Time For A Cellphone Upgrade

[Dan Schultz]

Terri and I are going to visit our AT & T store sometime this week to move up to a 'smart phone' from our old, clunky (but still quite functional as a phone), Pantek 'flip phones'.

What's about the best AT & T has to offer? Their website has many options but I'm looking for a little feedback from real users.

[sousaphone68]

I just bought a Galaxy S4 works well I also have a Nokia Lumia my wife has an iphone all work well the only thing about any of the smart phones is you will have to sign up to new online services in order to get any apps for the phone even the free ones.
The nokia has a clunky zune interface that you must use to get music onto the phone.
The iphone is easy to get podcasts and music onto.
The android phones seem to work better at being phones and usually have micro sd card slots making it easy to get your photos off the phone. Their navigation software is or was better than the iphone.
overall I prefer android phones but I have never tried a blackberry

[Dan Schultz]

So, since you'll now be on a "smartphone," should we expect you to start posting in long, run-on sentences with no punctuation that we'll have to read a couple of time to decipher?

Oh, I'm not going to give up my computer. I actually prefer single-use gadgets over 'all-in-one' gizmos. I take pictures with a camera... not my cellphone. I prefer REAL email. The only text messages I've sent amounted of replies like 'OK', 'yes', or 'no'... and maybe just a 'K'.

I'll probably keep my clunky 'flip phone' while the wife gets something more compatible to what all the grandkids are using. Come to think of it... what the hell is a ten-year-old doing with a damned phone in the first place?

[Uncle Buck]

I have used Apple and Samsung products. I prefer the current products being made by Samsung. The Galaxy line of phones has been excellent since version II, in my opinion. (But I'll admit, Apple products seem a bit more "stable," and easier to pick up and use on the first try.)

(I'm also a fan of Andriod's integration of Google products, and I long ago gave up any hope that anything I do with technology will be "private.")

[gwwilk]

Many guys and some women who are more 'tecchie' (myself, my brother, and nephew) generally prefer Android smartphones because of their versatility. Guys who don't want a gadget and most women (such as my sisters, sister-in-law, and niece) prefer iPhone simplicity. Myself, I can't stand 'i'-anything either.

[Uncle Buck]

I still hate iTunes and don't use it EVER for ANYTHING.

Not even to activate your iPhone and iPad? Can't imagine how they've very useful to you otherwise . . .

[Rev Rob]

I am currently using a Blackberry. I have been a Blackberry user for the past 4 years or so. I like it. But with any newfangled electronic device/gadget - there is a learning curve, accompanied by much swearing and head scratching. I am with you TubaTinker - if I am writing I want a real keyboard. The touch screen keyboards work fine for short notes, but I would not want to write a book on one.

[Bob Kolada]

You guys can save a lot of money going prepaid, especially with a "dumb phone". Pick up a used S2 or S3 for the missus-

http://swappa.com/devices/att/us

I've purchased three devices off here with good to excellent results. If she just wants a portable smart thing to mess around with she could keep her phone and get a 7" wifi tablet for pretty cheap.

AT&T's prepaid. There are cheaper companies, some of them piggybacking off AT&T, but most of them have some kind of catch or are TMobile/based. AT&T covers a larger area but TMobile can have faster speeds and lower prices. I've mentioned those two only because phones are compatible between them and you're apparently happy with AT&T's coverage-
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/ ... plans.html

[Dan Schultz]

Well... Terri and I spend a couple of hours at The A T & T store this morning weighing various options and playing with phones. She opted for a Pantec 'Flex' while I went for a little extra with the LG Optimus G Pro.

Now... gotta figure how to work the damned things!

[Rick F]

This appears to be a bit late for 'TubaTinker', but for others thinking about upgrading to a smart phone, don't rule out the "pre-paid" option.

For years my wife and I got by with "dumb phones" through VirginMobile. It was pre-paid and cost us $15 every three months on automatic pay with credit card or about $5 per month (+tax). The charge per minute is 20 cents, but since we didn't use our phones all that much we had a balance over $80 most of the time.

Two weeks ago I bought an iPhone5 and still have VirginMobile as my carrier. You have to buy the phone outright (~$550 for 16 gig model) but the monthly charge is $35 for unlimited data, unlimited text and 300 mins of talk time (extra mins @ 10 cents per minute if you exceed the 300). link If you set it up for auto-pay with cc, then it's just $30 per month. One caution however... you need to check their coverage link to be sure they have adequate coverage in your area. VirginMobile uses Sprint towers so their coverage is not as good as AT&T or Verizon's. Coverage in S. FL is very good with 4G (or LTE) data in our area. Thankfully Sprint is giving up on their Wi-Max service and is going with LTE. I understand that a phone set up for WiMax has trouble switching to 3G when necessary.

Hope this helps.

Sent from iPad