Mobile phones and stuff?

[Mock Turtle]

OK, so I have(had) the most primitive of phones - a clamshell Samsung GT-E1195 (somewhat old but works fine, and on PAYG) - but unfortunately I left it switched off for so long that they disconnected it and refuse to reinstate it. Am I correct in thinking that I just need to get a Sim card to reactivate it or is it bye-bye little phone and a replacement is necessary? It was/is just a basic phone for emergency use more than anything.

Secondly, I have been putting off getting a smartphone mainly because I have no need for such, doing all my internet activities via a laptop at home and my music listening away from the house using a Sony mp3 player. But I have noticed the various advantages of having a smartphone - which was pointed out to me by the supermarket check-out girl - and rather persuasively. So if I bought one - I can even afford quite a good one - what would anyone recommend, give that I probably would want to stay on PAYG. I can't see myself using the internet much on such - I'd rather have a nice big screen in front of me - or anything else using a lot of bandwidth. It's more the variety of little apps that could be quite useful - like paying in a shop, transport timetables, etc.

Any thoughts on either of these queries?

 

[sun rise]

What excuse do they give for refusing to reinstate it? I know that an old 3G cellphones won't be supported in the future maybe already aren't supported by some providers so maybe that's your situation.

If you have a good reason for a smart phone, great. I'd start with what your cell company provides/supports to get a baseline.

I bought Google phones because I wanted long term software updates and a vanilla experience. But you might be just fine with a lower end smartphone.

To go further, who is your cell company and what PAYGO smart cellphones do they offer?

 

[Mock Turtle]

What excuse do they give for refusing to reinstate it? I know that an old 3G cellphones won't be supported in the future maybe already aren't supported by some providers so maybe that's your situation.

If you have a good reason for a smart phone, great. I'd start with what your cell company provides/supports to get a baseline.

I bought Google phones because I wanted long term software updates and a vanilla experience. But you might be just fine with a lower end smartphone.

To go further, who is your cell company and what PAYGO smart cellphones do they offer?

It was switched off for longer than three months apparently (tends to keep its charge better).

I'm on Plusnet for the computer and BT for my landline phone - nothing else.

 

[exchemist]

What excuse do they give for refusing to reinstate it? I know that an old 3G cellphones won't be supported in the future maybe already aren't supported by some providers so maybe that's your situation.

If you have a good reason for a smart phone, great. I'd start with what your cell company provides/supports to get a baseline.

I bought Google phones because I wanted long term software updates and a vanilla experience. But you might be just fine with a lower end smartphone.

To go further, who is your cell company and what PAYGO smart cellphones do they offer?

I use an old 3G iPhone without any trouble. I got a new SIM card when I switched service providers and there was no problem at all. It's true that 3G won't run most modern apps, but all I use it for is email, updating my calendar, checking the BBC news headlines and weather - and for phone calls. So it's fine. And the nice thing about it is it is small and has the rounded edges of the original iPhones so it doesn't wear your trouser pocket.

 

[sun rise]

It was switched off for longer than three months apparently (tends to keep its charge better).

I'm on Plusnet for the computer and BT for my landline phone - nothing else.

Who did you use for your old cellphone and do you want to go back to them? Or are you open to all? Have a favorite?

 

[exchemist]

It was switched off for longer than three months apparently (tends to keep its charge better).

I'm on Plusnet for the computer and BT for my landline phone - nothing else.

BT did me a new SIMcard and I now pay £5/month for all the data and calls I need on it.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Who did you use for your old cellphone and do you want to go back to them? Or are you open to all? Have a favorite?

It was Vodafone, but I have been on Orange and EE - not really following the phone industry changes. The Samsung is just a basic phone with not much else that I need but it is small and reliable. Provider is basically about reliability and signal strength I suppose but I don't travel much anyway.

 

[Mock Turtle]

BT did me a new SIMcard and I now pay £5/month for all the data and calls I need on it.

I just don't use a phone enough to warrant a contract, so PAYG is what I would prefer, and I think it's mainly the little utility apps that would attract me to a smartphone.

 

[Secret Chief]

OK, so I have(had) the most primitive of phones - a clamshell Samsung GT-E1195 (somewhat old but works fine, and on PAYG) - but unfortunately I left it switched off for so long that they disconnected it and refuse to reinstate it. Am I correct in thinking that I just need to get a Sim card to reactivate it or is it bye-bye little phone and a replacement is necessary? It was/is just a basic phone for emergency use more than anything.

Secondly, I have been putting off getting a smartphone mainly because I have no need for such, doing all my internet activities via a laptop at home and my music listening away from the house using a Sony mp3 player. But I have noticed the various advantages of having a smartphone - which was pointed out to me by the supermarket check-out girl - and rather persuasively. So if I bought one - I can even afford quite a good one - what would anyone recommend, give that I probably would want to stay on PAYG. I can't see myself using the internet much on such - I'd rather have a nice big screen in front of me - or anything else using a lot of bandwidth. It's more the variety of little apps that could be quite useful - like paying in a shop, transport timetables, etc.

Any thoughts on either of these queries?

I'm on PAYG and am about to get a new phone. I'm getting the biggest screened one I can find with the 3 shop, as I'm already with them. (75mm wide, 163mm height) - a Samsung Galaxy A21s. 32 GB. £170.

(honourable 2nd place went to Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

OK, so I have(had) the most primitive of phones - a clamshell Samsung GT-E1195 (somewhat old but works fine, and on PAYG) - but unfortunately I left it switched off for so long that they disconnected it and refuse to reinstate it. Am I correct in thinking that I just need to get a Sim card to reactivate it or is it bye-bye little phone and a replacement is necessary? It was/is just a basic phone for emergency use more than anything.

Secondly, I have been putting off getting a smartphone mainly because I have no need for such, doing all my internet activities via a laptop at home and my music listening away from the house using a Sony mp3 player. But I have noticed the various advantages of having a smartphone - which was pointed out to me by the supermarket check-out girl - and rather persuasively. So if I bought one - I can even afford quite a good one - what would anyone recommend, give that I probably would want to stay on PAYG. I can't see myself using the internet much on such - I'd rather have a nice big screen in front of me - or anything else using a lot of bandwidth. It's more the variety of little apps that could be quite useful - like paying in a shop, transport timetables, etc.

Any thoughts on either of these queries?

Haha. I had to look it up. Flip phones. Why not get a track phone or buy your minutes (if they still have such a thing)?

If you already have internet, you don't go out of town, and don't use the phone for near much but calling, text, and an occasional weather check, keep with the cheaper phones. If you're paying $75 for a flip phone, yeah, I'd upgrade for longevity.

Maybe something like this (I have similar):



I use mine as a hot spot and I need to check my emails. Checking online on the phone can become addictive as well as the hundreds of apps (which is another cool reason to get a phone) but you'd save money, repair, warranty, etc if you just need to do simple things, toss it on the carpet, and watch some sports.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

How phones have changed through the years

 

[Twilight Hue]

How phones have changed through the yearsView attachment 41545 View attachment 41546 View attachment 41547

They do say sometimes things goes in complete circles...

How cool would that be?

 

[sun rise]

I found this which explains why they would not want to turn your old phone back on: Vodafone has announced that 3G will be turned off throughout Europe between 2020 and 2021,

Vodaphone has a very long list of PAYGO phones with many different features and prices Pay as you go Phones - Browse our mobiles | Vodafone

Since they offer both Apple and Android phones, if I were you I'd first check to verify that both offer the apps you're interested in. Then I'd pick a few and read reviews and comparisons.

 

[England my lionheart]

I use vodaphone path,minutes rollover so does data and connects to WiFi automatically like in shopping centres or Costa and such.

My smart phones an Android,I love it,it's never out of arm's length,emails text tv movies and lots of apps,face time on messenger whatsapp and Google Hangouts,there's so much it can do but if I only needed to send a text or call an old Nokia would do.

 

[ChristineM]

OK, so I have(had) the most primitive of phones - a clamshell Samsung GT-E1195 (somewhat old but works fine, and on PAYG) - but unfortunately I left it switched off for so long that they disconnected it and refuse to reinstate it. Am I correct in thinking that I just need to get a Sim card to reactivate it or is it bye-bye little phone and a replacement is necessary? It was/is just a basic phone for emergency use more than anything.

Secondly, I have been putting off getting a smartphone mainly because I have no need for such, doing all my internet activities via a laptop at home and my music listening away from the house using a Sony mp3 player. But I have noticed the various advantages of having a smartphone - which was pointed out to me by the supermarket check-out girl - and rather persuasively. So if I bought one - I can even afford quite a good one - what would anyone recommend, give that I probably would want to stay on PAYG. I can't see myself using the internet much on such - I'd rather have a nice big screen in front of me - or anything else using a lot of bandwidth. It's more the variety of little apps that could be quite useful - like paying in a shop, transport timetables, etc.

Any thoughts on either of these queries?

You can get a cheap android smartphone for less than the price of a basic restaurant meal so you can try out the features, and apps. If it works for you then upgrade (i didn't, kept the £49 device, its all i need)

Whatever, make sure the phone is unlocked so you can use any provided just by slotting in their sim.

Apps, i use live weather, live gbp to eur exchange rate, and a huge clock that serves as a night clock while the phone is on charge. The world is your mollusk

The camera is handy and the gps and navigation app, its brilliant, tells me where i am just in case i forget.

Considering i bought it just as an emergency phone, I have found a lot of uses for it, including a door stop at one time

 

[exchemist]

I just don't use a phone enough to warrant a contract, so PAYG is what I would prefer, and I think it's mainly the little utility apps that would attract me to a smartphone.

OK your needs are clearly different from mine. The only app I've ever downloaded onto my phone is a tuning fork. (I found this very handy when it was my job at church to sing the narrator's part in the Passion, on Good Friday. It is unaccompanied plainchant so I needed to pitch it at the start, and re-pitch it at the pause in the middle, in case it had drifted. The only problem was a few people wondered why I was getting out my mobile just before starting to sing!)

 

[Mindmaster]

OK, so I have(had) the most primitive of phones - a clamshell Samsung GT-E1195 (somewhat old but works fine, and on PAYG) - but unfortunately I left it switched off for so long that they disconnected it and refuse to reinstate it. Am I correct in thinking that I just need to get a Sim card to reactivate it or is it bye-bye little phone and a replacement is necessary? It was/is just a basic phone for emergency use more than anything.

If this was a really cheap phone this has a SIM that is welded into the board of the phone. It's trash, basically.

 

[McBell]

My first thought is that if you want to keep your current phone, check with your local PAYG carriers about getting a sim card.
In my neck of the woods, I can get a sim card for as little as $5.
Then after getting the sim card, you put it in your phone and treat it like you just bought a new one.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Haha. I had to look it up. Flip phones. Why not get a track phone or buy your minutes (if they still have such a thing)?

If you already have internet, you don't go out of town, and don't use the phone for near much but calling, text, and an occasional weather check, keep with the cheaper phones. If you're paying $75 for a flip phone, yeah, I'd upgrade for longevity.

Maybe something like this (I have similar):

View attachment 41544

I use mine as a hot spot and I need to check my emails. Checking online on the phone can become addictive as well as the hundreds of apps (which is another cool reason to get a phone) but you'd save money, repair, warranty, etc if you just need to do simple things, toss it on the carpet, and watch some sports.

I'll probably still get a basic phone (flip phone) or resurrect my current one, for the robustness and carry all the time emergency use, but the camera abilities of smartphones is a draw even though I've given up on any form of photography for a long time.

 

[Mock Turtle]

If this was a really cheap phone this has a SIM that is welded into the board of the phone. It's trash, basically.

I think the Sim is replaceable. Hardly trash if it does its job - which for how much it cost is good value.