Cheap cell phones for pageplus

[pontifex]

Currently using a Samsung Convoy I got while still on Verizon. I canceled verizon and went to pageplus since I don't use the phone that much (I use the $10 pay as you go plan).

The Convoy lately doesn't want to charge right, not sure if it's the cable, the phone, or the battery. Plus its getting old and a bit beat up.

I don't want to spend a lot of money on a new phone. Where is a good place to get a decent quality phone for cheap? I'd prefer not to get a used one for various reasons, but I have a feeling that's pretty much all I'll be able to get.

I assume I need either an unlocked or Verizon phone to use with pageplus?

Pageplus only sells 2 phones (both smartphones) and looking at reviews, they both suck.

Any suggestions on where to look besides ebay?

 

[Phokus]

I bought my parents page plus plans and got some unopened/new dumphones for them ... i think they were LG VX6000 or something like that flipphones. Cheap as hell.

 

[Tom]

I've heard the Sprint phones with bad esns can work on Pageplus, like iphone 4 or Galaxy s3. I'm thinking of trying it.

 

[vailr]

The Palm Pixi Plus for Verizon can still be found brand new for $39 or less:
http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Pixi-Plus.../dp/B004IPAC10
Has worked fine for me (purchased elsewhere on a special sale) on PagePlus.
Note: unlocking of Verizon branded devices is not required, since PagePlus simply buys Verizon air time in bulk at a discount, then re-sells air time to the end user.
Any Verizon branded phone should be able to work on PagePlus, with the exception of their "Verizon pre-paid" devices. Those devices, which come with pre-paid air time, would require a minimum 6 months of official Verizon service before they (Verizon) would allow conversion to a PagePlus pre-paid account.

 

[pontifex]

I wouldn't mind getting a smart phone that can use wifi for occasional use of that for web browsing when not at the PC or for certain apps. I really don't want to pay for a data plan, even on pageplus.

I'm pretty much fine with a dumb phone as I barely even use that, just for occasional phone calls.

 

[cardiac]

I've heard the Sprint phones with bad esns can work on Pageplus, like iphone 4 or Galaxy s3. I'm thinking of trying it.

The iPhone 4 can work out of the box on PP (3g), but the SIII requires flashing (4g). These are with good ESN's, and Verizon phones.

 

[gw186]

I decided it is time to get a cell phone. Haven't had one since 1999. Searching goggle I came across page plus. All i need is the most basic plan and 100 minutes for $10 that last 120 days seems perfect. Every where else I looked had 30 day expiration on there cheaper minute cards. I got a Samsung Convoy 2 coming from eBay for $28 shipped. It seems that page plus is best suited for used phones with its limitations such as no prepaid or 4g phones. Hoping I don't find the Convoy 2 too large. Not having a phone I think $28 is a good price to try it out to get a better idea of what i want. Tough choosing when you have nothing to compare to.

I do have some questions about page plus. The $10 card says 100 minutes @ 0.10 cents per minute. Makes since, but then I see that there is a 0.50 cent monthly fee. If I am charged .50 for 4 months that leaves $8.00 or 80 minutes. Is this correct? Is 100 minutes only possible if you use it all before the monthly charge?

What happens if I only have 0.40 cents? Do I now have a negative balance?

How quickly is serviced turned off if my balance reaches 0 or my time expires? Is there a grace period?

How long will my phone number be mine if I choose to not add a card right away after the existing one is used up?

Are spam texts a problem? I may want to text a little but if I have to pay 0.05 cents because of spammers I will not be happy.

What are the benefits of going through a service like kitty wireless versus page plus?

 

[ImDonly1]

PagePlus has a $80 plan with 2,000 minutes it is good for 1 year. Depending on your usage it might be better to just buy the $80 refill for a year. It also has lower fees. I think the fees are $0.04/minute on the yearly plan.

I do have some questions about page plus. The $10 card says 100 minutes @ 0.10 cents per minute. Makes since, but then I see that there is a 0.50 cent monthly fee. If I am charged .50 for 4 months that leaves $8.00 or 80 minutes. Is this correct? Is 100 minutes only possible if you use it all before the monthly charge?

Yes, they take $0.50 every month.

What happens if I only have 0.40 cents? Do I now have a negative balance?

Probably just goes to 0.

How quickly is serviced turned off if my balance reaches 0 or my time expires? Is there a grace period?

Once your balance goes to 0, you can't make any phone calls. There is no grace period, it is instant. Refill ahead of time. You will get messages about low balance.

How long will my phone number be mine if I choose to not add a card right away after the existing one is used up?

Not sure.

Are spam texts a problem? I may want to text a little but if I have to pay 0.05 cents because of spammers I will not be happy.

Never get any. I think you can disable features (data, text, etc) on the website.

What are the benefits of going through a service like kitty wireless versus page plus?

Kitty is supposed to have better CS, has a forum, etc.
I just bought my refill from callingmart.com (with coupon code) and made an account online at pageplus.

I think you get $5 on your account for free when first making an account to test out the service.

 

[gw186]

Thanks ImDonly1 for the info.

 

[cardiac]

ImDonly1 is correct on all accounts except for the $5 when activating. It is $2. Check Kittywireless.com every now and then as they have free activations and the $2 to try it out..... I do all my business through kittywireless (4 lines) and am very happy with the service.

 

[pontifex]

damn, i can't figure out what to get.

Need something with great signal strength as I live in a rural area. Long battery life and great call quality are needed as well. Small (flip phone) is preferred.

All I use it for is calling people. I don't text and don't want a data plan.

Thought about going back to a motorola E815 as that met many of my requirements bck then, but not sure I want something that old. plus every time I try to find one on ebay, they aren't in very good condition.

 

[pontifex]

The Palm Pixi Plus for Verizon can still be found brand new for $39 or less:
http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Pixi-Plus.../dp/B004IPAC10
Has worked fine for me (purchased elsewhere on a special sale) on PagePlus.
Note: unlocking of Verizon branded devices is not required, since PagePlus simply buys Verizon air time in bulk at a discount, then re-sells air time to the end user.
Any Verizon branded phone should be able to work on PagePlus, with the exception of their "Verizon pre-paid" devices. Those devices, which come with pre-paid air time, would require a minimum 6 months of official Verizon service before they (Verizon) would allow conversion to a PagePlus pre-paid account.

so since HP is no longer supporting this phone, are there any features that don't work any more?

 

[Rayb]

so since HP is no longer supporting this phone, are there any features that don't work any more?

It's a smartphone and it should work right out of the box without any support. You won't get any bug fixes or updates, but WebOS had reasonable performance with the minimal hardware it came with.

 

[pontifex]

I ended up finding a Motorola W385 in like new condition on ebay for $18 and ordered that. hopefully there are no issues with it. If there are, then I might try the Pixi Plus.

 

[gw186]

I ended up finding a Motorola W385 in like new condition on ebay for $18 and ordered that. hopefully there are no issues with it. If there are, then I might try the Pixi Plus.

I was looking at that phone before picking the Convoy 2. Would be interested to here how you find the reception because I may still get that phone. Right now I haven't lost signal at home with the convoy but it's only at one bar with rare occasions of two bars.

Maybe someone here can answer my billing question. I started with free activation and a free $2.00. Didn't put any money on it until today. Have been getting a message everyday about a low balance. No biggie I thought. Looked today and the message said I had a zero balance. Looks like I was charged for those messages, and different amounts each time. I just put $10.00 on it and it did say $10 but now its $9.99. Lost a penny somehow.


Was I wrong to assume that messages from the carrier would be free?
Why would they be different amounts?
Where is my missing penny!
On the website I can turn off Data/MMS , SMS , and Voicemail. Should I turn of the data/mms? I would still like simple text messages to work. no need for any data.

 

[ImDonly1]

Something isn't right. Call them or do the online chat.

 

[Tom]

Those look like charges for data, not txts. What kind of messages are they ? emails ?

Is your phone using data for some reason ? Like checking the weather ?

 

[pontifex]

I was looking at that phone before picking the Convoy 2. Would be interested to here how you find the reception because I may still get that phone. Right now I haven't lost signal at home with the convoy but it's only at one bar with rare occasions of two bars.

Maybe someone here can answer my billing question. I started with free activation and a free $2.00. Didn't put any money on it until today. Have been getting a message everyday about a low balance. No biggie I thought. Looked today and the message said I had a zero balance. Looks like I was charged for those messages, and different amounts each time. I just put $10.00 on it and it did say $10 but now its $9.99. Lost a penny somehow.


Was I wrong to assume that messages from the carrier would be free?
Why would they be different amounts?
Where is my missing penny!
On the website I can turn off Data/MMS , SMS , and Voicemail. Should I turn of the data/mms? I would still like simple text messages to work. no need for any data.

well, I had a convoy 1 previously and at home I get 0 to 1 bars signal. I am getting same signal with the W385. I live in a very rural area though.

 

[gw186]

This morning I checked my account and again at 8:51am I was charged another penny. They said it wasn't them which doesn't seem right since 8:51 was also the time I got texts from Pageplus. They said could be apps updating or call forwarding. Which I have neither. Turned off those features and will keep an eye on it. I feel it is pretty shitty. As far as I can tell this simple flip phone has no way to keep anything open or running when I close it. Only thing that I could think of is that the time/date updates at that time.


Edit: A google of "723487686" brings up lots of others with this issue.