I am looking for a nice phone that I can use w/AT&T. I am dropping Sprint & my company mobile is kinda crappy. I can, however, buy one from someone who doesn't like/need theirs any more & put the SIM card into it for use. I prefer a Smartphone or similar. Thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelWayne_71
I am looking for a nice phone that I can use w/AT&T. I am dropping Sprint & my company mobile is kinda crappy. I can, however, buy one from someone who doesn't like/need theirs any more & put the SIM card into it for use. I prefer a Smartphone or similar. Thanks!
I like their Nokia 6650. There's a lot of unlocked phones out there you can buy for at&t if you're looking to spend more money and get a nicer phone.
The Nokia E63 should be coming along any week now, full QWERTY, 3.5mm headset jack, good size. Basically a lower-end E71 (which is a freaking awesome phone for only $350, BTW)
You can probably tell I'm a Nokia fan. My boss likes his HTC Fuze, if that's more your sort of thing, but you have to pay $30 a month for the data instead of $15. (or is it $10 now? I'm not sure)
One good strategy if you see a phone you like that at&t doesn't sell is to buy an iPhone from at&t for the discounted price and sell it on eBay and put the difference towards whatever unlocked phone you prefer.
Edited to add: Once the N97 comes out this summer, I'll probably have an E71 for sale. ;)
And I'd be more than happy to
give you my old Nokia 6200. (And a Nokia Music Stand to go with it)
Thanks for the info guys. I have done some research & really need to stick w/the Windows Mobile platform. I have some applications for work that I need to have on my mobile & it doesn't look like the iPhone can support them.
Quote from: MichaelWayne_71 on March 05, 2009, 12:54:39 PM
Thanks for the info guys. I have done some research & really need to stick w/the Windows Mobile platform. I have some applications for work that I need to have on my mobile & it doesn't look like the iPhone can support them.
If you need the app, then stick with Windows Mobile. I prefer S60, though, being a Nokia zealot. (and the E71 is super sexxxy) ;D
Quote from: MichaelWayne_71 on March 05, 2009, 12:54:39 PM
Thanks for the info guys. I have done some research & really need to stick w/the Windows Mobile platform. I have some applications for work that I need to have on my mobile & it doesn't look like the iPhone can support them.
I have an HTC 8525, the new version is the Tilt (not sure the numbers). I love mine. The only difference I know of with the Tilt is that it has build in GPS receiver (and the screen tilts). There are tons of apps out in the wild that you can run on these things.
I used to use and support WinMo devices and have to say I'm quite surprised by the complete lack of improvements in recent years. WinMo 7 probalby won't be out until next year. They just showed 6.5 (which is really a 6.1 patch) and still haven't integrated it with Zune features or any of the other Windows Media environment. Their application dominance is gone now since Apple has more apps in 9 months than were released for WinMo in 9 years. MS response recently is that they will increase the Windows Mobile market by selling less phones running Windows Mobile (not kidding) and the 6.5 and 7 versions of Windows Mobile will not run on any existing hardware. Good way to piss off your market base.
C'mon, when Palm (the people who didn't even want to switch to color screens) has one of the most exciting smart phones coming out, Windows has dropped the ball. Not to mention when Bill Gates' wife goes on record saying she wants an iPhone, you've lost the marketing edge, which is the only edge Microsoft ever really had.
Here is the smartphone Market share as of last year:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Market_share_of_mobile_os_s_2008.JPG)
Mmm..Symbian. ;D
Quote from: nathanm on March 06, 2009, 01:57:48 PM
Mmm..Symbian. ;D
No kidding. #1 smartphone OS and what is their marketing budget? Like $1.95?
Well, company got me an iphone. I have to say...I love it! Anyone know of a app for SMF forums that doesn't require jailbreak?
Quote from: Michael71 on June 25, 2009, 11:53:21 AM
Well, company got me an iphone. I have to say...I love it! Anyone know of a app for SMF forums that doesn't require jailbreak?
I just use safari to get on the forum.
Quote from: Michael71 on February 02, 2009, 03:07:01 PM
I am looking for a nice phone that I can use w/AT&T. I am dropping Sprint & my company mobile is kinda crappy. I can, however, buy one from someone who doesn't like/need theirs any more & put the SIM card into it for use. I prefer a Smartphone or similar. Thanks!
If you want a Crackberry, get the 8900 Curve. RIM is coming up with A LOT of apps to compete with the iPhone. I have the 8900 with T Mobile which got the phone first. It's currently free if you order through wirefly or a penny with amazon. Downside to A T & T's service though with that Crackberry is that UMA will not work with AT & T (WiFi access, unlimited calls through wifi that DOES'NT come out of your service minutes) With UMA you can use the internet faster than EDGE and you can get a lower plan limit since if you call via wifi hotspot cell minutes will not be used which means lower monthly charges since you can realistically choose a low minute usage plan.
AT & T does have 3G but that's not a 3G phone, it is a UMA(wifi), EDGE, GPS phone.
My biggest problem with the Blackberry is the same problem I have with the iPhone. The ridiculous monthly fees for data. I pay $20 a month for unlimited data, 1500 SMS (essentially unlimited to me) and 200 MMS. A BB would be $20 a month more even with my SO's corporate discount, and that doesn't include SMS and MMS, so add another $10 a month for that.
The iPhone would $25 more a month.
I can buy a nice unlocked phone once a year just with the savings, so yeah, I think I'll stick with my new Nokia E75, at least until something better comes along. ;)
Quote from: nathanm on June 25, 2009, 09:25:20 PM
My biggest problem with the Blackberry is the same problem I have with the iPhone. The ridiculous monthly fees for data. I pay $20 a month for unlimited data, 1500 SMS (essentially unlimited to me) and 200 MMS. A BB would be $20 a month more even with my SO's corporate discount, and that doesn't include SMS and MMS, so add another $10 a month for that.
The iPhone would $25 more a month.
I can buy a nice unlocked phone once a year just with the savings, so yeah, I think I'll stick with my new Nokia E75, at least until something better comes along. ;)
I pay 39.99 for my daytime 600 minute service unlimited n/we (it's unlimited free calls anytime of the day with the T Mobile wifi so I talk wayyy more than that 600 minutes a month LOL), 9.99 for T Mobile HotSpot, and 34.99 for Unlimited Web, Text, Pics, Video Messages and Email.
The basic Unlimited Data plan with T Mobile is 24.99 a month. That's 4.99 a month more than the one your currently paying.
It depends on the carrier, AT & T and Verizon have EXPENSIVE data service plans. So about 85 bucks for me to have Unlimited everything (except minutes) for a crackberry with T Mobile.
Oh yea most of the T Mobile HotSpots are actually AT &T owned wifi
(like starbucks) guess they have a deal. I guess that's why when your out of the T Mobile service area you go on AT & T or Alltel service witho ut roaming charges.
I don't know if I can post another website (it's not a forum) but check out billshrink.com to compare cell phones, cell phone plans, gas, credit cards that's custom made for you and free. *Moderators feel free to remove if you can't post other websites*
Quote from: Cherish on June 25, 2009, 10:29:46 PM
It depends on the carrier, AT & T and Verizon have EXPENSIVE data service plans. So about 85 bucks for me to have Unlimited everything (except minutes) for a crackberry with T Mobile.
at&t's data rates are ridiculous for blackberry and iPhone, but for other phones they're not bad at all. $15 for unlimited data alone, $20 for unlimited messaging alone or $30 for both.
The data rates are more on the iPhone because the internet is used more. I average between 200 and 400 MB a month on my iPhone. It would be more than that if I did not use wi-fi at home and work. On my older phones I barely used the internet because it was too slow and hard to use.
I think the $30 unlimited internet is reasonable but I think the $20 unlimited texting is a ripoff. Texting should be free with a data plan in my opinion.
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on June 26, 2009, 08:28:16 AM
The data rates are more on the iPhone because the internet is used more. I average between 200 and 400 MB a month on my iPhone. It would be more than that if I did not use wi-fi at home and work. On my older phones I barely used the internet because it was too slow and hard to use.
I think the $30 unlimited internet is reasonable but I think the $20 unlimited texting is a ripoff. Texting should be free with a data plan in my opinion.
Considering that carriers piggyback the text data on the voice carrier, it ABSOLUTELY is a ripoff. They're making a killing on those text rates.
Quote from: Hoss on June 26, 2009, 08:43:01 AM
Considering that carriers piggyback the text data on the voice carrier, it ABSOLUTELY is a ripoff. They're making a killing on those text rates.
There were Senate hearings last week on exactly that:
"On its face, lower average per-message pricing seems good for consumers. But when you look at the actual technology involved, the issue becomes less clear. As Randall Stross wrote last December, the marginal cost of text messages is not just small - it is effectively nil. In particular, in communications between the handset and cell tower - the place where bandwidth constraints might exist, at least for voice communications - text messages are tucked into the control channel that is used for internal communication between handset and tower. (That's why they are limited to 160 characters.) Once the text message is on the wired network, it is vanishingly small; a single photo you email to a friend could be replaced by 10,000 text messages. And since the carriers' capacity needs are being driven by real data (email, web browsing, video, etc.), they are getting text messaging capacity for free.
So in effect, the wireless carriers are bringing in more and more revenue for a service that costs them zero to provide. Looked at that way, it doesn't look so good for the consumer. (washingtonpost.com)
Quote from: Hoss on June 26, 2009, 08:43:01 AM
Considering that carriers piggyback the text data on the voice carrier, it ABSOLUTELY is a ripoff. They're making a killing on those text rates.
Technically, the text messages share the control channel. (at least on GSM)
There is a finite control channel capacity which is shared between SMS, registration, call setup, and other duties. Obviously it behooves a carrier to price the SMS service such that its use is limited to a volume which the network can handle without excessive queuing, which users do not appreciate. At all.
My point is that there is certainly a cost to providing SMS service, despite what folks on DSL Reports might claim. I fully agree that even 10c per message is utterly ridiculous.
That said, the anger is completely misdirected. People should be far more upset about charges for incoming text messages, which are out of their control. That stands in stark contrast to voice calls, which the user can choose to ignore.
Quote from: nathanm on June 26, 2009, 10:43:08 AM
. People should be far more upset about charges for incoming text messages, which are out of their control. That stands in stark contrast to voice calls, which the user can choose to ignore.
That is why I have texting turned off on my cell phone. I knew I wouldn't use it enough to buy unlimited texting and revolted at the thought of getting spammed by text messages I would have to pay for.
Quote from: nathanm on June 26, 2009, 06:20:31 AM
at&t's data rates are ridiculous for blackberry and iPhone, but for other phones they're not bad at all. $15 for unlimited data alone, $20 for unlimited messaging alone or $30 for both.
20 bucks for unlimited messaging on AT & T? Wow that's why I left Verizon there's was 20 bucks a month for unlimited text messaging too, its 14.99 or 10 bucks more in crackberry, total 34.99 with corporate email and unlimited web. I need unlimited text messaging as me and my friends text A LOT or I'm either on a IM service on my phone which uses text usage I think, I could be wrong on that. But yea I text wayyy more than I talk, lol.
Is it me or has text messaging monthly charges gone up in the past like 4 or 5 years? Didn't it used to be apart of the service plan? Or has texting just become more popular hence the higher charges for them? I know most middle school, high school, and college students text more than the average person. I've had A LOT of carriers, Cellular One (wow more than a decade ago), Bell Atlantic (became Verizon), Sprint (as in run as fast as you can away from them), T Mobile (stationed overseas so had to cancel service), Cingular then they became AT & T then they switched back to calling themselves Cingular then went back to AT & T (bipolar carrier), back to Verizon, finally back to T Mobile who's treated me the best.
<= $30 for unlimited messaging on family plan (AT&T)
Why does everyone got to hate on Sprint? I can't say that I have had any troubles. Other than I have dust under the screen of my Q9c but that isn't Sprints fault.
/lovers his old sero plan
Quote from: Noodlez on June 27, 2009, 01:44:04 PM
Why does everyone got to hate on Sprint? I can't say that I have had any troubles. Other than I have dust under the screen of my Q9c but that isn't Sprints fault.
/lovers his old sero plan
Because if you travel alot, Sprint's coverage sucks?
And still does, from friends I talk to that have it.
Quote from: Noodlez on June 27, 2009, 01:44:04 PM
Why does everyone got to hate on Sprint?
Because it took me three months to get them to cancel my account. I was beginning to enjoy the threatening letters they began sending me in the meantime. The second month they sent me a letter saying they'd canceled my account for non-payment. ::)
Quote from: Noodlez on June 27, 2009, 01:44:04 PM
Why does everyone got to hate on Sprint? I can't say that I have had any troubles. Other than I have dust under the screen of my Q9c but that isn't Sprints fault.
/lovers his old sero plan
Because there customer service SUCKS!!! Also when I was in the military I had to be OUTSIDE the Barracks for there phone to work. Who wants to walk outside where they live all the time to use the phone when people with other service could answer there phone in the building but the Sprint people.
Personally, I'm happy with AT&Ts service.
Now, before the local AT&T salesman gets on here and goes to pitching a fit about why I hate on AT&T but I have AT&T service, IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS CINGULAR WHEN I GOT IT! They haven't made me mad yet, and they do have one of the better networks and I also get a decent discount through my work.
But it was like that when it was Cingular.
Like Hoss I'm a Cingular -> AT&T convert. Used AT&T before Cingular bought them and they were crap. Had t-mobile also and it was crap.
Quote from: sgrizzle on June 29, 2009, 06:40:50 AM
Like Hoss I'm a Cingular -> AT&T convert. Used AT&T before Cingular bought them and they were crap. Had t-mobile also and it was crap.
I thought they both had ridiculous numbers of dead spots. Cingular more so in south Tulsa, at least in my experience. It wasn't until they integrated both the networks that I thought Cingular had what I'd term good coverage without lots of dead spots.
Quote from: nathanm on June 29, 2009, 01:14:01 PM
I thought they both had ridiculous numbers of dead spots. Cingular more so in south Tulsa, at least in my experience. It wasn't until they integrated both the networks that I thought Cingular had what I'd term good coverage without lots of dead spots.
When I first got their service, I was getting ready to go on a trip around Colorado/New Mexico. A planned stop included the Royal Gorge. I decided that if I had reception in the middle of of the bridge there, I would have to stay with them for the full contract.
I had four out of five bars on the bridge. I was a bit shocked, seeing how I was a former Cricket/US Cellular customer. I also liked that their plan was no roaming fees/free LD. And still is.
And they're still the only one that has rollover minutes. I have over 5000. :o
This is why I take the poor mans approach to cell service. I use criket, which gives me all that stuff unlimited. The down side to it though is that when I want to upgrade my phone, I have to pay full price (or when I break it since they cancelled my insurance because I broke my phone twice in one year), and they are behind the curve on phones. Wish they would come out with a smart phone. However, I may end up just going with a national provider at some point so I can have a smartphone.