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Email this6:07 am
November 18, 2017
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It's really hard to find a GOOD flip phone these days. I had an LTE Alcatel A392c for Telus using a $15/mo prepaid plan, but its screen connector became iffy. I was only able to get a used A392T, which is only 3G, and limits my MMS without paying for data. I have to block MMS as a result.
For Telus users, I do NOT recommend the Alcatel GoFlip, their current flip-phone low-end offering. I tried three and they all had failures within days! Fortunately Best Buy took them back. The GoFlip is Android-based, and thus more hackable than the proprietary OS in the A392 series. And it doesn't have linear message viewing, only threaded, which drives me nuts. Some of the color choices which aren't user-defined are very hard to read. Ugh.
If that was my only option for a flip-phone, I'd rather switch providers. But I expect the options to change often.
RetirEd
RetirEd
12:45 pm
December 7, 2011
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2G and 3G support will be completely discontinued in a few months and my phone will not work anymore.
4G probably will be active until around 2030.
My conclusion, I need to buy a good reliable brand new phone with buttons and 4G. Any recommendations?
6:19 am
October 11, 2015
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Winnie, I love Apple products--all my computers and phones are Apple. Everything is integrated. If you lose 1 thing, you will have back-ups on the other devices. And you don't need anti-virus programs on Mac computers--which saves you money in the long run.
9:09 am
January 12, 2019
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Winnie said
2G and 3G support will be completely discontinued in a few months and my phone will not work anymore.
. . .
Does that ⬆ mean Voice & Text won't work too ... or is it just Data that won't work ❓
Both our cell phones are fairly old now (2012ish). You've got me worried. 
Thanks,
- Dean
" Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! "
9:26 am
December 7, 2011
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As far as I understand, in Canada only Rogers still supports 2G network right now.
After March 31, 2021 Rogers will no longer offer 1900 MHz on 2G and 3G networks. This means 2G and 3G devices using 1900 MHz will not work after this date.
After December 31, 2021 Rogers will no longer offer 850 MHz on 2G network. This means 2G devices will no longer be supported across any frequency bands on the 2G network.
It's not clear until what date Rogers devices will continue to operate on the 3G 850MHz network.
10:26 am
December 26, 2020
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@Winnie
I loved my old flip phone and the battery that only needed a charge every week or so. The size and the feel of pushing the keys to dial was a positive feel.
I would suggest that you Google “unlocked 4G Flip Phone” then find a low pressure shop to view and try, like London Drugs if you have one. I have only bought a few phones brand new. I had a shop selling one for $20 more than Best Buy and decided to purchase, then they dropped a $50 Activation fee bomb on me! $50 for, at the time, a $119 phone....does not relate well with me! So I left and bought the phone online at Best Buy on a Thursday and was in mail box on Monday and delivery was free. I had a bought a SIM and activated it on my existing account with Telus online myself. Savings was $50 + $20.
But what @dentgal says about Apple products is correct and that is where I am now at...based on cloud settings everything on phone can be on iPad, iMac, and MacBook. My decision to go all Apple started with an iMac as I had issues with continuous windows updates and errors. That diminished by 95%. Apple iPhones are like a pocket computer and can be very handy with a bit of data or wifi. Apple iOS like Android can date the phone though and charging is more often. And if you have free texting like Public Mobile offers you can set up all Apple devices to text using the carriers texting.
But either way Public Mobile will suit your needs.
10:40 am
January 12, 2019
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.
Our older phones (iPhone 4 & LG Flip Phone) are with Telus. So far I haven't found anything about this on the Telus website (I'll still look) but I did find this on Wikipedia :
-
In Brief :
Telus no longer uses 2G. However they still use 3G, and will continue with 3G, through to the end of 2025.
For details, scroll down to the Radio Frequency Summary table ⬇ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telus_Mobility#:~:text=On%20November%205%2C%202009%2C%20Telus,frequencies%20of%20850%2F1900%20MHz.
If what Wikipedia says is true, it looks like our old Telus phones are good for a few more years.
Yea ❗ 
- Dean
" Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! "
11:12 am
September 11, 2013
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My phone is a 2008 Rogers Nokia 6080, looks like a little chocolate bar, handed down about 10 years ago from one of my kids. I use it only for texting, for some reason the battery is still fine. I don't understand much of what people are talking about here but am I to understand this might not work for much longer? I put $100 on my Rogers account every year to cover my $5/month text plan (about every 3 years I get a free year) so I don't want to load it up again if it won't work much longer.
11:12 am
January 9, 2011
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According to this link, 3G on all 3 major networks does not shut down until 2025;
https://www.fire-monitoring.com/2g-3g-network-shutdown/
As someone who is older and retired, and looking into phones 'from the outside'/trying to understand, this and all the terms being used are totally confusing to me. The statistics in Canada are, 39% of seniors have no cell phone, 27% own a basic cell phone which usually sits in a drawer and is taken out only when going somewhere, power off, for emergency use (my hand is up for this one), and 34% do own a smartphone.
I went to http://www.imei.info after getting the number, which when input was found, however nothing but basic information was available - no LTE section. I guess I don't get any! 
The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to
annoy people who are not in them.
11:41 am
February 4, 2017
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Another pro Publicmobile person here. We have his/hers plans for a few bucks under $50.
I'm not a smartphone addict but they are a useful tool for so many reasons.
Amazon has a few unlocked flip type phones 4g. Nokia was one brand.
12:12 pm
March 30, 2017
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For those thinking of using Public Mobile, keep in mind the following:
1) The only way to access your account is thru the website
2) There is no real person you can call, no matter what ur question or how urgent it is. It is online support only.
3) online support is NOT the typical online chat you are thinking, its a forum where you can send the mod ur request, and they get back to you.
4) even the initial setup is all done thru the web only, no rep to help at all (unless u do it at the kiosk at a shopping mall)
So for those who prefers a real person or may need a real person assistance from time to time, keep that in mind.
I set it up for my senior dad text, talk and some data for $20 a month, which is the best price plan available for his purpose. And given it is Telus, the connections are good.
He won't be able to do all that himself if he's on his own for reference.
1:52 pm
December 26, 2020
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@savemoresaveoften
I fall under the category of a senior. While every thing you say about Public Mobile is true. I can reassure that there is lots of Community help there and while I have had a few issues, I was never with out service. And the Chat thing should be called Robot Chat. But just type in that you want to speak to a human and they will set you up to start a ticket. I have had a few issues (some self imposed) always resolved in hours and no more than a day. It is not a reason to NOT deal with PM as many have no issues ever. I have an Auto-Pay hybrid to suggest as that seems to be most often the uncontrolled failure and was same with Telus prepaid as well.
Keep in mind many others are the same....all online. If you want make a significant savings for an emergency phone OR if you can get yourself out of that "Seniors Slot" and get into current times.....PM is it!!! Before I left Telus prepaid they charged $2 per call for customer service.
It is good that you help your father. And that you understand the concept. I can reassure you that my daughter or grand children would flounder with it all so please don't attach old age to be a hold back.
Set up is not that hard to do either.....it is the setting up of Auto-Pay that might have a hiccup. I consider myself well versed in it, and if any one needs help let me know. PM me.
And I can guide anyone here to a one time savings of over $20 as well.
Kiosks are a hit an miss for a lot of us. But there a some good retailers that will only partially set you up...but you need to know what information to provide them before you go. In the west I suggest London Drugs. I do NOT suggest Walmart.
2:46 pm
December 7, 2011
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Thank you dougjp, dentgal, RetirEd, LX66NE, savemoresaveoften, mmlt, Dean, Bill.
My conclusion now:
My 2G GSM phone will work only until end of 2021 and I still have some time to buy a brand new 4G unlocked phone with real buttons.
It's really hard to find a GOOD flip phone these days, you're absolutely correct RetirEd, I already tried Amazon and discovered, that some phones aren't reliable, etc.
Bill, Nokia 6080 is simple 2G GSM and will not work after 2021, the same as my old LG-GW300.
3G in Canada will be available until end of 2025.
Dean, you still will enjoy your iPhone 4 and LG Flip phone.
2:55 pm
January 12, 2019
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dougjp said
. . . 27% own a basic cell phone which usually sits in a drawer and is taken out only when going somewhere, power off, for emergency use (my hand is up for this one) . . .
And so is mine ... I'm proud to be part of the 27% ❗ 
.
I call my old flip phone, my 'Star Trek' phone.
"Beam Me Up, Scotty"
- Dean
" Live Long, Healthy ... And Prosper! "
4:16 pm
February 4, 2017
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I haven't had a phone with physical buttons for many years. What I did find with my old nokia c3 was that I could not see the print on the buttons. Without reading glasses dialing was a no go.
Smartphones have nice big bright numbers I can see with my old eyes.
One should not be scared off because of "smart". The basic phone functions are simple and intuitive. One can simply choose to not use the smart features.
6:19 pm
September 11, 2013
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Thanks, Winnie, guess I'll need to get a new phone this year, but I suppose I'll be able to transfer any remaining Rogers pay-as-you-go balance to the new phone. I'll put the word out to my kids that I need a new old phone of theirs.
mmlt, it's not that I think I'm the one human that's too stupid to operate a smart phone, it's just that I have observed the other humans (even those who claimed years ago they only needed one for emergencies, etc) become addicted to their phones, panic when they momentarily can't find them, etc, so I assume the same would happen to me. I would be unable to resist starting to use the smart features and then I'd be down that time-wasting hole too.
6:20 pm
December 26, 2020
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Direct email to a moderator (skip the Chat Bot).
Use this link:
https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437
7:07 pm
December 26, 2020
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Bill said
Thanks, Winnie, guess I'll need to get a new phone this year, but I suppose I'll be able to transfer any remaining Rogers pay-as-you-go balance to the new phone. I'll put the word out to my kids that I need a new old phone of theirs.mmlt, it's not that I think I'm the one human that's too stupid to operate a smart phone, it's just that I have observed the other humans (even those who claimed years ago they only needed one for emergencies, etc) become addicted to their phones, panic when they momentarily can't find them, etc, so I assume the same would happen to me. I would be unable to resist starting to use the smart features and then I'd be down that time-wasting hole too.
Bill. When you get a new phone it will likely be carrier unlocked and needs to be compatible to the Rogers system. You just have to pull the SIM card out of your existing phone and put it into the new one. SIM size may be different and if your current card is not a TriCut, then you can buy one here "if" they have Rogers for sale. https://canadiancellsupplies.com You can always prepare ahead of time. Just make sure you keep all the pieces from the new SIM card for future use to adjust SIM size. Once a SIM is put into another phone the IMEI number goes right back to the carrier and they will know by that number what phone it is. If you to put a new SIM number on your account you can possibly do online your self, call the carrier, or go to a local kiosk. There should be no charge to change the SIM card number. If you want to try Public Mobile I give the SIM cards away, free. Just PM me for more information.
7:14 pm
December 26, 2020
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Bill said
Thanks, Winnie, guess I'll need to get a new phone this year, but I suppose I'll be able to transfer any remaining Rogers pay-as-you-go balance to the new phone. I'll put the word out to my kids that I need a new old phone of theirs.mmlt, it's not that I think I'm the one human that's too stupid to operate a smart phone, it's just that I have observed the other humans (even those who claimed years ago they only needed one for emergencies, etc) become addicted to their phones, panic when they momentarily can't find them, etc, so I assume the same would happen to me. I would be unable to resist starting to use the smart features and then I'd be down that time-wasting hole too.
Bill the reason for panic is:
Not the naughty pics that might be there.
Some phones are linked to credit card and bank account alerts
All your contacts are there.
Your calendar and alerts for appointments etc. are there. Like a daily planner.
Some phones have money on them..like Apple Pay which is linked to a credit card, Starbucks gift card etc etc
You may have recorded a statement made while exchanging information at a traffic accident.
It goes on and on.
They are like your personal confidant/butler.
9:04 am
April 2, 2018
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Bill said
Thanks, Winnie, guess I'll need to get a new phone this year, but I suppose I'll be able to transfer any remaining Rogers pay-as-you-go balance to the new phone.
You have 2 days left of 'this year'. 🙂
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