backup phone

[guywhofishes]

about once a year I will forget my phone at home - halfway to the lake, the store or some nonsense. my choice is go back - or forge ahead - I hate it

I recently spent a lot of time looking into options for a dirt cheap backup phone I keep in my truck and use a few times a year

I dug up an older iphone 7 w a broken screen, plugged it in, and the dang thing took a charge - I was in action for the phone

cheapest "extra line" from Verizon was $35 or so - pffft... that wasn't gonna happen

I bought a $3 Tello card (Amazon), swapped it out of the verizon iphone 7

Logged into Tello and signed up for $6/month unlimited text, 100 minutes, and 1GB data

Just thought I'd pass this info along to anyone else who LOATHES the rare but inevitable no communication situation - because the main phone isn't available for one reason or another

 

[johnr]

Is it the same number? cause that would be even gooder

 

[Rut2much]

Nice thing about Verizon phones is they come factory unlocked unlike all other carriers..

Jumping through hoops to get a device unlocked can be a PIA and is why I always recommend people looking for no commitment and/or the cheapest monthly plans to pony up right away or shop around for an unlocked device so you're free as a bird.

 

[guywhofishes]

Is it the same number? cause that would be even gooder

No. I wondered about that. Grok said that's never gonna happen (tech reasons).
You can easily port your number over to another device/provider - but no duplicating phone numbers on two devices.

It would also sort of wreck my brain if it was the same number.

 

[Zogman]

So you mainly use it to call out? Call your other phone for messages? Or give this number to only special persons?

My wife wants me to have my phone on a lanyard.

 

[guywhofishes]

It’s just going to sit in my truck console as a spare to use to communicate w wife/family if I forget or misplace my current main phone at home.

Maybe access online info if I’m running around getting stuff for a project (Menards, etc) and forgot my phone.

Or to check radar if I’m fishing, but left main phone at home, etc.