iphone question?

[_paralyzed_]

I know nothing about smart phones, and I'm sorry BrianG I know how you feel about apples

My oldest just turned 16 and his mom and I agreed to get the kid a used iPhone.

If it says "unlocked" can it be used on verizon? Or does it specifically have to be a verizon phone?

Thanks for any help.

[_paralyzed_]

I couldn't sleep so I googled and googled and the answer is no, you cannot use unlocked phones on verizon.

And holy crap these things are expensive. It's gonna be like $400 for a USED iPhone 4s.

He's a good kid, he's worth it.

[nitrostarter]

Does he have a phone already?

Or are you adding a line for him? If so wouldn't it be cheaper to use the 2 year contract pricing?

[_paralyzed_]

He has a phone already.

[nitrostarter]

And I'm guessing no one on the plan is up for an upgrade yet?

[E-Revonut]

Buying any smartphone, outright is expensive. I'm pretty sure you can use an unlocked phone on verizon but it still has to be a verizon model of the iphone. There are really two versions of the iphone, verizon uses one model and everyone else uses the other. The cellular systems are different among the different companies

[brijar]

Bit of phone info:
There are two types of cell phones in the US. GSM and CDMA. AT&T and T Mobile are the big GSM carriers. GSM phones use SIM cards to identify your account.
Sprint and Verizon are the big CDMA carriers in the US. CDMA phones do not have SIM cards. They are programmed to your account over the air. You would have to ask Sprint or Verizon to do that.
The iPhone 4s and the iPhone 5 have both a CDMA and GSM antenna in them, which is rather neat because you should be able to use an unlocked one on any carrier. I'm not exactly sure this is the case, though. I know the older iPhone 4 comes in a GSM version and a CDMA Verizon version.
I don't know which carrier you already have, but if you have Sprint or Verizon and are buying an iPhone 4s to work with them, be sure to check the ESN number of the phone to make sure it is not black listed. Phones that have been reported lost or stolen will likely have black listed ESN numbers and will not be able to be activated. The exception to this are services like Cricket wireless that do no share Sprint and Verizon's blacklist. But they don't have huge coverage areas nor very good tech support.

http://www.kittywireless.com/pageplus/validateesn.html
You can type in the ESN number and this tool will email you the results to see if the ESN is clean.

Good luck!

[BrianG]

Yes, avoid iPhone. They are made by the iCrap company. So unless you (or your kid) wants to hold a turd in their hands, look elsewhere. Of course, if you want to be "stylish", then by all means keep holding that turd. Overpriced, overhyped garbage that locks you into their ecosystem. Bah, no thanks! Perfect example how clever marketing can make people buy anything.

/rant

[_paralyzed_]

I am right there with you Brian. No slot for expandable memory. Child labor. Nose in the air apple status.

Buuuttttt.... It's his 16th birthday, he is an awesome kid and a great human being, and it is what he wants.

Believe me, he and I talked about all these things. He is aware of how I feel and I'm sure when he matures more he will think more like you and I on the subject.

Kids...

[_paralyzed_]

I found him a nice blue one The kid is lucky I love him so much, it cost half my monthly income


http://www.ebay.com/itm/321022036579...84.m1497.l2649

[brainanator]

My girlfriend currently has an old brick flip phone. (LG VX8300) It's 5 years old.
She's fine with it, since she never uses the dang thing anyway, but the buttons are dying and she needs to text me and family every now and then.

So, I'm buying her a used iPhone 2nd Gen for $15. (2 actually, but ones not working 100%). They are AT&T versions, but they'll work with the wal-mart straight talk thing for a flat $45 a month (what we're paying for that old phone anyway).

yay for cheap phones.

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by brainanator

My girlfriend currently has an old brick flip phone. (LG VX8300) It's 5 years old.
She's fine with it, since she never uses the dang thing anyway, but the buttons are dying and she needs to text me and family every now and then.

So, I'm buying her a used iPhone 2nd Gen for $15. (2 actually, but ones not working 100%). They are AT&T versions, but they'll work with the wal-mart straight talk thing for a flat $45 a month (what we're paying for that old phone anyway).

yay for cheap phones.

I've got an LG slider, a pretty basic phone. I rarely use it either. For me, it's cheap phones all the way. I just want my boy to be happy. He's worth the sacrifice

[PBO]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

I just want my boy to be happy. He's worth the sacrifice

Well said!


Brian, you sure have a way with words. Such eloquence...clearly a man in love!

[nitrostarter]

I do enjoy my iPhone... Compared toy fiance's EVO, the iPhone kills it in performance.

Plus most apps and such are designed and released for iCrap stuff first. The other makers are afterthoughts.

[WheelMan]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

I found him a nice blue one The kid is lucky I love him so much, it cost half my monthly income


http://www.ebay.com/itm/321022036579...84.m1497.l2649

Without implying that I know anything about your son's ability to take care of breakable things...and its quite possible you already have this covered...but I strongly suggest you get him a VERY nice case/cover for it!

Just some friendly advise from a guy that has owned every model iPhone made to date, and has experienced many a broken screens and glass backs, because of the refusal to use a cover.

In other words, I have become VERY familiar with the internals of these phones.

Don't get me wrong though, I love the iPhone, and have stuck with it for quite some time, despite how easy they are to break.


-Travis