talk to me this evening and pretty confirms that they are decent. Verizon too. Whatever you do, do not go with T-mobile.

 

[Mark]

You do not necessarily need a new carrier. You just remove the SIM card from the broken phone and include it into a new one.

Some phones don't have SIM cards, because there are 2 kinds of cell service: GSM ( which uses a SIM card ) and CDMA ( which doesn't use a SIM card ). Some companies only use one type, others use both. Probably a good idea to ask the carrier what they use and whether they intend to phase it out in favor of the other.

There is such a thing as a 'global phone' or 'world phone' and those can handle GSM and CDMA. Reason being, based on what I've heard, CDMA service is scarce in the EU so folks from the USA and other countries where CDMA is prevalent, they need a phone that can do GSM when they head overseas. HTC made some of those phones, not sure who else did or does.

Anyway, GSM is more easily portable since it's basically driven by a chip that can be removed easily -- the data on that chip takes care of telling the phone's radio what range of frequencies to use for the carrier's radio towers, each carrier has a different set of frequencies.

CDMA is entirely software driven, so to move a phone from one carrier to another the phone needs to be 'flashed' as they call it, and that's the process of installing some new software, minimally that would include what they call a 'PRL' file which is the primary radio list -- same data that is held on a SIM.

 

[daddycat]

MVNOs are companies that use the network of a major carrier Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile. Some MVNOs have their primary network on one major and then roaming agreements on another major. As far as getting a good cell signal goes, it really just comes down to which of the major networks gives you good reception. Just because one major is good for me where I am doesn't mean it is good for you where you are.

So your first step is determining which of the major networks gives you good reception. Once you have that figured out, you can look at which MVNO uses those same networks. MVNOs will likely save you a lot of money versus directly going with the major.

For example, Sprint is among the majors where I am that give me good reception. So I have no problem using any MVNO that uses the Sprint network, such as RingPlus and Ting. I use RingPlus because I literally have free minutes, texts, and data allotment from them every month. However, for you the Sprint network may be terrible and you may determine that only the Verizon network gives you a good signal. In that case, you'd look at all the MVNOs on the Verizon network and see which MVNO gives you what you need.

 

[Dirgni]

There is such a thing as a 'global phone' or 'world phone' and those can handle GSM and CDMA. Reason being, based on what I've heard, CDMA service is scarce in the EU so folks from the USA and other countries where CDMA is prevalent, they need a phone that can do GSM when they head overseas.

I learned something new. Thank you. I am aware that in USA telecommunication is often handled different but was not aware that there is CDMA service, which does not use SIM cards. In EU there is GSM, UMTS and LTE service and we use SIM cards, which can be used in most other countries for roaming.

 

[Magpie]

And I'm sure by now you've located a new phone and fixed this problem, but we've had good luck with Swappa.com. You can buy the phones without having to extend your contract or whatnot with your carrier. And then you just pop your sim card into the new phone. With Verizon, they want you to upgrade all the time so you are forced to extend your contract and so they can get you to sign on for costlier data packages (we were grandfathered in with unlimited data package-which no longer exists-hence they are all the time tempting us with "free upgrades-which would lead to the new limited data plan they get to charge out the whazoo for.) So check Swappa. We've gotten several phones from the site.

 

[A Jay]

There I was about to clean up from dinner and start on a fat bomb custard, while contemplating my AIM and my goal with the Work, and from the hanging pot rack above the counter (where I had placed my phone to listen to today's SOTT Talk Radio show) a pot top falls off and cracks/busts my screen.
...
As an aside, this isn't the first time I've had something break or stop working on me while trying to focus and hammer out my AIM.

I don't have any suggestions for a phone carrier but the above is pretty interesting. Sounds like either your sending a message to yourself or the universe may be. Any thoughts as to the symbology behind it?

Well, since the incident I've made a lot of progress in terms of bringing into focus the steps I need to take in order to move to NC. So, the impression I'm getting is that these are physical manifestations of my 'unclogging' emotions and 'breaking' old habits.

As far as carriers, I've heard really good things about Straight Talk - http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home

As soon as my contract is up I plan to switch to them. You can get $45/month with unlimited data. I know people who use it and haven't heard any complaints about losing service in the mountains.

Someone recommended Straight Talk to me this evening and pretty confirms that they are decent. Verizon too. Whatever you do, do not go with T-mobile.

Thanks for the help everyone! I was thinking about going to Straight Talk because they use Verizon towers. So this is perfect, because I can drop my Verizon plan and save myself some money without losing coverage!

And I'm sure by now you've located a new phone and fixed this problem, but we've had good luck with Swappa.com. You can buy the phones without having to extend your contract or whatnot with your carrier. And then you just pop your sim card into the new phone. With Verizon, they want you to upgrade all the time so you are forced to extend your contract and so they can get you to sign on for costlier data packages (we were grandfathered in with unlimited data package-which no longer exists-hence they are all the time tempting us with "free upgrades-which would lead to the new limited data plan they get to charge out the whazoo for.) So check Swappa. We've gotten several phones from the site.

Well I've decided on my carrier (Straight Talk), but I'm still on the lookout for a phone. I'll check out Swappa when I get home, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[trendsetter37]

So Funny story...my phone just died earlier tonight even though it's a fairly new/decent smartphone. Seeing as that is one of the only ways I have to get on the internet by connecting it to my laptop (while not at work) I as well may be out for the count as far as communication goes.

I am not sure what caused it or if the situation was similar to yours but I was thinking about some things and writing out some schematics and telling myself that I have to get started on some of the things I would like to accomplish. And like clockwork it started acting up, rebooting every other minute until it finally didn't...This is interesting; frustrating but interesting none the less.

But anyways I just wanted to let ya know I know how you feel :). I'm going to try and reset the software tomorrow but if that doesn't help I guess i'll be in the market for a phone as well...

 

[A Jay]

Update: I bought the ZTE Valet and will be signing up for Straight Talk once this month is over and I cancel my Verizon prepaid. Thanks for the help everyone! :D

So Funny story...my phone just died earlier tonight even though it's a fairly new/decent smartphone. Seeing as that is one of the only ways I have to get on the internet by connecting it to my laptop (while not at work) I as well may be out for the count as far as communication goes.

I am not sure what caused it or if the situation was similar to yours but I was thinking about some things and writing out some schematics and telling myself that I have to get started on some of the things I would like to accomplish. And like clockwork it started acting up, rebooting every other minute until it finally didn't...This is interesting; frustrating but interesting none the less.

But anyways I just wanted to let ya know I know how you feel :). I'm going to try and reset the software tomorrow but if that doesn't help I guess i'll be in the market for a phone as well...

Yeah, it sounds like a similar phenomena. If only we would channel this energy towards less destructive outlets, imagine what we could accomplish! ;D

How did your software reset go, btw?

 

[trendsetter37]

Yeah, it sounds like a similar phenomena. If only we would channel this energy towards less destructive outlets, imagine what we could accomplish! ;D

How did your software reset go, btw?

You and me both! But yea the Only other thing I know to try (after messing with it all day) is attempting to flash stock firmware... which usually works... But not anymore the program made to do this either keeps freezing or can't read or see my phone like it used to.

Oh well C'est la vie. Long story short I'm going to have to find another one tomorrow it seems...