Need some mobile phone education

[FightingChance]

While I'm pretty up and up on computers, I've never really bothered to research cell phones. Only last year did I pick up a prepaid cell phone from T mobile's T mobile Togo program. I was an older phone but I believe it did it's job as well as I needed it to.

Well, I find myself outstripping the situation where the prepaid nature of the phone makes more economic sense than having a plan. So I want to step over to a monthly plan, with a newer phone.

This is where I find myself a little ignorant about what to look out for when it comes to this. I'm also not looking for 'Carrier X is better than carrier Y' sort of things, because I know a lot of people's expereinces are subjective. Here's some general questions I have, that maybe one of you out there can answer for me in short form.

1) Where to buy? I see official carrier stores, stores that list themselves as being official carriers of more than one brand, and then there's online. Where's the best buy?

2) Can I keep my phone number from my T Mobile Togo phone? I'm thinking I probably can't.

3) I use SMS messaging semi frequently, with the prepaid phone it's a set rate per message. With phone plans, there's add ons for x amount of dollars per month for 200, 500, etc. SMS messages. Does this mean I must select one of these SMS packages to be able to send/recieve SMS messages at all?

4) What other 'options' packages should I consider as a 'must have' for my plan? I'm a casual user that doesn't really utilize any extra functions like picture messaging/web browsing/etc.

5) Finally, I'm looking for a smaller phone, but I'd like to have removeable storage/MP3 playing capability, and/or some sort of connectivity to a PC.

Thanks guys.

 

[swtethan]

1.... the stores authorized resellers have great deals

2... who knows

3. i think t mobile has unlimited for like 7 bucks... but that was my plan from like a year ago, you dont have to have a plan to send and recieve text its about 5c or so

4 if you dont use any others, dont order them, if you do order those extras, you can always take them out

5. i have a v710 with a 256mb transflash card its tiny and plays mp3... look at motorola pair that with a flash card reader/writer and youre good to go

 

[DaedalCipher]

I found myself in much the same situation as you about a year and a half ago. Here's what I've got-

1. Same as the last guy. Got mine at a sprint store with a pretty good rebate on it.

2. I know sometimes you can keep your phone number if you pay a fee, but not in all situations

3. You don't have to buy a text message package to recieve or send them. I don't have one, but when some ignorant bastard sends me one it costs me ten cents to view it, and i can reply as well, don't know for how much, as i only did so for the first time tonight

4. The only possible thing i could suggest, which might not be for you since you don't use it that much, would be an inter-carrier package. Basically I have Sprint (which I recommend) and if i pay 5 bucks a month i can call anyone with a sprint plan as many times for as long as i want for free.

5. Don't know anything about mp3 capability or staorage, so i wont pretend. Good luck.