any cell phone geeks here in the lounge able to recommend a

[MrsBrady]

Verizon phone for a DOWNgrade?

we both have iPhones w/ ATT and can't afford them now. And besides, ATT sucks so bad even with 6 towers in a 10 mile radius. ARG.
Tired of paying for bad service on top of the price.

We both spend enough time in the Texas panhandle in the middle of nowhere that any other carrier than Verizon is not practical.
I was gonna switch us to Virgin Mobile till I found out they don't have service north of I-40.


Since we can't really afford the cost of a smartphones anymore due to expenses...is there a decent phone that
does text and voice...can still send pictures/video
maybe have wifi....but won't use a data plan?

does such a thing exist?

is there a way, maybe to use a blackberry, without connecting data to the network? and use wifi only?

or really, I don't care about apps...i just want to text, talk, send pictures/video, check my email and facebook/twitter
don't need to surf, etc.

Does it have to be all or nothing?

[NightWatcher]

1. call att and get them to send you a free microcell

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/3gmicrocell.jsp?fbid=11aEMMiNMLM

we got ours for free and it took us from maybe 1 bar of signal in the yard to full bars all inside the house. Really made a HUGE difference for our iphones

[MrsBrady]

2. i don't want to pay for smart phone anymore

looking for recommendations on Verizon as ATT is not reliable while in the Texas panhandle

[NightWatcher]

3. I used to have one called The Boulder. it was cool and waterproof

and tough as nails

[friendly_iconoclast]

4. G'Zone FTW! I have a Ravine w/ optional armor case.

Gots me a lotta Casio phone love...

[Tikki]

5. We had just the opposite reality...

Verizon tried to keep us to a plan that continually went up in costs...
Our AT&T bill has stayed within a couple dollars for years.

We have just basic phones...no texting.

The Tikkis

[Kali]

6. try this

http://www.replaceyourcell.com/c=k29nve9Ac81KrZhtpqbUx6REv/category/carriers.verizon_used_or_refurbished_cell_phones/

I have made a couple purchases from them - very satisfied.

or if it is contract time just get something cheap/free that doesn't need a freaking data plan off verizon's website