Thank you!  I have been struggling with not getting it as I was unsure if it would work...but you have eased my worries!  ha

 

I am new to this forum, and I don't know if I could if I had more posts, or maybe you can't give kudos to replies, but if I could I would!

 

Thanks again,

 

Frustration free!

You are welcome! And I would really appreciate a kudos, but you are right - you have to achieve a certain rank and post count. It's the thought that counts.

Hey Banchi, you said you DON'T have to have a data package with the Samsung Captivate? It's a smartphone, right? Don't you have to buy a data package if you want 3G access to surf the web and all that? Or did you just mean that you can use the phone without 3G access, and do all your data needs via wifi?

 

I've had the LG Thrive for a few months now. Nice phone, and it does what I need. I really have no justification for an upgrade. That being said...having checked out my bro's Droid X, I kind of want a bigger screen Though, the more compact size of the Thrive is easier to thrust into jeans hip pockets, or carry horizontally in a belt holster. I'd also like wireless N for faster wifi and better range, 5MP camera (though still lacking a flash), 1 ghz processor (vs. the Thrive's 600 mhz).

That's correct. Data packages for prepaid smartphones are NOT mandatory; they're optional, based on what people plan to use their smartphones for. Yes, the Captivate is a smartphone. You can purchase a separate data package when Wi-Fi is not readily available, but again, it's up to you. I personally do all of my web browsing on Wi-Fi only.

So, is the Samsung Captivate the best Android smartphone that you can use with a Go Phone account? It seems like a nice phone, but the Droid X has a 4.3" screen, and an 8MP camera with flash. I guess that phone isn't compatable with AT&T's network, right?

 

How does the Captivate compare in reception to the Thrive? A review by a seller on Ebay said he typically had 1 bar less on the Captivate, compared to other AT&T phones. All the upgrades the Captivate offers over the Thrive wouldn't be worth losing cell reception. Most of the time I'm in areas where I have 4-5 bars. But, there are places I go where I only get 1-2 at times.

The Captivate is definitely not the best smartphone, but it's still very nice nonetheless. Any AT&T smartphone, including the iPhone, can be used on a GoPhone account. Along with my Captivate, I am using an iPhone 3GS with it, too. I plan on selling both phones to just get a plain iPhone 4.

I would say that the best Android smartphones for AT&T would be the Samsung Galaxy S II twins (successor(s) to the Captivate) or the Motorola Atrix 2. You don't have to use a Captivate. Any Verizon phone such as the Droid X cannot be used - CDMA and GSM technologies do not mix well.

I don't have experience with the Thrive, but I can tell you that my Captivate is currently showing two bars of 3G, while my sister's Samsung Solstice feature phone is showing three bars of 3G. So I suppose the 1-less bar theory could have some truth to it?

I'm considering the Iphone 4 as well. It only has a 3.5" screen, but it's much higher resolution than my Thrive's. And has front and back cameras for video calling. From what I've read, the Iphone 4 is by far the more stable platform over Android. I don't like the idea of buying a phone (or MP3 player or any rechargeable device for that matter) that doesn't have a user replaceable battery though. Also, most of my friends/family use Android phones, so we can share tips on apps.

 

I originally started with a Motorola C119 cheap Go Phone, and pulled the sim card from it to put in my Thrive. Would I be able to use the same sim card with a Samsung Galaxy S II or Motorola Atrix 2? From what I've read in this forum 4G is not available on Go Phone, so you're limited to 3G with these newer phones. But, would anything else be limited? Any issues with the dual core processors or anything like that?

 

I'll probably just stick with my Thrive for a while, and wait for a Samsung Galaxy S II to show up on Ebay for half the price they are now.

 

What do you want for your Captivate? Is it the SGH-I897? Is it in perfect condition? My Thrive is like new, even though I carry it all the time. I put an LCD protector on it, as soon as I peeled the sticker off it new out of the box, then snapped it into a protective case.

I have the same feelings about the unremovable battery on the iPhone 4, but I have never needed the chance to pull the battery on my 3GS for any reason while I've had to pull the battery on my Captivate at least five times before due to freezing issues.

Yes, you can use your same SIM card. My original phone of activation was an LG Neon back in 2009. I then moved it to a Samsung Mythic and then my Captivate. My iPhone 3GS came along and now I switch between my two smartphones. 4G LTE and "4G" HSPA+ technologies are not really developed for GoPhone service, so you will not be seeing faster speeds, no matter where you use your phone. Nothing other than data access should be effected for those types of smartphones.

My Captivate is an I-897, yes. I personally believe it's worth about $250-275. It is in near perfect condition - 9.5 out of 10. All marks on it (some signs of scuffing on the corners, some light wear on the back plastic and a very small scratch on the screen) were from the previous owner, which is actually a participant on this Forum. That's how I acquired the phone. I am not looking to sell it just yet, though...perhaps I'll keep it until June or July.

i have a freind who is willing to sell me her used At&t Captivate for $70 but i read it had to be unlocked to work with a prepaid sim card and unlock codes are $30 online. does it really have to be unlocked? or can i just use a sim card from a At&t prepaid gophone?

No, the phone does not have to be unlocked, as it is already exclusive to AT&T. All you need is a GoPhone SIM card, and you should be good to go!

Okay, so, I would like to buy a Samsung Captivate Glide. And I have a sim card, with not smartphone data plan. but it has unlimited texting and calling, and data. but the data isn't the same as the one for a smartphone. will  it still work and have data?

No, you will not be able to use the data portion of your plan with a Captivate Glide, or any other smartphone in general.

But if I bought a gophone sim card, I could buy a samsung captivate glide and use it? and the data would work and everything? the gophone sim card would just be a new added line? but everything would work right?

But you don't get data without the wifi?

You could use voice calling and text messaging absolutely fine if you purchased a Captivate Glide on a GoPhone plan, yes, but the $50 Unlimited Talk, Text, & Web plan does not cover data/web with the use of a smartphone. It used to be that you had to purchase a separate data plan, but I think that AT&T may have gotten rid of that option earlier this year...

WILD BANCHI so i was planning on buying a samsung captivate. I heard that it is a gsm phone meaning it comes with a sim card. Is the captivate a 3g or 4g smartphone? Oh, and since it has a sim card, can you buy a prepaid card that has minutes for the captivate? i don't want to pay monthly. also, to use the internet and such, do you have to have a data plan, or can you just get it unlocked and have free wifi? and finally to call and text, do you have to be around wifi if you buy a prepaid card for it? i could have just bought a tracphone, but i wanted a smartphone(which is more complicated than i thought; so much to know before buying) THANK-YOU!

Hi there.

Yes, the Captivate is a GSM phone that uses a SIM card. It is 3G capable. It's not new enough to be HSPA+ (3.5G) or 4G LTE capable. You can buy a prepaid card that has money on it. You can buy minute packages, text packages, and data packages with the money from the cards.

Unless you want a data plan to use when you are out of a Wi-Fi area, you'd have to purchase a separate data package. Otherwise, a data plan is not required. When I used my Captivate, I did NOT have a data plan. My web browsing was strictly used on Wi-Fi only. The only time you will need Wi-Fi is to complete tasks that involve using the data network. Calling and texting will work over AT&T's cellular network, so Wi-Fi is not needed.

so just to be sure, i can buy the captivate, unlock the phone, and buy a prepaid card? can you tell me which to buy, because i want unlimited texting, unlimited calling doesn't really matter (they're only used 4 family), and the web, i can use only where wifi is available? when you unlock the at&t phone, you could use their wifi anywhere and everywhere?

You can buy the phone, but I'm not sure if you could get it unlocked. If you get one that's locked to AT&T, you will have to go through them to unlock it. If I were you, I'd buy an already unlocked Captivate to save yourself the trouble.

If you want unlimited messaging and calling, you're looking at a $50/month phone bill. If you don't talk much like myself, I would recommend the $25/monthly plan. It includes unlimited messaging and 250 anytime minutes. This plan is perfect for me. If you think you'll be talking more than 250 minutes per month, the $50/month unlimited calling plan might work better for you.

As for Wi-Fi, you could only use it when it is available. Places such a McDonald's or AT&T store would have Wi-Fi available. If you're outside somewhere (as in a desolate area) or in your car, you will likely not be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi. Unlocking the phone doesn't have an effect on Wi-Fi connectivity.

do you have to use the gophone or can you use others like metro.... because they seem better. metro has unlimited texting and 4 cents per min for only 20 dollars monthly.

And can you use a metro pcs sim card for the samsung captivate? i think they're the same size.

No, unfortunately you cannot use the Captivate or any AT&T phone on MetroPCS' network. MetroPCS uses CDMA technology, while AT&T uses GSM. They will not work together. Your only other option besides AT&T GoPhone would be T-Mobile prepaid, as they are also a GSM carrier.

The 250 minutes plan with unlimited messaging on AT&T's GoPhone really isn't that budget draining, I think. $300/year.

iPhone is an exception. You can't not use iPhone 4 or 4S or 5 with prepaid SIM card.

Will this apply to the Samsung Captivate Glide? Can I use a Go-Phone Sim (without a data plan) on an locked Samsung Captivate Glide bought from a 3rd party?

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dasguptaa100 wrote:

Will this apply to the Samsung Captivate Glide? Can I use a Go-Phone Sim (without a data plan) on an locked Samsung Captivate Glide bought from a 3rd party?

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Yep, you'll be good to go!