Don't forget your 'basic' phone users!!

[runt83]

Hey Verizon!

I'm sure that only a few actual corp. users will actually read this but PLEASE don't forget about us people that don't/won't pay for crazy data plan charges.  Years ago you guys had some really great phones for the casual talker/texter.  They were sturdy, battery life was really good and most important they were somewhat inexpensive. 

I have been a cell customer since about 1999 in my area before they were even purchased by Verizon Wireless.  I know one persons post won't make changes but it's really sad to see the terrible selection of phones for the basic user.  We are left with terrible touch screen phones that don't function properly or I have to buy a flip phone with no features.  I enjoy having a decent camera (is 2.0 MP that hard?!) and I like the keyboard phones but these newer sliders are junk. 

I only hope that by December when I can upgrade someone will see this post and have some better phones in the stores.  My main point is not everyone wants to pay $60 for internet on their phone when we already pay for internet in our homes!!

[Ann154]

Will this phone work?

http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/07/pr2012-06-29.html

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi runt83!

Don't worry, we have many great Feature Phones for users who do not need data capabilities. We realize customers need a phone that suits them, so we still offer both types of phones.

As Ann154 pointed out (thanks Ann154!), the Samsung Intensity III was recently released. It offers a 2.0 megapixel camera, as you mentioned in your posting. It's the perfect phone for the user who needs voice and text only. Here's a link to all of our Feature Phones, where you can compare up to 5 devices at once! http://bit.ly/9wnhDM I urge you to check out the Intensity III, as it seems to have what you are looking for.

You can upgrade to a new phone right from our website too! Just choose the phone you want and the system will walk you through the rest.

Thanks for your posting and have a good day!

Christina B
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[Summer333]

I have to agree runt83. Im tired of not many choices for basic phones. There are alot of long time customers out there that dont want data packages, but do want a decent phone.I just purchased the samsung intensity 3. Im not sure if i like it yet. I was used to my envy 3 that had a bigger keyboard. Verizon does need to pay more attention to customers that just want a decent phone with a good camara , video, and keyboard. I also dont like or want touch screen.

[AZSALUKI]

go to ebay:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?&item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneOverviewByDevic...

and buy brand new older models. you can get envy touches for $80, brand new. no upgrade fee, no 2 year contract, no wondering if it's a good phone. the envy line was the best of the basic phones 2-3 years, and it STILL is. i don't understand the complaints about basic phones here. if you like the older ones, get them. if all you are doing is talking, texting, and taking pics, then you're better off buying an envy online and not renewing your contract. my wife still prefers basic phones, which is a bonus for me because she gives me her upgrades and lets me find whatever she likes online. right now she has an allias II that she's had for a while and LOVES it. you can get those ebay as well. $90 and you don't have to use your upgrade. then, if they do release a nicer one, you can use your upgrade then.

[commonsense101]

There are plenty of new devices that come out all the time..what else are you looking for in a phone

[JD83]

So somehow I must have registered another account and used the above screen name (runt83) and I'm not sure of those log in details.

Anyway...yes there are some choices for the basic users but read the reviews for them.  They all show as terrible.  Slow interfaces, buggy programming so more or less unreliable.  I had a LG Cosmos Touch.  The phone never stayed locked and I pocket dialed people all of the time.  The interface was buggy and since they are a resistive touchscreen it frequently misplaced my touch.  There are currently no phones in the lineup that I would upgrade for so hopefully I can just keep my current phone going. 

I actually use a Samsung Alias 2 and would love to upgrade to a Zeal or whatever the Alias 3 was called but that phone is no longer available.  Go figure...Samsung was making a GREAT phone and they stop production for some more crappy basic phones.  But in the nature of things they are probably making much more money on a smartphone compared to the basic phones so I can't really blame them.

I know exactly where the market is headed and before too long I'll be required to buy an expensive smartphone and a miserable data plan.  1GB of data to share with your entire family?  Yeah have fun paying that base bill + overages. 

[AZSALUKI]

this is why i suggest ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=samsung+zeal&_sacat=0

new Zeal for $99. buy it, activate it, and NO new contract (my wife just got rid of her allias II a few days ago. she LOVED it for 2 1/2 years.). then "if" they launch a decent new basic phone, you can use your upgrade on it. i agree that the newer basic phones just aren't quite as nice as the "feature" or "media" phones (as verizon used to call them) of a couple of years ago, but you can still buy many of those older models and they are still superior to what is out today.

as far as where the market is heading, i think you'll see many more people just go with prepaid plans and low end smartphones. they aren't that bad if you want a cheaper smartphone and don't need more than a gig of data (which everyone complaining about the basic phone's should definitely not need). $80 for talk, text, and 1 gig of data isn't a great price, but i don't think it's bad either. i know there's $45-50 plans out there, but you have to go with virgin or cricket or those types of carriers.

[notarep]

Believe it or not, there are users out there who use less than a gig per month on a smartphone. Remember, there is more to a smartphone than just the data function. Also, there are users who do use more than 75mb a month on a basic phone.

Basic phones, cannot do spreadsheets, handle large contact lists, multitasking, etc. Sometimes I wish they would update the hardware of older phones like the krzr, enV, etc, and sell them again as basic phones.

[JD83]

I carry a smartphone for work.  If I didn't, I still wouldn't have one of my own. On that note as a single person I use over 500MB per month on a slow month.  But thank you for your insight-fulness on the functions of a smartphone.  I'm talking about the new share plans were you can have 10 devices.  As a customer I would run away from this because I know with 2 devices that Gig would get filled up quickly and then the overages start.  Quite frankly I'd love to own a smartphone for the extra functions and NOT pay data charges but I know that isn't possible on Verizons network.  My home wifi or even at McDonalds works just fine for me.

I am not due for an upgrade on my basic phone for another few months.  I'm hopeful by that time something a bit better will come along but I am not hopeful.