cell phones [Archive] - Kids Crafts Forum

JAK

07-26-2005, 09:18 AM

I know this has been brought up before, but now I'm looking for info. We hate cell phones, but I have a prepaid one is case of emergency. I got it through AT&T. Works great, never had a problem. I could buy a $100 phone card and the minutes didn't expire for a whole year. Fast forward to now. Cingluar now took over for AT&T. Dh needs a cell phone. All the prepaid ones was can find have minutes that expire in 30,45 or 60 days. One had minutes that expire in a year, but the card was $300. :rolleyes: So I guess that we are no going with a monthly plan for his cell phone. Who do you have and do you like their service? We want the lowest monthly payment as we don't need a lot of minutes, nights and weekends free doesn't matter. What should we be looking for?

vea29

07-26-2005, 09:29 AM

I have Cingular and it's pretty good...I was nerveous because I had AT&T..which had great service....But It's even better now that they've joined. I have service just about everywhere. Free unlimited Mobile to moble.
450 national minutes 5000 nights and weekend and rollover minutes.....$39.99

with tax and all it's abou$45

AnnW

07-26-2005, 09:33 AM

TMobile has the lowest rates we've found, you just have to check the coverage area and make sure that your areas have service.
We have 3 phones all with unlimited long distance, weekend minutes and caller to caller minutes. I think the 'paid' minutes are something like 1,000 for all 3 of us, we never go over. We pay $99 for all 3 phones. I am actually going in next week to renegotiate and get new free phones.
Also go to a cell phone dealer who carries several lines, then you can compare the different plans. They also have a better ability to negotiate too than calling the company direct.

Beth/TX

07-26-2005, 10:09 AM

Do some research too to find out which carrier has the best reception for your town/area. Nothing is more frustrating than paying for service and not getting to use it!

We had Sprint and had sooo many problems with the reception going in and out. I couldn't even use it in my home unless I stood in one particular spot in the kitchen, and even then it would fade out.

We did some research and found out that Verizon was voted the best for service/reception in our area, so we went with them. We haven't had any problems with them.

angie r

07-26-2005, 10:48 AM

We have Cingular right now. Brichard got his phone and then I got one for $10 more per month. The thing I love is rollover minutes, we have so many minutes stocked up that I don't need to worry about talking when it isn't free nights/weekends. "nights" don't start until 9pm for us by the way.

Our total bill w/taxes and all the lines fees and etc is $82.

Have any of you looked at the firefly phone? It is for kids and only accepts calls from and allows calls to numbers you program in. Then there is a single button with a "mom" and one with a "dad." It is prepaid. That's what I got from the commercial anyway.

SpeechMom

07-26-2005, 11:44 AM

Have any of you looked at the firefly phone? It is for kids and only accepts calls from and allows calls to numbers you program in. Then there is a single button with a "mom" and one with a "dad." It is prepaid. That's what I got from the commercial anyway.

OMG that is the cutest thing! I may get one for ds3 for Christmas! I'm going to check it out the next time I'm at Target.

littlesista06

07-26-2005, 11:54 AM

http://www.fireflymobile.com/

Interesting. Maybe I'll talk to dh about dd having one.... not that I'm ever very far away from her at her age.

JAK

07-26-2005, 02:04 PM

http://www.fireflymobile.com/

Interesting. Maybe I'll talk to dh about dd having one.... not that I'm ever very far away from her at her age.
They are on sale at Target this week.

Melody

07-26-2005, 02:31 PM

RCT

07-26-2005, 02:39 PM

We have T-Mobile

I have to say I am pleased with it.

AnnW

07-26-2005, 02:39 PM

I love that idea. All kids want a cell phone but I think it's crazy for some to have them. I could see it for certain kids who take city transit or are farther from home than mine go but we live in such a small area that there wouldn't be any point until ds goes into grade 7 in another town. I think that's where it might be useful for ds1. Not for anther year though. I love that the parents program it.

My ds didn't get his till last year (9th grade) when I realized that I wasn't being able to reach him when I needed too. His cell phone is solely for the ease and convenience of dh and me!!!!! DD is dying to have one, but I have told her she is either with me or with someone who can reach me.

littlesista06

07-26-2005, 02:57 PM

They are on sale at Target this week.

Know how much? (I'm too lazy to look myself. LOL)

angie r

07-26-2005, 03:00 PM

I really flip flop on the cell phone for my ds. He is 9 and I never leave him alone. I thought it would be handy for him to take to the neighborhood park which is 6 houses down, or when he rides around the block, neither of which he ever goes without a friend with him. But I can use the walkie talkies for that. I will definately have one for him when he drives.

angie r

07-26-2005, 03:03 PM

Here is the link to the Target page in my area

http://weeklyad.target.com/target/circular_browse_page_view.asp?storeid=2396050&rapid=160136&pagenumber=8&

littlesista06

07-26-2005, 03:16 PM

Thanks Angie.
$99.99 is the regular price though, not a sale.
I'll check my area ad. It's $99.

SpeechMom

07-26-2005, 04:35 PM

They're smaller than I thought - and they come in the cutest jar like you'd keep fireflies in! I'm definately getting it, but I can't justify the cost unless I hold onto it until Christmas. DS is only 8 and I never considered letting the older boys have one at that age, (heck, I don't even think we had Nintendo for the oldest when he was that young) but his Dad and I share custody now, so I it would be perfect for him. The parents have to call the company and tell them what numbers to add to the phone - I love that!

I'm not sure what's going on with the price either - the web site says $99 is the regular price, but Target has signs up like that's a sale price only good until the 30th. My concern is that they'll sell out as Christmas nears. They only had a few at the 2 Targets I checked, and they only had blue. I'm getting the glow in the dark cover, too.

Amy

07-26-2005, 04:56 PM

dd just asked for one today. I told her over my dead body. LOL The firefly IS cute, but for my dd so unnecessary because she is always a stone throw away.

Jen-we have Verizon. LOVE it. Not sure if its in your area.

AnnW

07-26-2005, 05:04 PM

but his Dad and I share custody now, so I it would be perfect for him. .

he can't use his dad's phone?

angie r

07-26-2005, 05:15 PM

My brother bought a cell for my nephew because of split custody. He could never have a conversation with him without his mom standing over him. One problem is that he was always losing it/leaving it somewhere.

MaryL

07-26-2005, 05:41 PM

Jen-we have Verizon. LOVE it. Not sure if its in your area.

We also have Verizon...and haven't had any problems with it.

Melody

07-26-2005, 05:42 PM

My brother just bought his dd a phone because her mother doesn't have one. She had to call my brother from a pay phone while the mom's jackass boyfriend waited for her. She's 14. It was a pay as you go phone but this would have been ideal for her and then he didn't have to worry about her racking up the minutes chatting with friends instead of going to the friends house since she's in a small town.

SpeechMom

07-26-2005, 06:35 PM

he can't use his dad's phone?

Yes, but then I have to go through his Dad to get to him.

Also, things happen..like once after baseball practice the coach let ds leave by himself because ds told him I was parked at the edge of the field. Well, it wasn't me! Fortunatley ds went back to the team, but it scared him, and the place is huge - he easily could have gotten lost (there's a whole 'nother conversation about why a seven year old was allowed to do this...).

SpeechMom

07-26-2005, 06:37 PM

One problem is that he was always losing it/leaving it somewhere.

I'm kinda worried about that, too. This thing is really small. Probably just right for ds's hand, but yikes, it's little!

SpeechMom

07-26-2005, 06:38 PM

We also have Verizon...and haven't had any problems with it.

My cell is Verizon - no problems. I used to have AT&T and was not happy when they were bought by Cingular. The service didn't seem as good, and my bill was ALWAYS wrong!

Pass the Pesto

07-26-2005, 06:52 PM

I am morally apposed to cell phones and any other electronic whose manufacturer rape the DRC of it's natural resources and the lives of it's people. HOWEVER, I do understand that many families in developed countries rely on cell phone use to keep in touch with loved ones and to keep families ties strong. if you must purchase a cell phone please make sure you do research on which companies purchase from manufacturers who buy their coltan (tantalum) from the DRC.

Thanks :)

littlesista06

07-26-2005, 09:20 PM

Pass the Pesto

07-26-2005, 09:32 PM

Sorry about that. The precious natural resource used in making the processor for cell phones and some electronics is called tantlum or coltan. This natural resource can be mined in many of the world's countries, such as Australia, Canada, etc. The largest volume of Coltan however remains to be found in Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the DRC. For years a civil war has been raging, with militia and guerilla fighters taking the lives of innocent men, women, and children. Miners, after finishing the grueling task of clearing a coltan mine are often mamed(their arms are severed) so they cannot work for another miner.

The continued purchase of cell phones whose company purcahses coltan from the congo, only increases the demand for this resource to be mined, thus increasing the death toll. The U.S. has had every opportunity to stop importing from the DRC, but, Americans are not willing to shop responsibly, and refuse to purchase these products.

There are companies who are ethical in this regard, but one needs to do research before purcahsing. This is what I was referring too.

Pass the Pesto

07-27-2005, 07:50 AM

I've posted a listing of articles here (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=319933).

angie r

07-27-2005, 09:31 AM

I've posted a listing of articles here (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=319933).

I don't see a list of articles, just a link to a website? What I found last night said that the same ore is used in computers and vcr's. Are you morally against those too?

SpeechMom

07-27-2005, 11:12 AM

Melody

07-27-2005, 11:33 AM

Well I tried to research this so I could make something resembling an intelligent response, but this is a VERY complicated issue. I will say that if I wanted to be morally opposed to something in defense of the Congo, cell phones would not be my choice.

Thank you! I was thinking the same thing reading all that. I couldn't find any information either. I do believe that the Congo, along with the rest of Africa, has bigger problems than cell phones.

Pass the Pesto

07-27-2005, 06:11 PM

Let me rephrase. I am morally apposed to companies who purchase coltan from the congo. Our computer was not purchased from a manufacturer who does this.

We do not own a cell phone. I do understand the defensiveness over this issue. Cell phones are used all over the world by modern people. it is a convenience, and not many people are willing to give up a convenience for the lives of people they don't know.

Think I'll be heading on back to MDC. Have fun in your own little bubble. Good grief!

MaryL

07-27-2005, 07:13 PM

Think I'll be heading on back to MDC.

What/where is MDC?? Just curious.

AnnW

07-27-2005, 07:21 PM

I am not sure where you are reading defensiveness as much as complete confusion. I like to think that I am well read, and I had never heard of this. Now that you rephrased your position, I understand your position.
But please don't feel you have to stay if you don't feel welcome here. We want everyone to feel good about posting here.

Diane

07-28-2005, 08:48 AM

Think I'll be heading on back to MDC. Have fun in your own little bubble. Good grief!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Melody

07-28-2005, 09:11 AM

I don't understand the hostility?

littlesista06

07-28-2005, 10:43 AM

I don't understand the hostility?

Me either.

aztec_judy

08-04-2005, 07:28 PM

I have Verizon and love it.

Am not sure what is : MDC ????
And no didn't do any research as far as who makes my fon; but did the research as far as who had the best coverage for us, with hubby being a trucker.

Understand the confusion... but when I went to here : all I got was a sign up sheet and if I attempted a forun it gave me a sign up page ?? Seems ya can't ck it out have to register first ??? hmmmm