Monthly Archives: April 2011

Jitterbug Phone Discount

Posted on by
4

I’ve always focused on TracFone, Net10, and then Straight Talk. In the past I’ve always been reluctant to recommend Jitterbug primarily because of the high cost of their phones and, to a lesser extent, their plans. However, recently I’ve been researching them a little more for an older family member. I’ve found that a majority of their customers a very happy with their service, so I decided to reconsider.

I also just this week heard about some Mother’s Day promotions from the people at Jitterbug (although the service is now apparently called “GreatCall”):

The first Mother’s Day promotion is starting on 4/29 (today) and running through 5/2 (Monday), GreatCall’s Jitterbug (and the r100) will be 50% off with free expedited shipping. No promotion code is needed. Discount and free shipping will be added at checkout.

The normal price of the “Jitterbug J” phone is $99.99, so the 50% off is a pretty significant discount. The Samsung phone mentioned above is the r100, which has a regular price of $39.99.

The phone reviews I’ve found seem to indicate that the Jitterbug is well-designed device, and extremely easy to use. The feedback on the Samsung r100 was a little less glowing – it seems to be more of a “regular” basic cell phone rather than one designed with seniors in mind.

Anyway, I will be taking advantage of this promotion to see if the Jitterbug J and GreatCall service can be helpful to my family member. I had been providing and managing TracFone service for him, but frankly the management has gotten to be a bit of a hassle with that one, especially from long distance and while trying to work with someone who isn’t very tech-savvy.

If you think you might like to try out GreatCall service, now is a great time to get started with a pretty good discount (and just in time for Mother’s Day, or to buy it now and save it for Father’s Day). Take a look at GreatCall’s phones here.

LG 800g now on Net10; LG 800g review video

Posted on by
91

LG 800g on Net10.com

After being released for TracFone last week, the touch-screen LG 800g is for sale on Net10.com today.

Picture of LG 800g from Net10's available phones pageIt is priced at $49.99, with NO airtime card bundled. The phone will only activate with 10 starter minutes and 60 days of service, so you’ll need to buy an airtime card right away. Considering that, maybe it would be a good idea to also order one of the free phone bundles (Motorola EM326g, Samsung t201g, or LG 300g), so you’ll have an airtime card and a back-up phone when you receive the 800g shipment.

Here’s a hint – the LG 800g is not currently showing in all zip codes, so if you don’t see it right away you might want to try 76825. This will get you a phone that will activate with coverage from AT&T, so only use this zip if you have AT&T coverage in your area.

Don’t forget, Save $5 on your order by entering promotional code GI2011 when you check out.

Click here to visit Net10.com and order yours.

——– Video Below ——–

LG 800g Review Video – Unobxing

I received my LG 800g shipment yesterday, and took the time to put together an “unoboxing” and preliminary LG 800g review video. It doesn’t go into much detail since I have had no time to look at the phone, but it does give you a quick first look at the phone.  Here it is:

LG 501c Review

Posted on by
32

LG 501c Review

EDIT: My LG 501c review is now posted for you to read. Here are links to the portions of that review:

LG 501c Review Part 1

LG 501c Review Part 2

LG 501c Review Part 3

LG 501c Interactive Tutorial

LG 501c Instruction Manual (PDF)

If you’re looking for a complete LG 501c review, this is the place to start. I’ll be doing a thorough review as soon as this model is available, and this page will be the index of all the info I can find regarding this handset. Right now, though, it hasn’t been released yet, so most of the info I have is somewhat speculative (based on some info from TracFone’s site as well as what I’ve deduced based on the specs of similar phones).

At this time, it appears this phone will be available for:LG 501c Review PictureTracFone, Net10, and Straight Talk

Most notably, this appears to be a CDMA device (based on the “c” included in the name of the model), so it will work on Verizon’s coverage. And, obviously, it has a hardware (as opposed to “virtual” touch-screen) QWERTY keyboard. If you’re a CDMA TracFone user, this could be a very big deal for you as many people in this category have been waiting for such a phone for a long time.

From what I can tell, it seems that this 501c will be nearly identical to the just-released 500g, which in turn looks like a scaled-down version of the popular LG 900g for Net10.

Below is what I was able to come up with for a feature list:

  • Qwerty
  • VGA Camera
  • Bluetooth Capable
  • Support for downloaded games *
  • Voice Commands
  • Handsfree Speaker
  • Mobile Web
  • Phone Book with up to 1,000 Entries
  • Light weight at just 2.82 ounces

* It is unclear at this point whether the “downloadable games” I’ve seen referenced in several versions of TracFone’s materials refers to games downloaded directly from TracFone (at a cost), or Java apps such as those supported on the LG 900g, 800g and, presumably, 500g. In either case, it would be a pleasant surprise if this CDMA device does indeed downloadable apps. In the past, CDMA phones have not included any games. It is my understanding that this is somehow related to a very restrictive patent held by Qualcomm, who produces the hardware used in CDMA handsets.

It is also unclear at this point whether all three AMerica Movil brands will support this handset, though as I stated at the beginning of this article I am  increasingly optimistic that TracFone users will have the opportunity to use this model. Of course, Tracfone, Straight Talk and Net10 alike are very tight-lipped about upcoming phones, so only time will tell.

Regardless of which carriers it is sold by, I’ll put together a full LG 501c review as soon as I can when it is finally available for purchase.

TracFone

Net10

Straight Talk

LG 500g QWERTY For Sale on TracFone.com

Posted on by
89

The LG 500g is available from TracFone.com today.

[EDIT: Note that the LG 800g is also now on Net10.com. I'll be posting about that later today.

I'll also be posting on youtube - very shortly - a quick "unboxing" review of the LG 800g. Once that video is up, I'll put up another post on this blog. By the time you read this, the video should be available at http://www.youtube.com/prepaiddeals.]

If you’re a TracFone customer looking for a QWERTY phone rather than the 800g touch-screen that came out last week, you’re in luck. The 500g is listed at $29.99, but you can get a $5 discount using the code GI2011.

Enter promotional code GI2011 on the checkout page to save $5. Also, TracFone is giving free FedEx overnight shipping on orders totaling at least $19.99 (now through Mothers’ Day).

I’m a little surprised that the price tag on this phone is the same as the LG 800g – I expected it to be a little cheaper. Still, $25 for a QWERTY phone is a pretty good deal. And if, like I expect, this one is very similar to the LG 900g from Net10, I think you’ll be happy with this device at this price.

LG 800g Now From TracFone.com

Posted on by
300

The LG 800g is available from TracFone.com today.

[EDIT 4/27/11: Note that the LG 800g is also now on Net10.com. I'll be posting about that later today.]

TracFone is bundling it with a 60-minute card, for a total price of $49.99. Subtract the regular price of the airtime card ($19.99), and you’re getting the phone for $29.99. Click here to check it out.

Don’t forget to use promotional code GI2011 when you check out to save another $5. Additionally, through Mothers’ Day, TracFone is offering free overnight shipping on all orders over $19.99. Add it all up and you can get hte phone the next business day for about $25, assuming you’ll use the card anyway.

I think this is a pretty good way to get this touch-screen device. Frankly, I’m shocked at the low price of this phone, considering that just a few years ago the LG 600g debuted with a retail price of $80.

One caveat here is that this bundle is not offered in all areas. You must have coverage from AT&T to get this particular device to work (although I suspect it will work on T-Mobile’s network soon, once they package it with the proper SIM card).

If you are certain that you have AT&T coverage in your area, but don’t see the 800g when you enter your ZIP at TracFone.com, you can try ZIP 53701. You will then see the 800g offered to you, and you’ll simply have to override the ZIP code on the delivery address before you check out.

LG 800g – for TracFone – FR.EEEE.!!

Posted on by
33

- – - – EDITOR’S NOTE 4/26/2010  - – - -

I am no longer recommending the HSN deal for several reasons:

1. HSN has raised their price on this package to $129.95.

2. The 15% discount apparently doesn’t apply to electronics.

3. Customers have complained of slow shipping from HSN, while TracFone.com is currently offering free OVERNIGHT shipping.

Therefore, I recommend using the TracFone discount code in this post, and ordering from TracFone directly.

- – - – END EDITOR’S NOTE – - – -

As I speculated earlier this week, the LG 800g is now available. It’s not quite what I expected, however. It is currently available for TracFone, but not Net10 or Straight Talk. And it’s not at TracFone.com yet, but only on HSN.com.

And the most surprising news is the cost – nothing! HSN has this TracFone touch-screen device paired with a 400-minute, one-year card for $99.99. That means the airtime card is at its regular price, and the phone costs nothing.

I have no idea what the price on the 800g will be when it is available separately, but I was expecting anywhere in the range of $50-$100. So I am shocked by this current deal.

And to make it even sweeter, remember this HSN link I posted last week:

New customers get 15% off your first purchase with Coupon: C50842 only at HSN!

To find the 800g, click on the link above to get to their home page, then click on “Electronics,” then “cell phones,” then “prepaid cell phones.” The LG 800g bundle should be one of the first products listed. Don’t forget to use code C50842 when you check out to save 15% (if you’re a first-time customer).

I have ordered one of these bundles, and will get to work reviewing it as soon as I can. I’ll also continue to watch the main sites to see when this phone is available from Trac, Net10, or ST directly.

LG 800g and LG 500g Release Dates

Posted on by
24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve discovered some interesting information that at least one new America Movil phone will be released this week. The Net10 facebook fan page commented last week that the new LG 800g will be released on April 21st. It appears that this phone will also be available on Straight Talk and possibly on TracFone, but I don’t have any information at this time indicating whether the 800g will be released on April 21st for those brands as well.

Another question is whether the release date for the 800g will also bring us the LG 500g, a qwerty phone that at first glance looks to be a sibling of the recently-released and much-loved LG 900g. Once again, there is some ambiguity as to which service providers this phone will work with. Straight Talk and Net10 seem very likely, but the big question is whether TracFone loyalists will finally get the QWERTY, mp3 phone they’ve been coveting for years.

I will review each handset once it’s available. For now, I’ve created a couple of pages to share what is now known about each model, as well as to serve as indexes for future review information. Right now they contain brief descriptions and a short feature list, and a picture of each phone. Take a look here:

LG 500g review page

LG 800g review page

LG 800g Review

Posted on by
449

LG 800g Review Index

The LG 800g is NOW AVAILABLE from TracFone.com.

Available from Net10

Unboxing video

“First Impressions” Review

Full Review Part 1

LG 800g Manual/User guide

If you are looking for an LG 800g review, this is the place to start. Here, I’ve compiled all the information I’ve been able to find so far. Please see the links above for more information. What follows below is thr original post I put up for the LG 800g review index page.

Photo for LG 800g phone reviewAs with all TracFone / Net10 / Straight Talk phone releases, very little information has been available pre-release with this model. However, the big news is that it is going to be a touch-screen device, and there are also some signs that it will be available on TracFone as well.

It looks like this will be a “feature” phone rather than a “smart” phone, and it will be able to use only Java apps. I think it’s safe to say at this point that we can expect a price tag somewhere in the $75-$150 range, and most likely at the lower end of that spectrum.

Beyond that, it is a GSM device with a host of features you’d expect:

  • 2.0 Mega-pixel Camera
  • Camcorder
  • Mobile Web
  • Mp3 player
  • Calendar
  • Voice recorder
  • MicroSD card slot

Further, it looks like the Bluetooth on this device will allow a lot more functionality than in many America Movil handsets, with the ability to transfer files, connect to auto navigation systems, and provide stereo audio output.

Also, with this phone America Movil is giving a better idea than usual about when we can expect to see it for sale. On Net10’s Facebook page, there was reference to it coming out at the end of this week, around April 21st, 2011. Obviously this comment would apply to the Net10 version. It remains to be seen whether it will be available on the other two carriers. TracFone may be more doubtful, but I think it’s a safe bet that a Straight Talk version will definitely be forthcoming, and most likely at or near the same time as the Net10 release.

When it is released, I’ll do my best to get my hands on it quickly and write up a full LG 800g review as thoroughly as I do all America Movil phones.

TracFone

Net10

Straight Talk

LG 500g Review

Posted on by
53

LG 500g Review Index

The LG 500g is NOW AVAILABLE from TracFone.com.

Further, it has been released for Net10 as well.

This is the starting point for your search for a complete LG 500g review. I’ll use this page as an index of all the data and review information I publish about this phone, including, of course, my full review. As of this publication date, though, the phone has not yet been released so very little information is currently available. I’ll put up here what I do have, and add to it as I learn more.

LG 500g review image. The LG 500g is on Straight Talk, Net10, and possibly TracFone.

LG 500g

Here’s a link to the LG 500g review, part 1.

Here’s part 2.

And the conclusion.

It’s also been pointed out to me that there’s a very similar phone called the LG C105, and the manual for that model might also prove helpful for owners of the L G500g. Here’s a link to that user guide:

http://www.lgmobiles.com/UserManual/GSM/LG-C105_IND_100917.pdf

At this time, it looks like this device will run on the GSM network (as indicated by the “g” at the end of the model number), so it will run on the AT&T and/or T-mobile network infrastructure. Further, as you can see in the picture, it’s a QWERTY-style phone.

In many ways, it looks like the 500g will be very similar to the 900g, which has been available for Net10 for several months and has been very well-received thus far.

Here is a list of features I’ve found:

  • 1.3 Megapixel Camera
  • Video recorder
  • Mobile Web
  • Mp3 player
  • Calendar
  • Voice recorder
  • Voice Command*
  • MicroSD card slot

* With respect to the “voice command” feature, I included it here because it shows up on the America Movil tutorial page for this phone. However, I would be quite surprised if this is not an error on the part of America Movil. Neither of the two related phones (800g and 900g) offer this option, and historically A.M. brands have not included this feature on their GSM handsets.

Also, like the LG 800g and 900g, early signs are that Bluetooth will not be restricted by the firmware, allowing for transmission of media files and other data.

Finally, I’m not exactly sure which brands will offer this handset, nor can I say exactly when that might be. I think it’s safe to say we’ll probably get the LG 500g for both Straight Talk and Net10, but it’s rather questionable whether TracFone users will finally get a chance at a QWERTY phone.

When it is ultimately available for purchase, I’ll post a notice on this blog and get started with a full LG 500g review as soon as I can.

TracFone

Net10

Straight Talk

April Phone Deals

Posted on by
8

Happy Friday everyone!

There are a couple of deals I wanted to point out before the weekend.

Before I get to that, I wanted to let you know to check back next week for info on a bunch of new handsets across the board, including the new touch-screen LG 800g, for which there is now a (semi) official release date, and the Motorola w318g now available on Straight Talk.

Now, for the deals: First, on Straight Talk’s site, you can get a free refurbished LG 290c or LG 220c when you buy an airtime card at regular price. Unfortunately, I don’t have a discount code for Straight Talk yet, but I can tell you that this offer qualifies for free shipping. And as I’ve stated before on this blog, I have no reservations about buying a refurbished phone and have done so many times in the past.

On the Net10 side of things, KMart has the Samsung t404g (or r451c in CDMA areas) on sale for $29.99, in store only. This deal runs through May 9th, according to the weekly ad posted on KMart’s site.

At Best Buy, you can get the Net10 620g for $19.99. I really liked my 620g on Straight Talk, and can definitely recommend the 620g if you don’t need a qwerty keyboard – especially at this price.

Also, Home Shopping Network has some interesting bargains on TracFone and Net10 bundles.  To find what they have to offer, click here to get to their home page, then click on “Electronics,” then “cell phones,” then prepaid cell phones.

I found this link for 15% off for first time customers to make the deal even sweeter:
New customers get 15% off your first purchase with Coupon: C50842 only at HSN!

You’ll find a host of deals:

  • TracFone LG 290c for $79.95, case, car charger, wall charger, plus a one-year card. Total of 1000 minutes (400 on card, 400 for DMFL, and 200 for bonus code). This is a pretty good deal – normally, the card alone is $100.
  • TracFone Samsung t301g with DMFL ($39.95), case, car charger, wall charger, and 200 minute card. In this deal, you’re basically getting the phone for free. If you have a use for a 200-minute card, this would be a good way to get a decent phone to give away or use as a back-up.
  • Net10 Samsung t404g ($79.95), case, car charger, wall charger, and Net10′s 750 minute, one month card. This isn’t a great deal since you can get the 404g from KMart, as I described above, for $30, and the regular price of the 750-plan is $25.
  • Net10 LG 900g ($79.95), case, car charger, wall charger, and Net10′s Unlmited one month card. A fair deal, as the Unlimited plan is $50 alone. If you’re going to use Net10 unlimited anyway, this is a good deal.
  • Net10 Samsung r355c ($69.95), case, car charger, wall charger, 3-pack of gel skins, and 300-minute Net10 card. I believe this is a solid deal as I like the r355c, and it’s still pretty expensive ($99.99 on Net10.com). If you subtract the cost of the card, that makes the phone just $40, which is good if you are looking for a CDMA QWERTY handset.
  • You’ll also find the TracFone LG 420g and Motorola w376g, but these aren’t bargains in my opinion so I won’t list them here. But check them out if you want one of those phones.

I hope these deals help someone out. Have a great weekend!