Quote:
Originally Posted by KentE
The no-contract phone I bought last year was a Virgin Mobile, and I did not need to activate it to use it as a fully enabled android mini-tablet, with Wifi. Obviously no data capability through the phone, of course. My understanding is that that is the case with at least most of the Android phones, although I would check it out if before getting a phone from TracFone, Net10, or Straight Talk (which I think is a Walmart/Net10 collaboration), since those have traditionally been the most "locked down" phones. (I think it will work with them, but not sure.) I still get a Virgin splash screen when I power it up, and once in a while a screen that asks me if I want to activate the phone now, but that's the sum total of "phone behavior". No problem to use it without activation. From reading game reviews, there may be some games that won't play because they require access to phone data (for advertising purposes). My phone worked fine with Google Play straight out of the box, and installed the Amazon AppStore with no complication. By the specs, it's a relatively slow Android 4.0, but it's handled everything I've wanted.
KentE
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Really appreciate the detailed answer. Recently, I've been thinking about a no contract phone with Android 4+, mSD card slot, speaker, and small screen (<4") to be used as an audio player - music, audiobooks, radio. Primary apps would be Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Audible, OverDrive, LibriVox, TuneIn Radio, Amazon MP3, AOL Radio, Pandora, BBC Radio, KING FM, old time radio shows, etc.
When WiFi is available, I'd stream. When not, a card slot would allow an ample supply of audiobooks and music. This device would supplement my Sansa Clip Zip and Nexus 4; not replace either of them. Not completely sold on the idea yet, but strongly leaning that way.