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About your old cell phone... Did You Know?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

phone1My old Galaxy S3 was no longer holding a charge long enough to be useful to me anymore. Those of you who know me know that I can't seem to throw anything away that I can re-purpose and I figured there has to be a use for a phone that they say is more powerful than the computer systems first used in space capsules. After all it does still have a calculator in it, a camera, and most important of all my cribbage game application!

Even though I had already purchased a new phone and ported my phone number to the new phone I was curious as to what this phone could still do. Keep in mind the phone was/is now off grid as far as it's not on any type of plan with any carrier.

Much to my surprise you can still tun on the wifi and access the internet! Wellphone app if you can access the internet then you can download apps and I remember downloading an app that made an old tablet work as a phone. So why not make my non-activated phone work like a phone?

I downloaded the app and what do you know... it works!

So now, what I was paying $40.00 for a month, I have phone service for free.

Of course I did NOT deactivate my new phone as it has it has features I want but with this discovery I have a back-up phone I can use it I lose or break my new phone. I could also leave my old phone in the car or camper for emergencies as well.

free appJust to make sure this was not a fluke I dug out a really old flip phone and tried it. Yup, this phone that had been inactive for years could still access the internet. Yes it could still download the app. Yes it could still make phone call with the app (to the left) to make phone calls as if it were still on an expensive phone plan.

Who knew???

If someone did know they sure didn't tell me about it but that's why I'm telling you.

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Comments (26)

Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I hope you know someone who can use it Rose Mary Justice .

Dec 07, 2019 03:42 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you Lauren Williams, CPO 

Dec 07, 2019 03:44 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Bob- Larry and I hate adding to the landfill problem too. We took his old Samsung and with the Alfred app use it as a security camera.  

Dec 07, 2019 06:10 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Bob "RealMan" Timm it is a great idea, I can use my previous Samsung phone as an extra in case I have problem with my current phone.

Dec 07, 2019 08:27 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Bob.

Well this is one of the many reasons I dance in the Rain on a daily basis, learned something new, thanks

Dec 08, 2019 02:25 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. My grandson is using my old phone with apps. Does not need to make calls yet, he is only 18 months and not talking yet. Enjoy your day!

Dec 08, 2019 05:13 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - repurpose - recycle - reuse.  You are living the good life!

Dec 08, 2019 05:22 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That's exactly what I'm doing John Pusa .

Dec 08, 2019 05:32 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Glad to be of assistance James Dray (Professor Bob)

Dec 08, 2019 05:33 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Bob... I started "leasing" my phones years ago. I get a free upgrade every year and normally do so about every 15-18 months. Just upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy 10+ from my 8+ this week. I have an old Galaxy 5 in a drawer, just in case... but have yet to need to pull it out. Great ingenuity on your part in repurposing your old phone.

Dec 08, 2019 05:33 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Wayne Martin , 18 months and he's not making calls YET!

Dec 08, 2019 05:34 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I am living the good life Michael Jacobs 

Dec 08, 2019 05:34 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Oh, that's a cool idea Kathy Streib , I gotta try that.

Dec 08, 2019 05:35 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Thanks Bob for sharing such wonderful information.  I have several old phones that needed a purpose :)

Dec 10, 2019 08:23 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

You are welcome Ricki Eichler McCallum . I actually went on a hunt around my house to find old phones to set the rest of them up like this. One was to old for this trick 

Dec 10, 2019 08:27 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

These phone are powerful. We reuse, recycle and re-purpose as much as possible. I think we send our old phones somewhere to be reused. Of course, that is after we wipe our old info from them.

Jan 06, 2020 05:01 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thanks for mentioning that Carla Freund as I know I have seen recycling programs as well. If I remember correctly, at one time. The UPS Store collected them and they reconditioned them to give to veterans.

Jan 06, 2020 05:48 AM
Carla Freund

That's great! I know some groups give them to women in shelters or who are part of an abused women's group.

Jan 06, 2020 05:58 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Bob,

Very smart. No need to take the fancy phone out to the back country then. No significant tower availability in some areas anyhow.

Jan 06, 2020 07:29 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Dörte Engel that would be a great idea to keep one in the camper. Thanks!

Jan 06, 2020 07:33 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Hi Bob, what a great discovery!! I am getting all my old Blackberrys out and repurposing them.  I miss Brickbreaker~~! ha.  Thank you

Jan 06, 2020 10:03 AM