smartphone deals/plans for a first time user?

[Shellydm]

Hello,

I just tried to submit a post but I don't think it went through. Please excuse if there are 2 posts about this.

I want to upgrade to a smartphone from a regular cellphone that had texting and possible web access but I never used it. It was an oldfashioned phone. I was hoping for a smartphone like an iphone or something similiar where you can touch it and scroll it. Mine does not do this.

As you can tell I have no clue about smartphones!

My current Sprint plan is finally out of contract so I'm just paying month by month until I decide to stay with them or upgrade with them or go somewhere else.

I feel so free yet confused on what to do or where to go.

Does anyone know of a good plan and phone to start up with? Are there any good deals where you get a smartphone for free or a good price when you enter a new contract?

Also, what does it cost to run a basic smartphone a month? Is it much more than a regular cell phone that had unlimited text and long distance calls? I think my bill was around $40 or so.

Many thanks,
Shelly

 

[SenecaWolf]

If you stick with Sprint their data plan is an extra $30 a month. In order to have any smartphone (android, iphone, blackberry, windows) you have to add the data plan.

Oooh how I wish I had a $40 cell phone bill, mine is literally 8x that amount lol

 

[Sadie22]

I'm not with Sprint so I can't tell you what is available to you. My carrier (AT&T) sends me reminders when the phone of someone on our family plan is eligible for a free or reduced price upgrade. We can access our account online at any time and see what deals are available online on various phones, or we can walk into a retail store to see what's available there. I did a lot of reading before I decided which phone I wanted. I talked to other people about what they liked and disliked about their phones.

With AT&T, those of us who have smartphones have to each have a data plan at an additional monthly cost.

 

[LJSquishy]

Expect your bill to be about double on a smartphone. Data plan additions are $30 and you can add on whatever texting/talk plan you want or keep the one you currently have.

I personally like Verizon for service. They have amazing coverage with no dropped calls, etc. I would say between Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, AT&T is the worst. It does depend on where you live, though.

I have an HTC Incredible phone (2-3 years old now) and love HTCs products. I M not a Motorola fan at all, but their newest smartphone is supposed to be good...I still wouldn't get it. iPhone is great. Almost all of the fancy phones are quality phones now so I would visit Sprint, Verizon websites and read reviews on their phones.

 

[HM]

We use Virgin Mobile. The phone cost is not free, but the monthly rates are great and no contract. The phone may cost anywhere from $99-$300 and the monthly rate is $35 for 300 minutes phone, unlimited data and texting or $45 for 1200 minutes phone and unlimited data and texting. If you keep the phone for a long time, you'll come out way ahead of the "free phone with plan" from other carriers.

 

[starry_solo]

If you like Sprint, they have an iPhone and their unlimited mobile to mobile (any cell phone), text, and data (with 200-400 anytime minutes to landlines) is $79.99 per month. I don't know if you have to pay extra for the smartphone (maybe $10/month).

No free iPhones, though. The cheapest is $99 or $199 (with a 2 year contract).

Me, I'm glad I got out of Sprint. The network where I am at (cell service) is horrible.

 

[marmalade]

I have T-mobile and my plans is unlimited talk, text, data for $49.99/month. But the catch with this is you have to pay 100% for the phone. You can either pay it upfront or they will break it up over approx 20 months interest free, they just add the monthly payment to your bill.

 

[aclov]

I'm in the same boat, I have TMobile. I'm just thinking if I switch I will get a new phone # possibly which I'm trying to avoid.

 

[marmalade]

I'm in the same boat, I have TMobile. I'm just thinking if I switch I will get a new phone # possibly which I'm trying to avoid.

You can have them transfer your current phone number to your new provider. There is no need to get a new number.

 

[JB2K]

Straight Talk, sold only at their website and certain Walmart stores, offers Android smartphones with unlimited everything for only $45 a month.

And ST uses the Sprint Nationwide Network to carry their calls.

More at www.straighttalk.com