I am looking for a cell phone that takes pictures and has text messaging. I noticed a co-worker had one of these and it looked like something my 13 year old daughter would adore. I don't even know the girl's name and what brand or service she had.

I asked her about it. She said that she takes pictures and sends them to her e-mail. She said her phone cost $100 and $30/mo. I am looking for a phone for a 13 year old girl that mostly uses her current phone, which she claims she hates, for text messaging. She uses AOL IM, which I have seen advertised. She doesn't use the phone to talk as much as text messaging and would love the AOL IM.

She is trying and helping around the house, while I am working. I will get her this. She is quickly running out of minutes using her pre-pay phone. I know she would adore this picture type of phone. Text messaging is a must! She uses AOL IM on the computer and would like this feature also. She does not spend very much time with conversation of phone calls.

Does anyone know of a phone or plan to recommend, for a teen's use? I don't want to pay a fortune! She is running through minutes way too quickly using text messaging, with her pre-pay phone. An inexpensive plan is what I am looking for with text messaging and AOL IM as a must. I would like to give her some sort of gift for her efforts, while I am working.

Suggestions would be appreciated! You get a bit lost searching the net. Well, I did get completely confused! Any advice?

The cheapest Sprint PCS vision phone is $50.00 after rebate. This offer is good before 8/28/04.

Nokia Picture phone

One of the problems is in order for her to upload or send the pictures on her computer, she needs to sign up for PCS Vision. The pictures are stored on her phone but they only hold so many until you either have to delete them or upload them. They do allow you to try it for free for 2 months. The Sprint PCS Vision Packs have various features depending on your needs. Free Nights and Weekends and 100 text messages are usually included.

Think about what she is asking. In order to use AOL IM, she needs to get online through her phone. (Same goes for uploading pictures) When you sign up for online services you need the vision pack. (that is not part of your monthly minutes) Getting online with your phone is a big deal for a teen. (Time to start thinking.. get a job girl. LOL )

You will be able to get her online with her phone, she will be able to upload pictures, use text mail and be able to download $5.00 worth or downloads each month. One of the cheapest PCS vision plan is around 65.00 a month with 1100 shared minutes. I think every area may be different. I'm not sure what single use is for your area but its probably close.

As for AOL IM on the phone, it is terrible. (I tried the IM) You are basically sending a text message, they send you one, you send them one etc... It is very slow and not much fun. It doesn't even look the same. That is about the biggest waste I've seen.

You really need to talk to a representative on the phone who can help you more. I think the picture phone is great. Keep in mind that with a $50.00 phone, her pictures aren't going to be that great. (more like a toy camera) If you really want quality you need to buy a higher priced phone. As for AOL IM, don't bother. She isn't gonna like it. Have you ever tried to type a sentence on a phone??? It is terribly time consuming.

Picture Phones

Call a Sprint PCS representative and ask them. I wasn't sure where in Kentucky you were at so I couldn't ask them. Call them toll free at 1-888-253-1315. They will be able to help you out. You are probably looking at at least a $50.00 bill each month. (and you MUST sign a 2 year contract) Let me know what you decided to do. Personally, I think its a lot of money just to want to chat on a phone. (especially since the chat isn't that great)

If text messaging is your concern you should call your phone service provider and ask about an upgrade in text messaging. It may be as little as $5.00 a month for unlimited text messaging. If you aren't set on switching, I would see what your current plan offers instead of getting yourself into a $50.00 or $60.00 bill that you don't need. You could also look into shared minutes and you both could share a plan. (My son and I do that).

Thank you so much for your advice!! I quit using my cell completely. I couldn't use up time on pre-pay.

You have to figure, I am in a divorce situation and lost my son to his drunk of a father already. I can't lose both of my kids. My son is a big problem and I actually did throw him out, when furious with his horrible behavior.

You wouldn't believe the improvement I have seen from my daughter, since father and son are gone, the troublemakers. She had to be hounded to do the dishes before. I came home from work, exhausted, as usual. I was wearing no shoes after getting that uniform off and my comfy tee shirt on. I stepped on wet spots in the hallway carpet.

You can imagine, I flipped out on that thinking our nine month old Boxer was not taken out and this was dog urine. We are talking about a 13 year old girl who had to be drug by the hair to find the dishwasher. She took it upon herself, while I was at work, to try to scrub out carpet stains. The dog didn't do anything!

She is making her bed every morning. I come home to a clean house, every shift. This is an unexpected and dramatic change. Her brother had to go, with all of his problems. Without her brother or father's lazy influence, loaded with excuses, my daughter is doing way beyond my expectations.

I have to be able to afford it, but feel that she deserves something and it may be big. She has always tested out at least two grades above her own. Her brother was always such a constant problem, this is what she learned got attention. This is so unfair to her, but was life for a long time.

Now, it is just us, alone. I am astounded at her new behavior. I used to have to tell her multiple times to do the dishes, with a dishwasher. Today, she is doing things around the house that I feel deserve recognition and appreciation. She has been ignored long enough, because of a problematic brother.

How much is this going to cost me?! Why are kids so expensive? Thanks for the info. I will definitely check it out. My daughter deserves something, for her efforts, but how much is this going to cost me or should I have even opened my big mouth about that cell phone camera to her?

Being a parent to teens is difficult!!! Thanks Claire!!

Wildflower,

I haven't read any of your posts since you have been back. (I certainly will) I'm sorry things didn't turn out as you had hoped. Everything happens for a reason and maybe in time things can be better for you.

I'm really not sure what it will cost you for the phone. You really will be looking at at least $50.00 a month. Why don't you call Sprint and ask them? There may be other phone providers in your area too. Many times they give discounts if you are a member of a credit union. It may be worth it to open an account somewhere just to get the discount on the phone plan. Just shop around. You can ask the phone provider what discounts they have. Even if you wouldn't have mentioned the picture phone, she would have found out about it.

Make sure whatever plan you get is something you can afford. There may be a plan which allows her to download so many pictures per month but not go anywhere else online with the phone. Find out what is most important to her. Is it the pictures? Is it the online instant messaging? Is it the text messaging? Is it the amount of minutes per month? Sit down with her and explain to her that you really want to do something nice for her but it has to be within your means. If she really wants a new phone that bad and you can get her one then make her do the legwork. Tell her to call around and look online and find the best rates she can with the features she is looking for. (unlimited text messaging, earlier nights and weekends, phone uploads etc..) After she has all the best prices, you two can sit down and see what is in your budget and what isn't.

P.S. Don't forget to look into shared minutes. It is sometimes cheaper and the second phone is free.

Oh and one more thing... AOL IM is sent the same way as text messaging. (think slow, hard to type, wait for the response etc...) The only difference is you need to be online to use AOL IM .

Ok.. I'm done editing it now. LOL

My daughter bought an Orange cameraphone recently which for the first 6 months comes with free text messaging from 6pm Fridays to 7am Mondays. You are allowed 500 free texts per weekend. It works on the pay as you go system (prepaid vouchers) It cost £ 99.00 ( $180)
At first she used all the texts each weekend but now the novelty had worn off, she uses less. I don't know if you can get similar offers over there but it has really kept the cost down, she hardly uses it during the week and saves the texts for the weekend when they are free.

Thanks Clairbear, for your advice!! My daughter is 13 and I already know her needs, so I don't end up with some cell phone bill that competes with my house payment! lol! Jenny, that price give me a complete heart attack!! I found better deals.

Please understand, this is a divorce situation, where she is being very confused by her drunk of a father that didn't notice she was alive, for years. The story is ugly!! This is far from an easy divorce. There are too many assets at stake.

My daughter is a decent kid. She is troubled, right now, with divorce problems and confusion, with parents. I want to give her something she wants to make her life a bit better. My husband doesn't even have a job and lives with his mother. He is loaded with excuses of being too broke to help us. What if I said that about the bills and kids? I don't have a job, so starve! This is the nonsense. I am getting and complete disagreement about divorce settlement. It looks like we are going to have to deal with this situation for much longer than I wish and it is very difficult on her.

I went shopping around today. I found that TMobile is a good deal, for people with kids. Sprint has a good deal also, for parents with teens that quickly use up pre-pay cards. This is only for parents willing to put their kids loose with a monthly contract and better have a clue what their kids will realistically do, or you will end up owing a fortune!

My daughter does the same thing that all teens do. They adore text messaging more than they utilize phone calls. I have also noticed that AOL IM is extremely popular with young teens. My daughter talks to all of her school friends through this. Her friend has already complained about the AOL IM being sluggish and a bit of a pain, but she wants it anyway. The picture thing is a big deal to her also. She is fascinated by the idea of pictures! I would tell parents to check out either TMobile first and Sprint next. I have not made a decision yet.

My daughter is being bombarded, emotionally. She loves all of us. She doesn't understand this divorce stuff at all. Neither do I!! I just want to make life a little better for her. She does deserve it and earned it, by her help around the house, while I am working. I appreciate this and will reward her good behavior.

This is much more of an issue than a cell phone!!

Wildflower, cell phones are obviously lots cheaper over there in the US. The cheapest ordinary phone over here is about £40 ($80), the cheapest camera phone about £90 ( $180) and that is a very basic one bought through the internet, the shop prices are higher!
Good luck in choosing a phone for your daughter.

I just wanted to add one more thing... You should pay the extra for the insurance on the phone. If the phone is lost or stolen it will be well worth it.

Good Luck to you.

~clare~ (without an i )