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Need a recommendation for a dumb phone
2013-02-25 | self

Posted on 02/25/2013 5:38:31 PM PST by gitmo

I'm looking for a good basic cell phone. I have an Aspergers son who needs a phone for safety purposes, but I don't want him to have texting, email or internet access with it. Believe me, that would be a major mistake.

Where can someone obtain an inexpensive, basic cell phone plan. I'd like to be able to restrict calls to selected numbers.

An added bonus would be if I could track his location.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: cellphone; tracking
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Any help would be appreciated.
1 posted on 02/25/2013 5:38:41 PM PST by gitmo
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To: gitmo

I hear Hussein is giving them away. Tracking may be mandatory.


2 posted on 02/25/2013 5:40:37 PM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: gitmo
Maybe Jitterbug?
3 posted on 02/25/2013 5:42:09 PM PST by Cyber Liberty (I am a dissident. Will you join me? My name is John....)
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To: gitmo
Something basic?

 photo FWmynewc.jpg

4 posted on 02/25/2013 5:42:48 PM PST by umgud
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To: gitmo

Tracfone. I think you can get tracking with some of the prepaid minute plans.


5 posted on 02/25/2013 5:44:02 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: gitmo
John Boehner.

Oh, I thought you said a dumb phony.

6 posted on 02/25/2013 5:44:25 PM PST by ItsForTheChildren
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To: gitmo

I bought a little Samsung flip phone today for about 20 bucks. Got it at Best Buy.

It seems to work just fine.

I don’t do texting, either. People will either have to call or send me an email.


7 posted on 02/25/2013 5:46:33 PM PST by basil (basil, 2ASisters.org)
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To: gitmo

Trying NOT to make an 0bama phone joke.


8 posted on 02/25/2013 5:47:40 PM PST by Clint N. Suhks (The amount of ammo you need is determined after the gunfight.)
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To: gitmo; Cyber Liberty

Ref reply #3, I’ve seen ads for the Jitterbug phone and have a couple of senior friends who like it real well. Ultimate in simplicity. About as cheap as you can get. Don’t know about tracking.


9 posted on 02/25/2013 5:47:40 PM PST by upchuck (nobama fact #69: For each job created by the nobama administration, 75 people went on food stamps.)
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To: gitmo

Fully understand the no text/no internet access. I did that, once. Thought I would be nice to the kid. NEVER, EVER AGAIN. Anywho, I have a LG non-smart phone. Have had it for two years now and it’s great. Holds a charge well, camera and video phone, etc. Less than $50.00. I have Verizon. The phone will access internet and text, but you can quarantine those features through the provider so you won’t get heart attack bills like I did and almost get sent up the river for murder.

On the other hand, the girlfriend has SmarTalk. She has a great phone, unlimited internet access, unlimited text and the monthly bill is around 60.00 (perhaps a little less) Not bad and she gets great reception here in Southern Illinois.


10 posted on 02/25/2013 5:50:19 PM PST by 98ZJ USMC
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To: gitmo
A lot of regular phone plans allow for parental controls. Your son could always call you and a list of numbers you choose, along with texts to those people.

https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/nos/safeguards/SafeguardProductDetails.action?productName=usagecontrols

One of my coworkers uses this with his teenagers and seems happy with it.

11 posted on 02/25/2013 5:51:25 PM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: umgud

Sweet ! Where can I get one ?


12 posted on 02/25/2013 5:51:31 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Obama is the Chicken Little of politics)
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To: upchuck

Thanks all!


13 posted on 02/25/2013 5:51:53 PM PST by gitmo ( If your theology doesn't become your biography it's useless.)
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To: 98ZJ USMC
Fully understand the no text/no internet access. I did that, once. Thought I would be nice to the kid. NEVER, EVER AGAIN.

Lil' bastid called the cops on you for making him eat peas, eh? That really ****es me off.

14 posted on 02/25/2013 5:53:19 PM PST by Cyber Liberty (I am a dissident. Will you join me? My name is John....)
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To: USNBandit

I’ll give them a shot. Mrs Gitmo & I have Verizon accounts.


15 posted on 02/25/2013 5:54:07 PM PST by gitmo ( If your theology doesn't become your biography it's useless.)
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To: gitmo

Interesting. I’m looking for almost the same thing. I’m hearing impaired, so a cell phone is absolutely no use to me except for calling 911 in case my car breaks down, etc. My state used to have a law that any store that sold cell phones had to sell ones that were set up to dial ONLY 911, and does not have to be connected to any monthly payments. It no longer does.

However, I’ve been researching for the next cheapest thing. But since I don’t qualify for food stamps, etc. I haven’t yet found what I need.

But, I’ll email you and perhaps we can help each other out. Good luck to you.


16 posted on 02/25/2013 5:55:22 PM PST by kitkat (STORM THE HEAVENS WITH PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY)
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To: 98ZJ USMC

Yeah. My router at home took a lightning hit and the cable company replaced it for me. They set everything back EXACTLY as I had it.

Well, except they forgot my parental controls. My Asperger’s son downloaded $500 of porn in one weekend.

He would start a flick. When my wife came in, he flipped over to Spongebob. Then when she stepped out, he rented another one.

It took months of arguing to get the provider to drop the charges on that. They said they’re not responsible for their repairmen’s errors.


17 posted on 02/25/2013 6:02:45 PM PST by gitmo ( If your theology doesn't become your biography it's useless.)
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To: kitkat

I believe all handsets will call 911 regardless of you having a plan. When a friend gets a new phone see if he will give you his old phone.

Here is some info
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/wireless-911-services


18 posted on 02/25/2013 6:03:55 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Obama is the Chicken Little of politics)
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To: gitmo
Seems pretty flexible. My coworker blocks his kids from texting in school hours and sleep time. They can always call him, his wife, and a few trusted emergency contacts.

Just looked up tracking on Verizon and they have a program called Family Locator. The usage controls are 5 a month, the tracking is 10 more dollars, but I'm sure 180 dollars a year would be worth the piece of mind for you and the wife.

19 posted on 02/25/2013 6:07:33 PM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Cyber Liberty
Lil' bastid called the cops on you for making him eat peas, eh? That really ****es me off.

Man, if only it was just that. The GF hid the total amount from me to avoid a fight. Let's just say the monthly was OVER $1000.00 and it went on for three months. I sledgehammered the phone in his face and kicked the inconsiderate little bastidge outta the house. She agreed! :-D I said: "Go find food and shelter now, MFer. I'm sure you can text someone."

He came whimpering, begging to come back after three days of crashing at his buddys' house. Uh-uh. F*** You. Fly and be free. Enjoy reality.
20 posted on 02/25/2013 6:08:50 PM PST by 98ZJ USMC
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