Cell Phones

[Birds of B'more]

My old cell phone died on me Thanksgiving Day, and I purposely waited until after Christmas to replace it (I've been getting by with a cheap loaner in the meantime). I've spent the past month researching both phones and carriers (the contract on my old phone is expired too) and cannot make up my mind as to what I want. I swear, I have an easier time when shopping for a new car. Guess I'm getting commitment-phobic with all the $ and 2-year contracts involved in buying phones nowadays.

Anyway, I know I want my new phone to be of the smartphone variety. It needs to do all the basics like e-mail, MMS and web browsing. I'd also like the option of GPS navigation too, as my work occasionally involves driving to places I'm not familiar with. I've probably spent the most time looking at the latest iPhone, it seems to have the best features I've seen so far when I've had hands-on time with it....but the price of the monthly plan with AT&T and the well-publicized unreliability of their network make me hesitate. I'm also interested in some of the Android phones, but haven't really seen or know someone who has one of those yet.

So I'm interested in any and all opinions on what phone and carrier/plan OH'ers prefer. I'm sure the responses will be widely varied, but I appreciate any bit of advice I can get.

[scOtt]

I have the last generation iPhone, only the 8Gb model. It's nice, the GPS works well. AT&T kinda sucks tho. The 3G coverage is very spotty, just like the Verizon commercials say.


EDIT: I'm out in the boonies tho. In the cities (the few I've been in with my phone) the coverage seemed pretty solid.

[The Wedge]

First off, you need to research the carriers coverage in your area. Getting cell phone advice from people in the BW Metro area, especially about service coverage, should always be taken with a grain of salt, since we get all "the goods" as it were. The FCC tests everything in this area first, so things are "shored up" around here first as well. Something I learned when I temped for the now defunct MCI Wireless back in 1998. So you need to ask some people in the area about coverages of different carriers.

Once you figure out what's going to be the best provider, then you can really get knee deep in to phones, since there are getting to be a lot propierity phones now.

[OrangeJerseys]

I've got the Droid. I like it a lot. It does everything I need it to do. Sounds like it will for you. I will say that AT&T is not an option for me since I live in the middle of nowhere, but I'd have an iPhone 3GS if I could, but mostly because I have all mac computers. I've been impressed with the Droid though.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I love my Blackberry Storm. My sister doesn't like hers much. All depends on how you use your phone and how comfortable you are with it.

I agree that checking for carriers is your first stop. I have Verizon, and rarely have any problems. It's actually getting better out here in Harford County, as best as I can tell.

[Birds of B'more]

First off, you need to research the carriers coverage in your area. Getting cell phone advice from people in the BW Metro area, especially about service coverage, should always be taken with a grain of salt, since we get all "the goods" as it were. The FCC tests everything in this area first, so things are "shored up" around here first as well. Something I learned when I temped for the now defunct MCI Wireless back in 1998. So you need to ask some people in the area about coverages of different carriers.

Once you figure out what's going to be the best provider, then you can really get knee deep in to phones, since there are getting to be a lot propierity phones now.

Makes sense...even the greatest phone in the world is no more than a paperweight if the network stinks. I've been with Sprint, and despite the reaction I hear from others when I mention that, I thought their coverage here was decent...only a handful of dead spots that I encountered (in places you would probably expect to find them anyway) and dropped calls were very rare. A friend of mine that has an iPhone says he does experience the occasional dropped call from AT&T, and it's got nothing to do with his signal reception...so I'd say their issues are not just a bunch of media hype. Not sure about Verizon and T-mobile here. Are there any good coverage maps online somewhere? I'd prefer something based on actual impartial and unbiased test results too, not the propaganda maps the carriers put on their websites. ;)

And thanks to all who have replied. Definitely gives me much to consider.

[McLovin]

I recently got the new BB Bold 9700. As a smart phone, it's pretty much perfect. Email is the number one thing I need, so I need a real keyboard. Web Browsing is number two, and it does this well also. I have an iPod touch for media and music, and it does neither email nor web browsing well IMO. On the flip side, the media capabilities of the Bold are quite nice - probably good enough if I didn't have the iPod.

[Roy Firestone]

My old cell phone died on me Thanksgiving Day, and I purposely waited until after Christmas to replace it (I've been getting by with a cheap loaner in the meantime). I've spent the past month researching both phones and carriers (the contract on my old phone is expired too) and cannot make up my mind as to what I want. I swear, I have an easier time when shopping for a new car. Guess I'm getting commitment-phobic with all the $ and 2-year contracts involved in buying phones nowadays.

Anyway, I know I want my new phone to be of the smartphone variety. It needs to do all the basics like e-mail, MMS and web browsing. I'd also like the option of GPS navigation too, as my work occasionally involves driving to places I'm not familiar with. I've probably spent the most time looking at the latest iPhone, it seems to have the best features I've seen so far when I've had hands-on time with it....but the price of the monthly plan with AT&T and the well-publicized unreliability of their network make me hesitate. I'm also interested in some of the Android phones, but haven't really seen or know someone who has one of those yet.

So I'm interested in any and all opinions on what phone and carrier/plan OH'ers prefer. I'm sure the responses will be widely varied, but I appreciate any bit of advice I can get.

I phone. If you can deal with alot of bad signals where you are. Its still the most amazing versatile phone out there..technically its not considered a smart phone..I love it

[weams]

I love my Blackberry Storm. My sister doesn't like hers much. All depends on how you use your phone and how comfortable you are with it.

I agree that checking for carriers is your first stop. I have Verizon, and rarely have any problems. It's actually getting better out here in Harford County, as best as I can tell.
Bold here, It is a wonderful phone.

[Jules]

I have the G1 from T-mobile. It's great but I am jealous of everyone's iphone. All of my co-workers have one and the screen is nicer and features seem easier to use. That being said, T-mobile is an awesome company to deal with and their prices are better than others. I can accept not having the coolest thing on the market for having great customer care, a decent bill, and awesome coverage.

[geschinger]

I have the G1 from T-mobile. It's great but I am jealous of everyone's iphone. All of my co-workers have one and the screen is nicer and features seem easier to use. That being said, T-mobile is an awesome company to deal with and their prices are better than others. I can accept not having the coolest thing on the market for having great customer care, a decent bill, and awesome coverage.

Get the Nexus One next month which works with T-Mobile and have a phone that will make iphone users jealous of it's vastly superior screen / performance.

[Birds of B'more]

Get the Nexus One next month which works with T-Mobile and have a phone that will make iphone users jealous of it's vastly superior screen / performance.

I'm hearing availability of the Nexus could be limited....and I'm also hearing that there is likely to be no carrier subsidy, which probably means a sticker price in the $500-$600 range....which is to much for me right now.

Of course everything is just speculation right now.

[geschinger]

I'm hearing availability of the Nexus could be limited....and I'm also hearing that there is likely to be no carrier subsidy, which probably means a sticker price in the $500-$600 range....which is to much for me right now.

Of course everything is just speculation right now.

This may or may not be accurate but the pricing does make sense (179 subsidized / ~500 unsubsidized):
Nexus One Purchase details (http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/allegedly-leaked-nexus-one-purchase-page-answers-raises-questio/)

[Flip217]

I've had an iPhone for a year and a half and it's great. Nice big screen, easy to use, tons of apps for free or cheap, good GPS, etc.

The first two months I had it there were significant call-dropping issues, but they released an update which solved 99% of that for me.

[Birds of B'more]

This may or may not be accurate but the pricing does make sense (179 subsidized / ~500 unsubsidized):
Nexus One Purchase details (http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/allegedly-leaked-nexus-one-purchase-page-answers-raises-questio/)

I'm liking everything I read about the Nexus One so far. If the initial reviews after the release are favorable, then I think I'll get one.

EDIT: I owe ya some, too. (You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to geschinger again.)