Time for a new cell phone! Need your help!

J. Crawford · #1 08-23-2009, 09:48 AM

Hey guys, Im needing some help. It has come time to get a new cell phone, and I have a few options, but Im terrible at big decisions like this. Ill list the options, tell me if you like one or the other, or if you have any other ideas. Thanks!

1. Stay on Alltel, "transfer" to Verizon Wireless (As Alltell was bought out), and get a Blackberry Tour.

I like this as I have been a user of Alltel for four years, and am good friends with the manager (who is a bassist, BTW)

2. Switch to AT&T, get the iPhone, and start fresh with a new company.

I dont know any of the people there, and it would be a new start.

But, here are the problems making this sticky:
My band, Alison Tuesday, is starting to get some attention. Manager was hired, demo is starting, rehearsals, gigs, and band photos are all coming up and starting in the next month.

That may be OT in a sense, but it really matters. To move to AT&T, I would have to wait til Christmas, and keep my crappy broken Razr until then. Thats htree months without a good, reliable phone, and with the band, Class President, Prom, etc. all under my belt, thats scary.

But, if I stayed at Alltel/VW, I could get a new phone ASAP and still have a nice phone, but that would mean no iPhone.

Any options, opinions, etc. are welcome guys! As always, thanks!

J.

tplyons · #2 08-23-2009, 10:02 AM

As much as I love my iPhone, I'd say that if there is anything holding you to VZW, I wouldn't make the switch. AT&T's service is inferior to VZW and I can't wait to make the switch back, iPhone or not.

J. Crawford · #3 08-23-2009, 10:09 AM

Hm.. food for thought. Thanks T! Plus, I need a more business related phone, so maybe Blackberry is my better bet.

OT, how is your M&M job going? I was happy for you when you got it. And the Marcus Miller project?

tplyons · #4 08-23-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Hm.. food for thought. Thanks T! Plus, I need a more business related phone, so maybe Blackberry is my better bet.

OT, how is your M&M job going? I was happy for you when you got it. And the Marcus Miller project?

I'd say the iPhone is a perfectly good business phone. Mine does everything I want it to, except I cannot access my work email (simply because they don't allow devices they don't own.)

The new job is great... I love almost every minute of it... especially sampling the new products

However, the Marcus Miller project is on hold... I've got to dig myself out of some of this debt first.

J. Crawford · #5 08-23-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I'd say the iPhone is a perfectly good business phone. Mine does everything I want it to, except I cannot access my work email (simply because they don't allow devices they don't own.)

The new job is great... I love almost every minute of it... especially sampling the new products

However, the Marcus Miller project is on hold... I've got to dig myself out of some of this debt first.

Good to know you have your head on straight.

It comes down to how much I want the iPhone, compared to how much I need a new phone with everything going on. 3 months can hold a lot with all thats on my plate, and being cell phoneless could get messy.

Joe Gress · #6 08-23-2009, 10:29 AM

VZW ftw.

J. Crawford · #7 08-23-2009, 10:35 AM

Hm.. I have been told before that AT&T service isnt as good as VZW, and you guys are backing that up.

The Tour is looking all that much better. Only thing is, I heard that there is a Storm II and Tour II coming in the next month or so. If I got the Tour now, could I upgrade? Or would I have to pay the full amount for the phone?

Im leaning towards VZW as of now..

Joe Gress · #8 08-23-2009, 10:54 AM

You would probably have to pay the full amount. If your really want the newest tour, then I would stick with alltel for a little bit more, and then switch when it comes out. Then bug your Verizon sales rep on a good deal. If your getting a family line, have everybody move at the same time to save on plans.

As for VZW's service, I highly recommend it. We have been with them for about six years now I think, and they have been top notch pretty much the whole time. Also, when everybody's phone has little or no signal, VZW phones usually have at least a bar or two. At least enough to send a text.

Also, I have been able to get a new phone every two years. The last phone I had shorted out before the contract was up, but they gave me the contract pricing on it and started a new contract up for me. For what its worth, I got the env3, and I really like it.

J. Crawford · #9 08-23-2009, 11:19 AM

I just wanted an iPhone, but I honestly dont know what I would use it for outside of the music, texting, and internet. A lot of the apps seem pointless to me, though there are some really cool ones.

kanonfodr · #10 08-23-2009, 11:35 AM

Move to VZW and get yourself a Blackberry Storm. Little guy is the bee's knees.

The only thing Iphone has over BB is the extra apps, only because Apple has been pimping it's Iwhatevers for the last ten years, starting with the Ipod. Blackberry has a whole bunch of support behind it as well, it's just not as mainstream as the Iphone.

But since you do seem so torn, ever thought of buying an Iphone and unlocking it for VZW?? Google turns up a lot of good resources. In the digital world, you can sometimes have your cake and eat it too.

Peace,
Greg

J. Crawford · #11 08-23-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanonfodr

Move to VZW and get yourself a Blackberry Storm. Little guy is the bee's knees.

The only thing Iphone has over BB is the extra apps, only because Apple has been pimping it's Iwhatevers for the last ten years, starting with the Ipod. Blackberry has a whole bunch of support behind it as well, it's just not as mainstream as the Iphone.

But since you do seem so torn, ever thought of buying an Iphone and unlocking it for VZW?? Google turns up a lot of good resources. In the digital world, you can sometimes have your cake and eat it too.

Peace,
Greg

I didnt know that was possible.. I thought, even if unlocked, they were stuck on one network.

But Im not a Storm fan.. A few friends have them, and I hate the click screen. I think the Storm II did away with the click feature.

kanonfodr · #12 08-23-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

I didnt know that was possible.. I thought, even if unlocked, they were stuck on one network.

Ya, it's possible. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Peace,
Greg

Tommygunn · #13 08-23-2009, 02:26 PM

I've been told that you can get someone to do a thing called a system overide on an iphone so you can use it with T-mobile. THat may not help you but if you like t-mobile more than At&T then ok. The only reason I know is cause I have tmobile and stuff

J. Crawford · #14 08-23-2009, 02:33 PM

Nah Tommy, either AT&T or VZW.

And I keep checking videos of the Blackberry Tour. Its killer!

I dont know if I really want a tocuh screen phone. Im a keyboard kinda guy.

SchecterC4 · #15 08-23-2009, 04:07 PM

I'd say stick with Verizon and get the Blackberry. We've had Verizon for years and the service is always top notch and you can get a signal just about anywhere. Everyone I know that has AT&T is disappointed and would much rather have their iPhones with another carrier. Blackberry makes good stuff, too.

LilRay · #16 08-23-2009, 04:37 PM

I'm in the same boat you are, needing an upgrade. I've got the LG Voyager which is Verizon's "IPhone". I'm trying to decide on upgrading to the Blackberry Tour or getting the LG enV Touch, which is the newer version of my phone.

As far as service is concerned I used to have Cingular/AT&T before switching to Verizon and I used to argue constantly with them over inaccurate billing. Verizon's service is better overall quality etc. I also have mobile broadband with Verizon which isn't available at my location with AT&T.

God Bless, Ray

J. Crawford · #17 08-23-2009, 04:50 PM

Im definitely leaning towards the Tour as of now.. Plus, it would be an almost immediate upgrade, instead of waiting 3 or 4 months.

katibass · #18 08-23-2009, 05:11 PM

idk, if you're not sure about touchscreens, than the iphone probs isn't the best option. i like touchscreens, but not the way whole touchscreen keyboard thing work on the iphone, it's hard for me to type on.

Joe Gress · #19 08-23-2009, 05:16 PM

I couldn't stand any of the touch screen phones that I used. Either at the store or friend's phones.

J. Crawford · #20 08-24-2009, 08:27 AM

Saturday is the day.. I can "upgrade" from Alltel to VZW, and its looking good as of now. Blackberry Tour is looking like my phone.