Looking for a new Cell Phone

[TCAS]

I occasionally read that smart phones are used around 90 to 98 % for pure phone use. Except for the Blackberry which is used for email, I never hear of people using cell (smart) phones for anything else.

So what is the purpose or advantage behind a smart phone if it is not used for more than a cell phone?

It's like having a computer in the palm of your hand that occasionally takes a phone call or two. Since I travel for business I'm probably the other way around and spend 90% of the time using the phone's computer capabilites and only 10% of the time as a phone.

My Sprint Mogul, besides being an MP3 player, also can display videos and uses the built in GPS reciever with TomTom navigation software.

[leehljp]

My Sprint Mogul, besides being an MP3 player, also can display videos and uses the built in GPS reciever with TomTom navigation software.

That is what I am looking forward to getting, a GPS phone, and one with email and decent surfing. I can barely figure out the basics on these phones. It doesn't help that phones are changed every three months over here and two years down the road when I get a new one, none work like the last one.

I wish they could do some basic standardization on the interfaces!

[Lonnie in Orlando]

jussi -

(sorry for hijacking the original post)

Thanks for the info re: the Tilt. Keyboard vs. iPhone touch screen may be the final factor for me. Because I will be using the keyboard more than the neat iPhone stuff.

- Lonnie

[jussi]

jussi -

(sorry for hijacking the original post)

Thanks for the info re: the Tilt. Keyboard vs. iPhone touch screen may be the final factor for me. Because I will be using the keyboard more than the neat iPhone stuff.

- Lonnie

I don't think you'll regret it The Iphone is cool but I would never want to have a cell that was completely touch screen. If you're a new user check out Amazon for pricing. I got mine for $200 after rebate. Even if you're not a new user you can always cancel your account and start a new one. Unless your current number is very important to you. If you get one, check out this site. It has tons of free plug-ins. I didn't like the home screenthat it comes with and changed it. When downloading plug-ins however make sure you trust the source.

[jussi]

That is what I am looking forward to getting, a GPS phone, and one with email and decent surfing. I can barely figure out the basics on these phones. It doesn't help that phones are changed every three months over here and two years down the road when I get a new one, none work like the last one.

I wish they could do some basic standardization on the interfaces!

Lee in Japan do you have to pay for a data plan as well to surf, use gps, etc? What are the monthly payments (in dollars pls ). Or do you guys just add load to your sim cards like the Philippines? Btw, the Tilt has a GPS. It's one of the higher end phones here but I would guess in Japan there probably much better phones?

[leehljp]

Lee in Japan do you have to pay for a data plan as well to surf, use gps, etc? What are the monthly payments (in dollars pls ). Or do you guys just add load to your sim cards like the Philippines? Btw, the Tilt has a GPS. It's one of the higher end phones here but I would guess in Japan there probably much better phones?

I don't have a booklet around. At different stores, they have different booklets for different sets of phones. In these are several, almost spreadsheet like charts to figure out out which phone to get, then what payment plan. More features, more price, like the US.

My first cell phone here in 2002 had photo and movie clip ability along with other features that I never used and it was a lower end phone.

Generally, I pay about $50.00 a month for LOML and my phone usage, which is the second for the bottom end payment. We don't use our cells here for anything more than business, and even then most people call us.

There are phones here that interact with vending machines and allow one to purchase things via the phone and deduct it from a bank account or debit card account.

[jussi]

There are phones here that interact with vending machines and allow one to purchase things via the phone and deduct it from a bank account or debit card account.

Now that is cool