$80 Prepaid SmartPhone coming to Prepaid...with 1GB Data

[HF305]

Ex-contract feature phones are now allowed on the $50 plan, though they were not at first. I expect the $80 plan to similarly evolve. Unless they allow more phones and / or increase the GB limit, it's going to be a dud.

[razr_fan]

I feel like I'll just stick with my $50 Unlimited plan on Verizon...my Extravert isn't a smart phone but it does the job well. $80 bucks for 1GB is a tad high for me. BTW, saw the Illusion on sale at Best Buy for 150.

[fonezfonz]

To HF305. Can you verify ex contract phones are allowed on Unleashed? where did you get this info? And when?

[jarrett178]

To HF305. Can you verify ex contract phones are allowed on Unleashed? where did you get this info? And when?

I think he means phones like the Samsung Alias, or the LG Octane, or the LG Env series phones that can be used on the $50 Unlimited Plan or the Daily Prepaid plans that use to only could be used on contracts only until a couple of years ago.

[Pabster]

They may have expanded the phone list a bit for Unleashed (unofficially) but at the end of the day, only phones capable of using very little data are allowed. Dumb phones. Feature phone just makes you feel better. That hasn't changed.

[jarrett178]

They may have expanded the phone list a bit for Unleashed (unofficially) but at the end of the day, only phones capable of using very little data are allowed. Dumb phones. Feature phone just makes you feel better. That hasn't changed.

You have to remember that everyone's needs are different. An Android or an iPhone will cost you on average $1200 a year. The $50 plan is good enough for my needs. My phone may not be a smartphone but it gets the job done. Hell, not everyone wants to pay $100 plus for a smartphone.

70% of the cell phones out there are feature phones or as you say "dumb phones". My LG Extravert will cost my mother(she pays my bill I am a college student) $1200 for 2 years of service. When I am able to find a job I will get a smatphone but for now I don't need one. I am content with a "dumb phone."

Even those cheap $20 Verizon prepaid phones sell fast. Most of my friends don't have androids. Does it make you feel better to knock people because they don't have the latest or the best phone.

[Pabster]

You have to remember that everyone's needs are different. An Android or an iPhone will cost you on average $1200 a year. The $50 plan is good enough for my needs. My phone may not be a smartphone but it gets the job done. Hell, not everyone wants to pay $100 plus for a smartphone.

I understand that. While my primary phone is an iPhone 4S, I use several "dumb" phones myself. My favorite is my trusty LG 290C (Tracfone). My point about "dumb phones" was that the term "feature phone" was created for marketing purposes. No one wants to walk in to a store and buy a "Dumb Phone" hence why the term "Feature Phone" was created. I was speaking specifically to the Verizon "Unleashed" offer ($50/month) and the fact that only "Feature Phones" are allowed on that plan.

[fonezfonz]

You have to remember that everyone's needs are different. An Android or an iPhone will cost you on average $1200 a year. The $50 plan is good enough for my needs. My phone may not be a smartphone but it gets the job done. Hell, not everyone wants to pay $100 plus for a smartphone.

70% of the cell phones out there are feature phones or as you say "dumb phones". My LG Extravert will cost my mother(she pays my bill I am a college student) $1200 for 2 years of service. When I am able to find a job I will get a smatphone but for now I don't need one. I am content with a "dumb phone."

Even those cheap $20 Verizon prepaid phones sell fast. Most of my friends don't have androids. Does it make you feel better to knock people because they don't have the latest or the best phone.

Actually, those figures for featurephones may be a little out of date. In the rapidly changing phone market, smartphone ownership passed feature phones a little while ago, so it's more like roughly half of phones in the US are feature phones now.

I see the market as Iphones, Androids and feature phones. Blackberries are rapidly going to where Web OS/Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile went: oblivion, while Windows Phone is still struggling to get a toe hold. My view: Blackberries are doing well internationally and will have a fighting chance if they come back fighting mad. Windows Phone doesn't really have an incentive until Windows 8 comes and they be a part of a bigger ecosystem. Feature phones will get smarter and continue for a while longer. It's the greed of the phone companies trying to get everyone addicted to smartphones that is the biggest reason for the phaseout.

Feature phones will become smarter like the Nokia Asha series. But they won't get things like 4g or wifi very much. At least, not before smartphones do first.

[vmobi]

Wirelessly posted (Virgin Mobile HTC WFS: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29703/27.1662; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

I see the market as Iphones, Androids and feature phones. Blackberries are rapidly going to where Web OS/Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile went: oblivion, while Windows Phone is still struggling to get a toe hold. My view: Blackberries are doing well internationally and will have a fighting chance if they come back fighting mad. Windows Phone doesn't really have an incentive until Windows 8 comes and they be a part of a bigger ecosystem. Feature phones will get smarter and continue for a while longer. It's the greed of the phone companies trying to get everyone addicted to smartphones that is the biggest reason for the phaseout.
...

Smartphones are the vehicle that provides new revenue for carriers.
Data, Text, Voice. Data and text also use much less network resources than voice service
...

[fonezfonz]

Wirelessly posted (Virgin Mobile HTC WFS: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29703/27.1662; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)


Smartphones are the vehicle that provides new revenue for carriers.
Data, Text, Voice. Data and text also use much less network resources than voice service
...

New revenue fulfills the greed part well.

I think maybe you meant Voice and text use less network resources then data services if I'm not mistaken. There are still a lot of advantages to feature phones though.

Cheaper.
Longer life batteries.
Apps are available.
Touchscreens/qwertys are available.
High speed data is available.
Doesn't require mandatory data plans as much as smartphones.
Best priced plans on prepaid for the Big Two allow them.
Don't require constant firmware updates.
More form factors.

And others.

[Pabster]

The life of the feature phone is nearly over. They are being phased out. It's pretty hard to go shopping and pick a "feature phone" these days, save for the low-end of the market at retail (Tracfone, NET10, etc). The average Joe will be pushed to a smart phone, probably a low-end entry level Android handset as they are getting cheaper every day. It's win-win for the carriers at the end of the day as these devices consume more data which means more cash.

I know some will insist that feature phones have a long life yet, but I disagree. In less than 2 years they will be relegated to the halls of history. If you think I'm crazy, remember AMPS?

[razr_fan]

Do you guys think they'll add other phones to this plan? Maybe like the LG Enlighten or something?

[fonezfonz]

Do you guys think they'll add other phones to this plan? Maybe like the LG Enlighten or something?

More phones will be added for sure. I highly doubt they will allow any off contract phones on this though. Page Plus is getting stronger and stronger. Their current two gig data offering on their 55 plan beats most Att mvnos for pricing and coverage and nearly equals them for domestic byod including the iphone cdma (unofficially). Also, they're offering a gig more data and are $25 less then Verizon prepaid with way more phone selection.


Their old smartphone plans do offer unlimited nights, weekends, mobile to mobile and 3g data on Blackberries, Android and Web OS phones though. A few people might want those pluses despite the higher cost. Byod is better on those plans but not equal to Page Plus however. No iphone for one. Older smartphones like Winmo and Palm OS are not allowed either. Neither is Windows Phone.

[vmobi]

More phones will be added for sure. I highly doubt they will allow any off contract phones on this though. Page Plus is getting stronger and stronger. Their current two gig data offering on their 55 plan beats most Att mvnos for pricing and coverage and nearly equals them for domestic byod including the iphone cdma (unofficially). Also, they're offering a gig more data and are $25 less then Verizon prepaid with way more phone selection.


Their old smartphone plans do offer unlimited nights, weekends, mobile to mobile and 3g data on Blackberries, Android and Web OS phones though. A few people might want those pluses despite the higher cost. Byod is better on those plans but not equal to Page Plus however. No iphone for one. Older smartphones like Winmo and Palm OS are not allowed either. Neither is Windows Phone.

Do you think they'll add more 3G smartphones to this option, then launch a Prepaid 4G LTE Smartphone service option similar to the old prepaid 3G Smartphone plans???

[razr_fan]

They should put an iPhone on this plan, seeing as Virgin Mobile and Boost are getting iPhones. I want an iPhone...but I don't want Sprint's crappy Prepaid coverage. Good luck using Siri on Virgin Mobile! :P