I bought smart phones for my older kids for Christmas. I got them through Freedom POP, which connects using Sprint. The package I am going to sign up for only has 500 mg data which really is not much but thougt I would see how responsible they are with them and maybe upgrade next year. Anyway, with smart phones, if you have a data plan, are you only able to use the data plan or can you disconnect from it and connect thriough wi-fi? If they can connect through our home wi-fi in the evenings, they could watch the youtube videos they like to see and skype etc without using up their data.
I have a phone but a dumb one which suits me just fine.
Thanks everyone, just what I was hoping for. These will be their first phones. Since they are in high school now--sophomores, I think it is time. I do monitor their computer usage so watching what they do with the phones will not be strange for them. And I will definitely make sure they know about using wi-fi vs data. Freedom POP is pretty new to phone use--previously only for internet but since it is on the Sprint network and has good coverage in our area, I thought it would be a good way to get them phones without pay ing a lot of money. My husband and I have Verizon.
Yes. I have mine set so it automatically connects to my wifi as soon as I get home and doesn't use the data plan.
I will say that I doubt 500mb is enough for your two older kids, unless they can be trusted to stay completely off all social media, steaming music and video unless they're connected to wifi.
Yes and when my data gets low, I turn off my phones ability to use the data plan, and I make it only use wifi so I don't get extra charges.
What Christie said. Also you can set up to get text messages when you reach a certain % of your data in a billing cycle to help ensure you don't go over.
Yes. They will have to input passwords to access the wifi (assuming you have a password on your home wifi) or anybody else that has it (some businesses have it but you need a password to connect, many public places offer it free), sometimes their schools may even make it available (but limit what they are able to access through it, for example, no FB).
I'm not familiar with Freedom POP, but I'm assuming it is a prepaid type thing. If it isn't, and you are under a contract for a certain amount of time and you *can* can over on your data usage, make sure you talk to someone who knows how to set the phones so that they aren't using much data. It doesn't take long to hit 500mb, especially if they are watching movies/YouTube! And kids are less likely to be aware of how much they have blown thru... you could get hit with a huge bill for data overages. (but, if it is a pre-paid phone, then I don't think that can happen, they'll use their data up and that'll be it until the next time you buy it, I think... )
We have had 3 smartphones for the last 6 months. 3GB of date available. We came close to going over a month ago b/c of some wifi outages (DSL line problems) at home, but I get notices on my phone from Verizon when we hit certain usage points, and I just told the kids to cut it all out except mssgs (which doesn't use any, but you have to have it on to send/receive pics for some reason).
Husband now has a smartphone as well, but I set it so that he can't use data for much of anything... since he doesn't know what he's doing and could just randomly hit something and use a lot without even knowing. Or knowing what he did or how to stop it.
We'll see how we do. On average, we rarely go over 2 GB with the 3 of us. Will have to see how husband's use impacts that.
But yes, set the phone to automatically default to wifi when it is available. That will save you tons of data use.
i've got mine set to ask me if i want it to look for wifi.
khairete
S.
Just a note to add that my phone has an indicator on the very top of the screen that tells me when I am connected to wi-fi or not. I don't have to do anything to change how I connect - it defaults to my home wi-fi if I'm in the house or even close by like outside on the deck. I have an iPhone and Verizon, but I imagine Spring has the same deal. You can ask at the local Sprint store, or through on line (or live chat) support.
You can make a pretty firm rule with the kids about when they can use them for the internet - "only when you see the wi-fi symbol." Let them know you can - and will - track their usage. If they go over, they can look for a part time job to pay for it. Also let them know you will be checking the phones for texts (inappropriate and otherwise) on a regular basis.
If you connect through wifi, it doesn't get deducted from your data allowance.
If you have wifi available in your home they will absolutely be able to get online and go to the play store, download apps and games, chat with friends on social apps like FB, interact with others.
They will NOT be able to text or send pictures to each other or stuff like that.
I lost my phone this past weekend and I have an old Note 2 phone. It is not turned on to be my phone. It's not turned on through any plan of any kind at all.
I am currently playing Words With Friends, posting pictures and comments on FB, managing my business pages on FB, and chatting with my friends all the time. I am using the wifi connection on my router. I do not have any data on this phone at all. The phone is not turned on at this point. It is simply able to use the wifi hookup and able to do what I need it to do.
I had the wifi at the local hospital accessible earlier today and we watched youtube videos for about an hour. All wifi.
