Best smartphone/plan for smartphone newbie

[descovy]

Okay... here's the deal, myself and dh have done pay-as-you-go plans for years, but really considering getting "smartphones" and a family plan.

My first inclination is to go with iPhone 3G because I feel that I *know* it (we have an iPod touch), but I can't get over how more expensive it can be than other smart phones.

What I want the smart phone to do... GPS, pictures, internet. not to surf it leisurely, but be able to look something up quickly on the fly.

Text messages are few... just as well pay per text... maybe do 10 texts a month each.

The other thing is that we don't use a lot of minutes. Maybe 250-300 combined (between the 2 of us) We like to have a phone on us. It would be nice to have a multi-purpose phone. but we don't spend all day tied to the phone.

Also, I get 20% discount (as a Target employee) for ATT, Sprint, Verizon... service and phones. I get it for T-Mobile too, but my house is a T-Mobile black hole (don't know why??)

What's a good all purpose smart phone? Who has family plans without gobs of minutes?

At ATT I can get a 550 min family plan (rollover minutes) for $65/mo (including the smallest data plans for 2 phones... 200mb?) Can I get a smaller plan for smart phones anywhere else?

And if not iPhone, what's a good smart phone alternative?

 

[smacky1]

I get it for T-Mobile too, but my house is a T-Mobile black hole (don't know why??)

I dont really have an answer for your question, but I did want to add that Tmobile offers several phones, including the blackberry's that have a feature called UMA (unlicensed mobile access) that allows your calls to go over the wi-fi. We have no service in our house with any carrier, but with the uma feature, we always have full bars to make/recieve calls and text. DH actually wants to switch to an iphone, but really needs the uma feature as he uses his phone heavily for work and needs reception in the house.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I have a Droid X from Verizon Wireless. The data package is $30 / month beyond the cost of the line. Expect to pay well over $100 / month for a family plan and the data package.

I would caution against the iPhone if coverage in rural areas are a must, AT&T has an excellent network in large cities, but in the country side, Verizon has extensive coverage.

 

[WheelCEO]

i just bought a BB 9700 and like it. im with tmobile $85/month including taxes for unlimited everything. A friend of mine owns a franchise of mysimplemobile.com, really considering changing over to them

 

[SandrA9810]

Most carriers are going to charge 20-30$ per phone for data. Usually 10-15$ for each extra line, and texting can be limited to each line but most carry an unlimited family texting for cheaper than individual line.

Just remember, you won't always be able to get the lowest minute package on a family share. Like AT&T, there's a 450 minute package, but you can't use it on a family talk plan. You might always want to look into what kind of smart phone you want. Most companies now have their own special smart phone, like the driod or iphone. Blackberries are the most common and are carried by all of them.

I've been with AT&T for years and years, never changed the minute plan so for 59$ a month, we have 750 minutes. Shared between 4 phone line, unlimited family texting, and one smartphone data plan.

59$ - for the first line
-20$ - for family unlimited texting
10$ - for second
-30$ - for unlimited data
10$ - for third
10$ - for fourth
140$ - total, and about 150$ with all the taxes and fun stuff. This also includes a 20% employer discount, which usually just takes off from some of the fees.

Don't forget a lot of the employer discounts include free stuff with each line, like not having to pay for the connection fee, or the fee each time you upgrade your phone. Read it over carefully and let the sales person know what you're supposed to get. A time or two I've had certain fees added to my bill that should've been free with the employer discount. But they're usually really nice about it and credit the account back.

 

[ssawka]

Also, check with your employer. Many companies have deals with some or all carriers to provide discounts to their employees. I currently get a 17% discount from mine.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've heard many companys (at least ATT & Verizon since those are the two popular around here) have discontinued "family data"... that you've got to purchase data plans individually for all phones. Also, I don't think they offer "unlimited" data anymore.

This might only apply to new customers, so those who say they share data plans or have unlimited data might be "grandfathered" in.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Discounts can be funny too. My wife got the Verizon discount which is 20% off, but it's like my cooperate discount, it's only good for certain items, like ours is off plans $39.99 and above. For my wife, it ment no discount off text messaging add on for her phone, but it would give her a discount off the family plan which included text messaging.

You may find it cheaper to have a data plan/voice bundle each because of the discount instead of the family plan.

 

[crazelion]

I think don't need a smartphone. you have ATT you can what they call a quick messaging for have the price and surf net and GPS all for 20 bucks. That is what I have . I don't text but every blue moon and I have quick messaging phone. You can you get touchscreen quick messaging phone for 79.99 with net and GPS. I should know I broke my phone I got a LG prime.

Better yet you buy a unlocked unbrand phone from Nokia and all the smartphone features for a low price and keep the cheap plan.

Can tell I spend to much time on the cell phones boards.