What kind of hardware do I need on my phone?
No-Contract Phones One way infrequent cell phone users can save money is with a prepaid cell phone - also known as pay-as-you-go phones. With a prepaid phone there’s no contract, no fixed monthly bills, no credit checks and no hidden costs that come with traditional cell phone plans. May 22, 2019 Low-Cost and Free Cell Phone Options for Seniors. 07:18 pm ET Updated May 22, 2019. As do independents like Net10, Cricket and Virgin Mobile. The free cell phone you’ll receive is a basic phone that also offers text messaging, voice mail, call waiting and caller ID. We track the latest cell phone deals on Net10 every week! If you're looking for more than just the deals, try: Full list of Net10 plans; All Net10 Phones; Net10's best deals are below for the week of September 23, 2019.
Not all cell phones come with same hardware. Depending on how you plan to use your phone, you’ll want to make sure the phone has the right components to match your needs.
- Storage space: The more apps you want to run on your phone, the more storage space you will need. Storage on smartphones is measured in gigabytes (GB). If you plan on using your phone for games and media, you will want to find a cell phone with at least 16 GB of space.
- Processor: Now that phones are capable of running applications and games, processor speed, measured in gigahertz, has become an important point of cell phone hardware comparison. If you plan to run games or video, make sure your phone’s processor is capable is capable of running at a speed of at least 1.1 gigahertz.
- Display: If you’re looking to play video on your phone, you’ll want a good display. Resolution is measured by how many pixels can appear on the screen, calculated horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the clearer your picture will be. A high definition display, for example, usually has 1920 by 1080 pixels. You will also want to take screen size into account as well. A larger screen can make video and gaming easier to see.
- Camera: Today, many phones have cameras that can rival some of the more expensive digital cameras on the market. Camera resolution is measured in megapixels, and more megapixels means a clearer picture. The current high standard for camera phones is about 12 megapixels. If you plan on using your phone for taking pictures and video, look for a phone with a good camera.
- Aux hookup: Most smartphones have an auxiliary headphone jack to connect your phone to speakers, headphones or headsets.
- Bluetooth: Phones use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to other phones, tablets and computers or to peripherals like headphones and headsets.
See If Consumer Cellular Is Right for You
You may have seen commercials for senior discounted phone service from Consumer Cellular. This privately owned company offers even more with many options located in this eBay collection. Driven by the needs of the customers, Consumer Celluar offers a broad range of products on a nationwide network.
How can you reduce your cellular costs with Consumer Cellular?There are many ways that Consumer Cellular, and a bit of innovation, can give you control over the cost of your cellular service. Unlimited plans give you the convenience of not thinking about whether anyone will go over their usage, but you may not need an unlimited plan if you do some due diligence of your own. Some of the subtle tweaks to reduce your monthly bill without creating a major meltdown from your family include:
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- Restrictions - Enable restrictions on the phone to limit data usage per device.
- Streaming - Turn off streaming apps that you don't use often, like autoplay on social media sites.
- Media - Lower the streaming quality on media.
- Wi-Fi - Download media where Wi-Fi is available, then use the media offline.
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Do you need new phones to use Consumer Cellular?The 'Bring Your Own Phone' option from Consumer Cellular accommodates any former cell phone that is unlocked. A new sim card is provided without an activation fee so that the switch is easy. All sim card sizes can be converted, including nano (8.8 x 12.3mm), micro (12 x 15mm), or standard (15 x 25mm). Of course, if you want a different phone, you can find many options available on eBay. You can keep your same phone number, and your contacts can be transferred to the new sim card.
What are some other benefits to switching?Consumer Cellular is based on consumer need. With that in mind, they have expanded the network and other features that can accommodate teenagers to seniors. Since its inception in 1995, Consumer Cellular has evolved into a cost-effective way to provide valuable cellular service. Consumer Cellular AARP members can receive discounted service in addition to the multiple plan options for those that don't use much data. The plan will automatically switch to another plan to protect against overage costs, rather than charge per GB, unless the highest tier is exceeded. Overage alerts are in place to advise when the data limit is being reached. Consumer Cellular also offers a senior-friendly tablet called the Grandpad. Details can be found on the manufacturer's website.
