Need a Text Only Cell Phone Plan?
Thursday April 17, 2008
At the very end of this article about a deaf teenager who texts (as opposed to instant messaging), there is a mention that U.S. Cellular offers a text-only plan. I think I'll stick with instant messaging, but for those of you who have teenagers, this may be something to look into. Are there any other cell phone services that offer text-only plans?
Comments
Sprint (Relay Store) has Unlimted Data plan which covers text, IM, email, internet, etc all for one low price of 29.99, Not sure if you have to have Sprint phone, though.
ATT mobility does offer TAP(text accessibility plan with unlimited data and 5000 texts for 29.99 or unlimited data and unlimited texts for 34.99. TAP accepts any mobiles( windows mobile) excluded Blackberry devices and iphone. TAP will accept iphone very soon.
http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/hearing-aid-compatibility.jsp#tap
TMobile is very popular among the Deaf community in Dallas and offers an excellent Data only plan for I believe 30.00 a month. It also is the only service provider which has the Sidekick, which is also very popular among the Deaf Community.
I recently got myself a prepaid cell phone for purpose of emergency.
I only pay $6.47 dollars per month for the monthly cell phone service along with 25 cents for text communication per minute (ouch) and 10 cents for voice communication per minute.
Pros and cons about the prepaid cell phone as compared to the flat monthly wireless use among various wireless pagers.
At least, I would not worry about losing my cell phone with camera. I simply call my cell phone company to cancel my monthly phone service right away without 2 years contract.
RLM
On a somewhat related topic about text messaging for the Deaf Community, check out this blog posting / YouTube video about the need for improvements for emergency management systems for the deaf: http://securitydebrief.adfero.com/the-forgotten-portion-of-we-the-people/
I’m Mikaela Thepvongsa, The Girl From The Article….Does Anyone Know Of A Plan Where My Hearing Parents Can Have Voice And My Line Wtih Only Texting In Other Words A Family Plan To accomodate Family Members Who Are Hearing And Other Family Members Who Are Deaf. Like Myself. PLEASE HELP!
Thanks
Mikaela
I bought a virgin mobile switch back phone with the keypad, and have a minute to minute plan. I spend about 10.00 dollars a month on top up cards and just use it for texting. you can still use it as a phone if you need to and can hook it up to a tty. It works for me and is very economical. I haven’t found anything that compares price wise. it does have a lot of hip hop themes but I just ignore all that as I am 54 years old.
There used to be Wynd where they had message operators and text only available for a ten dollar fee a month. Now, they are GoAmerica and they are pretty greedy, charing way more than hearing people. Most mobile plans are around 30 to 40 a month and the last I saw it was 60 a month for what used to be Wynd for only ten dollars. The greed is what turns me off and I rather do without.
I own Sidekick III and have email, texting and internet access for only $19.95 per month with T-Mobile… No voice plans at all.. (Don’t need ‘em, ‘cuz I’m deaf).
To my knowledge, there are no Canadian cell phone companies that offer text-only plans. You have to buy a regular plan, and THEN you pay extra for the text messages.
My wife used to have a Blackberry, and had to pay through the nose for it
is there a plan available that is text only for people who are not deaf?
I just learned this from AT&T NCCD customer service 1 866 241 6568 via Relay Service stated, they do have TAP ( Data plans program for deaf ) and also said they are expecting new IPhone coming out on July 11th. So I was unable to find out how much Iphone’s price tag due to thier other stores not open yet. I called way too early. I do not know if any of this information helps ya or not. I am also seeking info about smart phone Data Plans.
Hope ya are able to find what you need.
We have a text only plan through virgin mobile. It’s unlimited for $19.99. The only disadvantage we have found is that their phones are REALLY bad and break frequently.
VirginMobile is the way to go! for just $10.00 a month i get calling and only 0.05 a txt! Its great!
wow! Virgin Mobile now has unlimited texting for only $10/month. We have 7 kids, so this is the way to go for us.
Hey Maurice can you tell me where to get a plan like that from T-Mobile I would love to have that plan through T-Mobile
As some of you may know, AT&t had the OGO, which is a fabulous data only device that is all over Europe and Asia. When Cingular took over they eliminated the OGO, no doubt because they wanted to squeeze more than the $17.00 per month plan out of their customers. Verizon is an international partner with SwissCom, who distributes the OGO successfully overseas. I have sent a plea to Verizon to bring the OGO to the States. Get online to Verizon and send a plea for the same! Look up the OGO if you don’t know it yet and you will fall in love with it. Not only is this a fabulous tool for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, it’s great for people who can’t afford cell phones and plans for teens or adults who’d rather just type. I believe that if enough people ask for the OGO they may change their minds!!!!
Hi..Im looking for cell phone that will vibrate when a text message comes in, not a short little notification vibrate, but one that will do it approximately as long as a vibrating ring would. The I have checked out a ton cell phones, and Im not having any luck in finding one that will do a long duration vibrate on an incoming text message. Does anyone have a cell phone that does that or know of anyone that has one. I would really appreciate it, if you would post the make and model. Im desperately trying to get one that my husband, who is deaf, would be able to feel for more than 2 seconds.
Thanks!
Just get a vibrator. No need to wait for a text.
Qwertcorp.com has an unlimited text only plan for 19.99 a month
Get the Peek Pronto PDA. It only has text and e-mail. 20 bucks a month. No contract!getpeek.com
Qwertcorp does not do data or email. Peek lets you open pdf’s and word docs, text and email. All unlimited. I got mine on Amazon.
actually qwertcorp has a $9.99 plan no contracts and u get to pick any gsm handset
I found by going to a go phone I pay $9.99 a month for 1000 text messages. As long as I dont make phone calls I am finding it very inexpensive. AT&T even has a $4.99 plan with 200 text.