If you could pick a new phone and provider..

Kerbob97

So, I am starting a new consulting gig, and the main company wants me to pick a phone. Will be traveling throughout texas, and I need to get a phone with good sound and service, few dropped calls as possible.

So I can go with any carrier, and pretty much any phone. I am leaning towards the WP7, but would appreciate any suggestions.

-lots of calling
-use as a modem for laptop (or tablet-which I also need to get)
-social media use (linkedin, twitter)
-lots of gmail and maps
Thanks!

Tejs

Sprint is the only carrier that has a truly unlimited data plan anymore, so I would go with them.

And if you're going with Sprint, I like the HTC Evo 4g.

admanb

Better check the service area on Sprint, first.

Picking a provider in the US is pretty much choosing which horse you want to fuck you, these days.

Kerbob97

Yeah, thought about sprint, but how long do you really think they will stay unlimited?

I am about to scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon, trying to keep everything straight.

MushroomStick

Kerbob97 wrote: »

Yeah, thought about sprint, but how long do you really think they will stay unlimited?

I am about to scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon, trying to keep everything straight.

Longer than everyone else. If their coverage works for you, the Evo4g is a nice ass phone and can be gotten super cheap now. The Evo3d is even nicer - 3d gimmick aside, it still has the 1.2Ghz dual core and a gig of ram.

Kerbob97

just checked out the sprint coverage map for Tx.

F Sprint.

There are literally parts of I-45 between Dallas and Houston where there is no sprint coverage, and it goes to roaming.

So, pretty much AT&T or Verizon I think, seeing as how T-Mobile is being absorbed by AT&T.

Also, any advice on a laptop or tablet that coordinates well would be appreciated too.

matt has a problem

Sprint is partnered with Verizon when you go out of Sprint coverage areas. I just made a car trip from Chicago to Raleigh, NC, and have an Evo 4G with Sprint. My wife was watching movies on Netflix on an iPad wirelessly tethered to my phone in the middle of nowhere, Indiana, with no problem. The only thing you'll be lacking is 4G coverage, of course.

Kerbob97

Well, I went and spoke to the Sprint guy locally. When I asked about roaming, and brought up the Verizon partnership thing, he said "they are different networks, you drop down to their slowest connection, and are hit with roaming fees."

I keep going back to the WP7 stuff, but the fact that they aren't 4G just seems like they are already starting off behind.

I am at about a 50/50 point of either just going and buying an Ipad2, and a Iphone, or trying a wp7 with the new HP tablet.

On another note, I am starting to look like my picture I am pulling my hair out so much.

My budget is "under 1.5k for phone and tablet/PC", so it it pretty wide open. I just want to make sure I can run the office stuff I need, and everything works together.

MushroomStick

Kerbob97 wrote: »

Well, I went and spoke to the Sprint guy locally. When I asked about roaming, and brought up the Verizon partnership thing, he said "they are different networks, you drop down to their slowest connection, and are hit with roaming fees."

If you get one of the plans with unlimited data (which you are required to do with smart phones) roaming is free. This guys info was either years out of date or he was flat out lying.

matt has a problem

MushroomStick wrote: »

Kerbob97 wrote: »

Well, I went and spoke to the Sprint guy locally. When I asked about roaming, and brought up the Verizon partnership thing, he said "they are different networks, you drop down to their slowest connection, and are hit with roaming fees."

If you get one of the plans with unlimited data (which you are required to do with smart phones) roaming is free. This guys info was either years out of date or he was flat out lying.

Thanks for posting this, I was going to say the same. When I got my Evo 4G one of the selling points was no roaming fees, ever, anywhere in the US.

finalflight89

Google Maps / Navigation is the best on Android. If you're travelling extensively, the turn by turn navigation cannot be beat.

Kerbob97

I swear to god, the cell phone companies hire satan's evil bastard children as their lawyers and salespeople.

I stopped in a T-Mobile store near where I ate lunch. They are offering an unlimited plan, so I was interested.

"Unlimited talk, text and web! 79.99! legalese BS!" Yes, they do still offer an unlimited plan, but it drops to 2G after the first 2 GB, and there is actually the ability to cancel or restrict your usage if you use too much.

I do the little calculator, and I am conservatively averaging 10 GB a month. So for 80% of the month, I will be on 2G.

Oh, but wait, they have a cute skinny brunette as a spokesmodel. That makes everything OK. *grumblegrumble*

JAEF

There are NO ROAMING CHARGES on any monthly phone service plans from the four national US cell providers. There haven't been for a long time. Sprint is the most consumer friendly in regards to data in that it's real unlimited at a decent price and they don't fuck you over by shaping or any of that nonsense. They were my company of choice even while I did contract work for Verizon. Verizon has the best voice coverage out of the four but their new data plans and overall costs are bullshit, so unless your company is paying your phone bill or Tmo/Sprint's coverage are terrible where you are I'd say don't bother.

I haven't kept up with phones lately but by now all providers are going to have a very respectable stable of phone options. We're far past first and second gen Android where you had to be super picky. WP7 is a nice OS if you don't mind the bit of a walled garden feel, being a bit behind on features and the short end of the app market. Android deals with all of Google's apps sublimely so if you're doing that a lot, something to keep in mind. I would say try out a nice Sprint device of your choice for the 30 day deal (pretty sure they're still doing that?) and see how coverage is for you.

Kerbob97

I'm debating about grabbing one of the HTC phones, and doing a dual boot system. I have to admit, I find it funny that today's comic is actually talking about using a WP7. I actually have had a couple WP's, the last was the Samsung i760, and I loved it. It seems like with Mango, they are getting some of the drawbacks of the initial release quickly hammered out.

TKid

I used to have a Windows Phone too, the Samsung BlackJack II. I used it for ages and I loved it. I recently made the switch to an HTC Incredible and I will never look back. I am sold on the Droid OS.

My family lives in Texas and they're all on Sprint. Most of them live in Wichita Falls which is a few hours north of Dallas and Houston though. It's sounding more and more like Sprint is going to be the best bang for your buck. Honestly with shopping for cell service it's choosing the best of the worst for your area and your usage.

JAEF

Unless the XBL tie-in with WP7 really strokes your goat there isn't too much the platform offers that's more compelling than the other options, to be honest. Also I can't believe that's still your sig. I am only to be blamed for trusting in my team! And not knowing anything about sports.

Lindsay Lohan

We've been with US Cellular, Verizon, TMobile and Sprint over the past 10 years or so and Sprint has been the best we've dealt with by far. Verizon was the worst for us, we never seemed to have the same bill from month to month - none of their plans fit us well and it seemed like they nickel and dime you to death (unless things have changed). Trying to meet our data/texting/calling needs involved constant monitoring of our bills and tweaking addons almost monthly.

Sprint has a few great things on their Anytime plan:
* Truly Unlimited data plans
* Unlimited calling to/from ANY mobile phone from any provider which is great - much better I think than the "pick 5 friends" approach from other providers
* Nights start at 7pm which is pretty early (Verizon is 9pm I believe)

The Evo is a very nice phone too. I love my phone - the Kyocera Echo - but can't recommend it wholesale as it's a very acquired taste

Kerbob97

Regarding the sig. 2 kids later and I still laugh about that. More so the 2 kids, and I haven't been on the internet anywhere near as much as I used to. For Paint, I thought it was a halfway decent job. But, yeah, I do need to change it.

I think the WP7 has huge potential to be honest. I frankly expect a Kinect version by E3 2012. Plus, I just can't go with the Apple lodged in my colon feel I get from the Iphone/Pad/Touch thing. It's just too much of a hipster Harrison Bergeron type thing for me.

I am leaning towards the Samsung Infuse though. Either that or the Focus. I have a buddy with AT&T who says he'll hook me up with "the good plan" so we'll see.

But yeah, if the Sprint stores around me were open past 7, I would probably go that way. I'll make a decision by Friday at the latest.

Thanks for all the help.

Kerbob97

OK. I was all set for the HTC Evo3d, went to two different Sprint Stores and tried to make calls.

Awful.

so, I am down to Tmobile- great call quality, even at a noisy mall kiosk, and a store location. Going with the Unlimited 5GB plan for 89.99

Now it is down to the phone. I am leaning towards the HTC Sensation, but I like the display on the Samsung Galaxy 4G. Thoughts?


http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=HTC-Sensation-4G Galaxy 4G.
vs.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=Samsung-Galaxy-S-4G

FIGHT!!

Beck

admanb wrote:

Better check the service area on Sprint, first.

Picking a provider in the US is pretty much choosing which horse you want to fuck you, these days.

Thank God you don't have the kind of selection Canada has. My data ends at 2gig because I got it during a deal but, most finish at 500MBs, sometimes 1GB. 500 to 1GB.

That's the *60* dollar a month plan.

dispatch.o

Find out who has a deal for the place you work at.

At the hospital I work at, Sprint has a 25% discount, Verizon/ATT are 12%. Personally I like my Iphone, and I generally hate apple products. ATT hasnt been bad at all, I've traveled around 2300 miles and always been able to recieve a call... well except in Nebraska, but people don't live there anyhow.

Slider

My family has been with ATT for a long time. They're not too bad.

However, I have heard a lot of bad things about Verizon.

JAEF

The HTC is a superior phone. It's also newer hardware by 3 months.

xThanatoSx

The short answer is use what works for you.

Every major cell phone company has their share of fanboys and serious detractors. And don't let anyone fool you - they all want your money. Some are just nicer about it than others.

SanderJK

I'll put my 2 cents in for the HTC Desire HD. (may have another name depending on provider) It's a pretty great phone, with only one serious detractor: battery life. It can have it's screen on for approximately 3 hours. (If you don't have the screen on, it's standbye time is still several days).
But having such a big screen, and powerful hardware to back it up, is pretty great. Especially for browsing, but also for e-reading (I've read a dozen books on it, the screen holds about half a page of a normal book which is fine), and it can also handle pdf's, which in some cases are great to have on you.
The camera is also pretty good (outside of very bright/very dark situations), and the video camera is pretty amazing.
Of course, as an android phone, it's pretty good at gmail / maps etcet.

So if you don't mind having a car charger, or perhaps bringing your charger to work/school, and having a phone that's big, than it's an amazing phone.