Cell phone advice???? I need a new one

[Sugar Jones]

I am in need of a new cell phone. Mine is from the Dinosaur ages. Not quite as big as my head, but close

Anyway I can't decide between a Blackberry Bold, Curve, Storm or the iPhone. The only reason I'm leaning towards a Blackberry right now is because if I get it through Future Shop today I get a $100.00 giftcard with it. I am with Bell right now, but I am NOT loyal to them at all. In fact they suck!

I really want the iPhone, but don't want to spend that much money I don't know what to do!

 

[sjsjbrook]

Here is my advice as a person who has spent years as a mystery shopper for all the cell phone companies (Rogers, Bell, Fido, Koodoo, tellus and Virgin as well). I know way way too much about cell phone companies. They all say they are the best.

The best place to go is Not Future shop or Best buy, to start with as they have terrible service, (it's ok to buy there once you know what you want).

You want to start at a place that sells all types of cell phone companies, like the telephone both and wireless wave. They will be able to tell you honestly what is the best phone of the ones you would like and the best company to go with. You can take the information and think on it and then decide what you want and then go to future shop if you want to purchase it there.

Now taking off my hat as a mystery shopper to a consumer.

I agree with you about Bell, they do suck. Left them 3 years ago and have never looked back.


I decided that I didn't really need an iphone as I don't use my phone enough. Instead I am getting an Ipod touch which will do everything the iphone will do except call/text people and cost me a monthly data fee. My husband on the otherhand went with an iphone and is loving it. Though he has became addicted to facebook.

Good luck and let me know what you decide to get.

 

[mickilee]

Not sure where you live. If you are in the Toronto area. Look into Wind.They have a crackberry you buy for 450, no contracts. Unlimited in and out going calls and text, free voice mail,Canada free long distance.. I have free service from Oshawa to Milton. The home zone is growing every day. And if you out of the home zone its only 25 cents a minute or 15 cents for text. I pay 45$ plus tax
I went with the HTC Maple, its like a crackberry but 200$ cheaper.

last month i had over 900 minutes in just voice calls.

Right now if you sign up, plans are 24$ a month for 6 months. if you want to know more, just pm me

 

[LSmith]

Here is my advice as a person who has spent years as a mystery shopper for all the cell phone companies (Rogers, Bell, Fido, Koodoo, tellus and Virgin as well). I know way way too much about cell phone companies. They all say they are the best.

The best place to go is Not Future shop or Best buy, to start with as they have terrible service, (it's ok to buy there once you know what you want).

You want to start at a place that sells all types of cell phone companies, like the telephone both and wireless wave. They will be able to tell you honestly what is the best phone of the ones you would like and the best company to go with. You can take the information and think on it and then decide what you want and then go to future shop if you want to purchase it there.

Now taking off my hat as a mystery shopper to a consumer.

I agree with you about Bell, they do suck. Left them 3 years ago and have never looked back.


I decided that I didn't really need an iphone as I don't use my phone enough. Instead I am getting an Ipod touch which will do everything the iphone will do except call/text people and cost me a monthly data fee. My husband on the otherhand went with an iphone and is loving it. Though he has became addicted to facebook.

Good luck and let me know what you decide to get.

Apple has started to put full time Apple employees in the Best Buys and Future Shops. They are slowly going to try to have one employee in each store. The Best Buy outside the Eaton Centre and the Future Shop at Yonge and Dundas are two examples. If you want to buy an IPhone, laptop, or any Apple product you can deal directly with an Apple employee instead of a Best Buy or Future employee. You will get much, much better service.

 

[Tower]

Not sure where you live. If you are in the Toronto area. Look into Wind.They have a crackberry you buy for 450, no contracts. Unlimited in and out going calls and text, free voice mail,Canada free long distance.. I have free service from Oshawa to Milton. The home zone is growing every day. And if you out of the home zone its only 25 cents a minute or 15 cents for text. I pay 45$ plus tax.
I went with the HTC Maple, its like a crackberry but 200$ cheaper.

As a person who worked a bit in the setup of the WIND network, I would not subscribe to them. I do not like the ethics of the company. The owner is from the Middle East and basically 'bought' Tony Clement. CRTC laws were changed to allow foreign ownership of a telecom company on Canadian soil. It left Rogers and Bell scratching their heads!
Also, the Middle East way of construction and building permits is to 'pay off the building inspectors'. He told his people to pay off the GTA building officials in the same manner as they do in Pakistan! Fortunately, it does not work that way in Canada as much. (I'm not saying payoffs to government officials, look at Tony Clement, but it's not as prevalent out there.)
Also, I'm not against the Conservatives, just what Clement did. Libs and NDP do it too.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well the main difference between the phones you are asking about is that with a BlackBerry they all have keyboard with the exception of the BlackBerry Storm, so with them and the iPhone it's all touch screen. Now I currently have a BlackBerry Tour from Bell and I enjoy it a lot, although had Bell been able to sell the iPhone a lot earlier I would have considered getting it. Plus I would guess sometime next month or a bit later the iPhone 4G will start selling in Canada, so if you want an iPhone why would you get the iPhone 3GS which is currently being sold right now since it's the older model.

 

[mickilee]

wow didnt know that. thanks.

Look how much rogers and bell are ripping its customers off, with add ons, contracts and over priced phones. No wonder they where scratching their heads. Trying to figure out how to keep up with Wind and Mobilicity . I see Rogers now has a lower tier for cell plans, with older phones.: Glad there is new providers in the game.

Canada is one of the last few countries that doesnt have free province calling. Now we do thanks to Wind and Mobilicity.


sorry Op for hijacking.

 

[glendalais]

Well the main difference between the phones you are asking about is that with a BlackBerry they all have keyboard with the exception of the BlackBerry Storm, so with them and the iPhone it's all touch screen. Now I currently have a BlackBerry Tour from Bell and I enjoy it a lot, although had Bell been able to sell the iPhone a lot earlier I would have considered getting it. Plus I would guess sometime next month or a bit later the iPhone 4G will start selling in Canada, so if you want an iPhone why would you get the iPhone 3GS which is currently being sold right now since it's the older model.

I played with the iPhone 4 at the AT&T store the other day. Honestly, unless you MUST have Video Calling, I don't find it any different than the 3G/3GS.

I don't know if Bell/Rogers/Telus are doing it, but you can get a iPhone 3G/3GS from AT&T here for dirt cheap right now, as they try to clear out their opportunity. It might be something to look into.

 

[bdoyledimou]

With a contract, you can pick up a 32 GB iphone for $150. 16 GB for 100.


I resisted for a long time, but once it hit that price point, i signed up.

Took a 3 year contract with 1 GB data (500+500), 1000 minutes of talk (500 and 5000) unlimited evenings and weekends, for $60 a month with rogers.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't know if Bell/Rogers/Telus are doing it, but you can get a iPhone 3G/3GS from AT&T here for dirt cheap right now, as they try to clear out their opportunity. It might be something to look into.

I heard that once the iPhone 4 starts being sold in Canada then the 3GS will be discounted.

 

[4boyz]

Take a look at Virgin. They are owned by Bell but have lower monthly charges and no hidden fees. Its a better balance than paying a large price for a Blackberry or I phone up front like with Wind. The customer service is pretty good and very laid back.