Cell phones - which one to choose?

[tomster2300]

I'm in the market for a new cell phone, and am wanting to take the plunge into getting the internet to check email on-the-go. I'm currently with Verizon on a family plan, with my phone line costing an extra $10 plus $10 a month for text messaging.

So, my options are:


1) Stay with Verizon and tack on a $30 unlimited data plan ($25 bundle if you get Verizon TV, which seems kind of useless to me).

Phones would be:

LG Voyager ~ clam-shell design with full keyboard. Has modified Verizon touchscreen menus, and is kind of large. Supports TV.

LG Dare ~ smaller and full touchscreen, uses a new UI interface that doesn't look like the traditional Verizon menu scheme.


2) Get an iPhone and the cheapest plan, which would be $70 a month for the new model running on the 3G network.



Does anyone here have either phone, and if so, what are you overall impressions? Do you like the way internet is handled on either phone? Is the iPhone better for internet, or is it overrated? I have friends who have said their Voyagers are unresponsive, while others have said their iPhones were fragile.

What should I do? All the phones will cost about the same, although overall the Verizon deals will be cheaper with a renewed contract. The price for unlimited data is really expensive, and almost pushes the iPhone out of my budget.

[shadowpr]

Wish I could help you with figureing out the plan on verizon, but maybe I could tell you what I just did.

I have sprint/nextel. I upgraded to the new Blackberry Curve 8330. And topped it off with the simply everything plan for $70 a month. That gives me unlimited text, internet, and email. It also give 450 anytime minutes with unlimited nights and weekends and unlimited mobile to mobile. I must say I love the phone. It's my first smart phone, and i'm addicted to it. I'll be writing a review shortly. The one area I'm still try to get better is internet browsing. I ended up downloading opera mini, and that seems a bit better.

[tomster2300]

I'm also considering getting a smartphone (I should have listed it above), but I thought something like the iphone, or the Verizon clones, would be better.

What do you like about your Curve? I'm just sick of the Verizon menu layout.

[glc]

The iPhone has the best web browser, period. Trying to browse with any of the others can be painful.

[tomster2300]

Would you guys recommend an iphone over everything else? What is the closest in comparison that Verizon offers (be it smartphone, blackberry, or one of the new wanna-bes like the Dare.

[gods_son_is_me]

I have a Sidekick 3 and I've used a Curve (on Sprint; still 3G) for a month. I must admit, 3G is way faster. The Sidekick loaded just fine, but the 3G network is smooth and quick. The N95 on T-Mobile loads pretty good. And I know AT&T has a similar model.

[shadowpr]

For me the curve just did it. I like how easy it was to set up email, and how the blackberry will push it out. Sometimes my blackberry gets emails before my email client on my desktop refreshes to tell me.

It also is simple to customize the themes, and backgrounds. It takes mp3's for ringtones, so I won't have to pay for any. (Plenty of free ones.)

Like GLC has mentioned though, the iphone is supposed to have the best web browser. But I personally and just happy to get the internet where ever I go. I also don't like apple.

The curve also has built in video recorder and a keyboard input. I can actually feel the buttons as I press them versus the virtual keyboard that the iphone offers.

There are a few sites I found (after I got my blackberry) that sort of talk about the differences between the blackberry and the curve. If you want, I will link them for you.

[tomster2300]

Originally Posted by shadowpr There are a few sites I found (after I got my blackberry) that sort of talk about the differences between the blackberry and the curve. If you want, I will link them for you.

Please do!

[shadowpr]

This will have all the links in it. I believe there are about 4. Two coming from each side: http://crackberry.com/comparison-con...erry-vs-iphone

Also, the blackberry community seems rather large, and they have a bunch of 3rd party apps. Some are free.

Check out www.crackberry.com It is fastly becoming a site I frequently visit.


EDIT: http://roundrobin.smartphoneexperts.com/2007/
That should be a good comparision. Just read all the final thoughts on the bottom.

[thefultonhow]

Check out the Sprint SERO plan. For $30 a month you get 500 minutes with 7pm nights/weekends, free roaming on Verizon for the places where they have bad coverage, and then all the unlimited stuff -- unlimited data, texting, MMS, mobile-to-mobile calling on their network, etc. If you want 1250 minutes, that's $50 a month. Check on Slickdeals or Fatwallet -- they both have huge threads about SERO that will answer all your questions.

Also, if you get SERO, get the Touch or the Mogul, because both have EV-DO Rev. A, which is faster than any other 3G in the US right now. You can also use them as a modem for your computer if you're in a place with no internet -- on my Motorola Q9c with EV-DO Rev. 0, it's kind of slow, but I hear that Rev. A is much better.

Unfortunately you can't get a Blackberry with SERO unless you are willing to spend $30 more a month. That kind of kills the deal.

[shadowpr]

Exactly. SERO with a blackberry isn't that good. It comes out to about the same as the SEP plans, but if you have any employer discounts, then can apply towards the sero plan while it won't apply towards the sep.

Still debating if I should change mine over. Heard rumors about sprint doing away with sero, and also heard that the sep plans won't last long. Might have to upgrade to the fully unlimited one just so i can have it in the future.

[thefultonhow]

Actually, you can no longer get employee discounts with SERO, now that they switched to the new Ensemble billing system. Also, if SERO goes away, it's not like they're going to cancel everyone's plans -- they'll just stop accepting new subscriptions. Worst-case scenario is that they raise prices, and if you're in contract, you can then get out without an early termination fee, because they changed the terms of the contract (people have used this to their advantage when carriers raise text-messaging price by 10 cents in the past). Obviously, if you're out of contract, you just drop Sprint and go somewhere else.

[shadowpr]

Didn't know they stopped letting discounts on sero. I'm still trying to decide which would be better. Would appreciate any thoughts. But in order to not hijack this thread and steer off course, pm me.

[tomster2300]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Didn't know they stopped letting discounts on sero. I'm still trying to decide which would be better. Would appreciate any thoughts. But in order to not hijack this thread and steer off course, pm me.

No problem whatsoever. At this point, I would appreciate any healthy cell phone discussions, even if they're not about the original phones I listed. Any information helps me know about the other stuff out there that I've yet to find.