Comments on: WEDNESDAY WHINE: Cell Phone Dilemma

By: DizWiz

DizWiz — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:53:12 +0000

Go with an iPhone and AT&T. I have no love for AT&T, but all the cell phone companies are the same–horrible. I was with Verizon for 10 years (the whole time I lived in Orlando) and I got the free phones like you’re thinking about doing. But then my Verizon contract was up last April, and I bought a refurbished iPhone 1.0 and switched to AT&T and I haven’t been happier. I live in New Orleans, and my company phone is Verizon. When Gustav hit last year, I was the only one who could still use my phone. The Verizon phones couldn’t get through. And, like you, I didn’t think I would use all the features of the iPhone–I just wanted to make calls. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I use it probably 10% for making calls, 90% for doing other things. And a lot of the apps in the app store are really valuable. And the thing just works. Very intuitive.

And when I come to Orlando, I stay in Ocoee (I still own my house there) and I have great signal. And when I’m at the Disney parks, I’m Twittering and blogging and posting pictures on my blog while I’m there so people at home can follow me.

The only thing that the iPhone is missing is video capabilities. But, if the rumors are true, the next iPhone will have video. (Keeping fingers crossed.)

My two cents. Hope it helps.

By: Brian in Vegas

Brian in Vegas — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:11:09 +0000

Darn. Seems like Winter Park is just all-around spotty right now. Just don’t go with Sprint. Be interesting to hear what you go with.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:15:36 +0000

Great site. Unfortunately, the coverage maps for my area are incomplete and the reported signal strength is wrong (at least for T-Mobile). But it’s still useful for comparing plans. Thanks!

By: Brian in Vegas

Brian in Vegas — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:11:22 +0000

Ricky – try going to billshrink dot com. They do a free comparison of service (including signal) and find the plan right for you. You don’t need to go through them. You just use them to comparison shop. I used them (and, as much as I wanted an iPhone, ended up staying with TMo).

By: Ricky

Ricky — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:41:04 +0000

Yeah, then I’d just have to mess with the 20 more emails that I got afterward. ;) I’d rather just do it all in one swipe, every once in a while then little-by-little all day long.

I miss the days when cell phones didn’t exist. Once you left the house, you were unreachable until you got back. Now, you can’t get away… ever!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:51:17 +0000

So think of it this way, any e-mails you would have taken care of while at the doctor’s office, you wouldn’t have to mess with later.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:54:22 +0000

Lots of good solutions. Not sure which one I’ll try but at least now I have some options! I was sitting in a doctor’s office waiting room today enjoying my time away from email and the web. I know that if I had an iPhone, I would have spent the entire time staring at it instead of getting some time away from a computer.

By: colaboy29

colaboy29 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:52:37 +0000

I knot T-Mobile has their Hotspots function that allows you to use your wireless network in your home (if you have one) to make calls through it. T-Mobile also is now offering flat rates with unlimited minutes if you’ve been with them for 22 months or more.

As for type of phone I can’t help you there.

By: BJ Wanlund

BJ Wanlund — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:35:49 +0000

I actually had so much trouble with Verizon, so I cannot recommend anything Verizon sells these days.

I also have an iPhone, and you WILL use it way more than you think you will. Honestly, using the iPhone 3G could not be a better phone experience. I haven’t tried it at Disney, but that might change pretty soon.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:35:27 +0000

Looks like the answers here are all over the board. But I agree with a few here who say if you get an iPhone, you’ll use it more than you think you will.
But maybe that’s what you’re afraid of …