My cell phone contract is up for renewal, and while I like my Blackberry 8703e and like US Cellular’s phone coverage, I’ve found myself using the data plan quite a bit, and US Cellular’s data network in Central Oregon is slower than dial-up. I’ve already talked to the business folks there, and have flat out been told that they have no plans in the immediate future to upgrade their network to EVDO or anything faster than they have now, so I’m exploring moving to other options.
I’m also looking getting a Windows Mobile-based phone so I can install WMWiFiRouter and a variety of other available applications (VNC Client, SSH client, Citrix Client, blogging client, etc…). My boss has given me permission to transfer away from the company’s account with US Cellular to somewhere else and to get a new phone. Since times are tight, I’d like to try to get a deal to save my bosses some money, but I’d still like to get a phone and plan that will do everything I need and want to do.
While I’d like input on all this, here’s my thinking. AT&T is out of the question because I can’t port my number there because they’re not local (though they do have good roaming coverage using Unicel’s soon-to-be-defunct GSM towers), so the iPhone is out of the question — though I don’t think I’d want a phone that can only officially do what Apple says it can do via the app store. T-Mobile is out of the question (even though I already have an account there for my in-laws) because their 3G network network isn’t going to be up and going for a while here (though their G1 is a pretty cool phone). Verizon also has a tendency to cripple their phones and over price the same models compared to other companies.
So that leaves me with Sprint, and I’m leaning towards one of their Everything Plus plans and their HTC Touch Pro (with a few hacks to disable the fancy TouchFlo interface as I don’t need frilly crap). It has everything I need, and has a full Qwerty keyboard (as I can’t stand touch-screen keyboards). It’s also smaller than my Blackberry, and shorter and narrower (though thicker) than an iPhone 3g.
Anybody have any input either way, good or bad? Is my thinking flawed? Anybody have any contacts or hookups at any of these companies or on these phones that can get me a great deal (Sprint or otherwise)?
Update: And by the way: If anybody has a Sprint SERO plan they want to get rid of, contact me, as I’d be interested in taking it over.
Comments
Jake,
I was forced onto the Blackberry leash by my company, so I got the new Storm that Verizion is pushing, it works great. The Touch Screen KB took a couple of days to get the hang of using, but it is great now that I have figured it out. It is 3G, so it is very fast for browsing, and will also work as a Tethered Modem for Internet with a laptop.
And as far as I can tell, it does not suffer from the Verizion Cripple Effect. In fact, it came with an 8GB SD chip that I can put music and pictures on by just attaching it to my PC with a USB cable.
-The Dren
It doesn’t suffer the Verizon cripple effect because verizon is the only one that has it. If somebody else had the Storm, it’d have a better screen, more memory, and a faster CPU (and a newer OS).
But thanks for the tip — their plans are just too expensive compared to others (unless you have a contact there).
We use a blackberry 8330 with Verizon and are happy campers. Coverage is good to excellent and no service issues.
I can’t recommend a do but, I certainly recommend a don’t…SPRINT!!!!!!!!! As you know, I have been fighting with them for the last 1 1/2 years to take my deceased 12 year old son’s phone off my bill and they refuse. Their customer service is appalling.
I would have an iPhone if I could, but I’ll be taking a serious look at the G1.
I’d have an iPhone, too, if I could, but I like the more open nature of the Windows mobile platform and the Android platform. Unfortunately, T-Mobile’s coverage is spotty compared to Sprint’s (or pretty much anybody’s) in Central Oregon (especially down in Sunriver where I work).
I have the Iphone on T-mobile and love it. I had sprint and they are a horrible company. Yes T-mobile is spotty but You can get Cydia App store and you can download any kind of app. I have the modem App that Apple pulled off there App store. Iphone will be my only phone.
I actually like Sprint. I’ve had US Cellular, UNICEL, and now Sprint. I won’t say that Sprint is as good as UNICEL/RCC or USCC, but I’m happy with them. I get a 23% discount on my entire data plan…Simply Everything. Their normal customer service sucks, but now I just send an e-mail from within their web portal (eCare). I’ve had great success going that route. Also, tech support is here in the US and those guys are awesome too. So far, no billing issues. I had a problem with my rebate, but an e-mail to eCare had it fixed in 8 hours! Instant $100 credit on the bill.
The evdo service is good. The online CDR is sweet. The online Billing is sweet.
As long as you realize that there will be some places you have spotty coverage, you are fine…and of course, their will be the occasional dropped call when going from a sprint area to roaming on USCC or Verizon. There is a hack on the Touch Pro to force roaming if you are into that.
For SE Bend, they just turned on a new tower by the dump which blankets this whole SE side.
I also have an Airave in my house, which they gave me for free since the service is semi spotty at times. The Airave kicks butt.
Best Buy has the Touch Pro for $199 and no rebates needed
I meant to say 23% discount on the entire plan…comes out to about $82.00 including taxes.
The instinct is a nice phone too, but more for someone that isn’t into the windows mobile scene…$49 at radio shack with no rebates.
I have a HTC touch. It is an excellent phone hardware-wise. The out of the box OS sucks but if you know your way around Windows and install the apps you want then you can configure it to suit. Definitely recommended.
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