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Old 08-20-2020, 11:13 AM   #1
calgarygeologist
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I'm looking to see if anyone has recommendations for a mobile device that I could get my kid primarily so that he can stay connected via text messages. He is at the age where he is venturing off on his own with friends and where he might not come home right after school but hang out with his friends instead. I don't want to necessarily get him a smartphone as he is highly likely to lose it or break it right away. Something like a smartwatch would be a better option but it would have to have the ability to connect to a wireless network. He already has a Fitbit smartwatch but it doesn't have 4G/5G/LTE capability.

What should I look into?
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Old 08-20-2020, 11:17 AM   #2
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Get him a cheap flip phone with just call and text on it.
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Old 08-20-2020, 11:38 AM   #3
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The issue with any phone, dumb or smart, is that he is more likely to lose it somewhere or forget to take it with him as compared with a wearable device. He is already accustomed to wearing his Fitbit smartwatch so it would be any easy transition to a connected smartwatch.
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Old 08-20-2020, 12:11 PM   #4
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This looks like it would be exactly what you want: https://www.amazon.ca/Verizon-Gizmowatch/dp/B07ZWFYHT3/

It's sold by Amazon.ca, so presumably, it works in Canada, but it does say it works on the Verizon network, so I don't know. There aren't any reviews from Canada.
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Old 08-20-2020, 02:23 PM   #5
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There is a Canadian version:

https://www.liltracker.ca/

SIMs are like 120$ a year, watch is $180 flat. They run on the Rogers network.
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Old 08-20-2020, 03:39 PM   #6
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There is a Canadian version:

https://www.liltracker.ca/

SIMs are like 120$ a year, watch is $180 flat. They run on the Rogers network.
The plans for those are ridiculously laughable. They are using pricing from like 20 years ago. $10 per month for 50mb of data? What a joke.
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Old 08-20-2020, 04:09 PM   #7
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The plans for those are ridiculously laughable. They are using pricing from like 20 years ago. $10 per month for 50mb of data? What a joke.
Just buy your own SIM card, doesn't look like you have to use their plans. Get a $10 unlimited text plan from somewhere like here:

https://www.speakout7eleven.ca/plans

EDIT: That's if you're fine with not using the GPS feature. If you want it you need data, but still, $10 a month for all the data you'd need for one of those seems entirely reasonable. They say they only use 20-30mb per month with daily use.

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Old 08-20-2020, 04:57 PM   #8
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If you just want data on the LilTracker, you can probably add a shared data tablet plan to your Rogers account and do that. Mine works out to --checks bill-- ... $0 a month.
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Old 08-20-2020, 09:23 PM   #9
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Yeah I don't suspect your kid will be watching YouTube on the thing. It's $10 :shrug:
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Old 08-20-2020, 09:53 PM   #10
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If you want cheap plans for whatever device in Calgary take a look at freedom. They have $100 per year per pay for unlimited talk and text or $15 per month for unlimited text and 250mb late and unlimited 3G. The advantage with the unlimited 3G is it makes messaging apps work.

We just have the kids using old phones.
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Old 08-21-2020, 09:57 PM   #11
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What about a blackberry with a data only SIM? Blackberries are harder to break than the typical touch only smart phone.

I'm not sure of the SIM options that would work best for you though. There's data only SIM, pay as you go, or perhaps even a pooled family plan?

EDIT: Missed the no phone preferred post.
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Old 08-22-2020, 10:30 AM   #12
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If you want cheap plans for whatever device in Calgary take a look at freedom. They have $100 per year per pay for unlimited talk and text or $15 per month for unlimited text and 250mb late and unlimited 3G. The advantage with the unlimited 3G is it makes messaging apps work.

We just have the kids using old phones.

Or if you have Shaw internet get the new Shaw mobile plan - free talk & text (just a $20 activation fee). We got a couple of cheap phones for our kids (was just going to give one my old phone but it went and died) and set them up on that. If we ever need data we can add that but since the phones are really for letting us know they're home, if they miss the bus, etc. they don't really need data when they aren't on wifi.
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Old 08-22-2020, 09:41 PM   #13
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The plans for those are ridiculously laughable. They are using pricing from like 20 years ago. $10 per month for 50mb of data? What a joke.
I got one of these for my daughter. You can only "text"using their crappy app so they wouldn't be able to text friends. It also doesn't work on freedom or Shaw Network. 2/10, would not buy again.
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