Mobile Phone Technology

[Kenwoody]

I read some of Vanessa Valentines posts looking for answers on cell phone plans, and I just need a little more information.
I am looking to get into a smartphone to replace my aging Razr and was wondering about data plans as opposed to mobile browsers? I am not using it for buisness but would like the ability to access a web page or two, and check emails without having a $90 bill at the end of the month. Is a phone with WiFi a good solution? What kind of monthly bills do you guys get??

Thanks,
KW

 

[censored]

Definitely get a phone with Wifi. Rogers' & Fido's best plan right now (only available until the end of August 2008) is $30 for 6GB. After the end of the month, it's back to $30 for 300MB to $100 for 5GB (or something like that). These are "real" data plans, so you can use the data any way you wish, including tethering. If you don't need a "real" data plan, Telus and Bell both have pretty good email and browsing plans.

I prefer unlocked phones, but Rogers has some pretty good locked smartphones, including, of course, the iPhone, the N95 from Nokia (my current personal favourite), an HTC smartphone or two, and some nice Blackberry phones. If you go unlocked, I really like the Nokia E71 - slim, sexy, and full featured (including Wifi, 3G).

The grid at http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/grid.htm might help you choose. There are also a lot of good reviews at Howard Forums and at http://www.mobile-review.com.

 

[l69norm]

...I prefer unlocked phones, but Rogers has some pretty good locked smartphones, including, of course, the iPhone, the N95 from Nokia (my current personal favourite), an HTC smartphone or two, and some nice Blackberry phones. If you go unlocked, I really like the Nokia E71 - slim, sexy, and full featured (including Wifi, 3G)...

To get the unlimited browsing plan, does the phone have to be locked to Rogers (i.e. use the Rogers branded browser) ?

 

[censored]

For the "unlimited" browsing plans, you have to use a locked Rogers' handset, but, on the Nokia N95 at least, you use the handset's standard browser. I suspect they do an IMEI check for those plans. The data plans, on the other hand, can be used any way you want and with any handset.

The "browsing and email" plans are less expensive and the ones to get if all you want to do is basic browsing and check or send email. The "real" data plans are better if you want to do those things plus things like download podcasts, stream audio or video, upload photographs and so on.

 

[Crixus]

I just got an HTC S640 through Telus.

I do get a $90 bill every month (but I got a $75 one with the Razr) as I tend to "max out" my usage, so I spring for the biggest data package they have which includes unlimited email, IM, SMS, and web browsing for $45.

It might be pricey, but I think I balanced it out by finding a way to get unlimited outgoing minutes 24/7, to the US,Canada, and parts of Europe for an additional $15/month It is why I do a lot of "callbacks" - incoming minutes are charged as minutes, outgoing minutes, not.