Hello all-
I've had a cell phone in the past- at one point it was thrown in as part of a job, then later had one on my own (a relatively no-frills plan), ultimately, as one part of belt-tightening in response to the Great Recession, I cancelled it entirely.
Aside from the reactions of shock and non-comprehension from various people who think I might as well have announced I speak only Latin or something, I have _mostly_ found it to not be a big deal to not have one.
But there have been times, increasingly so lately, when it would be handy to have one.
The actual number of cell providers with a "brick and mortar" presence locally seems tiny- I've only ever noticed AT&T and Verizon. I assume others may actually serve the area, but do not know how to find out who does. Googling seems to just bring an avalanche of info that is annoyingly unfocused to sort out.
Still have the most recent phone (a Nokia from about 5 years ago), and also a used but pristine Motorola RAZR flipphone that I got at a local surplus place for an astonishingly low price, in the box, with all the manuals, etc.- second hand but nearly unused.
Is there any relatively simple way to look at the make/ model # of the phones that I have and then ascertain which (if any) current networks and providers in my area (just north of Montpelier VT, ZIP 05640) they might function with?
I am generally a person with a very high comfort with technological complexity and learning about same, but I long ago ceased to have patience to follow all the different permutations of GSM VS CDMA VS TDMA VS 3G, various differing frequency bands used by different providers and models of phones, etc. I still miss my original series Motorola flip analog cell phone that was the size of a small brick, but no less durable than a brick, and that had crystal clear sound whenever it had signal, in contrast to the modern day phones that seem to too often give "Charlie Brown Teacher Voice" digital distortion in rural locations- you can tell someone is talking, but can't comprehend a word.
I've got very little patience for wading through lots of marketing hype.
The "all in one-ness" of an iPhone would be EXTREMELY appealing but I won't/ can't pay a premium for a new one. Would be totally open to an older-generation one, but from what I understand, it's got a significant, and, at least as far as I have been told, unavoidable extra cost-driver in the form of a mandatory data plan. I welcome any suggestions as to whether/ how one could use an older "iPhone" in "diet mode" without a data plan. I know I'd lose some of the gee-whiz features, but mostly just want a phone, with the user interface/ camera, tunes, etc., being likeable bonuses.
Also welcome any first-hand experience with repeater/ booster units, as cell signal at my house is still more or less useless unless one stands in just a few spots.
Don't want to enter into any ongoing contracts, prefer either a low price flat rate plan with reasonably decent included service, or else something for which I only pay for what I use, with no minimums or expirations of what I pay for.
Thanks very much for any suggestions any of you can offer in helping me get back to a useful point on the learning curve to pick and pull the trigger on something low cost and practical.
I've had a cell phone in the past- at one point it was thrown in as part of a job, then later had one on my own (a relatively no-frills plan), ultimately, as one part of belt-tightening in response to the Great Recession, I cancelled it entirely.
Aside from the reactions of shock and non-comprehension from various people who think I might as well have announced I speak only Latin or something, I have _mostly_ found it to not be a big deal to not have one.
But there have been times, increasingly so lately, when it would be handy to have one.
The actual number of cell providers with a "brick and mortar" presence locally seems tiny- I've only ever noticed AT&T and Verizon. I assume others may actually serve the area, but do not know how to find out who does. Googling seems to just bring an avalanche of info that is annoyingly unfocused to sort out.
Still have the most recent phone (a Nokia from about 5 years ago), and also a used but pristine Motorola RAZR flipphone that I got at a local surplus place for an astonishingly low price, in the box, with all the manuals, etc.- second hand but nearly unused.
Is there any relatively simple way to look at the make/ model # of the phones that I have and then ascertain which (if any) current networks and providers in my area (just north of Montpelier VT, ZIP 05640) they might function with?
I am generally a person with a very high comfort with technological complexity and learning about same, but I long ago ceased to have patience to follow all the different permutations of GSM VS CDMA VS TDMA VS 3G, various differing frequency bands used by different providers and models of phones, etc. I still miss my original series Motorola flip analog cell phone that was the size of a small brick, but no less durable than a brick, and that had crystal clear sound whenever it had signal, in contrast to the modern day phones that seem to too often give "Charlie Brown Teacher Voice" digital distortion in rural locations- you can tell someone is talking, but can't comprehend a word.
I've got very little patience for wading through lots of marketing hype.
The "all in one-ness" of an iPhone would be EXTREMELY appealing but I won't/ can't pay a premium for a new one. Would be totally open to an older-generation one, but from what I understand, it's got a significant, and, at least as far as I have been told, unavoidable extra cost-driver in the form of a mandatory data plan. I welcome any suggestions as to whether/ how one could use an older "iPhone" in "diet mode" without a data plan. I know I'd lose some of the gee-whiz features, but mostly just want a phone, with the user interface/ camera, tunes, etc., being likeable bonuses.
Also welcome any first-hand experience with repeater/ booster units, as cell signal at my house is still more or less useless unless one stands in just a few spots.
Don't want to enter into any ongoing contracts, prefer either a low price flat rate plan with reasonably decent included service, or else something for which I only pay for what I use, with no minimums or expirations of what I pay for.
Thanks very much for any suggestions any of you can offer in helping me get back to a useful point on the learning curve to pick and pull the trigger on something low cost and practical.