PHONE problem, too

[Gina Stevenson]

Have a 2-yr+ phone (but just a month beyond 2 yrs), so when the battery got so bad, it would only stay on awhile then shut itself off, I bo't a replacement battery. After all, I've kept phones 3-4 yrs before. Well, this new battery is doing the same, and they say it sounds like the phone (a phone repair place where I got the battery), and that I might just want to check into a new phone, as "that one's not really made to last anymore than a couple of years."

What!? More built-in obsolescence!? I do not want a huge phone cost, nor do I want to necessarily sign up for a couple of more years of $35+ (which ends up being nearly $41 w/"fees & taxes"), to get a so-called "free phone" that gets paid for w/these monthly bills, actually. WANTED to keep this phone 3-4 yrs, as I have others (so I have been CAREFUL with it), maybe even unlock it, and get the same amt of minutes I use out of my allotted ones now for less/month.

But, sounds like may not be able to do that, as it might just BE the phone, as they say. Did notice it getting rather hot lately, but batteries do that. Anyway, today, after the "NEW" battery charged overnight+, the doggone thing has had about 45" total of phone calls on it, and just a few minutes ago did that low-battery beeping at me, what it will do not all that long before shutting itself off due to low power.

Cannot justify getting some expensive phone for "free" and tying myself down to the two-yr thing again, not on this low (SS) income. Suggestions? The phone place said I could get "refurbished" (still costly, it seems), instead of new ... but they have a whole 30-day warranty. With refurbished, it might be barely used, or might be used a LOT and about ready to go again, like the one I have ... so I could pay a lot for 30-some days ... as it would at least get beyond the 30-day warrantly, most likely. There's a REASON the warranties on these are only 30 days ..............

Ugh!

Thanks for any help ... again (aside from those computer updates that I'm a bit worried about, too. )

[Gina Stevenson]

In browsing re phones, saw one mentioning TWO. SIM cards. Why would that be? For more SIM storage, or different functions, as a PC w/dual processor??

Anyway, trying to figure, too, if I should happen to get an unlocked one that contains WIFI, if it would work w/o data charges where WIFI exists, since it would be the place's (such as a restaurant) i'net connection it was traveling through rather than the phone system?? You see, there are some non-WIFIs that are just a bit less than one seen w/the WIFI (something like $89 compared to $59-49).

Figure if I do that, can eventually figure some other cheaper/non-contract carrier for enough minutes, it would be cheaper thsn a "free" phone w/contract.

BUT, TOO, I have to consider giving up a monthly amount I could not get back if another carrier proves to not be so good. Dilemma! (have to hurry, too, as I can only take the battery back for about a week, I was told)

[Jon Twitchell]

What are your needs in a phone? That might help someone point in the right direction.

A SIM card is what identifies your phone to the carrier... With some carriers/phones, it also stores limited contact information... you can take a SIM card out of one phone and put it into another, and everything (phone number/contacts) goes with you. (At least, that's how I understand it. I don't know that I've ever actually done it that way).

[Gina Stevenson]

But, things stored on the SIM card are cut way down. If you, for instance, have an address entry with full address, more than one phone #, etc, on the SIM card it will cut the name(s) down to no more than 18 characters/spaces, and onlly keep one number, and the address never makes it over to the SIM card.

Wondered if the two SIMS had to do with saving more on SIMS (addys/#'s), or if it had to do with two different phone-set-ups ... ?? Just never heard of having more than one, so was not sure.

Thanks, Jon ... but I'm not sure what to think yet. Will have to google more, perhaps?

[Jim Chabot]

Hey Gina, I don't know what phone you have, but I'm wondering if there are any settings in the phone that would affect battery life? If you google the make and model number of your phone with the words "weak or dead battery" or "short battery life" or something like that, you might stumble upon someone talking about a cure. There's probably a manual for it floating around on the internet as well. That is where I would start.

[Gina Stevenson]

Well, did some more googling before seeing this, Jim. Seems it suggests letting it run completely out 2-3x when it's new (so it has to charge way down to "the nubbin's"?), so that when plugged in when just low, rather than completely drained in subsequent chargings, it can get more of a fill/use more of that fill ... or something like that, which I don't totally understand.

So, before jumping the gun ~~ tho' I looked at phones today until my head was swimming ~~ guess we'll try that total battery draining a few times in the next few days ... then see if it empties as fast as the old one was doing, which it seemed to do at first. Just don't need the doggone thing to fizzle out only a few hours after taken off the charger, like the old one was doing, then be stuck w/a useless phone by the side of the road, or something, sometime.