Is it even worth getting an iPhone 4 now that unlimited data plans are dead?

[Zysoclaplem]

I had an iPhone 3g and 3GS with unlimited data and they were a lot of fun. Then Android enticed me and I went that way for a while but all the fragmentation and better new devices coming out every other month is driving me bonkers. I hate seeing something awesome come out a month after I sign a new 2 year. I'm thinking about getting an iPhone 4 but I don't know about this whole 2 gb thing. I'm not used to making sure I don't go over on data.

I don't tether or download torrents but I do enjoy Pandora sometimes at work and showing the newest funny youtube videos to the guys in the office.

I'm not going to Verizon and I have Sprint, and the prices are great but I have had the top two android phones they offer and I guess I am just a dimwitted yuppy because I miss the simple straightforward iPhone days of my past.

Any experiences with this from someone who has gotten the tiered plan and liked it? Or hated it?

 

[zerocool84]

You must hate all electronics since anything you buy, be it an iPhone, tv, computer, anything is getting eclipsed in a matter of weeks. It's nothing new.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

You must hate all electronics since anything you buy, be it an iPhone, tv, computer, anything is getting eclipsed in a matter of weeks. It's nothing new.

You are right. Technology in general never stops moving. But I use my phone more often than just about anything else I own. I don't know if that's sad or not. It's just become a large part of my life. And I really like reading about all the new apps and devices that come out.

 

[s44]

You hate seeing better stuff so you'll lock yourself in to a device that will be outdated, oh, next month?

Makes no sense... If you're craving the security of Jobsworld, wait until iPhone 5 (or "4G"?) and (possibly) Verizon.

 

[MrX8503]

Don't buy the iPhone 4 if you can't commit to a 2 yr contract. The iPhone5 will be out in six months and you'll be stuck again.

I have the 2gb cap and the only time where I was close to going over was when I was using netflix. From what it sounds like you won't go over using Pandora.

As far as I'm concerned whatever your decision, it sounds like you'll always be searching for a new phone even if you have the willpower to wait for the iPhone 5. I suggest buying your phones off contract.

 

[boomhower]

Do you use over 2GB's now? Sprint's online system tells you exactly how much data you use. If your normally under then you'll be fine. If you normally over then consider the overage charges.

Technology moves on. Of course new phones come out every couple of months. Would you rather they just stop developing and leave them as they are forever? With Sprint you can upgrade every 12 months, that should be enough to keep pretty darn up to date.

 

[kaerflog]

Ever since I make sure I use wifi ever its avaiable, I don't even come close to using 1gb.

 

[gorcorps]

When I bought my iphone 4 I actually downgraded to the 200mb plan. I'm so rarely outside of wifi areas that I don't use much data at all. I have yet to go over that either.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Don't buy the iPhone 4 if you can't commit to a 2 yr contract. The iPhone5 will be out in six months and you'll be stuck again.

I have the 2gb cap and the only time where I was close to going over was when I was using netflix. From what it sounds like you won't go over using Pandora.

As far as I'm concerned whatever your decision, it sounds like you'll always be searching for a new phone even if you have the willpower to wait for the iPhone 5. I suggest buying your phones off contract.

Quite honestly, if you do that, you could just go unlocked phones. Obviously, it makes no sense with VZW and Sprint because you're locked to CDMA phones (at least for now, we'll see when LTE really goes full steam on VZW).

If you go unlocked, T-Mobile makes no sense because no one uses AWS frequencies. AT&T to me makes more sense because at least you can count on quad band 3G phones like the iPhone or Nokia N8. Then, you always have a healthy number of 850/1900 3G providers out there (NZ, Canada, Thailand, Latin America, etc) where you can still get unlocked phones.

But this still won't help you with the 2gb cap. Of course, if you buy a non carrier phone, you have a good chance of being able to run with the $15 plan though. I've been doing this for... 4 years now? Yum.