What Does Red G On Upper Bar Mean?

This was an educational question for me as well.  It took quite a while to identify exactly what this icon is and what it denotes.  

I have a Samsung T301G TracFone that I carry and it has this icon on the display as well.  After researching your question and coming up blank I made an effort to identify this since I'd like to know for my own knowledge.  Being a radio nerd didn't help much either...  My phone in particular runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies.

For reference:
GSM info is here: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/GSM
GPRS info is here: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/General_Packet_Radio_Service
 
The "G" icon that you see on the phone indicates that you are connected to your service provider’s GPRS network. While connected on this network, you can access Internet data services. However, a data plan from your service provider is required to access on the Internet.

As long as that icon is red you should be able to connect to the Internet.  There may have been damage to the phone that is preventing you from making voice calls.  You may need to replace the phone.  The phones are designed to be cheap and throw-away so a repair will far exceed the cost of a new phone.  You can have TracFone transfer your minutes to the new phone with ease by calling them on the 800 number: 1-800-867-7183.  They may also be able to tell you if the phone is still functional or not so give them a call.

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The following information is specific to Samsung phones, the T301G in particular.  I'm only including it for reference in the event other folks see this response from their Internet searches...

You may turn off GPRS (mobile web/MMS) to save battery life (on Samsung phones anyway) if you do not use GPRS features. Doing this requires accessing a secret menu. This is how:

Open the slider and type *#4777*8665# and a menu should pop up. Go to menu number 5, Attach Mode. Select Manual attach. OK. It will inform you that you need to restart the phone for this to take effect - do this later. Then go to menu number 2, GPRS detach. The phone will notify you that it has done the GPRS detach, which means that it is no longer connected to the GPRS network. Now restart the phone, and there should be a blue and white G at the top of the screen instead of a red and white one. Success! Of course, you may reverse this at any time by going back to the secret menu and selecting Auto attach and GPRS attach.

This will NOT adversely affect your ability to add minutes to the phone via [...] or by using a minutes card purchased in a store. If blocking the browser makes you unable to add minutes directly from the phone, just GPRS attach again and you'll be fine. If you cannot remember the code, consider putting it into a note (in the tools menu) for safe keeping.

Also, numerous references talk about the icon relating to a built-in GPS on Samsung phones.  All Samsung phones have a built in GPS for emergency 911 number dialing purposes ONLY.  It will give emergency responders information about your exact location so that rescuers can arrive as quick as possible.  The GPS is not accessible for any other purposes but you may be able to contact your service provider for further feature availability.

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Licenses & Certifications: Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Novell, FCC RF & Amateur Radio licensed.