Good Dumbphone for Parent

[mike5757]

I'm looking for a cheap (<$100 off contract, maybe more if necessary) basic phone (no data plan) for my mom. We're on AT&T. I looked at AT&T's GoPhones and they seem to be really terrible. Does AT&T have different GoPhones in the stores than on their website? I couldn't find anything on Amazon or NewEgg either. Something with long battery life would be great. She only makes calls, no texting.

I'm going out of my mind sorting through the abundance of poor choices , please advise. Thank you!

 

[Crono]

Lumia 520. Big tile interface, smooth and easy to use. Phone is going $99 off contract. I have the 521 (T-Mobile version of the same phone) and it's great for it's price. It's not a dumbphone, but it is available as a GoPhone.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/nokia/lumia520-black-prepaid.html

For a pure dumbphone, I would go with the Z222 (fantastic name, AT&T ) which looks to be as simple as it gets.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/att/z222-black-prepaid.html

 

[mike5757]

I looked at the Lumia 520, but I figured because it is technically a smartphone that AT&T will force a data plan on it.

 

[ImDonly1]

I looked at the Lumia 520, but I figured because it is technically a smartphone that AT&T will force a data plan on it.

You asked about gophones. The lumia 520 is a gophone. Att does not force/can't force data for smartphones on prepaid/gophone. At least that's how it was in the past, unless they changed policies?

When you activate the phone just register the IMEI as all zeroes.

 

[Crono]

I looked at the Lumia 520, but I figured because it is technically a smartphone that AT&T will force a data plan on it.

I think they might, but you can get a $25 monthly plan with the bare minimum data ($5 for 5MB) and simply disable mobile on the device. I don't think they can require data for prepaid.

 

[mike5757]

The phone's going to be used on a family plan if that makes a difference. So it's postpaid. I believe they will automatically add a data plan for any smartphone.

 

[Crono]

The phone's going to be used on a family plan if that makes a difference. So it's postpaid. I believe they will automatically add a data plan for any smartphone.

I would call and ask.

I can't personally recommend any of the non-smartphones AT&T carries since I haven't used any of them, and most of the reviews seem very mixed on those devices they carry.