Basic no-frills cell phone suggestions, anyone?

[Relztrah]

OK, I promise this is not a difficult techie question. Rather, it's a simple recommendation for a new cell phone. My Verizon contract expires next month and I am eligible for a new phone. I've been using the Samsung a650 and I'm pleased with it, but I would like one with a louder ring and possibly longer battery life.

Although I'm probably living in the last century, I only use my cell phone for voice calls so I don't care about taking pictures, checking e-mail, surfing the net, listening to MP3 files, using my phone to peform an MRI or whatever else they're capable of these days. The one feature I would use is the organizer but it would be nice to have a display large enough to see.

So I'm open to suggestions. Of course it has to be a phone that Verizon offers.

Thanks,
Relztrah

[mjc]

You mean you don't want the nice new transporter lock?

I'd like to see this too...because most cells these days seem to come with more features than James Bond has gadgets...

[Erik]

Most new phones will come with lots of new features. I just renewed my Verizon contract and went with the Razr. Sure it has lots of extra features, all I ever use is the phone and ocassionally the alarm. It works well for phone calls and has a decent battery life (a few days for my usage).

I think the best way is go to a store and see what you like. See what you can get for free, and just get it. If it has extra features just don't use them.

[jlreich]

I agree with Erik, get one the free ones they offer. I just got the Motorola L2 for free. It's not bad.

If you end up not liking it you can always go and get another one later. It will probably cost a little extra for activation or something to change phones later. But you will probably be happy with one of the free phones if you don't need it to do the dishes for you or rebuild the carburetor on your car. :D

[Relztrah]

So you're saying that even if it has the camera, MP3 player, etc. I won't pay extra for those features if I don't use them?

[SufferWell1396]

Well, maby not the free ones can handle pictures. Sellers WANT YOUR BISNUESS! so they will do anything in their power to get you to join their service, like a free phone for example. It will probably be pretty standard as cell phones come though. You might have to pay 10 dollars for one that can Take Pictures, Handle MP3's, Fly, Transform. you know, the usual Cellular things these days:D...

[jlreich]

No if you don't use them it won't cost anything.

If you just take pictures with the phone it doesn't cost anything since it stays on your phone. Or if you buy a data cable you can transfer them to your computer.

If your were to send the pictures to someone else over your phone then it would cost.

You might have to pay 10 dollars for one that can Take Pictures, Handle MP3's, Fly, Transform. you know, the usual Cellular things these days

Not necessarily. The Moto L2 I just got does everything except it doesn't have a camera. Email, MP3's, texting, web, games, videos, designs rocket ships... They had another free one that did have a camera (LG something or other) and that's the one I actually wanted, although not because of the camera, but they said they discontinued it because they were having to many problems with it.

[Budfred]

I have a Razr from Verizon and I pay only the basic cost of my plan... I don't go over my minutes, I don't text message or send pictures... I have taken pictures and I have the cable to download them on my computer... It has more features than I will ever use and that is fine... If they want to start charging me for the potential to use those features, they can get me a phone that doesn't have them, but I really doubt it will ever come to that... They just want to sell to kids who want as many features as possible and are willing to pay to use them...

[HomeSA]

Although I'm probably living in the last century,

Me too. I have to charge my cell phone once a month. Get this, I still carry a pager. That puts me two centuries behind, lol. You are not alone.

[mjc]

I just think of my brother's phone...it has EVERYTHING, including Bluetooth and it is a royal PITA to use...heck, the number of times he has to say "Dial Mike" to get the darn thing to dial, I've already manually pushed the numbers and hit 'enter'.

[Erik]

Yeah you don't need to pay for any feature you don't use. Like I said I got my Razr for free, and it has every feature possible I think. All I do is use it to make phone calls and receive phone calls. I still have the same plan I had with them six years ago, and don't pay any more now than I did then. Just don't use the extra pay per featres and you are fine.

As mentioned taking pictures is free. Not that these phones take such great pictures you would want to be running around taking al of your family photos with your phone anyway.

[Relztrah]

Thanks for your suggestions which I will consider when upgrading my cell phone. Is there any chance they make one that will play my old 8-track tapes?:)

[deddard]

As mentioned taking pictures is free. Not that these phones take such great pictures you would want to be running around taking al of your family photos with your phone anyway.

There's some good ones out there now.
I can recall seeing an advert recently for a 6 megapixel phone camera a month back (can't remember details)
I just got a Nokia N73 - 3.2megapixels and carl zeiss lens.:) obviously the zoom feature isn't going to be up to dedicated camera standards (although some of the nokias are designed with a good lens system) but for most images, they're starting to get good:D