My current contract with Verizon Wireless is set to expire soon. I cannot renew it since it is my Uncle's name rather than mine. (I was 17 at the time) I have been looking around a bit to see the best phones for the service provider, and have come up short. I do not like Verizon since they charged me $20+ for using their ringtone service. As it turns out, you cannot browse and preview songs for free. Additionally, Verizon locks the blue tooth features of their phones. Other services look nice, but their phones are not jumping out to me as being something worth signing a contract over. I would preferably have a 1 year contract.
I don't want to get into a debate here, but just remember that phones are merely the TOOLS to access the carriers' system. If the service itself sucks, even the coolest phone in the world will be rendered useless. Make sure you go with a carrier that, first and foremost, has good reliable service where you need it the most. THEN, look at the available phones.
just wait and get an iphone. they really do look amazing. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xvMasa9gfEc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xvMasa9gfEc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> new ads http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/
better go ahead and switch to Cingular then^^(unless it is easily unlockable) iPhone is way too expensive though
Couldn't agree more. After going through most of the major carriers I've had plenty of problems on and off. After moving cities, I could barely get any service inside my home, and this was in Ft. Lauderdale. I have a friend in Ann Arbor who has the same problem w/ another provider. Despite my other post on my billing problem w/ Verizon, I really wanted to stay w/ them because I get a great signal EVERYWHERE. Even in small back roads in the middle of nowhere I've had absolutely no problems making a call. I'd love to switch to the iPhone, but unless Cingular steps up their service or Verizon carries them I'm not going anywhere.
Its expensive, but in context the Motorola Razr had the same initial price point as the iPhone. ($500)
i'm also thinking of switching to Verizon, I have had Cingular for four years or more, but the reception quality gets bad all the time and that is so frustrating! Sometimes my phone will not even let me dial; it says "emergency only" or "call failed". I joke that the reason they have the "fewest dropped calls" is that the calls don't connect to begin with.
It totally depends on where you are at as far as reception is concerned. Check each carriers website and try to find a close-up map of coverage in your area. If Sprint or T-mobile has good coverage in your area and you don't travel a whole lot, I would go with one of them since you get more for your money with their plans. If they don't have good coverage where you live, check Cingular...they and Verizon generally have better coverage, so that could help if you travel a lot. As for Verizon, not sure what you're talking about with the ringtones. I have VZW Tones or whatever it is called on my phone without charge, and it lets me preview ringtones. Only cost is to download them. You might be on an older plan that doesn't include that though. They do lock the bluetooth, but you can still use the headsets with them ... they do that to keep you from connecting via bluetooth to a computer, so you can't go get ringtones online and such, so you have to pay them for it.
A friend of mine in Boston had Cingular, and he couldn't get reception in his upstairs duplex. It was ludicrous. He could walk to the next street and get it. This is one of those old Boston wooden two story houses, and he couldn't even get reception from his upstairs balcony. I've had Verizon, and while the service is excellent (for us in Austin, and elsewhere in Texas), I've always thought it was more expensive than it should be. I've been considering Cingular, because I think they have a better selection of phones, even excepting the iPhone that's coming out soon. Don't have a contract and still mulling things over. Definitely want new phones, and hesitate to just buy one retail, because the really good ones are expensive. Gotta be careful with my wife when I get my tech goodies. After I get them, she's like, "Too cool!!" Before I get them, it's "That costs WHAT???" I'd like to get mobile broadband, for the phone and for a laptop when traveling, but Verizon is like $60 bucks a month for it, plus the phone service. That's nuts.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/tmobile3/default.mspx You can get the new t-mobile Wing for 99 after 50 rebate by calling the number in the link. You only have to sign a 1 year contract. Pretty good deal if you're in the market for a pda phone. My g/f got one for herself. Here is a good review. http://www.aximsite.com/boards/vbarticles.php?do=article&articleid=204
I just picked up a Helio Ocean. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it yet -- 30 day return policy. Service is a bit more than I wanted to pay, but the phone is REALLY sweet, and it works like a champ. I haven't moved my number over yet, but I'll probably do it tomorrow. I'm very torn on whether to keep it or not, because I don't want to spend this kind of money on either the phone, or the service. But it is SO cool, and it really works great. In my one week with Helio, I've been very impressed with the service. They use Sprint, but can jump to Alltell if Sprint is unavailable. It's pretty cool. I had Cingular before (with no complaints), and I've loved all my Nokia phones. But the Ocean has been really calling me. It was Blackberry Pearl or this, and even though all wisdom told me to get the Pearl, I just couldn't stop myself.
I've read on some blogs that that Helio Ocean can do most if not all what the iPhone can do, and many people say it is better than the iPhone even.
It's $300 at EBGames, with a $50 gift card. It's exclusive to EBGames and Gamestop, as well as Helio stores right now. I totally can't justify buying it, but I thought it was SO cool that I couldn't help myself. I keep saying I'm going to return it, but I know deep down that I like it so much it's not going anywhere . . . It can do some of the same stuff, but it's not nearly as slick. The web browser isn't as spiffy, music and video isn't as cool, and so on. But it does have integrated GPS with Google Maps, it does messaging VERY well, it has a decent camera, great contact settings, it's easy to use, and so on. I think any verdict (positive or negative) on the iPhone has to be reserved until it comes out, and the initial reviews come in. It looks SO slick, but there seem to be a fair number of gambles that Apple is taking. It may work out awesomely, or it could be a disappointment. We'll see. I'd love to give the iPhone a try, but if I am freaking out over a $300 phone, a $5-600 phone would be much, much worse. This is the first "fancy" phone I've ever had. I've had two of the VERY basic Nokia phones to this point, and they were awesome -- VERY durable. I'm nervous about the Ocean because I tend to be very hard on things like this -- it WILL break on me eventually . . . it's just a matter of time. I got the warranty though, so hopefully it will be alright. My biggest disappointment is web browsing -- it hasn't really worked AWESOMELY for me. But I haven't played around with it enough to know all of what I can do to make it better.
i want an iphone bad but im going to have to wait until it comes down in price. that is just too much for a phone.
Sprint sucks donkey balls. been a loyal sprint customer fer the last 5 yrs or so. their service sucks on so many levels, i just can't even begin to explain my frustration. but fer example; sporadic roaming (at home) visit their customer website only if you're very stable their phones are proprietary, and useless (pretty much) outside the USA customer service is a foreign concept ever been to a sprint store? and the dang drum roll fer; 3 months away from the end of my contract, the phone (wife's) goes buh-bye. cheapest proprietary stop gap alternative ... $179. u can get the silly thing for "free" if you're stoopid enough to sign a 2 yr contract. 3 months to freedom, someone say something! any non sprint customers happy with their cell choice? and why?
