Sign up for automatic billing and they give you $5 off; $30 a month is nicer. I've had virgin forever, can't beat the price.

This is interesting.

I've been using Vonage for the past 8 years or so, and am perfectly happy with them. But if I can save a few bucks...

It needs to be pointed out that the free service via Google Voice will be ending in May as Google plans to drop XMPP support.

OBi boxes can still do any other regular VOIP providers for a couple of bucks per month.

Obihai Technology, Inc.: Important Message About Google Voice and Your OBi Device

Ah, well, screw that then. I shall continue to pay Vonage $25 a month.

Callcentric offers free US numbers based in NY for incoming calls.

Free Phone Number

And many cheaper rate plans than $25 a month for outgoing calls.

Rate plans

Originally, the plan was simply to replace the land line. That, and keep the number I've had for nearly 30 years. By doing so, I can drop the all-in-one plan from TW and drop to about 50 a month for just internet. But I have since decided that VOIP doesn't really save me that much over having a cell, and I want one. A cellphone also gives me the ability to access the web from work, which is very limited otherwise.

The friend's used cell coupled with Virgin (thanks for the tip, pdexta) sounds like a good solution. I don't get coverage at the in-law's house, but I don't now, so it's really not a big deal.

Look at BasicTalk voip service. It's owned by Vonage and $9.99/month. No free overseas calling though (maybe not at all, not sure).

The Evo is ancient. $60 is cheap but for $100-150 on the used market you can get some solid phones. The Evo will work for a bit though to get your feet wet. Then buy a Nexus and go with straight talk on their unlimited plan. Cheap and good.

I work for an electronics company now... unlocked Iphones (S5) go for +700 bucks. We sold one today for 760something (bidding). This world makes me sick. :/

Hmm. $12.40 a month after taxes and fees, and the box is free.

Why, that's one extra bottle of Old Crow Reserve bourbon I could be buying each month!

I'll probably do that. Lord know my old Vonage box is getting on in years. Come to think of it, I believe the NiCad battery in my house phone is probably around the same age. Not sure how that thing still has any life left in it, but it does...

[/threadjack]


Someone mentioned the Galaxy S4 earlier. In the past, I've had cheap Android phones. With my new job, they asked what phone I wanted, and I jokingly said "an S4," whereupon the guy nonchalantly unlocked a drawer and handed me one. This phone fucking rocks in every way imaginable, but I have to admit that if it were my own money, I'd still be using the ole' $119 Huawei Prism II.

Android phones today have gotten to about the place that store-bought desktop PCs hit ~15 years ago, in that even the very cheapest of them are good enough for most everyday uses.

I realize this is an INCREDIBLY difficult concept for people with cell phones to understand, but you don't HAVE to answer the phone.

I have a cell phone for MY convenience.

I let 90% of my non-work calls go to voicemail, then I call or email back at my discretion.

Bought the HTC. Went with Virgin, for the unlimited data. Phone is kinda clunky, as it has an Otterbox case on it. But it's the first one, so I need to figure out what I really want before I go hog wild.

Phone is now activated. I've never been so happy to pick up the home phone and hear no dial tone! Cable modem, new dual band router and Roku3 were purchased online last night. Therefore, cable and phone through Time Warner will be terminated at the end of the month. I spent $350 (including the phone), which is about a month and a half of the package I have now. As of January, my monthly cost will be 55 for internet access and 35 for the phone. So, less than half of current.

Good brand.

I had an HTC Espresso slide for quote some time, and while it was an entry-level phone which eventually underwent SMEF after about 3 years of hard service including being dropped many times and left outside in the rain, it was perfectly serviceable during the time that I had it as my primary. Neither the fastest nor the sleekest, but solid and reliable.

Testing out the new (to me) phone. I don't know how people use these damned things all the time.

Why?

Hehehe. Yeah, that sounds about like when I first started using the Espresso after having only had cheap flip-phones previously.

Give it some time- it's a whole new OS and a totally different GUI paradigm. Think of it as a computer that happens to also have an app which makes phone calls

Phone was activated the 17th. In the three-four days I've had it, minus half a day yesterday for the holiday party, I've used almost 600Mb of data. Nearly 10% of that was surfing and DL apps for the phone. I was also streaming Pandora all day yesterday. I suspect usage will drop off once the newness of it wears off.

Bought a different case for it. While the Otterbox feels like it's nearly indestructible, it's also bulky. New case it much thinner. Cost with 2 screen protectors was a whopping $3.45, shipped.

Ensure you have an internet plan and check what the limit is.

Tiny screen, pain-in-the-ass touch screen keyboard. Takes me at least twice as long to read (scrolling/zooming) and 3-4 times to reply. I really prefer a full size desktop for surfing.