Curiosity on Cellphones

[Dante]

So, I am coming to an interesting decision in the future. I plan on getting a better cell phone.

Currently my old cell phone looks like it came out of Soviet Russia and has been with me for goodness knows how long. The phone is pay by the minute at 10-15 cents per minute and is only used for the occasional call home, I actually have no official number to use to talk to friends or anything like that.

That stated, I'm planning on getting a new phone but I'm not sure how to go about shopping for one wisely. How expensive are the unlimited minute plans? Have you found one phone particularly more fun or better built then another? I'd ask these at a cell-phone stand, but I feel I'd get a sales pitch.

So I figured, why not ask on CAA? So, what's your cell phone and how does it's cost/enjoyment effect your life?

-Will eventually get with the times,
Pascal

[Atria35]

Excelent question! I don't have a cell phone at all, and will need one since where I'm moving to doesn't have a landline. The least amount of information I have gleaned from my family members is that, for overall coverage, Verizon is the way to go. They're mostly business people, and have had to do lots of business over the phone, most of the time when they're driving or on the go, and the one company that's done the best in having coverage no matter where they are is Verizon.

[Tsukuyomi]

Haha, I was actually about to start doing some research on the best cheapest Verizon Plan ^__^

I don't have a celli either, and it's about time I got one :-? It would make things much easier for me and maybe we can get some type of family plan ^^ Maybe, unlimited calls and unlimited texting?

I'll look around and report back here ^__^

[ShiroiHikari]

Maybe try a prepaid service. That way you can only buy as many minutes as you need to have and there's no long-term commitment.

[ClosetOtaku]

I've had my current cell phone for almost 5 years. I have a 700 minute plan (I get to talk whenever I want during daytime for up to 700 minutes a month, and weekends and nights are free regardless of use); I have never used that much in any given month. I have unlimited Internet but the interface is rudimentary at best. There is a charge for texting (I don't text when I can avoid it), a package for uploading and downloading pictures (I use it a couple times a year, maybe), and phone insurance, taxes, etc. I pay about $80 a month.

My work provides me a Blackberry, which I use mercilessly to keep up with mail, news, and other activities. I will be turning this in when I retire next month.

When this phone dies (it is on its last legs), I am getting an iPhone-type package to replace the Internet capability of the Blackberry and provide the cell phone coverage that I've become used to. I expect the cost on this to run somewhat higher than my current monthly bill.

I enjoy the connectivity that I get out of my Blackberry, and the fact that I can fill up otherwise unoccupied time (on the Metro, stuck in traffic, waiting for the doctor, etc.) reading articles, checking news, whatever.

Hope that answers your question...

[CrimsonRyu17]

Maybe try a prepaid service. That way you can only buy as many minutes as you need to have and there's no long-term commitment.

This. This this this.

Also, Verizon may have the best coverage but it has one of the most pathetic customer service I've seen in a while. Every problem I've had I've either had to fix it myself, listen to someone over the phone make guesses on how to fix it, or have to fix it AND fix the mistake they made.

Best example: We got a "promotion" to turn in our Altell air card for a "new and improved" Verizon air card. The air card had problems actually working and a Verizon worker (an absolute genius) over the phone told my mom who isn't computer literate to remove our Broadcom Integrated Controller from the control panel. I had to go back in, get the backup CDs and reinstall it. Then we got hold of another Verizon worker who used to be for Altell. He told us this air card was actually a downgrade and not an upgrade like advertised. Instead of them mailing our old Altell air card back to us, we had to drive all the way to next town to pick it back up.

Probably one of the most ridiculous things I've ever dealt with.

[K. Ayato]

I'm on Verizon and own a BlackBerry Curve. So far, Verizon has been the best choice for me. I'm sure you've seen all those offers for AT&T (which I previously had signed up for), but in my experience, they're more expensive and I got a lot of dropped calls using their service. With Verizon, a lot of the zones where I'd get no service using AT&T I can access, plus the free mobile-to-mobile is a plus . You could look for those pay-as-you-go plans, if a 2-year contract is too expensive.

[Ante Bellum]

I am ALSO on Verizon. (Big surprise, I know.) We are on a shared line, five people, plus Internet for my mom's BlackBerry, a small charge for my phone, and unlimited texting. It's 2100 minutes and you can select ten numbers that you can call for free. I believe this might be about 200-300 dollars a month. It is expensive but it's a lot. Plus after two years, you can upgrade your phone when you sign another contract.
My Casio Gz'One Type-V is absolutely solid. It's shock and water resistant, has a bright LCD light, but it's big (Eight inches when it's open!) and they don't make it anymore. The Type-S and Boulder models are quite a bit smaller.
Unless you plan on abusing the phone, though, I might recommend something else. They are expensive. (I have mine because it was my dad's phone for a short while, he is a general contractor, but he didn't like the small buttons on it.) Also, mine has only a few features on it, it can't play music, videos/pictures are low quality, and right now the battery only holds a charge for a day or two if I don't use it.

(Oh, and if you can see it well enough, that's the Type-V in my avatar.)

[Dante]

Ok, so I've done some checking around. I know I've got a lot of good points for Verizon (and one bad point for costumer service), but I'm seeing a 30 buck difference between them and T-Mobile or Virgin Mobile - although I imagine that both of these companies don't have coverage areas nearly as large as Verizon. On top of it, I'm not sure from their page whether Verizon requires a contract or not (and because of the uncertainty of my future and job status, that could be bad ^_^).

I've had good luck with my old T-Mobile, but it's roughly 15 cents a minute and like I said, the phone is a Communist Door-stop. But a new phone from T-Mobile is going to cost me about 150 bucks to get it without the contract, whereas I can get it for roughly 20-40 bucks from Virgin Mobile.

Anyone ever tried Virgin Mobile so they can say how they were overall? Are there phones what you pay for so that you're better off with one of the more expensive models?

-Pascal

[Roy Mustang]

Yes, Verizon does require a contract.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[MBlight]

LOL, I'm kinda in South Africa but I'm with Virgin Mobile and they're pretty good here XD

Oh, and I have an iPhone which is the most awesome phone I've ever had....

[Hohenheim]

Don't know if you've already chosen Pascal, but I own an iPhone, and its been very helpful to me. Honestly I do think the benefits to one outweigh the costs, but that's just me.

[shooraijin]

iPhone 3GS. I like it a lot, but I'll probably go Android for my next one because I don't like the concept of the Apple walled garden even though I like the phone itself. If that doesn't bother you, the iPhone is quite compelling even considering the cost (and the carrier).