Cell Phone Network Being Terminated - What To Do

I have just been told by a reliable source that the Verizon Samsung Knack which has proven to be a small, light weight, reliable, trouble free cell phone meeting all my needs for the past 10 years will stop working only because Verizon has decided to turn off the network on which it operates so that its infrastructure can be used to support more advanced [and expensive] phones that have recently come on the market.  If the infrastructure were not being shifted to another product, I would have no reason to switch.  I am a satisfied customer who just wants a phone I can carry with me so I can call out in event of an emergency.  I don't have texting or a camera or Internet access and I like that just fine. Question: Where do I go from here?  

I don't want to be without a phone I can carry with me since I often go out alone.  Verizon will gladly sell me a new flip phone. Models start at about $150. The model they showed me is larger, not as solidly built, has a bigger screen, louder volume, texting, and a camera.  If I purchase one of these phones, I can continue with my present cell phone plan.

Another option is to upgrade to a smart phone.  The expense will be greater but I will end up with a more modern phone that will provide access to apps that will give me access to internet data, email, directions to destinations, keep track of my steps, and a host of other things.  I am doing just fine without these enhancements which is why I have not considered such a switch up to now.  Facing termination of my present phone serves a catalyst for considering this option now.  Going with another flip phone could mean making another purchase which will be obsolete in the near future.

What do you recommend?  If going with a smart phone, what should I look for?  Would switching providers enable me to continue with my existing phone? So many questions I don't even know to ask.  Any advice, suggestions, information would be appreciated.


I think buying another flip phone doesn’t make much sense. Don’t you have anyone you’d like to text? Wouldn’t the convenience of looking something up online be helpful? I understand you can live without it but why would you want to? A smart phone makes life so much easier in so many ways. And if you’re purchasing a whole new plan, you can often get a free or cheap one.


I think they are called 'feature phones'  they have some smart phone capabilities, but are simpler.  My friend has one and it has a slide out keyboard.....all smart phones only have a digital keyboard (you can get a blue tooth add on physical keyboard, but its a hassle away from home to have to manipulate a keyboard and phone).  I have fine motor skill issues and find it much easier to use a physical keyboard.


I’d go smartphone. As far as Verizon’s network goes, you’re probably on their 2g network, which they’re shutting down. I believe they’re the last major carrier to do so. You had a good run! 


I don't think getting another flip phone necessarily means it will be obsolete in a few years . It just depends on what network it is designed for. It looks like even older smartphones, like the iPhone 5, are being affected by the network shutdown.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-218813/

As for a smart phone, I don't use a lot of the more esoteric features available, but I do find it invaluable for checking email and googling (and Shazam is pretty darn neat) so you might find it worthwhile too. But certainly if you get by without those features today you can get by tomorrow without them too.

As far as switching carriers, at most it might buy you a few years. (Assuming they even allow your old phone on the network.) What's happening is that carriers are shutting down their 3G networks. Verizon seems to be ahead of the rest in shutting down, but expectations are that the other carriers will follow within a few years.


My gut says to go with the new flip phone. Probably the most painless way to go forward, and you should have plenty of years of service out of it.



joan_crystal said:
I am a satisfied customer who just wants a phone I can carry with me so I can call out in event of an emergency. 

Hi, Joan. Tracfone sells a $20 flip phone, and you prepay as you go. You can start, say, with a $20 option that covers 90 days or 60 minutes of talk; when the 90 days or 60 minutes run out, you buy another $20 block. (You can add more calendar time and talk minutes right from the phone, charged to your account.) Or you can set up a conventional monthly plan, which is also cheap.

I don’t think obsolescence is an issue, because Tracfone uses a variety of cellular networks, but if you’re interested you can read up a little. Until I got my first smart phone two summers ago, Tracfone was all I wanted and needed, for reasons like yours, and it worked fine. (Texting can be cumbersome, but that doesn’t appear to be a priority of yours.)

Here’s the $20 phone, though there are several other models and prices:

https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/tracfonestore/phones/tf-alcatel-my-flip-a405dl


Jackson_Fusion said:
I’d go smartphone. As far as Verizon’s network goes, you’re probably on their 2g network, which they’re shutting down. I believe they’re the last major carrier to do so. You had a good run! 

 3G according to Verizon.


Okay it looks like you have until the end of the calendar year to sort it out.


https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-218813/


I think the first questions are:  How do YOU use your phone?  and how often?  

Dave Schmidt has given yu a good idea IF you don’t use your mobile phone often.  It’s the most bare bones, low cost plan for folks that don’t use a phone very much.  I had a plan like that.  I so rarely used the phone that the firrst time I missed paying the bill I lost 3.5 yrs of rollover minutes(that was out of 4 yrs as a customer)  The second I failed to pay in time I was over a month late and hadn’t noticed my number had been suspended for at least a month.  This was several years ago and I certainly DON’T miss the infernal thing.

I think your ATT phone would be usable with Consumer Celluar.  Hey currently advertise a $15/ month plan.


It looks like AT&T is keeping their 3 G network going for a couple more years. You might give them a call and see whether you can port your phone and number over to them. If that works you'll have a couple more years of service from your existing device.

You can probably count on them trying to sell you a new device but I'm pretty sure Tenacity is your middle name.  wink 


You can get a used or reconditioned smart phone on Amazon for  around $200-$300.  I had a Samsung Galaxey 6 for years until the charging port broke and I got sick of using a wireless charger.  I found a scratched up but functional Galaxey S7 for $150 and I've been using it  for about a year with few problems (the speaker phone does not work well).  It's an old model at this point, but it is fine for me.  I hate spending a lot on a phone since I'm not rich and I'm always dropping and losing things.  It's fine and I think you would like using a smart phone.  My mother finally got one and she even learned how to text.  I have Verizon, btw.


I'd go with Consumer Cellular. They use the AT&T network but their plans are much less expensive than AT&T. You can buy from them a 3G flip phone for $30 to $50 or you can buy one from Amazon for $40 to $70.

When buying from Amazon look for unlocked GSM flip or smart phones.


Consumer Cellular: $15 a month ($14.75 if AARP member).

Tracfone: $20 for three months.


A lot to think about with advantages/disadvantages on all sides.  Thank you for feedback.  Easiest would be to see if I can port the phone (assume that means have my phone removed from Verizon and added to the AT&T network.  I still have to decide whether time has come to switch to smart phone.  Thank you all so much for the feedback/information.  Still open to consideration of additional factors.

"You can probably count on them trying to sell you a new device but I'm pretty sure Tenacity is your middle name.  wink "  More inertia than tenacity in this case.  I hate unnecessary change.


One last thing to think about.

If you are considering switching carriers you might find the new carrier may offer incentives to do so. So if you call AT&T and tell them you are shopping carriers for a non-smart phone, they may offer something like a free or discounted device to get you to switch.

I know you are content with your current phone but it might be an opportunity to get a new phone for cheap (or free) that will carry you through the next network change (2022 for AT&T).


Great idea.  Thank you.


There is a law that gives us the right to "port" a number from one carrier to another. Somehow, some companies get away with not letting us do that, sometimes. But you can try. On the other hand, if you don't use the number for incoming calls (much), getting a new number may not be a burden.


I agree that a featureless or low-feature phone may not be obsolete soon.


First I'll confess to not having read most of this thread. 

Then, my experience:  in late 2015 I replaced a Verizon LG flip phone with another LG flip phone, as similar as possible, though it did have some upgrades.  I have been very happy with it, though it doesn't seem quite as sturdy as the older one.

I can call, text (to phones or email addresses), take pix, use calendar & alarm, and probably a bunch  of things i don't even know about, and it fits in my pocket.  A while back, Verizon told me I could also pay a little for temporary GPS service, but i haven't tried that.  It cost about $50 new at Verizon store.  I would buy similar again in a heartbeat.  Haven't heard anything about their cutting the network it runs on - oh no!!  fingers crossed!!


Additional question:  how do i tell what network i'm on?


I couldn't tell without going to the Verizon Store with my phone and asking.  Sales staff there told me I had a G-3 phone, which is what they are discontinuing.  I would suggest calling Verizon and asking them.  You may need the pin number for your phone.  I had no way of determining that either. (It wasn't the number I use to access voice mail.) Verizon staff issued a temporary pin number and sent it to the phone.


Joan, I would recommend that you consider gritting your teeth and upgrading to a more contemporary smart phone.  I frequently grumble and prefer staying with what I have that meets my needs, but more often than not, when I am dragged into more recent upgrades, I am surprised and very pleased that I did, after going through the usual hassles learning the new system.  It is hard to imagine how it can benefit you or your life before you do it, but for me it usually has done so.  I love, pictures, texting, quick and available internet, podcasts, and many other features, that I never dreamed I would, and that I worried would be not worth the effort learning to try.  And the flip aspect of a phone isn't all that important once you get used to the current phone styles, that are quite sturdy with a case and don't need a flip.


Jasmo: I have an i-pad mini that does all that.  I can see the advantage to being able to look things up when out of the house.  Still debating what to do which is why I started this thread.



In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.