I-Phone/plans advice?

[bigmama67]

DH has been wanting an MP3 player with more capacity, and I am debating whether we should get IPhones so we could use them for online access, e-mail, etc. I believe they are also cameras and play video...right?

Also...I know we will have to commit to a monthly plan...any deals out there for free or lower-cost phones with a contract?

At the moment we each have a "Pay-as-you-go" cheapie. I would appreciate any input on this...good models, plan deals, etc.? I am SO clueless with this! Thanks!


Rachel in NJ

 

[FozzieFan]

I would suggest an IPod Touch for you. It's an iphone minus the phone. An iphone contract is rather expensive especially if you're going from a pay as you go phone. I have one and it's $84 a month and that's the cheapest plan you can get 450 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, and the lowest text message plan for $5. I think you can still get the 3g iphone for $99 from ATT, but I'm pretty sure that's the cheapest you'll find it.

You can access the internet on a touch anywhere where there is a wireless connection. There are some deals on the touch for black friday if you look around.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Get at least 1 iPhone. I finally caved when my contract was up. Now I do not know how I lived without it. Actually got it 1 week after fall break and boy could we have used it in DC!!!

You are looking at a big change as far as your plan will go. Ours is offset by the fact that we own our own business so our cell phones are tax deductible.

You can get a refurb iPhone for as low as $49 but I would go with the 3GS 32 gig for $199.99


You have to have I believe a $59.99 a month plan minium then a $30 a month data plan then a text plan, $20 a month family unlimited if you text alot would be best.

I got a $5 a month plan for Texts(200) because I do not text alot. You can skip Text plan if you do not text.

The Touch is great but will only pick up internet when free WiFi is available where the iPhone is connected at all times to the internet.

The iPhone 3GS does have a camera but it will not take video. It does play video however.
The Touch has no camera. It does play video.


If you go with an iPhone and a Touch you will want to opp for at least a 32 gig Touch because of hardware updates and for only around $90 more than the 8 gig you will increase your overall caps by 4.

Ipod Touch 8 gig
•1,750 Songs
•10 hours Video
•10,000 Photos

•Up to 30 hours music playback
•Up to 6hours Video playback
•iPod Touch 3.1 Software
•Bluetooth
•Nike + iPod support built-in
•Built-in Speakers
•Earphones

Ipod touch 32 gig

•7,000 Songs
•40 hours Video
•40,000 Photos

•Up to 30 hours music playback
•Up to 6hours Video playback
•iPod Touch 3.1 Software
•Bluetooth
•Voice Control

•Nike + iPod support built-in
•Built-in Speakers
•Earphones w/ remote mic

also the 32 gig model has updated hardware that the 8 gig model does not have.


If you decide to get either one or both check out my thread for free apps:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2330141

 

[kentstateman2010]

I agree with FozzieFan, there are countless stores, restaurants, etc that have WiFi access so that you can access email, the internet, iTunes, and the App Store from the iPod touch. I even think my local McDonald's has WiFi access. I work at Radioshack and we have the iTouch for the normal price, $199.00 but you also get a $20 Radioshack gift card with the purchase.

There are also applications for text messaging. It does not require a texting package, only Wifi. But its up to you. My iPhone is on a family plan so the monthly bill isn't too ridiculous. There are also iPhone family plans (with 2 iPhones) that seem to make it more reasonable.

Hope that helps! Happy Thanksgiving, time to eat turkey now

 

[Minniemama350]

I love my Iphone. AT&T is advertising a sale tomorrow.Just FYI, in case you're interested.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I agree with FozzieFan, there are countless stores, restaurants, etc that have WiFi access so that you can access email, the internet, iTunes, and the App Store from the iPod touch. I even think my local McDonald's has WiFi access. I work at Radioshack and we have the iTouch for the normal price, $199.00 but you also get a $20 Radioshack gift card with the purchase.

There are also applications for text messaging. It does not require a texting package, only Wifi. But its up to you. My iPhone is on a family plan so the monthly bill isn't too ridiculous. There are also iPhone family plans (with 2 iPhones) that seem to make it more reasonable.

Hope that helps! Happy Thanksgiving, time to eat turkey now

The touch that RadioShack has on sale is an 8 gig it was not upgraded in the 3rd generation. You can purchased a 2nd generation refurb 16 gig twice the memory as the 8 gig 3rd generation and essentially the same touch for $199 from the apple store with a years warranty and 90 days apple support.

 

[sluggozmom]

I love my Iphone. AT&T is advertising a sale tomorrow.Just FYI, in case you're interested.

Did you see anything specific to the iphone?

 

[dcfromva]

Good info on the iPhone.

You have to have I believe a $59.99 a month plan minium then a $30 a month data plan then a text plan, $20 a month family unlimited if you text alot would be best.

I wonder if this price varies from locality to locality? We pay $30/month family unlimited text. I held out getting it, but finally caved. With the iphone, you really don't need text because you can send an email to the text phone number and the person responding can text back to your email address....
(But, you have to know the person's provider in order to format the address properly)

This is a link that explains the process in more detail...

The iPhone 3GS does have a camera but it will not take video. It does play video however.

My iPhone does take video, but maybe I have a different model than you have. It is very handy for taking videos of fireworks at WDW and last weekend, I made a clip of Mickey Mouse in the parade in Chicago as he lit the Christmas lights.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Good info on the iPhone.

I wonder if this price varies from locality to locality? We pay $30/month family unlimited text. I held out getting it, but finally caved. With the iphone, you really don't need text because you can send an email to the text phone number and the person responding can text back to your email address....
(But, you have to know the person's provider in order to format the address properly)

This is a link that explains the process in more detail...

My iPhone does take video, but maybe I have a different model than you have. It is very handy for taking videos of fireworks at WDW and last weekend, I made a clip of Mickey Mouse in the parade in Chicago as he lit the Christmas lights.

My bad, about the Video, I did not know it did take video. How do you do that?

I will check the text price again we do not text alot yet(DS is 12)but I feel that will change soon so I only have the $5 for 200 plan.

$20 unlimited for single phone
$30 unlimited for family plan

 

[dcfromva]

My bad, about the Video, I did not know it did take video. How do you do that?

Tap on the camera icon.
After the camera AP opens up, look on the lower right. There is a little picture of a camera and a little picture of a movie camera. If you slide the button over to the movie camera, you will see the center icon (the one you use to snap pictures) will turn into a red button. The red button will start and stop your video.

DC

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Tap on the camera icon.
After the camera AP opens up, look on the lower right. There is a little picture of a camera and a little picture of a movie camera. If you slide the button over to the movie camera, you will see the center icon (the one you use to snap pictures) will turn into a red button. The red button will start and stop your video.

DC

Oh cool, ty so much. I asked the guy at the ATT store last week to explain the phone to me and he said "Sorry, we do not carry them here so I do not know anything about the iPhone." WTH I thought if you worked for ATT and in a ATT store (not a Kiosk, a proper store) you should know how to work every phone ATT carries!

I am sure there are plenty of more things I will find out as I have only had it about 2 1/2 weeks.

thanks for the text messaging thing too!

 

[dfchelbay]

Just an FYI...I have the newest version of the Iphone and it does take video, as well as regular photos.

Nevermind...you all fixed it yourselves.

 

[dcfromva]

Oh cool, ty so much. I asked the guy at the ATT store last week to explain the phone to me and he said "Sorry, we do not carry them here so I do not know anything about the iPhone." WTH I thought if you worked for ATT and in a ATT store (not a Kiosk, a proper store) you should know how to work every phone ATT carries!

I am sure there are plenty of more things I will find out as I have only had it about 2 1/2 weeks.

thanks for the text messaging thing too!

Here is a link to the iPhone User Guide that might come in handy.
It is a pdf which you can download to your home computer.

You can make yourself a link to your Home Screen on your iPhone for reference (though it takes a while to load even with wifi)

You can also download the pdf file to your iPhone, but I believe you have to get an AP for that. Docs To Go is an AP that was recommended to me (The basic version costs $9.99).

One of the features in the user handbook was tethering. I was excited to try tethering, but sad to find out that ATT doesn't permit it....

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

One of the features in the user handbook was tethering. I was excited to try tethering, but sad to find out that ATT doesn't permit it....

They don't permit it yet. General concensus is that tethering will be coming in 2010 as AT&T upgrades their network.

 

[skip323]

OP - were you able to find one on sale? I went to the ATT site around 1am Black Friday and actually found a refurb'd IPhone 3GS for $49.00. I am so excited! Granted, paying for the data plan does not excite me one bit....I don't use my phone a lot but I think I will probably come to love it!

 

[dcfromva]

They don't permit it yet. General concensus is that tethering will be coming in 2010 as AT&T upgrades their network.

That would be totally awsome!

DC

 

[dcfromva]

OP - were you able to find one on sale? I went to the ATT site around 1am Black Friday and actually found a refurb'd IPhone 3GS for $49.00. I am so excited! Granted, paying for the data plan does not excite me one bit....I don't use my phone a lot but I think I will probably come to love it!

Very nice deal!