Who is your Smart Phone Carrier ? Are they good ?

[Hawk]

I'm looking to upgrade from two cans with a string. What smart phone and what carrier do you recommend ? Prices reasonable ?

Thanks,

Hawk

[Craven Sound]

I have an iPhone 4 on Verizion, and am a previous AT&T customer with the same type of phone. The coverage on both carriers are very similar, pricing is about the same as well. I spend a lot of time around electronics and speaker and sound systems in particular. AT&T induces all types of noise into these pieces of equipment and was a major factor in my switch of carriers.
A lot of folks like the Android OS, I've tried it, I own an Android tablet, I prefer Apple's iOS.

Also, Verizon's website is much more user friendly.

[CMOR]

AT&T induces all types of noise into these pieces of equipment and was a major factor in my switch of carriers.

Also, Verizon's website is much more user friendly.

The noise issue is one reason I'm glad i went with Verizon(that and a work discount). Almost any time I run sound I hear the electronic chirp of an AT&T phone pinging a tower.

I personally have only used an iPod Touch, so I'm familiar with the interface. It's pretty easy to navigate. But, alas, I'm running Android. I like the fact that I can dig deeper into the OS and do stuff outside of the native ecosystem.

Funny you say Verizon's site is more user friendly, I just spent 2 hrs last night trying to accomplish, what I thought was, a simple function. It is after knowing what exactly to do. Hindsight being 20/20.

I can't say I've ever dealt with AT&T.

Hope this helps, Bill.

[CrossfireRadio]

Using boost mobile (Android phone)..

Previously a Verizon user, but moved to boost mobile..

2 phones @ $199.99 (each)
Paying $55.00 x 2 for unlimited web, text, and talk

5 months of consistent payments, 55.00 drops to 50.00..

have not had a single issue since we moved to them.. can also do a number transfer for free (depending on previous carrier)

We like it, and works out good for us..

(When we were with Verizon we was paying almost 200 a month for 2 phones (with no web)) Which for us was very costly..

So now we pay 110 (together) for everything.

[lonewolf]

I wouldn't think that anybody who carries your phone around for you could be very smart.

[kayla]

i'm using Verizon. i did use AT&T for like a week, but there was no service at my house. so i had to switch back to Verizon. phone wise, i used to love the android OS, but unless you wanna manually stop most of the programs running in the background, you won't have any battery within a few hours. and if you use the phone alot, forget it, no battery in like two hours. so i switched to the Iphone 4. i love it, the battery life stays strong.

as far as billing and pricing goes, they all suck.

thats my opinion, good luck bill!

- kayla.

[LHSL]

I'm looking to upgrade from two cans with a string. What smart phone and what carrier do you recommend ? Prices reasonable ?

Thanks,

Hawk

My recommendation:

If you get an iPhone, go with AT&T. They have faster 3G speeds than Verizon, and currently the iPhone is 3G only.

If you get a 4G Android phone, go with Verizon, because they have better 4G coverage and it's much much faster than 3G and as fast or faster than all of the other 4G systems out there.

I can explain the 4G vs. 3G stuff in more detail if you like, but I didn't want to put you to sleep in just one post.

Oh, and as for which to get...

iPhone is for when you just want a no frills smart phone. You will forever be beholden to Apple with any and all apps you buy. Probably movies and books too. Battery life is pretty good - but battery is not replaceable once it starts to wig out after a year or two.

Android phones are more easily customized. They typically offer more latest and greatest technologies. Battery life is weaker, but you can change the battery out on nearly every phone made. Some offer better battery life than others. My Samsung Galaxy Nexus has great battery life. Battery life is also very dependent on the apps you install because some use the Internet connection behind the scenes a lot. The Droid Razr Maxx has great battery life. Many phones also offer extended batteries.

The other thing is, if you switch from a Samsung Android phone to a Motorola or LG or some other brand, most of your apps will transition with you. You are not beholden to one carrier or one brand of phone. You still have to stay in the Android family, but I think having different manufacturers promotes more competition.

I find that apps do crash occasionally and sometimes things don't work as well. But my wife's iPhone and iPad both have apps crash very frequently. Apps crashes are not a reflection of the phone, but a reflection of the talent of the programmer that made the application. Maybe there are better programmers that develop for Apple, maybe not. I'd say that's a tossup now-a-days.

[jetcitywoman]

iphone with verizon

[bfoust]

Blackberry.











Just kidding!!!

iPhone 4S w/ AT&T. I'd get whatever is cheaper, I heard Wal*mart has a cheap plan.

[ToonaRockGuy]

Bill, come see me at work. I can explain stuff to ya.

[f.sciarrillo]

I am thinking about iPhone with Sprint. Mostly because they are the only ones left with unlimited data. I am just waiting till the iPhone 5 comes out first because they are supposed to be 4g.

Verizon cost you an arm, leg and right nut. Plus their customer service is the worse I have ever had to deal with.

At&T drops too many calls. They did the last time I had them anyhow. This was a couple of years ago, so they might have fixed that.

My best suggestion is to like Kevin said, go to a store like radio shack, walmart, or one of the cellular stores and ask them a bunch of questions. It would be better to go a store that cells more than one carrier. Because the Verizon store or AT&T store might lie to you to get you to sign up with them.

[bfoust]

There's no such thing as unlimited data, especially when you get throttled (slowed down to like dialup speeds) when you hit x amt of Gb. IE: 3Gb a month or so.

That's how AT&T works anyways.

It's damn hard to get anywhere near 3Gb unless all you do is listen to Pandora or watch Netflix. I use my iPhone a LOT and only one month hit 800mb.

[Banned]

Can Walmart offer the same Verizon deals that the Verizon store can? Or AT and T?

[kayla]

Can Walmart offer the same Verizon deals that the Verizon store can? Or AT and T?

as far as phone pricing and plans? from my experience, their phones tend to be a few bucks cheaper and the plans are the same.

- kayla.

[Hawk]

Thank you everyone ! I was at AT&T prior to this thread and was ready to buy what the nice (he was a cool dude) guy was selling me. Then I thought I'd ask around first.

Lots of good advice from each of you...

One of my concerns is data. Verizon charges $1.99 per MB, that seems like a lot. AT&T is $20 a month for 300 MB or $30 a month for 3000 MB.

I think I saw Sprint on WireFly had unlimited data.

How often to you pick up free Wi Fi (or what ever it's called) ?

Thanks again,

Hawk

Kevin, I might be out to see you. Are you still at the Roaring Spring Exit or are you by the Music Emporium ? Thanks...

[Hawk]

Anyone use your phone for a lot of GPS ? Does GPS use a lot of Data MB ? Are there free Apps for GPS ?

Thanks again.

[Craven Sound]

The iPhone comes with a free map app and I use it a fair amount. It uses the cell signal to pinpoint your location vs. a true GPS, so in my usage, I don't find it as accurate. I manage a Wi-Fi network so I'm consistently around free Wi-Fi, I have the 2Gb data plan from Verizon and rarely get close to my limit- I think the plan is either 20 or 30 dollars.

[Hawk]

The iPhone comes with a free map app and I use it a fair amount. It uses the cell signal to pinpoint your location vs. a true GPS, so in my usage, I don't find it as accurate. I manage a Wi-Fi network so I'm consistently around free Wi-Fi, I have the 2Gb data plan from Verizon and rarely get close to my limit- I think the plan is either 20 or 30 dollars.

Thanks...

[sunsetbass]

Using boost mobile (Android phone)..

Previously a Verizon user, but moved to boost mobile..

2 phones @ $199.99 (each)
Paying $55.00 x 2 for unlimited web, text, and talk

5 months of consistent payments, 55.00 drops to 50.00..

have not had a single issue since we moved to them.. can also do a number transfer for free (depending on previous carrier)

We like it, and works out good for us..

(When we were with Verizon we was paying almost 200 a month for 2 phones (with no web)) Which for us was very costly..

So now we pay 110 (together) for everything.

i havde boost also with an android and unless im in altoona, johnstown or indiana i have no service. boost mobile sucks!!!! the payment plan is awesome but thats it. why pay for something i cant use. im switching to straight talk.

[floodcitybrass]

Speaking of smart phones.....


Wouldn't this be cool....

Go to a rock concert and launch an app that streams a front of house board mix to your phone that you can listen to with earphones.

[Mysterytrain]

So, Bill, just curious...

Why are you getting a 'smart phone"?

I ask because I went through the same thing. The only real reason was so I had access to the internet. Everything I wanted to do seemed to use a lot of data. YouTube uploads of the band, GPS to get to shows, and just random searching would use up my $30. data plan in a few days.

I was paying over $90. per month with a Verizon plan for a basic phone, some texting and some mobile web. With a smart phone it would have been $118. per month for minimal data.

Verizon (and others) offer a $50. pre pay phone. Unlimited phone, text and mobile web. So I said screw the smart phone and went with that.

I have internet access at home so it was just a waste for me to spend all that extra money and still be limited to what I wanted to do.

Also, I figured in a few more years (or less) they will finally offer much more reasonable rates similar to general phone plans now.

[Mysterytrain]

Plus, two cans and a string?

Making a phone call and a text here and there... sure. But I don't quite picture you playing games with your phone all day.

[ToonaRockGuy]

Kevin, I might be out to see you. Are you still at the Roaring Spring Exit or are you by the Music Emporium ? Thanks...

Bill, I"m at the Altoona store by Music Emporium. Working today from 7 to 4. I'll let you know some other work times via PM.

[Hawk]

So, Bill, just curious...

Why are you getting a 'smart phone"?

I ask because I went through the same thing. The only real reason was so I had access to the Internet. Everything I wanted to do seemed to use a lot of data. YouTube uploads of the band, GPS to get to shows, and just random searching would use up my $30. data plan in a few days.

I was paying over $90. per month with a Verizon plan for a basic phone, some texting and some mobile web. With a smart phone it would have been $118. per month for minimal data.

Verizon (and others) offer a $50. pre pay phone. Unlimited phone, text and mobile web. So I said screw the smart phone and went with that.

I have internet access at home so it was just a waste for me to spend all that extra money and still be limited to what I wanted to do.

Also, I figured in a few more years (or less) they will finally offer much more reasonable rates similar to general phone plans now.

I'm quite dumb when it comes to new digital tech. I'd like to have GPS and Internet access to bring up a you tube song on occasion. My wife is the gamer and wants a smart phone too. So I'm trying to get an education on what I'm getting into.

I didn't even know what data MB was until my first visit to the local AT&T store a few days ago. I figured (and I was right) that Rockpagers were savvy smart phone users...

I appreciate anything that will increase my phone tech education.

[Mistress_DB]

Using boost mobile (Android phone)..

Previously a Verizon user, but moved to boost mobile..

2 phones @ $199.99 (each)
Paying $55.00 x 2 for unlimited web, text, and talk

5 months of consistent payments, 55.00 drops to 50.00..

have not had a single issue since we moved to them.. can also do a number transfer for free (depending on previous carrier)

We like it, and works out good for us..

(When we were with Verizon we was paying almost 200 a month for 2 phones (with no web)) Which for us was very costly..

So now we pay 110 (together) for everything.

i havde boost also with an android and unless im in altoona, johnstown or indiana i have no service. boost mobile sucks!!!! the payment plan is awesome but thats it. why pay for something i cant use. im switching to straight talk.

I love my straight talk phone.