var json_comments = new Array("
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hypnotik_jello
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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The chart needs to be updated for T-Mobile's new plans.

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5 replies
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remington870_20ga
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hypnotik_jello: It also needs to be updated for Sprint. $70 will get you unlimited data/text/ mobile ot mobile.

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remington870_20ga
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@remington870_20ga: It also discludes the uber amount of homebrew apps for the Pre

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schance
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@hypnotik_jello: It also doesn't take into account many of AT&T's plans. I pay $160/month for TWO iPhones, with 700 shared minutes (which we never come close to using, since most of our contacts are also on AT&T), unlimited data, and 200 texts/month per line. I'd pay about 145-150/month if we didn't have the texting charges.

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SnoopyFish
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@schance: hmm. I just signed up for an iphone at&t plan today. 450 min, 200 texts, and unlimited data for $60 per month. I don't see how you have 2 phones for almost triple of what I pay on one phone???

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NeverLetMeDown
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@SnoopyFish:


$60/month? Wow, according to their website, that would be $40 for voice plus $30 for data plus $5 for text so $75 - do you have a corporate discount?

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SnoopyFish
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@NeverLetMeDown: I guess I got some kind of discount?? cool!

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Charlotte Rae's Web
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@schance: we don't text and our two phone bill is around 140ish.

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cc82
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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The avg. use plan for Sprint should be the $69.99 that includes unlimited calling to any mobile number.

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5 replies
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Scatter
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@cc82:

Yeah, Sprint would be great if it wasn't for their network and all the disconnects I used to get with them.

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ahleeeshah
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Scatter: It might just be my area, but I've never had a dropped call with Sprint. The only issues I've had with them have been phone-related, but that's my fault for buying an overpriced phone.

I pay about $67/month for what is essentially an unlimited plan (I have a 20% company discount).

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Pickled_Herring
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Scatter: I have both a sprint phone and an at&t phone - both do drop calls but I definitely have less network coverage issues with the Sprint - and I live in a major city!

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FigNinja
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@cc82: And this is why I wish the Droid was coming to Sprint. They really have great plans.

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tbax929
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@FigNinja:
I'm getting a Samsung Moment when it comes out on Sunday.

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KarateMedia
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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As a Verizon customer, I was looking forward to the Droid as possibly my first smartphone. But if I'm facing a minimum of $60 more per month to upgrade to a plan that makes it worth owning a smartphone, there's no way in hell I can justify it. I had no idea a worthwhile plan would cost that much.

If we're in a recession, how the heck do people afford things like this?

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7 replies
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lmarconi
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@KarateMedia: I know! I was just thinking that's so much money for something that's not absolutely necessary, and yet most everyone I know has a Blackberry or iphone. I have no clue how they afford it; I could never do it.

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Charlotte Rae's Web
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@lmarconi: You save money with it in other areas - at least I do. Not enough to offset it all but I save at least 20 a month in book costs, educational costs, coupon tracking, etc

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meltingcube
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@lmarconi:
To me the extra cost to have 24x7 access to my email and the web is worth it to me. The company I work for is 24x7 so its nice to be able to look at emails and resolve issues no matter where I am.

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Hogan1
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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If you want to go down the smartphone route I'd suggest checking with your employer to see if they have a partnership with Verizon or another carrier. For example I get 20% off my monthly bill through my employer on my personal smartphone.

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lordcainx
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Hogan1: Looking at the chart I'm glad I work as a telecom admin for a bank. They bought me my iphone 3G and pay the plan in full monthly. Makes up for the crap pay that banks pay IT staff. Course I can't leave and expect to take the phone with me heheh.

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LastError
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@lordcainx: So how does your bank feel about doing bank business on a GSM device which as a phone protocol has been completely holed and hacked and is insecure? Do they have a problem with that, or not? I think they should. You as an admin would not let them install a wireless router with WEP and run bank data over it, right? Well, GSM is to voice what WEP is to data: worthless.

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KarateMedia
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Hogan1: Ah, you are correct - I already receive a discount on my plan, which means I''d actually be spending just under $60/month more to get the lowest plan on this chart, if all my math is correct.

Thanks for reminding me - it also turns out that my company's discount went up 5% from what's reflected on my bill, so I just called to have it corrected for the next bill cycle.

@nbs2: I thought I was paying $49.99/month, but it turns out I'm on a $39.99/month basic 450 min plan, plus about 20% off that. It would be close to $60/month extra to upgrade to the $109.99/month plan in the chart above, even taking my company discount into consideration.

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FigNinja
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@KarateMedia: They list the 90 minute plan. Verizon has a 450 minute plan with unlimited text and data for $70.Their 900 minute plan is now $90. I'm thinking this info is out of date because there's no way the extra fees add $20 on to the bill.

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nbs2
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@KarateMedia: $60!? Are you out of contract on a really good voice plan or is there something else that would raise the price so drastically? I pay an extra $30/month, since all I did was tack data on to my existing plan (rates hadn't changed). If I read my bill right the other day, I think I my changing employers resulted in a net drop, as now I am only paying $8 more than I was pre-smartphone. I don't know why, but I'm not going to call and complain...

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nakkypoo
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Charts like this are not nearly as helpful as they may seem.

The information changes so fast, as was pointed out with T-mobile's new plans. Apple's App Store has also hit the 100k app mark. And storage capacities on all by iPhone are limitless thanks to SD cards (similarly with battery life since you can have multiple batteries for the others as well).

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3 replies
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destruktolux
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nakkypoo: FYI, the Palm Pre doesn't include an SD expansion slot of any kind. Sadly, I don't think the new Pixi does either. From my understanding, since Palm engineered these phones from scratch, it would've either increased the cost or changed the form factor for the worse. Hopefully later WebOS devices will offer this, but I don't think it's all that significant of a black mark against the phone.

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jvanbrecht
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nakkypoo: I am going to guess you mean BUT Iphone, not BY Iphone.. since the iphone has no expansion slot.

As for the others, SD has its limits, and more to the point, the phone has limits to how much of an SD card can be read (usually filesystem limits).. Android being linux based, I don't imagine that limit is in affect. But there is no guarantee that a hard coded limit is in there..

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nakkypoo
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jvanbrecht: Right, I should have said except iPhone. There is a hard limit with micro SDHC cards, I think it's 32GB. But since these cards are very tiny, you could carry dozens of them. You obviously wouldn't have access too all data simultaneously, but you wouldn't be limited to the built-in storage only.

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Coelacanth
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nakkypoo: If the charts change so fast, all it requires somebody to do is recheck the values every couple of days (or week) and post an upgraded graphic.


Better yet, create a permanent link to the most updated version - that way, no matter when the information's pulled, it's up-to-date without having to hunt all over for it.

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shadowkahn
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

according to a pricing structure I found, the droid will be $40/month voice and $30/month web&email. Assuming you add text messaging at $10 a month, that works out to $80. I have trouble believing that even Verizon will find $30 worth of BS fees to add to that.

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2 replies
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cc82
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@shadowkahn: They're using the 900 min/month plans as the average plan. The $40/month voice is for $450 minutes.

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Con Seannery
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@cc82: What's with all of these new units on Consumerist lately? Dollar-miles? Dollar-minutes?

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jaydez
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Where are they getting a data limit of 5GB on the iphone from? I thought it was unlimited.

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6 replies
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4hotdog
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@nbs2: @jvanbrecht: Where do you get your information from? I have never heard of this at all, and have never heard of anyone being billed for going over. I know that a soft cap was rumored in response to people tethering their iphones, but it was all rumor.

Do you have any links or documentation to prove that the unlimited plan is really 5gb?

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dvdchris
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@4hotdog: Seriously? It's pretty well known all wireless providers have gone to a 5gb cap on data for some time now.
Do a google search for '5g cap' and you can pull up all the info you need.

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4hotdog
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@dvdchris: Seriously! I havent heard of any wireless providers offering unlimited contracts and then capping at 5gb. I am not saying it doesnt exist, but I have never heard of any iphone users being penalized. I asked a friend who works for att and he said he hadnt heard of it.

Google searching for att iphone unlimited 5gb cap provides me with some people who say it exists and others who say it doesn't. Nothing official and no first hand accounts.

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NeverLetMeDown
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jaydez:


Average iPhone user generates about 400MB/month in traffic.

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jvanbrecht
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jaydez: It is a soft cap, you can go over it, but you will end up with one of those lovely $5000 bills (or higher depending on what you do with the data). ATT charges overages.

That being said, only stupid people (outside the whole boat still docked in miami port issue) generate that much traffic a month...

I have been using tethering to my laptop since March on various occasions, and almost daily for the last 3 weeks, generic web browsing, email, vpn to corp network, and I have only used a total of about 7 GIG since March.....

Wireless phones are not meant to be your primary internet connection (I know many people do, but it is against the TOS, and if you get caught, no sympathy), and if you do, and you download music, and movies, and what not, well... your going to incur a large bill

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jamar0303
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jvanbrecht: ...why DO American wireless providers charge and cap like that anyway? When I was in Hong Kong it was HK$48/day for REAL unlimited access (charges capped at HK$588/month, keeping in mind that the exchange rate is fixed at HK$7.8/US$1). I would pull a gig a day (HSPA connection, \"downloading music, and movies, and what not\") and not a peep from them. In fact, I was billed less than the advertised price.

And if you're going to talk coverage, I firmly believe that AT&T's 7.2 coverage area is about as big as HK right now, they're so slow.

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Charlotte Rae's Web
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jamar0303: When I was at the ATT store last week, a photographer who had been shooting in HK for two months came in to talk about his bill. ATT told him a lot of inaccurate stuff, mostly about texting and access issues and he had a massive bill. He had called them at first and asked flat out if he would just be better getting a throw away phone in HK to do business on and they assured him it wouldn't be bad. he wasn't happy!

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jamar0303
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Charlotte Rae's Web: Of course they lie to you about it. They make piles of money off of roaming (it costs more than twice as much US card in HK as HK card in US; think about that for a minute). It's ALWAYS better to get a phone card in HK if you're going there.

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nbs2
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jaydez: Soft cap, I believe. I think you'd be hard pressed to hit 5GB on the phone, making it essentially unlimited.

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logicalnoise
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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the pre isn't the best phone sprint offers, the HTC hero is. The hero is also getting android 2.0 soon.

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3 replies
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Alexander
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@logicalnoise: I second that. The HTC Hero is the best cell phone I have ever had. I haven't even scratched the surface on what it's capable of doing.

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remington870_20ga
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Alexander: @Bush2008: Ditto. The Pre is something to be reckoned with. Id say within a year Palm will have the Pre screaming. The amount of nay saying on the Pre quite frankly pisses me off as the people saying so is blatantly obvious that they haven't sat down with one.

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tbax929
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@remington870_20ga:
I think those defending the Pre over the Hero haven't bother to sit down with the Hero, either. So that goes both ways.

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dohtem
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@logicalnoise: That is purely a question of perspective.

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INsano
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Why is the Palm Pre the Sprint contribution to this instead of the HTC Hero? Apples and Oranges is fun and all...

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henneko
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Where's the row on the chart that tells us which company won't try to screw us over?

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3 replies
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nbs2
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@henneko: That would be like having a row for \"Makes Phone Calls.\" The answer is just too obviously yes to make it worth including.

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Colonel Jack O'Neill
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why doesn't anyone offer a 100 min a month plan for like $10.00. 100 min is more then I even use.

I was thinking of getting the droid, but after I seen the price, hell no.

I thinking about getting the Nokia 5800 Xpress music and use it as a prepaid phone.

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6 replies
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The Cynical Librarian
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Colonel Jack O'Neill: I'm with you (I posted on the other page, sorry for a repeat, but...) My wife and I have to have 700 minutes a month. Combined we use maybe 100 or 150. Sprint's idea for us to lower our number of minutes... 2 plans at 400 minutes... Genius I tell ya!

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fs2k2isfun
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Colonel Jack O'Neill: You admit to only needing 100 minutes per month yet are considering a very high end device like the Droid. Am I missing something?

I think for something like that, pay as you go would be a much more cost effective way to go.

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supercereal
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@fs2k2isfun: You know that people can text, use the web, use GPS, use mp3 playback, use the camera and/or video recorder, and countless other things on their phones now, right? One can do plenty more than just talk on a \"very high end device.\"

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P=mv
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@fs2k2isfun: You admit to only needing 100 minutes per month yet are considering a very high end device like the Droid. Am I missing something?

I think for something like that, pay as you go would be a much more cost effective way to go.

I talk on the phone an average of 30-40 minutes a month. However, I send a huge number of text messages and would love to have the other cool features. I don't see how owning a Droid could be pointless if you don't actually talk on the phone much. Owning a normal, cheapo phone would be far more pointless.

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EarlNowak
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Colonel Jack O'Neill: Honestly? The carriers do offer that kind of plan- you have to go prepaid. $0.10 a minute is basically standard. Look at Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, T-mobile to Go, Tracfone, Page Plus or any of the other prepaid brands.

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LINIS
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Seriously, screw the Pre and put up Sprint's Hero with Android. And I agree that the average use should be the $69.99 450 minute, unlimited any-mobile calling / data / text plan. Sprint also seems to have a lot of corporate discounts. My company uses Verizon, but we also get the 15% discount on Sprint.

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2 replies
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FigNinja
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LINIS: Yep. Now that they have the unlimited any-mobile calling, very few Sprint customers need 900 minutes. Also, Sprint's nights start earlier. Everyone else starts at 9pm. They start at 7. I think that info is out of date anyway. Their unlimited everything including voice is $90 now.

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Con Seannery
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@FigNinja: Everyone starts at 7 these days. That was first done by Sprint, but hasn't been exclusive in years.

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Bush2008
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Why all the Pre hate? WebOS is one of the smoothest OSes I've ever used, and the phone runs very well.

I don't have anything against Android, but I think webOS is just smoother and more intuitive.

The main complain I think I've ever heard about Pre's are Sprint related.

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legwork
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is annoying. Base plans head down to reality while smart plans stay crazy. I just switched to PagePlus' $29.95 1200min/1200text/50MB plan. A little web & GPS use does not justify tripling that cost.

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1 replies
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jamar0303
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@legwork: Problem is there isn't a plan for someone who mostly uses their phone to go online and barely talks/texts.

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gtsports
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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$110-$150/month for a cell phone? That's what all these iPhone people are paying? You've got to be kidding me!


My wife and I pay Verizon a combined $65/month for both of our lines - have more than enough minutes to talk (especially because mobile-to-mobile is free), and just pay by the text since we don't text very often.


What kind of recession is this where I'm seemingly the only person I know not paying $100+/month for a cell phone?

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11 replies
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BklynHotniss
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: You're not the only sane one. I pay $65 free incoming, free at 6pm, mobile to mobile $5, 300 txt for ONE DOLLAR!-After tax $76.00. And I am still trying to lower my plan. I refuse to pay sooo much for internet use. I am quite patient and an oppt'y/promotion deal will come my way. Preferably in the form of $10 for internet-I will not pay a penny more!

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Trai_Dep
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@gtsports: Well, Gramps, they're getting nearly unlimited sex with nubile classmates while you're... Not.
Some things you can't attach a price to.

(i.e., two can make absurd comparisons with little bearing on facts)

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chris_d
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Trai_Dep:
Most cell phone addicts can't put down the crack pipe-- er, phone, long enough to have sex.

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Radi0logy
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Trai_Dep: Yes... sex provided by virtue of... your cellphone. The very best kind.

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Paladin_11
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: Not what I'm paying for mine. $59.99 + tax. There are cheaper iPhone plans. This chart just happened to choose what they view as \"typical\". \"Typical\" is going to mean different things to different people.

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FigNinja
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: Actually I think $70-$80 is closer to average. I pay $100 but that's a family plan with two smartphones.

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flidget
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: This iPhone person's paying $40/month. When I moved out, I stayed on my family's AT&T plan - why pay AT&T $75/month when I can pay a $40 share of a family plan instead?

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henrygates
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: We pay $75 for our two cell lines. I agree $100+ for a single phone is insane, but if you are self employed or do business on the go on a regular basis, a $100 internet connected phone may be a justified business expense.

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b-real
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports:

It's not a recession for everyone.

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fs2k2isfun
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: Agreed. I just got the Cliq and pay $65 before taxes/fees, anything more would be absurd. I still believe this recession has only impacted a small percentage of people.

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nakkypoo
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@fs2k2isfun: Right, because the 15% of Californians who are unemployed is a small percentage of people.

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readams
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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iPhone does not support turn by turn navigation unless you pay a monthly fee and buy a $100 app.

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6 replies
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LastError
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams: So go buy a $100 REAL GPS (some cost under $100 now too) and use that and never pay ATT a dime more.

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4hotdog
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams: Which app for the iphone has a $100 cost and a monthly fee?

Waze is a completely free turn by turn nav app for the iphone

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Paladin_11
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams: I think your \"and\" should be an \"or\".

There are two solutions, one involving a monthly fee and one that involves a ~$100 app. Until Google Maps with Navigation comes to the iPhone anyway...

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supercereal
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams: xGPS has been working nicely for me in that regard. And it's plenty free.

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bloggerX
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams: Don't forget that $120 clip!

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YouDidWhatNow?
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@readams:


...and since the Droid will do that for free without the Verizon Navigator service, which requires a Premium rate plan before you can even get it, we could cut my wife's cell phone bill in half just by switching to the Droid from her LG phone which she uses constantly for GPS directions.

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LatherRinseRepeat
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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It seems all the carriers have higher priced data plans for smartphones. If you're looking to save money in the long run, just buy an unlocked and unbranded GSM smartphone. Then sign up for the cheaper dumbphone data plan. I believe T-Mobile charges $10 a month, and ATT charges $15.

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2 replies
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jamar0303
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@LatherRinseRepeat: They can tell when you use the phone on their network because each IMEI identifies the phone down to the model. Using a smartphone on a dumbphone plan may end up costing you when they catch you.

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stranger than fiction
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@jamar0303: I am currently using an unlocked phone on the Death Star's network, and they have blocked certain functions. I can't even send pics to another phone.

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valleyval
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@gtsports: For me it's worth every single penny. My iPhone has gotten me out of more jams than I can name.

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1 replies
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Radi0logy
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@valleyval: How many \"jams\" has it gotten you out of that it didn't get you into in the first place?

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youbastid
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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With minor google searching, you can find out how to get a sprint plan that includes unlimited calls to any mobile number and 500 minutes to landlines, + unlimited everything else for $59.99 a month. The sprint hero is $180, so total 24 months + phone is $1620. FAR below their quote for sprint, and well below what anyone else offers. And it's an awesome phone.

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2 replies
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youbastid
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@youbastid: Oh wait, that's right, BillShrink is an ad campaign for T-Mobile, so it wouldn't quite serve them well to do that.

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jamar0303
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@youbastid: So why did they end up recommending a Verizon phone?

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Skater009
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Lame Chart - Start over

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ellemnop
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@flidget: Yep, I have 5000 minutes shared among myself and 3 family members, unlimited texts and unlimited data for $67 a month with my iPhone + family plan. I just write a check to my dad instead of ATT.

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SkuldChan
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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My Nokia N97 actually has better stats than all these phones, is unlocked and costs about the same with no contract or no carrier lockin.

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sonneillon
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Palm catalog though is kind of misleading in Apps because the old palm apps function (there might have to be an emulator I don't know) and there are many more of those than the iPhone ones.

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Daveed
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@sonneillon: When I tried using those apps 5 years ago, they were already out of date and not that geat to use.

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sonneillon
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@sonneillon: If that sounds confusing I mean for the palm pilot and palm pilot has been around for a decade, got a lot of legacy software, not that most of that is of much use but there are many applications available.

I wish I had an edit button.

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SJPadbury
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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and what the heck, no love for the Blackberry on there? The storm is feature-competitive with all of those...

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thetango
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@SJPadbury: \"...no love for the Blackberry on there?\"

Actually, SJPadbury, if you check previous charts on that site, they list the Storm ...

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Colonel Jack O'Neill
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@SJPadbury:
It's more about the plans, then the phones themselves.

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consumerd
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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no way in hell would I give 2 grand over the life of the contract. I can live without the internet and texting in my hand.

For the 2 tmobile prepaid phones I have (me and the wife) with minutes we come in well under $700 for the year.

You people are nuts!

Although I think I may wait and look around for a Nokia N97 at some more reasonable prices and get text and phone that way.

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cinlouwho
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I am actually thinking about getting rid of cell phone use all together! Too expensive.

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Mariushm
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I feel sorry for you guys...

The highest plan for one of the biggest cellphone providers in my country costs 80 euro (or about 117$ a month) and includes unlimited calls and sms messages in that network (about 35% of all cellphones) and 800 included minutes for calls to other networks (19 euro cents or 27 us cents for each minute) and free 3g internet at 3.6mbps for the first 1GB (capped at 128kbps after that).
You can get any cellphone on the market and use it with that. Much cheaper and proof competition does good...

Here's the plans page:
[translate.google.com]

iPhone is available with three plans: 19, 39 and 59 euros a month.

For the 19 euro a month plan, the 16GB 3GS is 349 euro with 24months plan so you pay in the end 805 euro or 1200$... for the 59 euro a month plan it's 199euro for two years or 319 for one year.
I admit it's not unlimited calls but still, the 59 euro plan includes 500 minutes and 500 sms messages and 1.5GB of traffic which is quite a lot.

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2 replies
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NeverLetMeDown
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Mariushm:


So, for the iPhone, E199 upfront (with a 2 year contract) and E59/month gets you 500 minutes and 500 SMS/month, along with 1.5GB/month of data. That's 199+24*59=E1615 for two years, or ~$2375 for two years.


With AT&T, iPhone with 450 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends (to any phone, regardless of network), unlimited data (effectively 5GB/month), and 1500 SMS to any network is 39.99+30+15=$84.99/month, plus $199 for the phone upfront, or $2240 for two years.


Guess the US isn't that third-worldy after all.

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tbax929
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Mariushm:
Congratulations. You must live in a first-world country. As you know, America has been third-world for a long time. That's why we don't even have universal health care here.

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Aquasol
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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The best bit of info I personally got from this is that there are newer phones that still support MIDI-- and I lurrrrv MIDI. ;~;

It's easily the best ringtone format(well, if you're into videogames, at least).

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frijoles99
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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All of this is ridiculous. Get SERO from sprint. Currently I get 500 minutes unlimited texting, unlimited internet and I am paying $30 bucks a month, With the 20% off UCLA discount I am paying 26 bucks a month. My phone right now is an htc touch pro that I am really happy with. If I wanted to I could upgrade with my free 2 year upgrade to a touch pro 2 or even a hero. So for me about 800 bucks every two years total including phone

This chart does not take into account the sero plan either.Which is at about 60 bucks a month limited but large number of minutes unlimited text and web. Hell, even if you and 3 buddies were on the sero plan with a 20% off discount each of you pays 33 bucks a month, and you get the latest badass phones. I'm half jewish so I get to say this, but \"Who pays retail anymore?\"

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Al Swearengen
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I just don't see any reason to spend over a grand a year for a cell phone, unless my company would pay for it, which they won't. Sure, web anywhere might be nice, but do you really need it? Do you really need to be able to text people all day? Think about this - if you have a smart phone every year of your life from 20 until retirement at 65, at current prices that would run you over $50,000. Personally I would rather have $50k than a pocket computer. The $50k could go towards paying off student loans, paying off a house, buying a couple of cars, etc.

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The Cynical Librarian
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I just want to know why I still can't have less than 700 minutes to share with my wife (on Sprint). We use maybe 100 a month. I'd rather do the 450 minutes to share and use the savings to get some data raging on my phone. Oh well, it's not like we're going anywhere, we get a 22% discount because of her employer with Sprint.

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pot_roast
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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i got the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G, and am pretty disappointed with Android. Things are slow, inconsistent, buggy (frequent app crashes), lacking stuff that i consider basic functionality. It's great if all you use is Google services but if you actually use anything else, it's an uphill battle.

We're probably going to cancel and go for iPhone rate plans. T-Mobile has also wedged things up pretty good with their new family plans. We're getting close to our 1800 minute plan frequently, and if we changed plans to the new ones (all they offer) then we're looking at a significant price increase especially since the new plans don't have MyFaves. AT&T has 'A-List' which works perfectly for us.

Too bad. :|

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mizike
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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8GB iPod Touch = $199.00
8GB iPhone 3GS = $599.00

The fact that this is a $400.00 difference is completely absurd.

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rachaeljean
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I ditched my iPhone & bloated monthly bill 2 weeks ago, and I'm pleasantly surprised to say I haven't missed it at all.

I still have the device to use as an iTouch with wifi, but replaced my primary phone with a basic candybar gophone I got off of eBay for ten bucks. I text a lot less now, due to the fact that it's really slow and awkward, so I'm hoping I can drop my texting plan now too. :)

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meehawl
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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As the years go by, my old Sprint SERO plan looks better and better. Smartphone is usually $100-$200, and $30/month for unlimited internet/tethering/texts/TV works out at TCO for 2 years of $800-$900. Makes the other TCOs look sick. No wonder Apple/Verizon/T-Mobile can afford to clog up the airwaves with their annoying broadcast spam.

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Ishbar
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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My girlfriend and I have a Family Plan w/ 700 Mins, Unl Text + Data.

Between the both of us we pay $80 a month.
With roll over we can basically NEVER use up the minutes.

I wish they had 300 Minute plans w/ Roll over. I would definitely enjoy a $10 price cut.

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Ishbar
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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@Ishbar:
I suppose it's obvious, but for those who it isn't obvious to...I'm referring to our two iPhones.

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tvmitch
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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Joining up with family plans is key...a chart with family plan costs here would be helpful. My 4 iPhone lines (me, my wife, and my brother and his fiancee) on a 700 minute plan plus unlimited messaging and my 22% work discount is $58.50/line/month. And I have 200 bonus minutes from AT&T on my line, so it's really a 900 minute plan.

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LastError
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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These charts have been helpful ( the other chart was put out by PC Magazine I think). I don't want to spend that much money to talk for two years. It's nuts.

Right now, I pay for a $29 plan with Sprint for my Centro. It ends up being something like $50 after all fees and taxes are added. For that, I get 200 minutes (Sprint's lowest possible plan IIRC), and unlimited Vision data, which is push Gmail for the most part. Barely use the web. And I get 100 texts.

And I feel like I am paying too much. 200 minutes is annoying. The email is nice and very fast but not worth the cost.

When my contract is up in December, I am most likely going to jump to a Straight Talk $30 a month plan, for 1000 minutes and enough texts and data to suit me. I may lose my beloved push Gmail but oh well. I may also soon lose my job and I need to start cutting costs everywhere just in case. The cellphone bill is definitely in my crosshairs.

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Daveed
November 13, 2009 4:34 PM
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I'm sure it's been said already, but at least if you go for Verizon over AT&T for the same price...you get a better network for the same price.

From what I've heard, AT&T's 3G is still new and spotty, and Verizon has had theirs longer and has a notoriously good network.

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