topic Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone) in Get Support

Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:40:11 GMT

Anyone have any suggestions for a decent brick/candybar/dumb/feature/flip phone that works w PM? They seem to be a little hard to find.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:58:10 GMT

I have an alcatel that works just fine...run about $79.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

Triguy — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:00:00 GMT

Here is a previous thread.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Getting-Started/Flip-Phone-for-PM/m-p/277322#M49450

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

computergeek541 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 02:18:07 GMT

@nobrainleft wrote:
Anyone have any suggestions for a decent brick/candybar/dumb/feature/flip phone that works w PM? They seem to be a little hard to find.

Decent depends on what you're trying to do with it and what's important to you. The reason that they're hard to find is that there is very little demand for phones like this, and manufactuers often don't want to spend money producing these. Sometimes, there are prepaid phones in Telus packaging that would fit this criteria. Some of these devices will be very old models, so be careful to get one that is 3g-network capable on 850/1900MHz.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:36:57 GMT

Even phones that were available in 2018 don't seem to be easily found now.

(And phones that are recommended for 2019 on various tech website are hard to find in Canada too.)

I've just ordered a Maxwest Uno M6 3G from Staples - it's on sale for $40. There are no reviews on it, and I've never heard of the brand, but I figure I can return it easily if it doesn't work.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:54:49 GMT

@nobrainleft Key word: if it doesn't work....there was a post just after cyber Monday about Maxwest phones....that they have a software glitch that does not allow them to connect to a cellular network. Under retail...london drugs

Refer to:

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

srlawren — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:17:58 GMT

@nobrainleft wrote:

I've just ordered a Maxwest Uno M6 3G from Staples -

@darlicious wrote:
@nobrainleft there was a post just after cyber Monday about Maxwest phones....that they have a software glitch that does not allow them to connect to a cellular network.

@nobrainleft see here: https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/Don-t-buy-maxwest-phones-such-as-nitro4x-and-ssr/m-p/463822#M36302

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 02:48:19 GMT

Update: So I was a little nervous reading that post about Maxwest phones, but I had already ordered the one from Staples so decided to give it a try. At first, it seemed like it wasn't working (showed a 'no sim' message) but then the message changed to 'no service' or 911 only or something. (My son was playing around with it - restarting it, etc.) We decided to wait until the new sim card arrived before returning the phone (we had just been trying it with the pm sim from another phone). When we put in the new sim card and activated it, it's working fine. So I'm not sure what the 'glitch' is, or whether it applies to a different model, or what, but the Maxwest Uno M6 3G 1.8" Unlocked Phone from Staples ($50; on sale for $40) seems to be doing the trick.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 02:50:56 GMT

I was looking for a phone without a browser.

(The Maxwest Uno M6 3G from Staples was cheap - on sale for $40 - and seems to be fitting the bill.)

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 02:55:54 GMT

@nobrainleft wrote:
I was looking for a phone without a browser.
(The Maxwest Uno M6 3G from Staples was cheap - on sale for $40 - and seems to be fitting the bill.)

There's a Maxwest post about the software not supporting calls...ill find it. Test your SIM in it before buying.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 03:01:44 GMT

@darlicious wrote:
@nobrainleft wrote:
I was looking for a phone without a browser.
(The Maxwest Uno M6 3G from Staples was cheap - on sale for $40 - and seems to be fitting the bill.)
There's a Maxwest post about the software not supporting calls...ill find it. Test your SIM in it before buying.

Interestingly, it didn't appear to be working when I 'borrowed' a sim from another phone. But when I put a new one in it worked fine. (I have no idea why.)

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 03:09:33 GMT

@nobrainleft As long as it works that's what's important. Perhaps the older phones aren't getting any updates that fix issues in a timely manner. If it fits your needs and the price is right...why not. Plus it's not a magnet for thieves.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 03:25:24 GMT

price is right...why not. Plus it's not a magnet for thieves.

Hadn't even thought of that! I just know the way my kids break things...

🙂

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

Jeanie-beanie — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 18:12:24 GMT

I just bought my parents an Easyfone. It comes in flip or not. $90 for the flip and $100 for the not. They are Bare bones but the $100 one comes with gps tracking via app which may also be good parents who want to track their children's locations. I know I gave my kids cellphones so I can contact them at a moments notice.

Another thread says it works on Public but it's not on the list. I've not yet received the phone nor SIM card yet so I can't say for sure.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 18:26:31 GMT

@Jeanie-beanie The easiest way is to check the specs of the phone to public mobiles bands.

As follows:

Public Mobile:

4G:
B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
B12 (700)
B13 (700)
3G:
B2 (1900)
B5 (850)
2G: Not available

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

coleeeeee17 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 03:59:33 GMT

Alcatel 4044V It can do basic web browsing and text messaging. For me, if I use it gently the battery can last a long weekend or the better part of a week. This phone can use 4G LTE data and I still get service with WCDMA mode. Reception is about equal to my Motorola Moto G5.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

nobrainleft — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 14:27:46 GMT

Thanks, coleeeeee17,

I was looking for a phone without browsing capabilities (and the Maxwest Uno M6 3G seems to be fitting the bill). It's nice to know what the options are.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

gblackma — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 14:44:08 GMT

@nobrainleft the fact that it says 3g means it can browse the internet, but has no graphics processor

. Guess you can check your email with it. It's compatible with PM . You can use it for talk and text. Just enable data to receive mms messages.

@nobrainleft wrote:
Thanks, coleeeeee17,

I was looking for a phone without browsing capabilities (and the Maxwest Uno M6 3G seems to be fitting the bill). It's nice to know what the options are.

Re: Best 'dumb' phone? (flip phone/feature phone)

darlicious — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 20:25:20 GMT

@nobrainleft

@nobrainleft wrote:
Thanks, coleeeeee17,

I was looking for a phone without browsing capabilities (and the Maxwest Uno M6 3G seems to be fitting the bill). It's nice to know what the options are.

Be careful choosing a maxwest phone. There have been several reports of a major software problem with these phones rendering them useless. Unless this issue has been addressed by the manufacturer I would stay away from these phones.