# Just got a Fire fone; what service should I get?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 12, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907 "2015-07-12T01:36:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cornopean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907/1 "2015-07-12T01:36:06Z")

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Amazon was selling an unlocked Fire fone for $160. I bought it. Now I need to buy service for it. I am a very low user…I probably make a call on my fone 2-3/week. I always use Google voice when I am near my computer for calling/texting. So I want a plan that is based on usage. Ting seems like a good plan. Can anyone suggest another? Does anyone use Freedompop?

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907/2 "2015-07-12T02:18:44Z")

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Since the OP will gather many opinions, let’s move this from General Questions to IMHO.

**samclem** , moderator

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**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907/3 "2015-07-12T16:22:22Z")

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For light users (like me), Ting is great.

I make only a few calls and sometimes a few texts, almost always use only Wi-Fi data. Most months my Ting bill is $15, drops to $12 if I don’t do any texts. The cell data is there if I need it but I don’t pay the additional $3 unless I actually use it.

The service is fine; no complaints at all.

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-fire-fone-what-service-should-i-get/724907/4 "2015-07-12T17:04:03Z")

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Tracfone is really cheap for people who rarely use a cellphone. You can [add](http://tracfonewireless.com/byop/) an AT&T GSM compatible smartphone such as the AFP.

OTOH, I’m familiar with regular cellphone usage. Not at all sure how the smartphone usage numbers work out.