I'm totally dreaming, but if I had the opportunity to obtain one of these:
Samsung Dart Android No-Contract T-Mobile Smartphone with GPS and 3MP Camera at HSN.com
no-contract Smart Phone...would I have to get internet at home or could I get on the internet with it with WiFi? Does that even make sense?Elucidate me, oh geeky ones.
I'm totally dreaming, because you asked about something I've researched extensively this year. Not just for myself, but my DS was like speed-dating mobile carriers this year. I had her apply for a Safelink phone which she got but it's only a TracFone with 250 monthly minutes. She's currently on Net10 with a Samsung T401G, just $50 for unlimited everything, but it's no smartphone. DH and I left VZW after 15 years and went with T-Mobile pre-paid. We both chose the LG Optimus T, although twin phones were not the original plan. $50 unlimited prepaid TTW, and I can't believe I didn't do this two years ago when our last contract expired!
For that price you could buy the thingy ma bob USB from Virgin Mobile or someone for pay as ya go with no contract fer internet anywheres too Kittypies. That is ,iffin ya don't be wanting the phone itselfI dunno your situations, but I seen them things at Walmarts even
Yes, the VM USB router! I told my DS she should get this for her netbook cause the neighbor she used to piggyback from (with permission) moved. This item should be purchased at Walmart because the serial numbers on those devices are Walmart-coded and as such, when you buy the $20 mobile broadband top-up you get 1GB of data for 30 days. When you buy the broadband device elsewhere, the $20 top-up only gets you 500MB of data! Half! This does not help the phone problem, though.
Wow, ST has an Android phone now! At least it came up after entering my zip code. The phone offerings vary depending on where you are located.
You don't need internet access at home to browse the internet using your phone. It will use the mobile carrier's 2/3/4G network for that. For more flexibility and coolness factor, the phone itself should have a WIFI feature built-in as an alternate way of accessing the internet without using 3G. I am connected to my home WIFI all the time but I can use 3G at home too, and when I'm out I have the choice of connecting with free WIFI or TMo's 3G network. If you were trying to browse in a moving car, only 3G would work.
Do you have a laptop? There are two ways to connect to the internet using your smartphone as a modem using 3G. There is 'USB tethering', and there is 'mobile WIFI hotspot'. This has to be a feature on the phone and also a feature supported by the carrier. I was able to use the hotspot feature at my sister's and it was great!
I buy the refill PINs on CallingMart for under face value and NO TAX, so I pay less than the $50 but I get full credit for the $50.
Voice coverage and data coverage is more important than any of the above, so check coverage maps on the carrier's website first, and then choose a phone/plan. Don't forget BYOD (bring your own device) some carriers allow it (TMo does) so you can buy a new or used phone (Craigslist/Ebay/Friend) and then purchase a TMo SIM card to activate it.
I have a spreadsheet on MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) I could PM you if you'd like Kitty, even though you are a winter-lover and all.
