Searching for some knowledge (Cell Phones)
Opinions wanted:
What is the best cell phone out there?
What is the best cell phone provider out there?
Why?
Reason: I’m needing to get Nikki and my phones on the same plan. I’m AT&T paying around $85 per month for an old Motorola flip phone while Nikki is using a phone so old I have no idea how it’s still working and it’s on Cellular South.
If I don’t go with an iPhone what’s a really good phone to get from another carrier?
Verizon: Droid, Palm Pre Plus or Blackberry 9700
ATT: iPhone 3Gs, Blackberry 9700
Cellsouth: Hero
Sprint: Hero or Palm Pre
T-Mobile: HTC HD2, Nexus One(?)
Cellsouth has best all-around plan for money. Sprint is probably second. Verizon supposedly best coverage, but ATT in Mississippi is pretty strong.
Blackberry 9700 is a worldphone, whereas I don’t think any of those others are (HD2 possible exception), so if you plan on going abroad much, you might weight it better. Blackberry is also coming with an OS revision and slider-type phone like a Pre pretty soon, which might be worth waiting for.
HTC is in consideration to buy Palm right now, and if that happens, they will make beautiful children together. HTC hardware + Palm OS = the awesome.
Wife & I have gone with Vrz for roughly 6yrs now. We had Cellular South back in MS before moving to GA. Never had one problem from Vrz service or hardware.
She: 1yr-old LG enV Touch.
Me: 2.5yr-old LG Dare.
I like the Dare. Touch is good for internet and general phone functions. However, I have to text msg a great deal with our off-shore suppliers/clients and would prefer a keyboard or a phone that is easier to text with. I’ve played with the Droid at the Vrz shop in the past and it is definately better than what I have with regard to feel and it has the slide-out. I also mention this tidbit b/c Vrz does not offer a text plan that includes msg’n off-shore…or at least to Asian region (i.e. those texts would be extra). Also, what Scott says above about “abroad” issue is dead on. I only go once or twice a year so I make amends using email/chat via overseas laptop connection and just give up the phone. Don’t know what you do or how it would affect you but thought I’d throw it out there. Also, local Vrz office let me test drive a Blackberry Storm a few months back. It felt clunky to me and the touch screen was not pleasing. However, this could have been me just being used to the Dare. I got a few people here where I work that have the iPhone and I’ve messed around with them….and of course I love them….but whenever we hit the road together it is blatantly obvious that ATT service is not up to par with Vrz. They have problems and I don’t is the bottomline. I’ve basically been sticking it out and waiting/praying for the iPhone to make it’s way to Vrz in some form or fashion. Trying to put myself in your shoes:
* I’d check out the iPhone and the Droid
* If I thought the Droid was “good enough” then I’d pick Droid thru Vrz and hope that the iPhone comes to Vrz at some pt to give me that additional option.
* If I hated the Droid, then I’d just go ahead and pick the iPhone thru ATT and hope the service improves over time.
Thanks for the input. For the record I’ve been outside the country exactly once, so I don’t anticipate that as something that will influence my decision.