Dirt cheap android phone

[offroad]

Am on another discussion group where we are finding the NET10 Optimus Fuel for $20 at walmart and at 7eleven. Not sure how long it would last with normal use. But it is a full android kit kat version. And you can use it on wifi as a voice-over-ip (VOIP) phone. No cost if you can find good wifi.

Personally am going to turn them into a wifi speaker with AIRFOIL software running on my PC win7 computer. Attach a battery or usb power speaker to the phone and boom you have wifi speakers.

 

[LeeRevell]

I have my old Net10 phone unused now, since I went 'Smartphone'. I found Net10's service spotty and basically of little use in many places I go to locally. That little phone was a PITA for my big fingers to operate too, along with a very bad keyboard management system. But that was a tiny Nokia phone. Now having a full keyboard (even if it is a funky touch screen) is far better. Even this phone using the much vaunted Verizon has it's limitations in some places.
Another problem with Net10 was having to constantly buy more minutes every month or lose the service. When I finally dropped it, I had thousands of unused minutes, doing me no good. I simply did not use a cell phone enough. It was basically just for road emergencies.
As my Verizon contract is fulfilled, I will look into other companies. Maybe Net10 has an option I could use? IF their service equals Verizon at the very least.

 

[offroad]

Think net10 is verizon. They use there towers. Not sure as would need to research. Either that of AT&T or sprint. There is only four cell towers possible.

 

[SoulRaven]

Thanks for the info I just bought the fuel at Wal-Mart online to be shipped to a store near me.

For almost the past two years I have been using Optimus V Android 2.2 (dedicated virgin mobile carrier) and it was worked great but the internal memory is lacking for all the apps I want to use and my gorilla hands broke the camera shutter button the first week it was in use.

I bought a UMX tracphone android 2.3 for $20 at dollar general on Thanksgiving Day but it is also short on internal memory and plan to give this one to the GF up north to use as a spare to a 5” screen tracphone she just purchased.

I use a Verizon 4G jetpack with VOIP phone apps so what actual cell carrier the phone uses is not an issue.

 

[offroad]

Understand about buttons being small. And memory lacking. Yes you need to be ridiculously careful. But with a Bluetooth headset or speaker-microphone-earphone hopefully you don't touch it much.

 

[SoulRaven]

The fuel has 1.8 gig of internal memory plus a 4gig micro sd card.

The battery and micro SD card are worth over $10 alone.

My other phones internal memory is like 250 megs or so therefore very limiting space for apps, data and cache.

 

[RVTravel]

The LG Optimus Fuel is also the LG L34C model, CDMA radio on Verizon. I bought the tracfone version a few weeks ago and like it so far. My 1 year tracfone card failed to add for some reason so I will have to call in.

---

Tutorial here.
http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/tracfone/home.seam?custId=TFLGL34C&locale=en_US

 

[SoulRaven]

The CDMA model (Net 10) can be activated online for $10 for a new phone # via Page Plus which has an unlimited calls/data on 3G FOR $55/MONTH.

With an app you should also be able to turn this phone intp a hotspot.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...Android-Smartphone-(Straight-Talk-3G-Verizon)

 

[RVTravel]

Pageplus should be throttled to 64kbps after 3 gigs.

 

[LeeRevell]

How do these companies get around the obvious "False Advertising " issue and keep from getting sued into oblivion if they throttle a so-called 'unlimited data' plan?

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Its in the fine print and you still have unlimited access its just sloooow!

 

[RVTravel]

There have been lawsuits over throttling and there are links on Howard Forums about it.

 

[offroad]

With 64kbps you can still play radio all month long 24 hours a day. If you run out of fast speed you might need to go to WIFI and do your transaction with that. I can do all my banking with TEXT ONLY. So you should be pretty good.

 

[RVTravel]

Good solution offroad.

 

[SoulRaven]

My $20 LGL34C arrived yesterday and it's the bomb. Super fast and now I have my Magic Jack number back in use for my old phones OS 2.2 did not support the app.

I guess since I have a magic jack number and an old account (have not paid for service since last August) I get free calls!

I have already loaded 800 megs of apps and still have a gig of internal memory.

Lighter and thinner than the my old LG cheapo too.

 

[offroad]

Received mine also. Loaded pandora. Plugged into computer speakers. Disabled google + and auto updates and google mail. Works great!!! - will need to check over the next few months about longevity and heat-cooling effects.

Plus will keep checking the battery. You can not power these by power plug continuous it seems. They need 1 amp from battery to boot. So they do need to be idle mode to recharge.

 

[SoulRaven]

I get mine to slow charge off the netbooks 500ma USB port and mine still operates via 800ma AC charge or via netbook USB port.

 

[offroad]

any way to turn the android phone into a cheap silent mobile alarm location beacon system? Someone must have done this somewhere that can be used as a model. Get your trailer-van-camper-RV stolen and the unit continues to ping location coordinates to a text transmission (text is the most reliable transmission - via cell towers). Something would require a low cost monthly plan. Not sure this is practical for monthly costs.

 

[SoulRaven]

You can take any old android phone and turn it into a remotely viewed security camera.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rcreations.ipcamviewer&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/searc...3RlIHNlY3VyaXR5IGNhbWVyYXoCGACKAQIIAQ==&hl=en

 

[offroad]

Not sure how a security camera will help locate a stolen vehicle. But makes sense for placement outside to watch for idiots trying to mess with your stuff, while You are hidden inside in stealth mode.