[Electronics-talk] Data plans

Tue Sep 16 08:38:49 UTC 2014

I agree. I can't afford either. How are they doing it?
I mean after I pay the $200-$300 startup I have less than half left
because I have to pay for transportation no paratransit hear just cabs
and rent. How much would I be looking at monthly oh and I forgot the
other commitments to rebuilding after some untimely life changes and
nearly nil family support. I guess they are able off of my few lil
dollars!

I will have to look again though because I didn't know you could get
an iPhone for $99 so that might work. Anybody use straight talk? I do
like the Pay AS You Go option but that can be burdensome at times too.

On 9/15/14, Christopher Chaltain via Electronics-talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
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>
> --
> Christopher (CJ)
> chaltain at Gmail
>
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