Techs & Trends

The way the current world works, you can either get a more high-end phone with more support available for you at a comparably dirt-cheap price, as long as you sign a contract (Company has to recoup that money they discounted you somehow), or you can get a lower-end phone that would be affordable to you, get a prepaid service and understanding that, due to the nature of the company, you might not get as much customer support for your service as if you were in contract.

From what you ask, I believe prepaid would be perfect for you. Check your coverage, and I would advise browsing through the phones available for Metro and Virgin Mobile (imo the top tier in prepaid data), or Cricket (the more affordable option.

I hope you find a service that fits your needs, and I understand your frustration with the system.