topic Tracfone smart phones in Electronics

Tracfone smart phones

anitagayle — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:19:51 GMT

Has anyone been using any of the Tracfone smart phone offerings? I'm thinking of upgrading in a couple months when my time expires. TIA for any input.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

mima — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:46:43 GMT

I'm always confused by the word Tracfone. I have Staighttalk service, which I believe is a tracfone but I'm not sure. I don't know if you mean a no-contract phone or if Tracfone is a brand.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 that is a smartphone. I pay $45 a month for unlimited data, talking and text. Well, they tell you it is unlimited but they shut you off if you use too much. I use a lot though and it hasn't been a problem for me at all. The people they have shut off that I know of don't have any other internet and they use it constantly.

Works great and I wouldn't ever have another contract phone.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Disdatmac — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:13:59 GMT

Don't settle on the more popular services before checking on a few of the smaller ones that don't advertise. We use pure talk right now which is an att provider. They have cheaper prices than straight talk if you use less data. I started using them a couple of years ago when my iphone was out of contract and unlocked by att I now have a newer iPhone 4S that I purchased unlocked from apple. It's important to note you need to use unlocked phones when using services like this. But you can find new and used older smart phone models for less money than the new models. If looking for a used model, the gazelle eBay store offers vast choices. I also have used ting which uses sprint and page plus which offers verizon service. Both are excellent. Google mvno and the Service you want (ie att mvno) and you'll find a lot of choices and information.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Suzeecat — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:16:59 GMT

I think it depends on how you use your phone. I had a tracfone and the way it worked was you bought however many minutes you want in advance. You should find a phone that offers triple minutes. So, if you buy 100 minutes, you get 300 minutes loaded onto your phone. Most Q and HSN tracfones offer triple minutes.

Making calls works pretty straightforward, one minute talking uses one minute. Texts use one third of a minute, but if your text is too long, it may get split into several texts and each one uses one third of a minute. If I remember correctly, connecting to the internet used a half-minute for every minute you were connected. I never used my minutes for the internet, since I could use my home computer for "free" (covered under my monthly internet fee).

Personally, my opinion is that if you use your phone for the internet a lot, a tracfone would not be for you. Straighttalk is a flat monthly fee (no contract), and that might be a better way to go. Virgin Mobile has a monthly contract plan, but they are the absolute worst carrier I have ever had. I will never use them again. Horrible!

Re: Tracfone smart phones

stevieb — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:29:29 GMT

Tracfone is a brand... It's one of the older 'pay as you go' providers. I have an account with them and one with Virgin Mobile. I've used VM for quite a while with very few problems. Maybe it depends on where you are... I continue with the no contract, no monthly fee, but merely pay as you go, since I don't tend to use my phone other than primarily for calls, texts and the accessories like calendar, notes, etc. If I'm on the net, I prefer a full size keyboard and can pretty much wait until I have access to one. Then again, I'm not one of those who's had my phone permanently attached to my hand and who can never, ever be without it for a minute, for which I'm thankful...

Re: Tracfone smart phones

anitagayle — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:29:33 GMT

I appreciate all your responses, but what I am looking for specifically is experience with any of the smart phones offered by Tracfone. I have had a Tracfone account for many years, so I am familiar with how it works. I am considering going with one of their smart phones when my time runs out in a couple months. I really don't use my phone very much and wouldn't use it for web browsing, but I guess I'm being influenced by all the hype about smart phones. I certainly don't "need" it but am just curious about others experiences.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

SeaGal — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:57:57 GMT

The LG840 (tracfone supported by T Mobile and AT&T) is a semi smart phone they call it (I guess cuz it has wi-fi and looks smart!), it calls, texts, voice mail, and does have wi-fi if you want it, not a bad camera and video. Both the Q and HSN sell it with triple minutes for life, you can port your same # too. It is a very nice phone, I have had mine for a year+ and it is all I need.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

madcity411 — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 20:44:04 GMT

On 2/14/2014 SeaGal said:
The LG840 (tracfone supported by T Mobile and AT&T) is a semi smart phone they call it (I guess cuz it has wi-fi and looks smart!), it calls, texts, voice mail, and does have wi-fi if you want it, not a bad camera and video. Both the Q and HSN sell it with triple minutes for life, you can port your same # too. It is a very nice phone, I have had mine for a year+ and it is all I need.

I totally agree with SeaGal's comments on this phone. It's NOT what I would call a "smart phone", however, it is a great little phone for the basic features.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

seehorse — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:04:31 GMT

On 2/14/2014 anitagayle said:
I appreciate all your responses, but what I am looking for specifically is experience with any of the smart phones offered by Tracfone. I have had a Tracfone account for many years, so I am familiar with how it works. I am considering going with one of their smart phones when my time runs out in a couple months. I really don't use my phone very much and wouldn't use it for web browsing, but I guess I'm being influenced by all the hype about smart phones. I certainly don't "need" it but am just curious about others experiences.

Hi anitagayle,

Hope this helps a little.

I bought the Samsung Centura from HSN (Today's Special) and I really like it.

I've also had tracfones for a number of years. This took a little getting used to because I never had a smart phone before. The only thing it didn't have was to be able to check balance right on screen, but they solved that with an app that allows you to check, so it's OK.

I hardly make any calls, yet I like having the smart phone for shopping - get apps for stores and have sale info available and coupons. Ex. - Harris Teeter has sales for e-vic customers only, so it's nice to be able to pull up the list of items while in the store instead of having to write it down.

You can actually "speak" your text messages instead of typing and "speak" your google searches. It's a nice feature.

If there's WiFi in the store or anywhere, you would not be using your own minutes for data.

LOL At first I couldn't answer a call. I was hitting the green button but was supposed to swipe across to answer the phone. DD had to show me. Other than that, I really enjoy using it and don't miss the keyboard buttons.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Pook — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:31:41 GMT

I also like my Samsung Galaxy Centura that I got from QVC in Dec. I don't use the phone much except for when we are at our vacation place. I like the idea that it is a true smartphone and I can access the internet for free at home or anywhere there is free WI FI. I also like that I can get driving directions and that is what I have data time available for. The apps are great too. I have also downloaded a book and read it when I have to wait while out somewhere.

I definitely would recommend this phone. For someone who doesn't use their phone or text much it's a real bargain.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

anitagayle — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:37:28 GMT

SeaGal - I currently have the LG800, which is even "less smart", and it's probably all that I need. Still, the "newer, better" calls to me.

Pook and SeeHorse - Thanks for your reviews on the Samsung Centura. That's the kind of information I was looking for.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:01:44 GMT

I have an IPHONE 5 which I use every day and for everything, emails, text msging, face time, you name it. I also have a phone in my car. But I was thinking of getting an inexpensive little phone just to keep in the glove box of the car in case I forgot my phone.

How do these inexpensive phones work? Do you get good reception? I can't understand how they work if you don't subscribe to minutes.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Nuttmeg — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:28:39 GMT

On 2/14/2014 annabellethecat said:
I have an IPHONE 5 which I use every day and for everything, emails, text msging, face time, you name it. I also have a phone in my car. But I was thinking of getting an inexpensive little phone just to keep in the glove box of the car in case I forgot my phone.

How do these inexpensive phones work? Do you get good reception? I can't understand how they work if you don't subscribe to minutes.

Tracfone is a phone company. The phones and service are sold at Radio Shack.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

Nuttmeg — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:48:34 GMT

On 2/14/2014 mima said:
I'm always confused by the word Tracfone. I have Staighttalk service, which I believe is a tracfone but I'm not sure. I don't know if you mean a no-contract phone or if Tracfone is a brand.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 that is a smartphone. I pay $45 a month for unlimited data, talking and text. Well, they tell you it is unlimited but they shut you off if you use too much. I use a lot though and it hasn't been a problem for me at all. The people they have shut off that I know of don't have any other internet and they use it constantly.

Works great and I wouldn't ever have another contract phone.

This service is nice, but comes with restrictions. Please read the fine print at the web site of any wireless phone company, before you buy.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

SeaGal — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 01:42:04 GMT

On 2/14/2014 anitagayle said:
SeaGal - I currently have the LG800, which is even "less smart", and it's probably all that I need. Still, the "newer, better" calls to me.

Pook and SeeHorse - Thanks for your reviews on the Samsung Centura. That's the kind of information I was looking for.

anitagayle, I had read a bunch of reviews on HSN and Amazon and it seems that the people that had the LG800 and upgraded to the LG840 LOVE it. From what I can see is that the 840 doesnt use minutes for surfing the web when connected to wi-fi, that was about all I could decipher in differences. But you know, if you have to buy more minutes anyway you might as well get a free phone upgrade too, right!

I had an old Samsung flip phone for 5 yrs before I made the leap to the LG840 so I cant really compare it to any other 'smart or semi smart' phone, but I feel like I am stylin now!! I got the cool leopard one!

Re: Tracfone smart phones

SeaGal — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 01:55:56 GMT

Holy smokes, I just checked out QVC's LG840, $69.95 is a score with the 1400 min (then triple for life). I think my phone was 99.95 in Nov 2012 when I bought mine as a TS at HSN.

I would upgrade for that, you cant even touch the minutes for that cheap,

at the Tracfone site it is 79.99 + tax for 450 minutes and thats only for double, so 900 min for 79.99 + tax, dang! (minutes only, no phone)

Re: Tracfone smart phones

betteb — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 02:01:46 GMT

On 2/14/2014 SeaGal said:
Holy smokes, I just checked out QVC's LG840, $69.95 is a score with the 1400 min (then triple for life). I think my phone was 99.95 in Nov 2012 when I bought mine as a TS at HSN.

I would upgrade for that, you cant even touch the minutes for that cheap, at the tracfone site it is 99.95 + tax for 400 minutes, thats without the tripling, dang.

I upgraded from the 800 to the 840 awhile back at 79.95. ITA it's slammin' deal.

Re: Tracfone smart phones

SeaGal — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 02:06:44 GMT

bettyb, cant beat it at all eh, its a great deal.

(I edited my post to correct the price for minutes at Tracfone, I was reading the wrong choices!)

It is 79.95 at HSN right now, 10 bucks more than the Q but you get 100 more minutes in the HSN package.

I would do the HSN package, those extra 100 minutes tripled will be worth a heck of alot more than the extra 10.00 price tag over the lifetime of the phone, jmo!!

Re: Tracfone smart phones

betteb — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 02:52:28 GMT

On 2/14/2014 SeaGal said:
bettyb, cant beat it at all eh, its a great deal.

(I edited my post to correct the price for minutes at Tracfone, I was reading the wrong choices!)

It is 79.95 at HSN right now, 10 bucks more than the Q but you get 100 more minutes in the HSN package.

I would do the HSN package, those extra 100 minutes tripled will be worth a heck of alot more than the extra 10.00 price tag over the lifetime of the phone, jmo!!

ITA. I haven't looked but i'm pretty sure mine was free shipping from HSN as well

Re: Tracfone smart phones

SeaGal — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 03:38:35 GMT

Thats a good point too betty, HSN is free s&h, the Q's is 6.97 s&h

AND no sales tax (online) at HSN, the Q taxes me.

HSN has the better deal all around on this phone...