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Another update about a year later - Blu Vivo X
SpywareDR I have to say "Thank You" again for the suggestion of this Blu Vivo X. I still get people trying to tuck it up under their arm and running off with it. No, Really!! It is a great phone for what I needed from a phone. The money was well spent!! The extra internal memory and the expandable SIM card ability is amazing! I still have tons of room on the phone and won't need another one for years now for what I use it for.
Thanks again SpyWareDR for your suggestion. Any other phone I would have purchased I would have been sitting here attempting to figure out what apps to delete, what files to move to another source or thinking about throwing it against the wall by now because it would have run out of memory with all the updates etc a year later. Problem being with most phones you can't move many apps to the SIM card. This phone I don't have to worry about that!! THANKS AGAIN!!
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How to find out what is taking up space on your phone:
https://www.howtogeek.com/206591/how...ndroid-device/
https://www.howtogeek.com/112356/5-w...ce-on-android/
Note: 5G phones will start to be available this year. How soon 5G service will be available in your area is another question, however, at a minimum, you will need a 4G phone, as most service providers will be shutting off 2G and 3G service.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
question2012
THANKS AGAIN!!
You're more than welcome!
Excellent news, thank you!
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I am the OP of this thread.
Update as of March 16 2020 almost 2 years later.
Oh No!! The phone I purchased originally from this thread, BLU VivoX is "sick" (my recent thread here explains the issues).
SpywareDR I am so upset. As I said to you in this post I loved this phone and came back to this tread to give updates on it after purchase. No one's fault but BLU hinted that there were issues with it.
Warranty company is sending me a full refund for the purchase amount less my deductible.
Because I can't duplicate the issues/problems I was having and the fact that it may happen 5 minutes later or 10 days later and that my warranty expires in 13 days the warranty company has accepted my claim (after I cried a lot on the phone).
I am so happy I spent the money for the warranty.
So now I am back to square one in this post. Looking for a GMS unlocked phone to buy. Has to be GMS so I can have AT&T (Cricket) as my carrier. I am out in the sticks and the only carrier that works well here is AT&T. Don't want to pay for their plan so I had used Cricket for $30 a month with this phone.
The internal memory on this phone BLU VivoX was 64 gigs and the SD card could hold up to 64 gigs. Looking for something with at least this amount of internal and SD memory.
Any suggestions? I am 64 and my reading comprehension is diminishing so it is becoming more and more difficult for me to read and evaluate and compare one phone from another online.
My price range is $250 to $300 but again I have to be able to use Cricket (AT&T) to activate this phone as this area up in northeast Penn is horrible for cell reception with other carriers. I prefer to stay with a Android. No iPhones.
Suggestions please
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Thanks SpywareDr - I just ordered the one you suggested ---> Motorola Moto G7 Power 64GB+3GB
Thank you so much for helping me. As I said my reading comp is not so good at my age and comparing one phone to another is almost a tremendous feat for me. You did me good on my BLU VivoX and I appreciate that also even though it was almost two years ago.
Can't wait to get my new Motorola Moto G7 Power 64GB+3GB.
Ordered a case and screen protector with it. I will use my SD card from my Vivo for this phone. I would assume I can since the G7 is good up to 512Gigs on the SD. Mine is 64 Gigs.
Thanks again SpywareDr ;)
P.S. - Needless to say I bought the warranty for this phone also :-)
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Wow, that was quick. Sure hope if fulfills your needs. My wife loves Motorola's phones.
Best of luck with it. :)
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Yes it was quick. Figured there was no sense in delaying the purchase. You gave me good advice on the first phone so decided to go with it again. As I said it is becomiing more difficult for me to read and understand so comparing the technical aspects of phones is not an easy task for me.
I hope it works out as well as the Blu did.
Also, since the warranty company won't send me my check until I send my old phone back I wanted to get the new one ASAP.
Thanks again. Will let you know how the new one works out after awhile.
Stay healthy!
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I am the OP of this thread.
I am continuing this thread thinking it would be better/easier to have this history behind my question.
Moderator/s if you want to make this into a separate thread that is fine with me.
Oh No!! Here we go again.
My Motorola Moto G7 Power will not be functioning after Jan 2022 according to Cricket. I have received several text messages and now when I make a phone call it is redirected to their customer care team. Something about their new/different network.
I purchased this GSM unlocked phone off of Amazon and put in a Cricket sim card. I wanted Cricket because I live out in the boon docks and it seems that only AT&t will give me reliable coverage in this area.
I don't know what is up with Cricket, but they want me to upgrade to a different phone. Is this ligit? I don't know anything about these phones. How am I to tell if my phone won't operate on their new network etc. I don't want to be spending a lot of money on another phone if not needed. The main reason why I bought this phone was because most of the phones that come with the carrier services have a max internal storage of 16 gigs etc. My phone has 64 gigs of internal.
Does anyone know what is going on with Cricket update? I want to know if my present phone will work; I don't want to take the word of the customer service rep only.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks so much.
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If you are using the phone in 2G or 3G mode, that is what is being discontinued. That phone should be able to use 4G mode, which is not being discontinued. You may need to switch modes.
Links:
https://www.att.com/idpassets/images...TT-Network.pdf
https://www.motorola-support.com/uk-...2g-3g-and-4g/1
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Hmmm, Criclet Wireless shows a Motorola Moto G Power on their home screen. Might want to call and ask them what the difference is between it and yours maybe?
--edit--
I forgot about that part jdc2000, thanks.
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jdc200 and spywaredr as usual thank you so much for your very helpful information and assistance!!
jdc2000 I checked the list of phones that will continue to work after the change over and my phone will not work apparently.
My model is xt1955-2 which is not listed.
Also, after following the instructions to switch modes I find that the only modes available are:
LTE (recommended)
3G
2G
So I guess I have to assume that my phone will no longer work.
spywaredr - my concern with calling cricket is that I will get a sales pitch to switch to a phone of theirs even though I may not need it.
Now that I have checked the list I have to assume that my phone will no longer be useful in Feb 2022 - GREAT!!
I guess I will have to start looking around for another phone. This is not the time to think about spending money on another phone with so many other expenses I have to cover but so be it I have no choice.
What information do I need to know when looking for another phone now?
I would think 4G capable, GSM unlocked and at least 64 gig internal. Does this sound correct?
Thank again for your help.
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The G7 Power is about 3 years old. If the phone supports VoLTE, it should work. Please check the full model number.
https://www.cricketwireless.com/supp...atibility.html
Moto G7 Power model XT1955-5
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jdc2000 thanks for the links.
the second phone
https://www.amazon.com/Snapdragon-Un...08NG5Z6YL&th=1
says no warranty in the USA
I paid $79 for my warranty for my first phone the blue vivo X and when it crapped out they paid me back the full price of the phone. I think it was something like $240. So a warranty is important to me.
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midknyte
Yes, I checked the full model #. Mine ends in a 2 where as the one on the list ends with a 5
My model is XT1955-2
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Hmm, those models have slight differences, but the -2 might still work. According to this, the -2 is for Mexico, and the -5 is for the US markets?
https://www.phonemore.com/compare/ph...1955-5/9795726
In the end, I think you'll have to check with Cricket, but there's a chance that it will work with their VoLTE.
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One possibility is that the LTE setting will still work after the 2G and 3G transceivers are decommissioned. The only way to know for sure would be to see if the phone still works in February 2022. Cricket personnel may or may not know for sure, or may still try to sell you a new phone.
The question is how long you can afford to be without a phone if your existing one does not work after the 2G/3G deactivation.
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Urgh!! So much to read and understand.
My mind is not so sharp at 65 anymore.
Yes, jdc2000 - you are correct. If my phone won't work with the LTE then I am sol. Like most people I don't have a land line anymore (for years now). So I would have no phone at all. I don't want to take that chance.
However, even with the switch over to 4G - my concern is and please let me know if this should be a concern because I don't know much about this stuff. Once 2 and 3G are decommissioned and 4G is the only thing remaining even if I have a 4G capable phone will being way out in the boon docks where I live possibly be a challenge getting a signal.. An AT&T carrier phone is the only one that works in my area and the surrounding area. Is there a chance that the 4G won't work with even a 4G phone because of the area I live in or because I geet signal with 2 and 3G the 4g should work anyway.
midkynte
I took a look at that chart comparision. I see where you mean what -2 and -5 represent and it is confusing.
It says I only have one sim slot when I know I have 2 sim slots. Even in my settings I see a setting for the second sim slot card if I had one. Also under Networks it shows I should have 4G capability. Something does not seem right.
I looked at some of the phones on Moto's site. There is a lot to compare and also reading the reviews before I decide on what I want and even if I want another Moto. the other phone I had Blu Vivo X was a great phone (better than my Moto) but it crapped out.. I may want to consider another Blu phone.
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FYI - the newer 5G has been out for almost a year.
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Steve R Jones I would not know 5G if it hit me upside the head with a 2x4.
I have no clue what the difference is between 4G and 5G.
I would think that if my phone was 4G it would be ok on the AT&T network.
My only concern is even if it is 4G capable I don't know if they have 4G available where I live.
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You'll have to check with someone from Cricket or ATT about your 4G coverage. We can only guess.
When you use your data connection, does it show "4G" or "LTE" in the status bar?
Do you even have LTE enabled? It should be something like this:
https://videotron.tmtx.ca/en/topic/m...de.html#step=1
Go to Settings
Network&Internet
Mobile Network
Advanced
Preferred Network Type: Auto or LTE
Enhanced 4G LTE Mode: On
You don't really need 5G right now. It's nice to have, but you may not have coverage in your area yet.
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midkynte
At home if I shut off my wifi on my phone I get an "H" next to my signal strength indicator on my status bar. Don't know what that is.
My phone's preferred network types available are LTE (recommended) 3G and 2G nothing else.
jdc2000
as far as a coverage map. Hard to tell where I live. Very spotty service at times even with ATT. In my house (single story small house, no brick or steel in construction). Move 3 feet in one direction a person on the phone can hear you, move 6 feet in the other direction all you hear them saying is "I can't understand you or hear you". I have Cricket ATT and the connection is usually pretty good at my house. I had Verizon and forget about even being able to make /receive a call. Where I work (5 miles from me) if you don't have a phone with ATT service forget about even using your phone.
Because of this I am thinking then I have to stay with a GSM unlocked phone for the ATT network.
Thanks for the links for the phones. I have some time to cherry pick a phone I want. Internal storage size and processor speed are the most important to me. Again, most phones that come with service from the carriers are limited to 16 gigs internal. If it ain't 64 gigs or more I'm not interested.
Ok, now I understand about coverage. I would think if they are shutting down 2 and 3G (which they are telling me) then they would be using 4G at least in my area. I think I may have to call Cricket and ask them. My only concern again is that they will say yes just to keep me as a customer. If I go to a cricket store (25 miles from me) they will try and get me to buy a phone from them.
But at least now I have a better idea of what is happening and in what direction I will need to go in.
Thanks jdc2000 and midkynte and spywareDr for your help!
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H probably means HSPA+, which is different from LTE. It's basically the highest end of 3G. More like 3.5G, than 4G.
https://www.androidauthority.com/hsp...-better-78120/
If you had LTE, it would probably say 4G LTE or something similar. You'd need LTE in order for VoLTE (voice over LTE) to work. I'm guessing that you already had LTE (Recommended) selected?
In any case, talk to the local provider, just to be safe.
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions and explanations.
I am going to have to study up on this information to get a better idea of what phone I want. I don't want to just pick one out and then not be happy with it.
The first phone I had the Blu Vivo X was much better than the second phone I now have Moto 7.
I am going to take some time on this.
If I have any other questions or need further clarification on something I will let you know.
Thanks again for your help!!
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This is getting so frustrating looking for a phone that I want.
This list is from ATT that was given to me here in this thread that I have been using as a guide and is very helpful - thanks jdc2000.
List of phones ATT
My biggest problem is reviewing the listings like on Amazon etc where it does not list the actual model # of the phone, or the RAM, or the processor etc and then I have to go hunting around on the web to find another site that may have the same phone but have more information on it. Also, some are only International versions and no US warranty then. I have to have a warranty.
I wanted to get a Blu again but read somewhere to the fact that there will be issues between ATT and Blu - I can't remember exactly what it said but crossing off Blu from my list.
I really don't care so much about the camera ability on a phone and that seems to be what is stressed the most in listings. I also found a list of processors to see what ones I may want in a phone.
List of processors
The other problem I have is knowing the exact model of the phone in the listing - example model is Motorola G7 Power but there are two actual Motorola G7 Power G7 Power (XT1955-2) and (XT1955-5). Mine is the -2. But the sites would not list it that way so I don't know if I am buying the proper model.
Even some of the sites like Target, Walmart etc they list even less information on the phones.
My wish list:
4G or even 5G service I read that a 5G phone will work on 4G service.
4 Gigs Ram (at least and prefer more if possible)
Very good processor
At least 64 Gigs internal storage. SD card at least 64Gigs capacity (I know I have to buy a SD card but I have one already on my phone)
A large screen (even if the phone is larger tha normal), Because of my large fingers and my fingers shake while I type I end up hitting multiple keys at once. I use speech to text when i can :-)
I am willing to pay in the area of about $200 plus the cost of a warranty for a good phone.
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I googled-> XT1955-5 compare to XT1955-2
Motorola Moto G7 Power (XT1955-2 64GB) vs Motorola Moto G7 Power (XT1955-5)
https://www.phonemore.com/compare/ph...1955-5/9795726
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4G and 5G use different technologies/bands. There's no guarantee that a 5G phone will use the correct 4G bands you need.
It's going to be hard to find a 64GB and/or 5G phone in your price range. There aren't many phones that still have an SD card slot now. I'm guessing that's why older phones are coming up in your search.
There is a 2021 Moto G Power. It's newer than the XT1955-5. The 64GB model is about $250 at Best Buy.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorol...&skuId=6441178
The OnePlus Nord N200 5G 64GB is another option.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/oneplus...?skuId=6468089
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Thanks Stever Jones - thanks for the comparison - that was helpful to read.
Midknyte: Thanks for the links to the phones.
I looked at both of them. The Moto G Power 2021 seems like something that really interests me. So far this G Power looks like the one I will probably end up getting. It seems to have everything I wanted and I am so tired of searching for a phone online I don't think I will end up with much better than this. I just have to check warranty with Best Buy. They only have "open box" left that are unlocked.
I was not aware of the fact that a 5G phone may not work on a 4G network - thanks for that notification!
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Just to clarify, if you have an International phone vs a US phone, they might use different 4G bands. The 5G is on different frequencies than 4G.
https://www.lifewire.com/5g-vs-4g-4156322
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I just received my new Motorola G Power 2021 that you suggested Midknyte. It is really nice!! Thanks!! You made my life easier.
For anyone who reads this in the future this Motorola G Power 2021 is model #XT2117-4. This is on ATTs list as one of the phones that will still work when they shut down 3G service.
I just realized, the last three phones including this one that I have had in the past 4 years or so I have purchased from suggestions/advise from this thread/post. How about that for a useful thread!! Thanks everyone of you here that has helped me. Some of this techno-stuff goes over my head but you made it easier for me. It is so much appreciated !!!!
Now I have to buy a nice rigid phone protector for it which I just found on Amazon. It is waterproof also. I know it may not be waterproof to the point of scuba diving but if it drops out of my hand and in water I should be good by the time I grab it out of the water.
Thanks again for your help everyone!!!!!!!
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Happy to help. Enjoy your new phone!
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You can get very good unlocked GSM phones that do not cost what an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy costs. Let us know what price range you are looking at and we can offer some suggestions.
