Smartphone Questions

**alphbtman** · 06-10-2013, 08:29 PM

Hello, I am currently a Sprint user, and desperately need a new phone. I am using a Reclaim, and it is biting the dust. I was recently given a LG VS-740 Ally, that is a Verizon phone. So I have a couple of questions.

1. Is there a legal way I can switch this Verizon phone to the Sprint network? It does not have a SIM card that I can see.

2. Would I be able to activate it as my new phone on the SPrint network and turn off data? I only want it because of the nice design and function, but only need talk/text. Data plans are too expensive.

3. If so, how do I do all of that? Will Sprint charge the $80 a month anyway, even if I don't use data?

4. If none of that works, is there a really good phone for talk/text only that I can use on the Sprint network, with a great battery life?

That is all. Thank you so much, and I hope there are answers to my many questions! :S

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**DustenRust** · 06-11-2013, 06:46 AM

Hi Alphbtman,

The reason why the LG Ally doesn't have a SIM card tray is because it's a CDMA smartphone, and as such it doesn't need a SIM card in order to operate on Verizon's network. The carrier's network identifies your smartphone through a MEID (mobile equipment identifier).

That said, I also believe that there's no legal way to use your LG Ally on Sprint's network I'm afraid.

Jumping to question #4:

By talk/text only smartphone, are you referring to a smartphone that has a physical QWERTY keyboard? If so, then the Motorola Photon Q has a similar form factor as the Ally. (it has a QWERTY keyboard underneath the display, that slides out).

http://shop.sprint.com/mysprint/shop...dt_phones&ptn=

You can get it for free as long as you sign up for a new contract and bring your old number (more details on the carrier's website). But I don't know if you can get it on a contract that has no data.

P.S. I also haven't used the Photon Q so I don't know what to say about battery life. My guesses are that the battery life is average, just as with every other low-mid-range smartphone.

Hope this helped!

**alphbtman** · 06-11-2013, 10:05 AM

By a talk/text smartphone, I mean just a smartphone model, with no data plan. I don't want internet on my phone, I just need to talk and text on it. I think getting a smartphone model is the best way to go because all of the basic phones offered by sprint are junk. So, is there a way i could have a smartphone model without upgrading my current plan to one for data?

**DustenRust** · 06-11-2013, 10:40 AM

Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no way you can get any smartphone on-contract at Sprint, without having to get a data plan as well. If you have an existing non-data plan, your plan needs to be converted to a data plan in order to be able and buy a smartphone on that particular contract. If I'm not mistaken, you'll also need to pay an extra "add-on" monthly fee of about $10.

Like you've said, you can get feature phones on your non-data contract, but if you really want a smartphone at Sprint, you need a data plan. Sorry.

**alphbtman** · 06-11-2013, 10:51 AM

OK. Do you have any recommendations of a good feature phone? I don't mind if it is an older model, as long as the battery life is good and it has a QWERTY keyboard.

**DustenRust** · 06-11-2013, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by alphbtman

OK. Do you have any recommendations of a good feature phone? I don't mind if it is an older model, as long as the battery life is good and it has a QWERTY keyboard.

Well, it's not really a recommendation from my part, as I haven't used any of Sprint's feature phones. But based on the information provided by the carrier, right now the only three available feature phones that have physical QWERTY keyboards are the:

- LG Remarq (pre-owned / refurbished)
- LG Rumor Touch (pre-owned / refurbished)
- LG Rumor Reflex

The Rumor Touch has the largest battery (1200 mAh, as opposed to Remarq's 900 mAh and Rumor Touch's 1000 mAh), and is also listed as having the highest talk time (7 hours, vs 5.5 and 5.3 hours).

Technically, the Rumor Touch would be your choice, but I repeat, I haven't used these phones so I don't really know how well they actually perform. In this case I can only give information, not recommendations

I hope this helped!

**Glacier** · 06-11-2013, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by DustenRust

Unfortunately, as far as I know there is no way you can get any smartphone on-contract at Sprint, without having to get a data plan as well. If you have an existing non-data plan, your plan needs to be converted to a data plan in order to be able and buy a smartphone on that particular contract. If I'm not mistaken, you'll also need to pay an extra "add-on" monthly fee of about $10.

Like you've said, you can get feature phones on your non-data contract, but if you really want a smartphone at Sprint, you need a data plan. Sorry.

Verizon is the same way, I believe. I upgraded to a smartphone last year and I had to have the data plan. Assuming their rates are similar to Sprint, it shouldn't be all that much if you get the lowest amount of data usage they offer.