Recommendations for Mobile Phone for School Child

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  scrimshaw on 28/10/2014 - 06:55

  Basic Samsung for $35 or Nokia for $29. Both phones will have similar battery life.

  If you are with Telstra, note that they are shutting down their 2G networks by end of 2016 due to the lack of consumers using the band and 2G only devices will no longer work as the spectrum is being refarmed for 4G usage.

  I'd look into buying a phone, any phone, that supports 3G. Nokia 207 / 208 for example is a cheap basic device with 850hz and 2100mhz 3G support.

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  MynyMouqe on 28/10/2014 - 06:59

  +9

  I'd suggest backing down on the no smart phone bit. I did with my son, same situation, and got him a Nokia 520. Fantastic smart phone, you can put lots of child restrictions on it stuck as no paid apps etc. Another added benefit is that you can enforce quiet times on it (I.e. in school hours, or after 9PM etc), and if they get any prank calls etc the phone has a built in call and SMS blocker.

  I've disabled 3G data on it, and put him on a $30 Aldi prepaid long life, such parts a year with good call rates.

  He knows that if he misuses it, he loses it, and I let him have a few games on it (but he must ask permission before playing).

  The Nokia 530 at Coles on Wednesday for $40 would be perfect, and as Aldi uses the Telstra network it works in this phone.

  It's also now a good threat to use if he plays up!

  • 

    cypher67 on 28/10/2014 - 11:27

    +1

    Huge + vote for this. Whilst smart phones may be able to do many things you dont want the child to use, it also enables you the freedom to restrict them in ways a block phone cannot. You dont want your child to be "that kid", the only one without a smart phone. I remember the days when I had a hard time because I had a cassette player and everyone else had CD …. Life scares

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  pufffdragon on 28/10/2014 - 12:39

  +2

  The suggestions here have been great. Go for the $39 Nokia 530 from Woolies tomorrow. A great phone and price that will do everything you need and I'm sure your son will be happy.

  If you want your son to dislike you for the rest of your life and get bullied at school, I would steer clear of the older type of phones.

  Sure they were cool in the 90's and pensioners love them, but as Cypher67 mentioned, you don't want your child to be "that kid". I was once that kid and it sucked.

  • 

    Astro551 on 28/10/2014 - 20:03

    Here's the link btw. I did have a brick phone while smart phones were gaining a lot of traction in high school. It pretty much meant I always scabbed off them to play mobile games (angry birds, sky burger, etc) it was annoying to text girls long convos because no threaded messaging, and I could throw it around a lot with no consequence.

    It's definitely not the end of the world, but as others have said getting a smartphone is helpful as well. On the Lumia 530 he'll probably be able to get tripview and see when buses/trains are coming or are delayed. They discontinued the texting service now I believe. Also I would have loved maps a couple of times when I had to go school sport and got hella lost, nowadays they also have inbuilt public transport directions which is pretty incredible.

    At $39.50 it's not a big investment, but I'm sure you have your reasons which is understandable. If you can restrict web browsing and app downloads it will definitely give him responsibility to look after his possessions. Or if you promise that if he looks after his new brick phone a smartphone might happen in the future that my work as well :P [as was my case]

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  pennae on 28/10/2014 - 13:57

  Smart phones can also be very useful for genuine school/edu purposes such as calendar reminders and taking photos of notes, worksheets, timetable, etc.

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  Kjjd on 29/10/2014 - 10:28

  Thanks for all the help and assistance. Main reasons for not getting a smart phone is not wanting him to be distracted while travelling to and from school. He's not a street smart kid basically being dropped off at school everyday but as he will be commuting to school on public transport , want him to have access to a phone. He does have tech already, owns an iPad mini which he had to part earn, part supplement with birthday money and subsidised by us . Also my husband feels that most smart phones don't have long battery life risking it running out of juice when you really need it.

  • 

    scrimshaw on 29/10/2014 - 22:21

    Are you sure you don't have a friend or neighbour who would be willing to part with a dumbphone? Most people nowadays would have a non-smartphone they no longer use and is just gathering dust in the storage. I personally have myself an old Nokia 6288 and 1100 which I can pretty much donate.

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  Kjjd on 30/10/2014 - 11:03

  I have a dumb phone or actually, a not so smart phone but it is diddly to use. You can text and call but to get onto the internet is slow and diddly. It's a Nokia which looks like a blackberry style phone so can open excel files, etc. I got the Nokia Lumia 530 which was on sale. I'll see how he goes with it and if he can be trusted with it, he'll get to keep it or else he will be given the old black berry style phone to use. Thanks for all the advice.

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  cpho on 30/10/2014 - 17:27

  Get him something that wont break, with a good battery life
  Something like this

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  Kjjd on 31/10/2014 - 00:01

  Decided on trialling him with the blackberry like Nokia and if he has shown proven responsibility, nought the Nokia Lumia 530 that was on special . Just need to get it unlocked now as we don't have access to Aldi here in WA.

  • 

    pufffdragon on 31/10/2014 - 21:56

    Good for you.
    I heard the Aldi sims aren't working in these phones. Myself and a lot of other people here in OzBargain are getting a bloke called Bagman to unlock the Nokia 530.

    He's charging $15 and a reliable source. Send him a message at this address if you would like it unlocked. Payment is through Paypal. [email protected]
    Cheers

    • 

      Kjjd on 02/11/2014 - 20:38

      Thanks puffdragon