Best alternative to iPhone?

[lektrix]

Screw Apple and screw Roger's expensive data plans....what is the best alternative GSM phone comparable to the iPhone?

 

[pm]

These are comparable in terms of features, and size.
They have GPS, WiFi, 3G support (most of them), camera, large touchscreen:

Nokia N95 - http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n95-1716.php
Nokia N96 - http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n96-2253.php
i-Mate Ultimate 9502 - http://www.gsmarena.com/i_mate_ultimate_9502-2158.php
HTC Tytn II - http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_tytn_ii-2024.php
HTC Diamond - http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_touch_diamond-2368.php
Samsung F700 - http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_f700-1849.php
Toshiba G810 - http://www.gsmarena.com/toshiba_g810-2273.php
O2 XDA Orbit II - http://www.gsmarena.com/o2_xda_orbit_ii-2180.php

And some day:
Sony Ericson Xperia X1 - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_e...son_xperia_x1-2246.php
Samsung i900 Omnia - http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i900_omnia-2422.php
Blackberry 9500 (probably not GSM, but maybe... in any case, not much known about it)
Garmin Nuvifone - http://www8.garmin.com/nuvifone/

or buy an original iPhone on Ebay and unlock it... they are running ~US$350 on Ebay right now ("buy it now", sorted by price+shipping lowest first).

Here's the list that I pulled most of these from:
http://www.gsmarena.com/result...&TalkTime=0&sFreeText=

 

[dartworth]

http://www.digitgeek.com/top-5-iphone-3g-killers/

 

[Saint Nick]

repost

 

[pm]

I don't think it's too much of a repost... although the titles are the same.

The other thread was about CDMA phones - specifically Sprint. I didn't see a lot of recommendations in that thread that overlapped with the GSM phones in this thread.

 

[yllus]

I called Rogers' Customer Retentions (*611 on my Rogers cell, then said "cancel my phone") on Jul 15, 2008 at 2:15 PM and was given:

- Nokia N95-4 8 GB phone for $324.99
- Minus a $100 instant discount for adding a Vision plan for 3 years
- Minus a $50 mail-in rebate for purchase of the Nokia N95-4 phone
- Minus a $25 credit for retention purposes

= $149.99 total

At the time of the call, I was 18 months into my pre-existing 3-year contract and had produced $2700 of revenue to Rogers, putting me in "HUP 5" category.

For an upfront $150 and an extra $7/month on my cell phone bill, I essentially get a Nokia N95-4 with unlimited data, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera and multimedia capabilities. Oh, and an actual physical keypad. I hate dialing on a touchscreen.

I consider this far preferable to $299 for an iPhone and an extra $30/month on my bill. Admittedly it's not the same browsing experience, but considering the cost difference I'm willing to give that up.

 

[pm]

Wow. Nice deal. Yeah, I'd take the N95 hands-down if they were priced that way.

I like the N95 a lot, but I had the reverse situation where an N95 was ~$500 and I was able to get a 4GB iPhone for $240 (friend at Apple got me a discount).

 

[Deeko]

149 for an N95???? Wow. That is a STEAL.

 

[bignateyk]

anyone know how much the N95 is with a contract through AT&T?

 

[kevinf2090]

i don't think the n95 is carried by at&t. so the only way you can get the n95 is by buying online, paying full price, and then using existing sim card and plan.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: yllus
At the time of the call, I was 18 months into my pre-existing 3-year contract and had produced $2700 of revenue to Rogers, putting me in "HUP 5" category.

What is the HUP system and how does it work?

 

[jdoggg12]

Any of these phones offer google GPS? i'll be on verizon if it matters

 

[dbk]

That new samsung joint.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
Any of these phones offer google GPS? i'll be on verizon if it matters

XV6900. But you have to unlock it, install the alltel or sprint rom to enable GPS and EVDO RevA. Then you have the option of installing a custom rom.

lots of info over at http:\\forums.ppcgeeks.com under the HTC Vogue upgrades forum. I just did my phone last night. RevA is fast, and the gps works well under google maps and live search too.