It appears to be just like mine...Samsung Gusto II. I have a new one but haven't activated. It's an Alcatel flip that is about 1/8" larger in both directions. It is a smart phone (it has to be a smart 4g with HD voice to work after the new year). It doesn't have all the features the big block phones have but I don't want it to. I will never use it for internet. I don't text but I do receive texts regarding hurricanes and marine warnings. I disable some of what it has. Like Element, it's just my away-from-home phone. My monthly charge is $12.99, including all fees/taxes. that is unlimited talk, text, and data. 1G of data at 4g, then it goes to 2g. I do not understand people having $100 mobile phone bills.
The 3g phones will not work. If you know how to keep them working please share. The carriers are dropping 3g devices altogether. The networks will not support them.
If it gets to that point you will have to upgrade to a 4G flip phone. There are several available. 4G is not leaving soon...so will be good for a while with one.
We are there. No 3g phones will work in 2022; I have bought a little flip that is 4g and smartphone. If yours is a 3g flip, get to shopping around. I know one of the big companies gave some people a free new phone to get them on a 4g device. I don't know why they were eligible for it though. I put a link on my response to Element a few posts up.
This post was edited by Thriftymaid at September 9, 2021 3:08 PM MDT
Some flip phones are smart phones. All phones must be 4g compatible to work on either the Verizon, ATT, or TMobile networks next year. That is all of them. So the issue is whether your phone is a 3g or 4g lte phone. This is my new 4g lte compatible phone. It is a little flip phone like my old one but it is 4g and a smart phone. From what I'm reading 4glte phones should be good for a minimum of eight more years. But there will be a 6g one day.
The guy at my mobile service company said this is a smart phone but doesn't have the extensive features of the big block phones, which I do not want to have to go to. But, I hope you are right and that this is the same technology I have now. The new phone has google assistant and all that chit which I will have to disable. And voice is something I've always disabled. I don't want to talk to the phone and the phone talk to me. I want to enter command and for it to obey. That's all. :)
It is certainly a spyware phone (it will listen to you)...maybe that is all they need to call it a smart phone. But I do not consider it a smart phone....to me a smart phone is a hand size tablet computer thar happens to take phone calls.
I hope you can disable the Google assistant...I don't know if you can or not.
No chit! The big thing it to not download apps (I read that yesterday but am not experiences in this). I have no need to download any app. I don't want the phone to do anything but be a telephone. Also, I did hear that Verizon has put off their conversion to no less than 4g phones to the end of 2022. I don't know if that affects you.
Stu Spelling Bee 
