blackepoxy
Android Expert
Right... uhhh, lemme see...
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Using My Phone Without Service
- Thread starter Sly Drum Guy
- Start date
Right... uhhh, lemme see...
Sly Drum Guy
Member
It seems like the only options that I have are to either use Google Voice in conjunction with Groove IP and limit myself to only being able to use my phone when I'm connected to WiFi, or to switch to Straight Talk or Verizon Prepaid.
The $45 plan from Straight Talk would be a lot better than the $110 that I pay with Verizon as of now, but if I can go even lower than that and still have decent coverage, customer service, etc. then that'd be even better. That's why I was mentioning the Pay As You Go plans from Verizon in an earlier post. If I get one of them and use Google Voice with Groove IP as much as possible, I could potentially pay some pretty cheap prices. However, I believe I'd have to deal with the process of adding airtime every X amount of days, which I hate.
That is correct as long as you have WiFi it will work, I have a back up EVO 3D and have it hooked up here in the house as a back up phone on one of my GV numbers and I can call out and receive calls NP, works great. Just making you have calls forwarded to Google talk. If you check the Talkatone or Groove IP app they walk you through the setup. Video will show you can receive calls
Oh, so as long as I was near an active and open WiFi connection, I could set the programs up so that my phone would ring and I could answer it? Great!
200MB per month is the limit? That's so low...
Well, if your area has Sprint coverage you could check out Ting - they use the Sprint network with free voice roaming on Verizon. If you use WiFi for most of your data you could get cheaper monthly bills then Straight Talk, and you don't have to add airtime (Ting billing is post paid online).
With Ting you just get billed for which ever tier of usage you fall under for that month. One example: $20 a month for 500 minutes and 1,000 texts. Using WiFi is free, if you need a little 3G/4G data 100MB is only $3, and 500MB is $13.
I can't complain about their customer service - no automated phone support, you get a person within 2 - 4 rings.
Check out their website, if they look good use this link to get $25 off.
The biggest downside to their service is that using tons of data can get expensive, but if you manage to stay on WiFi you can save lots of money.
https://z4pf2g16oj3.ting.com
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Awesome. Thanks for the information, and the video!
Honestly, I don't know how well Sprint does out here where I live. I know that I've never had a problem with my service, but I know others have. What I don't know for sure is who their carriers were.
Does the Pay As You Go method from Verizon sound like a good idea? I'm thinking I could use it in conjunction with Voice and Groove so that the majority of the time, my calls, texts and data are used over the WiFi connection, so I wouldn't need to spend a lot on airtime. I know you need to add some every certain amount of days, but they carry over, and if I'm not using a lot, I can just add the lowest amount possible each time, right?
I'm sorry if I'm being a pain in the backside with all of this. I'm in a bad way financially, and I don't know when that's going to change, but what I do know is that I can't lose my phone; then nobody can get a hold of me, and that's not good. So, I need to find a way to keep my phone, but pay as little as possible while still being able to keep the "necessities."
Did you know the Pay As You Go plans are only for basic phones? This would mean you can't use WiFi with them. From the Verizon Pay As You Go tab, next to the table:
"Pay As You Go
Talk and text on Basic Devices. 3 plans to choose from."
The cheapest Verizon prepaid plan with a smartphone is $60 a month.
You could ask some people if they have Sprint. You can also check Tings coverage map.
If you were to use Google Voice and Groove IP for calls and texts you could get your bill pretty low with Ting - using only 100 minutes is $9 a month (with a smartphone).
No worries, most people have been tight on cash at some point.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Oh, really? I thought there was an option to use a smartphone on one of those plans. Damn it. There goes that idea...
I'm not quite sure how to use that map, but my zip code is 14111, if you want to take a look and see what sort of coverage I would get. If I'm understanding the map properly, it's spotty coverage in my area and the areas surrounding it. I do like the sound of that price though.
On the map - I entered your zip and zoomed in a few times, your entire area is covered, it's a mix of Best, Good, Fair, and roaming coverage. I didn't see any no coverage areas, which show up as white.
When you zoom in, the two darkest shades of green mean good to great coverage. The second lightest green shade means OK coverage, and the lightest green shade is free roaming on Verizon.
What shade of green is your neighborhood?
Sly Drum Guy
Member
I zoomed in and my house appears to be directly inside of a "Good" coverage area for voice, and a 3G coverage area for data, so that's not too bad. What does the lightest green shade mean? I know it means "free roaming on Verizon," but what does that actually mean? When in one of those areas, I would pick up Verizon's signal?
Yep, you would be using Verizons signal.
I occasionally go out of town to areas without Sprint coverage, and Ting just connects me to Verizon for roaming.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Oh, that's cool. So, as long as you don't end up in an area that isn't covered by either Verizon or Sprint, you won't lose signal? I believe I read correctly that Ting doesn't charge for roaming, correct?
Yes. Tings main network is Sprint, then uses Verizon second so you get pretty good coverage.
And roaming on Verizon is free, yep.
I don't think you'll find a better deal, especially if you fall into the 100 minutes for $9 tier by using WiFi for most calls. Plus that $25 off link would get you several months of free service.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Damn it all! I just looked around the Ting website, and apparently, my device isn't compatible! I have an HTC Droid Incredible 2, and it's not listed as compatible. I have no money to buy a new phone either.
I thought this was going to be the best solution, but apparently not. Figures. Nothing ever works out for me, so why would that change now?
I thought this was going to be the best solution, but apparently not. Figures. Nothing ever works out for me, so why would that change now?
Hmmm...
Well, you could look on Craigslist or eBay for a cheap compatible Sprint phone. Or on the Ting website they have a factory refurbished smartphone for $68.
If you don't have cash now you could buy it with a credit card and pay later.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
While I like your suggestion, that's not going to work, because the only credit card that I have is maxed out. I've been out of work for a while now.
It looks like I might end up having to cancel my plan with Verizon and then use Google Voice and Groove IP until I can get back on my feet. I won't be able to use my phone when I'm not around WiFi, which will suck, but at least I'll be able to use it when I am (and I usually am because I'm always home lately).
While I like your suggestion, that's not going to work, because the only credit card that I have is maxed out. I've been out of work for a while now.
It looks like I might end up having to cancel my plan with Verizon and then use Google Voice and Groove IP until I can get back on my feet. I won't be able to use my phone when I'm not around WiFi, which will suck, but at least I'll be able to use it when I am (and I usually am because I'm always home lately).
Sorry to hear that.
Hope things improve soon for you
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Sly Drum Guy
Member
I don't have a particular field. I was working whatever job I could find. I'm experienced in Graphics Design, but I'm a Freelancer, and clients are far and few in between. It's complicated. Very complicated.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
saptech
Android Expert
The government is giving out basic phones. Enrollment is available to individuals who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria.
Lifeline Cell Phone Eligibility | Assurance Wireless
There are others also. Just do a google search.
Lifeline Cell Phone Eligibility | Assurance Wireless
There are others also. Just do a google search.
Sly Drum Guy
Member
Does anyone know if I can use the phone number that I have now via the Google Voice and Groove IP method? It's looking like I'm going to have to cancel my service with Verizon and then stick to using that method until I can get back on my feet and be able to afford even the $50 a month for Straight Talk. However, I'd love to be able to still use the phone number that I have now, as I've had this number since way back when I first got my first cell phone in high school.
divinebovine
Android Expert
Holy cow that's a lot of money.
You can still participate in "credit card" payment processing systems using your bank-issued Visa/Mastercard debit card or prepaid cards bought with cash.While I like your suggestion, that's not going to work, because the only credit card that I have is maxed out. I've been out of work for a while now.
Yes. The keyword is "porting", you want to "port" your number to Google Voice. There are plenty of instructions online, of course.
I prefer Talkatone. It's less demanding on the network (it runs through Talkatone's servers which reduce bandwidth requirement by compressing or something) and the phone's hardware and has integrated texting. With GrooveIP you don't get texting (if I remember correctly) so you need to use the Google Voice app for that.
You can make this work.
First of all, plan on trying to be around WiFi as much as possible so you can avoid using mobile voice/data networks. That's easy enough at home. Speaking of at home, you can use Google Voice for making/receiving calls and texts on the computer too. When you open gmail in a browser you can pop a voice dialer and use your bluetooth/wired headset or other mic/speakers.
Then get a cheap cell plan. You're in a temporary financial condition. You might want to consider making some (reversible) compromises during this time. You want to hang on to your phone that you like; that makes sense. However, until you score a steady income, you might need to treat your good phone like a tablet and carry a cheap other phone that can put you on a cheaper plan.
For example, Virgin Mobile has a $35/month plan with 300 minutes and unlimited text/data. Coverage stinks. Data speed is deplorable. However, when it's all said and done you have phone service.
That's what I have, though I'm grandfathered on the $25 price it used to be. Sometimes you can buy a grandfathered account on craigslist or maybe ebay...if you expect your financial condition to last, it might be a worthy investment.
If you're quick on the draw you might score a free cell plan tomorrow from RingPlus. See this thread on another forum:
RingPlus is an Ad-Supported Cell Service GET 300 Minutes and 50 Texts per Month for Free.
You'll need a compatible phone and I doubt your good phone will do it, but a cheap used Android or dumbphone from any Sprint network has a good chance of working. Perhaps you or someone you know has one laying around?
Note that if you go with something on the Sprint network (such as Virgin Mobile or RingPlus) you need to make sure your plan will include roaming to get service at your house. However, you will use Google Voice over wifi/on the computer at home, and just use cell service on the road. In fact, even if you do have coverage at home you should do that to save minutes.
You can transfer your calls from your computer or good phone to your lame cell service phone without hanging up, Google Voice can do that...just Google it, I don't remember how it's done.
Configure your Google Voice account to forward calls to your cheap cell service phone's number (and don't bother giving out that number), then when someone calls, answer it on computer/WiFi if possible.
Also, Google Voice is not all sunshine and roses. It tends to have some lag. Conversing on it takes a little getting used to for some people...other people are already used to voice lag, having experienced it elsewhere.