[Electronics-talk] Data plans

Tue Sep 16 01:00:17 UTC 2014

I guess I'm confused what you're asking for. First, unless you wanted a 
really large data plan, like 10G a month, you wouldn't pay anywhere near 
$100 a month. If I'm reading the AT&T site correctly, you could get a 
smart phone with a $60 a month plan. I know other providers, like 
T-Mobile and Metro PCS, advertise $40 plans.

Remember these plans also include unlimited minutes and text messaging, 
so the whole $60 isn't going towards your data plan. If you aren't 
interested in the phone features, then you could get an iPod Touch or a 
tablet, and just use wifi and wouldn't need a data plan at all. With 
Google Voice or Skype or Facetime, you could even make calls over your 
wifi connection without needing a cellular plan.

I don't know how the pay as you go phones work with data, but I know the 
carriers offer such options. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of many 
feature phone options for the blind any more. AT&T used to let a blind 
person buy an iPhone without a data plan of course you also couldn't 
access any cellular data from the iPhone, but I've heard they don't 
offer that option anymore. This was for blind people who just wanted a 
feature phone, but didn't have any accessible options other than the iPhone.

I don't thing anyone is forcing anyone to buy a smart phone and sign up 
for a data plan, so if it really bugs you then don't do it.

On 09/14/2014 01:41 PM, Tracy Carcione via Electronics-talk wrote:
> I am just really bugged by the thought of spending $100 or more a month
> for something I think I would use maybe 10 times a month.  It would be
> nice, once in a while, to access the internet when there's no wifi, but,
> to me, it's not worth the price tag.  Which is why I asked if people
> know of data plans that are pay-as-you-go.
> I am paying about $20 every 3 months for my flip phone.  This is much
> more in line with my usage.
>
> And Christine, I am very happy with the ID-Mate.  It finds the info I
> need quickly and easily.  I doubt any single app does as well.
> Tracy
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Szostak via
> Electronics-talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Linda" <waterinmyroom at gmail.com>; "Discussion of accessible
> electronics andappliances" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 2:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Data plans
>
>
>> Hi,
>>  I tend to fully agree with both of the below. If you are careful and
>> manage your money wisely, a  smart phone is quite do-able. I too do
>> not have a land line and like below do not spend money on things like
>> manecures... (my one extravagance being good-quality coffee:)). Plus,
>> as Gale mentioned, the apps for things like bar code scanners, OCR,
>> and color identification (which are actually quite good given the size
>> of the camera) are about 100th of the price of the devices you would
>> by for each separately or are free:)! it is worth it (e.g., Digit Eyes
>> gives almost exactly the same info as i have seen in demos of IDMate,
>> is equally as easy to use fro mwhat I have seen, and does all that the
>> IDMate Quest  can do at a fraction of the price). Actually, the apps
>> are the only real reason that I want the smart phone. I actually do
>> not really like the quality of the phone's built in phone and do not
>> really care too much for texting so the apps are what I am willing to
>> spend  that money on. Plus, depending on what carrier you have, cell
>> phones are often cheaper than what you noted. For example, my carrier
>> told me that once my early update comes around, between the update fee
>> and the cost of the phone I will likely pay around $30.99 for a $649
>> phone so no where near the $200 price for the phone without the
>> carrier. Also, my flip phone's plan is only about $10-$15 less than
>> what I will pay for an iPhone plan according to my carrier, so not
>> much of a difference for a much better plan.
>> Have a great rest of the day!
>> Chris
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda via Electronics-talk"
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "Gail the U. S. Male" <gailcrowe1959 at gmail.com>; "Discussion of
>> accessible electronics and appliances" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 1:20 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Data plans
>>
>>
>>> I agree with Gail.  It is a tradeoff.  I have never had a cable bill,
>>> even when I was working.  I do not get manicures, pedicures, go to
>>> the hair salon, the gym or the spa.  I am not a shoe or clothes hog.
>>> It is just a matter of what you want to spend your dollars on.  I am
>>> going to get a smartphone, because I want one and that's what I want
>>> to spend my money for.  Some people pay hundreds for cable, others
>>> spend it on their phones, some have both.  My brother smokes and
>>> spends about $200 a month, and says he does not get enough money to
>>> live on.  I believe it is usually not how much money you get, but
>>> what you do with it that counts.
>>>
>>>> On Sep 14, 2014, at 12:37 PM, "Gail the U. S. Male via
>>>> Electronics-talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Gerald, I'm not going hungry, but I do alot a large chunk of my
>>>> available spending money, after paying bills, to my cell phone. But,
>>>> I would spend just as much if I used a landline, and my cell is
>>>> almost always with me,when I'm out and about. So, I can call if I
>>>> have an emergency out in the streets. also, I've saved tons of
>>>> money, buying apps for my iPhone! things like bar code readers, OCr
>>>> apps, GPS apps, things like that. which, if I purchased a stand
>>>> alone device for each of these purposes would have run me to
>>>> thousands of dollars, which my rehab agency wouldn't pay for. also
>>>> there are the sports and radio apps.  The town where I live is
>>>> sadly, in my opinioon lacking decent radio broadcasts, so I use my
>>>> phone, with speakers for my radio, and follow all my teams, which
>>>> are 900 miles away, and I couldn't get their broadcasts over radio.
>>>> you have to make tradeoffs. I don't smoke, or drink, and don't do
>>>> much else, since transportation is also terrible here.
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerald Levy via
>>>> Electronics-talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> To: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>; "Discussion of
>>>> accessible electronics and appliances" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 11:23 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Data plans
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> What I don't understand is how someone on a fixed income can afford
>>>>> an IPhone, which typically costs $299 plus the $70 or $80 a month
>>>>> for service. And that's only if you sign a two-year contract, which
>>>>> is a minimum commitment of at least $1500.  And a prepaid IPhone
>>>>> costs about $600, plus monthly service, but at least you are not
>>>>> locked into a contract.  It seems like almost every blind person is
>>>>> running around with an IPhone these days, even though the
>>>>> unemployment rate among the blind is purported to be 70% or
>>>>> higher.  Either this figure is bogus, or else there are a lot of
>>>>> affluent blind folks out there, or else a lot of blind folks are
>>>>> going hungry  for the sake of their IPhones. Something is
>>>>> definitely wrong with this picture.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gerald
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tracy Carcione via
>>>>> Electronics-talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>>>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2014 11:03 AM
>>>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Data plans
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> What I don't understand is how someone on a fixed income can
>>>>>> afford a data plan.  I'm employed, and I think the data plan
>>>>>> prices I've seen are absolutely ridiculous, way more money than I
>>>>>> my use would warrant.
>>>>>> Are there reasonable data plans out there, or pay-as-you-go?
>>>>>> Tracy
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail