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Which of the Multimedia or Feature Phones are best for Web browsing?

I recently purchased the Samsung Reality (with a new plan) which I really like - except for web browsing. I feel it is cumbersome at best the way it functions (or maybe I just don't know what I am doing)! I signed up for the $9.99 Data plan and within 3 days I have already used up over half of my MB allowed! I just planned to use it to check things like Web mail on occasion as well as bank balance, weather alerts, and a few web pages now and then but at this rate I will need the unlimited Data plan or else DC this plan altogether. I rarely text & use on average 100 minutes talk time/mo., so I just chose the $39.99/mo talk plan with 450 minutes.

Verizon is the only cell phone service that will work at my house.

Comments

TheGreatOne

Try out the LG Chocolate Touch. You can go to your local Verizon store and play with any phone that is on display. Get a feel for what phone fits you best.

unknown

Web browsing on a dumbphone is going to be universally less convenient and effective than browsing on an HTML-capable smartphone device. If you want a good browsing experience, it's time to seriously consider a smartphone.

The $9.99 data package is also an incredibly poor value given the tiny amount of data it allows and the horrid experience most people have using that data on Verizon's proprietary web access software. Honestly, 3GMM phones have become a rip-off, the $9.99 fee is a gatekeeper, and most of the people who pay it pay it just to have the cool phone, not because it's a good value for them.

In my opinion, either get a simple feature phone, or pony up and pay for the smartphone. Even better, look into prepaid providers that use the Verizon network.

MMUGurl

Thank you for your suggestion. I appreciate it.

MMUGurl

You have made very valid points for sure! I really have to agree with you. I can't see any other options than to go with a Smartphone & get the unlimited data IF I want to have a fairly decent browsing experience . Would you recommend any one of the Smartphones in particular?

Also, I wasn't aware that there were any PAYG providers that use the Verizon network. I guess I need to investigate that a little more. Thank you for that info as well!

SuzyQ

MMUGurl wrote:
I recently purchased the Samsung Reality (with a new plan) which I really like - except for web browsing. I feel it is cumbersome at best the way it functions (or maybe I just don't know what I am doing)! I signed up for the $9.99 Data plan and within 3 days I have already used up over half of my MB allowed! I just planned to use it to check things like Web mail on occasion as well as bank balance, weather alerts, and a few web pages now and then but at this rate I will need the unlimited Data plan or else DC this plan altogether. I rarely text & use on average 100 minutes talk time/mo., so I just chose the $39.99/mo talk plan with 450 minutes.

Verizon is the only cell phone service that will work at my house.

I don't use internet on my phone, but I do have unlimited texting. I can check my bank balances, get weather and other news alerts, update my Facebook, Tweet, Google, and many other things, all via texting. The only thing I DON'T have is email access - but I DO have it set up to send me an alert when I GET an email, and the alert contains the sender, subject, and a line or two of the email itself. I can't reply, but it does let me know what's facing me when I log on to my email account.

So before you consider moving up to a smartphone, you may save some $$ by adding texting and using that instead of internet access for most of what you intend to do. As you have seen, unless you have a smartphone and the $29.99 data package, it's cumbersome at best and nearly useless at worst.

acraftylady2

SuzyQ wrote:

MMUGurl wrote:
I recently purchased the Samsung Reality (with a new plan) which I really like - except for web browsing. I feel it is cumbersome at best the way it functions (or maybe I just don't know what I am doing)! I signed up for the $9.99 Data plan and within 3 days I have already used up over half of my MB allowed! I just planned to use it to check things like Web mail on occasion as well as bank balance, weather alerts, and a few web pages now and then but at this rate I will need the unlimited Data plan or else DC this plan altogether. I rarely text & use on average 100 minutes talk time/mo., so I just chose the $39.99/mo talk plan with 450 minutes.

Verizon is the only cell phone service that will work at my house.

I don't use internet on my phone, but I do have unlimited texting. I can check my bank balances, get weather and other news alerts, update my Facebook, Tweet, Google, and many other things, all via texting. The only thing I DON'T have is email access - but I DO have it set up to send me an alert when I GET an email, and the alert contains the sender, subject, and a line or two of the email itself. I can't reply, but it does let me know what's facing me when I log on to my email account.

So before you consider moving up to a smartphone, you may save some $$ by adding texting and using that instead of internet access for most of what you intend to do. As you have seen, unless you have a smartphone and the $29.99 data package, it's cumbersome at best and nearly useless at worst.

I do the same and it works fine for me as I don't really need e-mail on my phone so can do lots by text. If I need to look up and address or phone number while out I use google, read here how to I use it, very handy. Mary

glyde23

MMUGurl wrote:
I recently purchased the Samsung Reality (with a new plan) which I really like - except for web browsing. I feel it is cumbersome at best the way it functions (or maybe I just don't know what I am doing)! I signed up for the $9.99 Data plan and within 3 days I have already used up over half of my MB allowed! I just planned to use it to check things like Web mail on occasion as well as bank balance, weather alerts, and a few web pages now and then but at this rate I will need the unlimited Data plan or else DC this plan altogether. I rarely text & use on average 100 minutes talk time/mo., so I just chose the $39.99/mo talk plan with 450 minutes.

Verizon is the only cell phone service that will work at my house.

try going only to websites that are designed for mobile web-browsing. for example, for ESPN.com, try using m.espn.com.

the mobile websites are designed to have fewer pictures, thus loading faster.

also, downloading apps and music (including ringtones) will eat into that data plan. web browsing does not really use that much MB (especially the mobile websites). another MB eater are attachments in your e-mail.

so if you are able to be conscious of your data usage, then this phone is a great choice.

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