Generation 3
 

And lower service as I read it will end in February 2022.

Ref: article. Act NOW - 3G is Going Away in 2022 - Wireless Customer Support

I take this as all 3G and lower cell phone service regardless of the provider will be discontinued. I also think cell phones are at shortage now due to semiconductor problems. Luckily for us our phones are generation 4 or higher. If you don’t know what generation you’re iPhone, flip phone, or cell phone is I would find out now?

Good to know, thanks for the heads up.

Yes, my parents are on Verizon and were mailed a card offering them new phones for nearly nothing just for switching/retiring their 3G phones right now.

As you stated the 3G network is being retired soon.

Generation 3................I thought you were talking about my grandchildren.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Last year, Verizon told me that the service would switch to 4G only in Dec and the lower service would be dropped. It didn't happen. I wonder if they do this to get folks to purchase newer phones.

Like most things there is no shortage of confusion. I think what to do depends on your carrier. Based on my experience when you call your carrier, they too are confused.

I do not claim to be a reliable source. As I understand from ATT they will discontinue 3G
in Feb. If, I am right, you have time. We went to an ATT store. Talk about confusion. First of all ATT stores some are company owned and others are privately owned with some sort of contract with ATT. There is no sign on the door saying which is which.
ATT which you can call WILL GIVE YOU a replacement phone for FREE. It is a basic CHEAP phone. I had an apple this is an android. You can buy this phone mail order for like $80.

I'M far from a techno nerd. The ATT owned store, set it up for me at N/C.

Another computer pain but they could not have made it easier. Time wasted running around with misinformation and it was hours well that is my loss.

Teasing a bit. Is there a computer monster that watches ME? It seems every time things become comfortable and I learn the rules of the game, some techno nerd thinks change is needed.

My understanding ATT and the others will stop mainlining the towers in Feb that are on 3G. Again i am not a techno nerd. I think the rest of the world uses the satellites, that we pay to launch.

Few know what the G means. :1rotfl:

If you’re wildcatter and don’t us main line carrier’s you will have to get at least 4G phone. Naturally it has to be unlocked. All the free carrier phones are locked.

I have an older (but a goodie) BMW, and I was advised by BMW that the features that use 3G (emergency road service call, etc.) would stop working at the end of 2021. There was no upgrade they were trying to sell me so I think it's legit.

Probably like OPEC. :)

Yes, the loss of 3G cell service will effect many items other than cell phones, as noted above the are several older cars that will have some functions cease, and I am sure that other 'remote control' type functions that other companies use will be impacted.

Same for Lexus. Any of their cars prior to 2018 will no longer have that service in October 2022.

Do you think that the carriers will be able to switch over all 51,000 cell towers as of January 1st 2022? In reality it will probably take one to three years and I'm sure a central Florida The villages is not on their priority list. Like most things in life I don't sweat the small stuff. I use a monthly plan and no one's told me anything yet as far as 4G is concerned, and then this will be 5G and 6G and 7g. And by the way I'm still waiting for the TV stations to broadcast in the 16,000 definition and everyone's been promising for 5 years!

Broadcasting in 16,000
 

And by the way I'm still waiting for the TV stations to broadcast in the 16,000 definition and everyone's been promising for 5 years![/QUOTE]

As a followup about TV being broadcast in 16,000...the problem is not being able to. The problem is three-fold:
First... there are very few studios generating content
Second...the infrastructure is not in place to deliver the bandwidth required. Fiberoptic is the current technology.
Third...In that fiberoptic is only available in about 5 - 10% of the country, reverse to #1, above

That is how to do it,
Cell Companies have zero interest in looking back to support older phones.....
BUY A NEW PHONE OR GO AWAY is how they talk.
Reality, you have no other carriers to go to.


Remember the person pumping you to buy is a low educated flit that makes $7.80 per hour after taxes. Take a guess why they are aloof?

All my kids have high level degrees. That is called parenting.

lets do some math. After taxes
$7.80 per hour
$312 for a 40 hour week.
$3,744 per year

Unlivable.

On average, most spend close to that on food and gas.

That explains the BUMs in front of Walmart

Thanks WH

OUT!

I guess math wasn't your strong point in school?

Bit of hyperbole
 

Generation 4 phones have been out since 2008. Unless you have a 10 year old phone (by 12 no one wanted G3) then you already have a phone that will work. Scare tactics to increase sales are a bit tacky.

No, but by February 2022 they say they can. :faint:

My 90 year old mother-in-law does have a 10+ year old G3 flip phone. I have tried for years to talk her into getting a smartphone but she is a major technophobe and wouldn't consider replacing her antique. That is really unfortunate because it would have been easier for her to learn to use a new phone several years ago before her current memory issues developed. Maybe I can find her something similar but with 4G capabilities before her phone becomes a doorstop. Wish me luck!

kathy

Tracfone has a very nice (and cheap) 4G Flip phone with large numbers on the keypad. Your mother-in-law might be content with that.

For the ten years I've lived in TV I've had an AT&T Go Phone, or most recently an AT&T Prepaid Phone (some would it a burner phone). I buy the phones at Walmart, Walgreens or wherever for $10, the last one was $27, they went up. The phones would generally die after about 3 years and a battery was more expensive than just buying a new phone. I would buy a 1,000 minutes for 12 months for $100. I don't use the phone that much since I had a landline at home, so it a good cheap service, mostly for emergencies when I was out and about.

Last year they sent me an email saying at the end of this year my 3G phone would no longer work. I switched in April to Consumer Cellular. I get unlimited talk, text and 3 GB of data for $22.50 a month, so I got two lines for $45 a month. I got in on the end of a promotion, the first five months $20 off the bill, so it's only been $25 each month.

I bought two Moto G Stylus phones from Consumer Cellular for $179 a piece and the SIM cards came loaded in the phone. I liked having the stylus because it's sometimes it's hard to type on those keyboards and stylus pen makes it easier and then it slides back into the phone for storage. The screen is bigger than others I've seen on friends. I can read it without even putting on classes and of course you can stretch the type and things out with your fingers.

I could get by with less data, instead 3GB they offer 500mb for $20 a month with unlimited talk & text, but for only $5 more for two lines, why worry about the usage. I normally use my computer for the internet, but sometimes you're out and about. On the golf course and I want to see the weather, in a waiting room and time to kill, whatever.

I had a landline with Centurylink which added about $43 to my monthly bill, so by cancelling that landline, it almost pays for my Consumer Cellular bill and I've eliminated all scam and robo calls. Now my Centurylink bill is just $49 a month for 100 mbps of internet guaranteed for life. I guess since the number is new, the scammers haven't got my number and in five months I've only seen two unwanted calls, but they didn't even ring, Consumer Cellular has the ability to screen calls and blocks known scammers. I just see a note, scam caller and it doesn't even ring, but asked if I wanted to block the number.

Consumer Cellular Cell Phones & Plans | Consumer Cellular

Thanks. I was looking at that after I posted. The button layout is very similar to her antique so yes, she might be able to use it without too much trouble. I will keep it in mind.

k.

You multiplied $312 per week by "12" instead of "52". The number is $16,224, not $3,744.

The plot thickens. My Chevy has onstar typical of tech sales. they give you a trial and then once you are hooked they bill you. I told them I didn't want the service. They do eventually give up bugging you. It took years. Emergency road service, if it is 3 g I don't care. I never had it. Terms of old cars. My friend has an Alpha Romero that takes 8 track tapes.

If, it is important to, I expect someone has a solution or there will be one shortly.

Not sure what your point is. Quote minimum wage, does not include free medical care, food stamps etc. For many the difference between success and failure is that failure is not an option to consider. At least no an option I ever considered. As a kid, my family was poor. I was still taught, shame on my parents for this, that you work for what you need and there is a difference between what you need and what you want.