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Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:30 pm
by Hopp
Smartphones.
As far as I can see, the only features missing with no smartphone are speed camera alerts and weather forecasts.
I think I can live without them.
Can't bear the thought of starting from scratch with a smartphone.
I seem to have Wi-Fi and therefore points of interest.
Car is brilliant, could not be more pleased.

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:47 pm
by Hopp
You can get mobile broadband units for almost nothing and they use very little data ?
What is a mobile broadband unit and how do you or would you use it ?

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:12 pm
by JimT
Mobile Wi-Fi units will plug into the data socket in the car and act as a permanent hotspot for the car to recieve data. Pcworld or carphone warehouse or any other mobile phone shop should be able to help.
They are sometimes called Mi-Fi or dongles. Sims with 500mb of data allowance per month should be ok.

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:06 pm
by Hopp
Finally given in and bought a smartphone just for the car - Sony Experia for £99. from O2.
Fair bit of trouble setting it up to work with connected services but now working brilliantly.
Phone is in the central glove box, permanently connected to the USB charging point.
Turns itself off or goes to sleep when I leave the car and automatically turns itself on when the car is started.
Indicator at the top of the info display shows it's battery status.
Was showing red this morning as hadn't used the car for a few days but phone soon came to life as charge built up.
Presume letting the phones battery go flat now and again does no harm.
Not an any way interested in using the phone so will effectively just forget it's there.

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:47 pm
by AlanW55
How much a month are you paying?

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:27 am
by Hopp
just started with a £10 O2 payg sim, used about half in 3/4 weeks.

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 12:30 pm
by Topicalcat
Take a look at the prices on Giffgaff which Piggybacks on the O2 network. Owned by O2 but a lot of the admin and techie stuff done by members. You can buy £5 or £7.50 or £10 monthly giga bags/ goody bags. I have used for some years for my ipad and entirely happy with the prices and service. You can also check your useage and upgrade or downgrade the next months purchase. Just used in France with no problems.

Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 7:59 pm
by AlanHo
I put a Three network 12GB data only SIM in my car last March and have used less than half of it.

It cost about £30 so works out at £3 per month which I am happy with


Re: Don't have and don't want a smartphone !

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 12:52 pm
by cmr22
JimT wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:12 pm Mobile Wi-Fi units will plug into the data socket in the car and act as a permanent hotspot for the car to recieve data. Pcworld or carphone warehouse or any other mobile phone shop should be able to help.
They are sometimes called Mi-Fi or dongles. Sims with 500mb of data allowance per month should be ok.
If you plug one of these MiFi units into the USB port, does that not switch off Bluetooth, therefore preventing you from using the hands free phone?