Which is the best smart phone

[pitzerwm]

Since I don't really need one, I have resisted getting one. I spent some time with a friend last week and he had a HTC Desire. Of course, he had to show me all of the fun he was having with it, so of course, liking cool toys, I've decided to get something. Money isn't an issue, and "what I need" really isn't the point as I don't know what I "need". I usually buy more than I need, so that when I figure out what I need or want, I already have it.

So, what do you guys have and how do you like it, and your carrier?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I have the HTC Evo on Sprint and it is a phenomenal phone.

 

[seattleguy]

I switched from Blackberry to Android a few months ago. It took a about that long to get used to it and now I would never go back. I have Motorola Droid 2 which I really dont like. HTC models are better. I am on Verizon which is the best, at least for Seattle reception. I am going to switch to the new HTC Thunderbolt which it 4G! If it is your first Droid just be prepared for a steep lurning curve.

 

[Happycarz]

Wait until after the ICA show. While there, just ask all your friends what they like, what they don't, what they wished they had, what they regret, coverage, etc. As everyone likes to show off their smart phone, you should get some great input.
Note that some are prone to malware and some don't work in certain foreign countries. If you travel overseas, a GSM phone is often preferred. My phone worked in Italy, Costa Rica, China, and Africa without having to do anything but pay HIGH per minute charges.
After 3 days of polling smart phone users, you should have no problem making an informed decision.

 

[seattleguy]

Wait until after the ICA show. While there, just ask all your friends what they like, what they don't, what they wished they had, what they regret, coverage, etc. As everyone likes to show off their smart phone, you should get some great input.
Note that some are prone to malware and some don't work in certain foreign countries. If you travel overseas, a GSM phone is often preferred. My phone worked in Italy, Costa Rica, China, and Africa without having to do anything but pay HIGH per minute charges.
After 3 days of polling smart phone users, you should have no problem making an informed decision.

On Verizon you have to get on eof the phones that is dual mode and can take a sim to do GSM as well as CDMA. You are correct it is a big drawback.

 

[mjwalsh]

Since I don't really need one, I have resisted getting one. I spent some time with a friend last week and he had a HTC Desire. Of course, he had to show me all of the fun he was having with it, so of course, liking cool toys, I've decided to get something. Money isn't an issue, and "what I need" really isn't the point as I don't know what I "need". I usually buy more than I need, so that when I figure out what I need or want, I already have it.

So, what do you guys have and how do you like it, and your carrier?

Bill P,

So far so good with my Droid X. I think I gave you a quick look at the remote desktop & camera areas on its screen when you visited here in Bismarck last fall --- that larger screen is nice for something like that. I went from a Motorola Razr so I am still somewhat in awe of this new phone's potential. It is not very user friendly to typing so if that is what you might want --- you may look elsewhere. Some people form the words & commands with the voice recognition though. I hear new Android apps are being developed almost everyday. I have Verizon as the carrier --- no problems there either. When I used the GPS in heavy traffic in Minneapolis Google Maps did not have "to the exact turn" lane level but it still helped enormously. The woman's voice could have been more cheerful also! But then I had no experience with dedicated GPS's like you have.

MJ - Mike

 

[Louise]

HTC EVO. I just set up the program to watch my carwash cameras on it. Awesome.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

If you can make the plunge into smart phones bill, i might have to get a phone that is more than a phone also. I love technology -Love my computers, my digital police scanners in my car. Drive a high tech altima Hybrid, but still see my phone as a phone. Yes i text and pic message alot, but don't want to spend too much wasted time with the phone. Don't forget the I-phone. My ipod touch with camera and video and wifi is the coolest device i have ever used.

 

[Buzzie8]

Hands down! Iphone 4. Apps galore! If you can't find an app to do what you want let me know and I will develop it.

 

[lag]

I have a I-phone 3G ,had it for 18 months or so. I have not had any issues with the phone. I also love the apps

AT&T is the carrier ,when I get outside the city ,I do have issues with coverage. I may switch to verizon when my contract expires, but not sure if they haave any better coverage in our area...

 

[washtubman]

Iphone 3GS. Great! Love the camera monitoring. I also resisted getting a smartphone, but wouldn't be without it now. When ATT came out with the 49.00 special, I took the plunge.

 

[bigleo48]

Bill,

I've been in wireless for 21 years. So I'm not going to get into the various 'cellular' technologies unless you want me too. But think LTE (4th gen systems) compatibility if you can get it with the particular phone you want. If its gonna be a few months until its out, then wait for it.

In the last year I had a droid HTC Legend. It was terrible...short WIFI range, battery lasted half the day with regular usage, GPS was slow. The Droid OS did not have a Skype app (the way to get around those high roaming bills). Missing many other apps (that might be there now), text recognition wasn't good either.

I dumped that phone for an iPhone 4. Very good phone, has all the apps I want (even free nav), HiDef Video Camera, easy to use and not much bother. The only issue with the phone is the front and back are glass, so you need a rubberized case if you don't want to crack the class when you drop it.

Big

 

[MikeV]

I got the Iphone 4 when they came out. I have it in a waterproof/shock proof case. A little bulky but worth it. I like all the apps that are available for it, and overall excellent operation and functions.

 

[Dean Taylor]

If you don't have an iPhone, well, you don't have an iPhone.

 

[pitzerwm]

Thanks for all of the info.

I think that I will go with a HTC Inspire or Incredible S. Now the carriers. Verizon uses CDMA and ATT uses GSM with a SIM card that I can change if I go to another country, but apparently, the Verizon phones can't be done that way.

Another issue is that in WA, Verizon, charges a 9.3% of the total bill fee calling this "Effect of City Tax" I notice on AT&T site, they charge a fee of 14.X% ( a gross receipts surcharge,) which they admit is just a charge that they were able to get through the Utilities Commission.

Could someone, check their AT&T bill and see what the BS charges are there that aren't actually taxes?

 

[seattleguy]

Thanks for all of the info.

I think that I will go with a HTC Inspire or Incredible S. Now the carriers. Verizon uses CDMA and ATT uses GSM with a SIM card that I can change if I go to another country, but apparently, the Verizon phones can't be done that way.

Another issue is that in WA, Verizon, charges a 9.3% of the total bill fee calling this "Effect of City Tax" I notice on AT&T site, they charge a fee of 14.X% ( a gross receipts surcharge,) which they admit is just a charge that they were able to get through the Utilities Commission.

Could someone, check their AT&T bill and see what the BS charges are there that aren't actually taxes?

Verizon has dual mode phones that use CDMA and GSM for travelling or out of range. Regarding which carrier is best - it really depends on where you live. In Seattle AT&T has crap coverage. Verizon is best and it works in the mountains where most GSM does not. (For me this is critical). Personally biggest downside of CDMA is that I can't use data or use the phone as a wifi hotspot and talk (voice) at the same time. With GSM you can do this, but again in Seattle ATT GSM drops calls all over the place. Check Consumer Reports for what appears to be good local city coverage data.

 

[MEP001]

Could someone, check their AT&T bill and see what the BS charges are there that aren't actually taxes?

I still use Verizon; a friend was considering switching from AT&T to Verizon, so we compared bills. With the same service plan, the end fees with the taxes and "BS charges" were almost identical, literally within a few cents.

 

[lag]

Regulatory charges $2.50
Relay service device fund .06
Federal universal charge $2.25
911 service fee $1.30
IA State telecom tax $3.29
These charges are on top of the plan prices ,I have 2 phones on the plan. As I stated above I have AT&T.

 

[pitzerwm]

Thanks Lag, see info below, could you try to see what the $2.25 is 14.9% of.

StateIOWA
Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge1.25
Federal Universal Service Fund14.9%
State Universal Service Fund$0.00
Other AT&T Surcharges$0.03

 

[lag]

I hit 611 on my phone.. basically she was not able to give me a straight answer on what part of my bill it is applied to. She did tell me in Iowa it is 4.29% of the total plan charge. she could only tell me it was a tax levied by the FCC.

I understand it to be a tax on state to state and international calling.

http://www.consumer.att.com/connectivity_charge/faqs.html