Cheaper text phone out there?

[Gruntina]

I am Deaf so I rely on text messaging as I can not hear the phone. I also use video relay services which I use a camera hooked to either my TV(home) or computer(work) to connect to a live interpreter person who interprets for me while relaying the call to a hearing person. This means I easily communicate back and forth via a camera with the relay in my natural language instead of typing out English(2nd language) which is really difficult in getting tone and feedback of the other caller and always talking to a "box" so no excitement there when I call my family. The catch is on this is that I need an IP address and not a phone number to make these calls. When a hearing caller leaves me a message, I get a signmail which is an email of the interpreter signing the message via a video clip. I can retrieve and watch this on my cell phone if it has internet services. Also I can use the IP relay to make phone calls via the aim text messages that is available on my cell phone if has internet services. This is great for roadside emergency and such.

I currently have a Sprint PPC phone with keyboard slide out. With unlimited text and internet service with the most basic phone plan with 500 free minutes, I am currently paying 65 dollars a month.

I have to pay the basic phone plan regardless if any phone minutes are used or not. I currently never use more than 5 minutes of phone each months but that is a result of the phone being accidentally turned on when swishing around in my purse.


Anyone know a cheaper phone plan than what I am currently paying for unlimited text message and internet? I know in the general public these are luxury items but a phone without these two are no use for me and I am tired of being helpless by having strangers make phone calls for me if I have vehicle problems or lost of direction in town. But at the same time I really want a frugal minded budget and try to find the lowest price plan with phones that have keyboards on them. Those basic phones with three letters for each number button dials are not efficient enough for someone like me who solely communicate via text.

Any one knows anything of a cheaper service? I don’t want only deaf services because my husband is hearing and he needs a phone with text to communicate with me. He currently pays over 100 dollars on his end since he can not get a “deaf” discount.

[StressLess]

Gruntina, I never would have guessed that typed-out English was your second language. Your posts always sound perfectly natural and fluent to me!

If you scroll down to the bottom of this page,

Internet & E-mail data plans: rate plan details for the wireless web

there's a data-only plan for the Sidekick phone, unlimited texting and internet, for $29.99 a month. I don't know how much the phone itself costs. But in researching this, I did pick up that the Sidekick is very popular in the deaf community.

Good luck.

[Coleroo]

Hi Gruntina! i just wanted to say hi! I worked for CSD's telerelay division Relay South Carolina for 4 years (1 of which I was an operator that processed regular relay calls). I also have a friend who worked with Sorenson video relay now. I learned so much about the deaf community during that time and I truly admire you all!

100$ sounds a lot for your husband's plan... have you looked into Alltel Wireless plans? You can get a family plan with plenty of "anytime minutes" for $59.95 and less, add on an additional phone line for 9.95 per month, add on unlimited text messaging on one phone for $5.95, and add on unlimited internet & text messaging for $19.95 for a total of about $96 per month for both of you.

My parents and my husband and i are on one family plan, have plenty of minutes for all of us, unlimited nights and weekends, and nationwide calling for about $120 per month. We don't have text messaging or internet anymore, but it wouldnt that much more expensive to add it to one phone.

[Mosher]

Good luck.