Would alarm function on cell work w/o subscription?

[wonderwort]

Would the clock and alarm function on a cell phone work without a subscription to any carrier?

I have a old at&t cell phone that I'm designating to use for my alarm only.

Would the alarm and clock fuction still work when the subscription for phone service expires?

 

[T-Rexx]

I don't know the answer to your question, larry, but it's extremely easy to find out. Just set the alarm for a few minutes from now and see if it goes off. The phone gets its time signal from the AT&T network. I'm not sure it's even possible to set the time on most phones, without connecting to your subscribed service.

I formerly used an AT&T phone plan, and I would GET BILLED EVERY TIME I USED THE ALARM. It was only a few cents for each alarm, but it was annoying, nevertheless. I now use a prepaid plan from another carrier that does not charge for alarms.

As a general rule of thumb, phone companies charge for EVERYTHING you might possibly do with your phone. And they block you from doing anything that you haven't paid for.

 

[Alistair]

^they actually charged you for the alarm? That's crazy. Did it list it on the bill as an alarm usage charge? I've used my alarm on my Verizon plan and have never been charged for it.

 

[justright25]

The alarm function on cell phones is network agnostic. You are not using any services when using it. The fact is that cell phones whether on an active plan or not are able to keep on using most items on them. The only items you would be incapable of doing without a plan would involve data, text and voice services. You can however still make emergency calls to 911 without an active plan and most wireless carriers will also allow you to talk to customer service through a phone that no longer has service.
Android phones are a great way to test the limits of what you can do on a cellphone without an active plan. You can still use the market without a plan as long as you use Wi-Fi and there are even some VOIP services that you would be able to use while on Wi-Fi allowing for calls to be placed without a wireless plan from one of the carriers.

 

[T-Rexx]

^they actually charged you for the alarm? That's crazy. Did it list it on the bill as an alarm usage charge? I've used my alarm on my Verizon plan and have never been charged for it.

Yes, it was listed as an alarm charge.

I don't remember how much they charged for each alarm, but it was something like $0.05 to $0.10 every time I used it. So, obviously, I quickly learned not to use the alarm. The hell of it is that I'm pretty sure the phone had its own clock and that the alarm went off independent of the AT&T network. But, apparently, the phone reported the alarm use to AT&T, so I could be billed for it.

 

[maxpowr9]

I can firmly say no, they don't. I had a phone in Australia and after it was decommissioned, the alarm would still go off. Smartphones may be a bit different but "classic" phones should be fine.

 

[trawler69]

The buit in alarm clock function of cell phones, or at least of every one I have ever had either smart or basic phones, has worked independent of any carrier. I often have to stay in places with no network signal and the alarm always still works. It also works in phones when the sim card is taken out where the phone has the option to "continue without sim"