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My smartphone is working for me, but what I realized about two years ago is that I do not need the latest and greatest one. Basically what I want from my smart

My smartphone is working for me, but what I realized about two years ago is that I do not need the latest and greatest one. Basically what I want from my smartphone is: phone, turn-by-turn directions, music player, emergency web browser, emergency email, wifi tether. Essentially any Android phone will fit my needs, so I moved over to using much cheaper devices on off-contract plans. My first was an LG Optimus V ($150) on Virgin Mobile ($25/month for 300 minutes and unlimited data, since I use Google Voice and Groove IP that turns into nearly infinite minutes) which I recently replaced with a HTC One V (also $150 usually, but was recently on a one-day sale for $50... $50, no contract!). Sadly moving to the One V bumped my monthly rate up to $35/mo (Virgin Mobile grandfathered in older phones into their old $25/mo rate despite the lack of contract, which was nice) but that's still super cheap compared to most people I know with $80+ plans. This route isn't for everyone, if you're one of those people that is really married to your phone and you actually use it for things like video streaming and such, use the latest and greatest, but for me it is working out great.

pasbesoin 14y ago
I want to thank you. I just looked up the HTC One V, and what I saw leads me to think I will switch to this. If I may impose and if you or another reader have anything you would care to add, may I pick your brain as to any other observations / trade-offs you made in your decision to go with the HTC and/or to stay with Virgin Mobile? As opposed to, as a primary example, another pre-paid plan or phone. (If not, hope I haven't annoyed by asking. Just in case a specific interest / use would inspire further comment.) -- I've also considered the T-Mobile based plans, but I'm afraid that coverage on the far city-fringe and beyond might just be too spotty. Although I'm not sure Virgin would be better -- the last I recall, though, it ran on Sprint, which actually did ok around here, at least for voice.
- georgemcbay 14y ago
  It was the Optimus V that first convinced me to do this, the HTC One V was kind of the next logical choice given the price and was a nice speed/screen/camera bump over the Optimus V. The HTC One V is a great phone for the price, the only real negative to it is HTC's Sense skin over Android isn't that great (IMO, YMMV) but you can reflash it with alternate community ROMs to get standard Android look and feel. If the Nexus 4 were readily available there's a very good chance I would have tried that on one of T-Mobile's prepaid plans, but since that was sold out with no clear information on future availability I'm going to go with the One V for now.
  - pasbesoin 14y ago
    Thanks. For $50 (sale price) -- and the $10/month bump, I guess -- the One V seems a very low cost trial, while waiting to see how things develop with the Nexus 4 availability. The One V price I found was $99. Of course, who knows what it will be, tomorrow. I've been looking at / waiting on the Nexus 4, as well. But for $99, I may well just do the One V for now, and wait to learn how people in the area do or do not like their Nexus 4 / T-Mobile experience.

pasbesoin 14y ago

I want to thank you. I just looked up the HTC One V, and what I saw leads me to think I will switch to this. If I may impose and if you or another reader have anything you would care to add, may I pick your brain as to any other observations / trade-offs you made in your decision to go with the HTC and/or to stay with Virgin Mobile? As opposed to, as a primary example, another pre-paid plan or phone. (If not, hope I haven't annoyed by asking. Just in case a specific interest / use would inspire further comment.) -- I've also considered the T-Mobile based plans, but I'm afraid that coverage on the far city-fringe and beyond might just be too spotty. Although I'm not sure Virgin would be better -- the last I recall, though, it ran on Sprint, which actually did ok around here, at least for voice.

georgemcbay 14y ago
It was the Optimus V that first convinced me to do this, the HTC One V was kind of the next logical choice given the price and was a nice speed/screen/camera bump over the Optimus V. The HTC One V is a great phone for the price, the only real negative to it is HTC's Sense skin over Android isn't that great (IMO, YMMV) but you can reflash it with alternate community ROMs to get standard Android look and feel. If the Nexus 4 were readily available there's a very good chance I would have tried that on one of T-Mobile's prepaid plans, but since that was sold out with no clear information on future availability I'm going to go with the One V for now.
- pasbesoin 14y ago
  Thanks. For $50 (sale price) -- and the $10/month bump, I guess -- the One V seems a very low cost trial, while waiting to see how things develop with the Nexus 4 availability. The One V price I found was $99. Of course, who knows what it will be, tomorrow. I've been looking at / waiting on the Nexus 4, as well. But for $99, I may well just do the One V for now, and wait to learn how people in the area do or do not like their Nexus 4 / T-Mobile experience.