phone recommendations? about to extend contract with tmobile

[Dear Summer]

I have a Nokia phone (N82) that I've been using for a while and so far it has been great. But I would like to get a new phone where I can receive corporate email.

I am using t-zone which allows 3G so if I get a blackberry, I might lose this cheap unlimited data service and have to pay $24.99+ for the smartphone data plan. I don't want to do pay the expensive data plan.

By extending my contract, I would like to get a free upgrade.

Basically, I am looking for a phone that allows 3G for internet browsing, corporate email, and GPS (Google Maps). Any recommendations?

Should I opt for an unlocked Iphone? (Willing to pay a little if the phone is that great)

 

[pm]

Unlocked iPhones are great... but you won't get 3G with them (frequency bands are incompatible). So you'll get EDGE.

I'd recommend a Samsung Vibrant (Android). There's a couple of Android apps that work well with corporate email - the one that my company uses is: http://www.good.com/enterprise/mobile-messaging

 

[Dear Summer]

Unlocked iPhones are great... but you won't get 3G with them (frequency bands are incompatible). So you'll get EDGE.

I'd recommend a Samsung Vibrant (Android). There's a couple of Android apps that work well with corporate email - the one that my company uses is: http://www.good.com/enterprise/mobile-messaging

thank you

however, in order to save money, should I try getting a free upgrade that is offered by tmobile? I am planning to with tmobile for at least 2 years at this point. I would love to upgrade to a blackberry or something similar but I don't want to add the data plan

 

[Pliablemoose]

I wouldn't get an iPhone, the 3G won't work and you'll be stuck on edge (sloooowww), your options are a used Nexus One specifically for TMobile or as pm suggested a Samsung Vibrant (from eBay).

If you purchase a subsidized phone, they'll force you to buy a data plan.

The only other option would be an HD2 (cheap on eBay or Criagslist) and install a custom ROM or the Android ports (Android isn't quite there yet, but it's getting very close to being a viable OS for the HD2)

 

[rudeguy]

http://walmart.letstalk.com/product/browse.htm?pgId=100&serviceCorpId=543

Vibrant or HD2 are the 2 worth really looking at.

 

[pm]

Right. What Pliable said.

If you want to get a subsidized smartphone for T-Mobile, they'll require you get a dataplan for it. So you can get a cheap, non-smartphone... but that's no fun. Or you can pay full price (Ebay/Craigslist) and continue on with your plan. I don't know how you could get a cheap upgrade Blackberry or Android phone and avoid the data plan.

If you do want a new phone on T-Mobile, the Vibrant is probably the one to get. Followed by the Nexus One if you think the Vibrant is too wide (some people do). I'm not as much a fan of Windows Mobile 6.5 as an OS - the Android app store is vastly more fun - but HD2 with Android (if you are brave) is an option. Or maybe you like WinMo, plenty of people do... I'm just not one of them.

 

[Pliablemoose]

BTW, the trick is to get the most popular free phone when you extend your contract (that doesn't require a data plan) and sell it on eBay to cover the cost of the smart phone you're going to buy...

 

[Dear Summer]

BTW, the trick is to get the most popular free phone when you extend your contract (that doesn't require a data plan) and sell it on eBay to cover the cost of the smart phone you're going to buy...

what is the most popular free phone that doesn't require a data plan for T-mobile? Samsung Gravity II?
I have not kept up with cells phones in years :/

 

[Pliablemoose]

Nokia 3711 looks like it goes for ~$100 or so on eBay new...

 

[akugami]

thank you

however, in order to save money, should I try getting a free upgrade that is offered by tmobile? I am planning to with tmobile for at least 2 years at this point. I would love to upgrade to a blackberry or something similar but I don't want to add the data plan

I dunno if I'd want to stick with T-Mobile for 2 years. Maybe a 1 year contract just to keep your options open. Verizon is suppose to have their 4G network up sometime this year and it should be up and running in about 25 markets by the end of the year or early next year. It might be an option of moving to Verizon for the faster speeds, pending plan changes.

 

[rudeguy]

ugggh....the old "don't make any changes because X is supposed to happen sometime"

Always bad advice.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Actually, you don't "have" to do anything, just rock & roll for a while with your expired contract for a few months...

 

[Auric]

Nokia 3711 looks like it goes for ~$100 or so on eBay new...

Thanks to free Ovi Maps GPS navigation (no-cost updates, data optional) and practical displays for it, the 5230 (free with 2-year contract) can be flogged for at least $100, and the E73 ($50) for $200.

Their tetherability are also desirable.