First-time smartphone user for AT&T

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FRAGMAN BOB

Limp Gawd
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Jan 25, 2005
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So I'm a junior in college and am finding an ever increasing schedule and need to be connected to communications networks. I have an Sony-ericsson w580i, it has an okay planner. I am looking to get a phone with a much better planner/calendar system, QWERTY keyboard for typing emails and notes, as well as Wi-Fi to use in class. I dont really know much about phones (usually lurk in audio and hardware forums here lol), so if anyone would care to recommend some phones, thatd be great.


ps. With a phone capable of wi-fi connectivity, would I need a data plan to use the webbrowser to check email, forums, etc. I am not gonna pay $30/month for a email/data plan
 
Whats your budget?

And i do not know what ATT's policy is on smartphones, but they MAY or MAY NOT require a data plan. Unfortunately for me, verizon does. I would STRONGLY suggest you look into the HTC Touch Fuze. I think you would really like it, and all the reasons you named are the reason why i got mine(verizon version of the fuze). Both phones are slightly customized versions of the HTC Touch Pro. Overall, its not a very cheap phone... but i think you will enjoy its features and its very rich user support.

Just check out xdadevelopers.org and ppcgeeks.com just two of many sites that help you customize your phone to your needs and wants.

Also, you CAN run almost ALL of these phones on Wifi only if you simply trick the phone into trying to dial a dummy network if the wifi doesnt work.
 
Qwerty phones with wifi

Assuming you're on a tight budget, your best bet might be to wait for the Nokia E71x coming (very) soon for AT&T. $99 with a two year contract. It's an AT&T branded version of the E71; a very highly regarded phone. I don't know (I don't think they've announced yet) whether they will require a data plan with this phone. The non-branded, unlocked version is about $300-$350 online.

If they do require a data plan and you balk at the cost, go with the Nokia E63 instead. It's about $250 online (about the cheapest you'll find for what you're asking for). Since it's not a contract phone, you won't need a data plan and wifi for data will work just fine.
 
Thanks for the responses, I've been looking at the e71x. For the price it just looks great. It's not that I'm some anarchist that needs to balk the 'Man'. I just can't reason having to pay for a 30 dollar/Month data plan when I won't send 1 byte through AT&T's networks.

As far as budget, I really dont need a fancy phone with the latest and greatest processor or touchscreen. Probably around $200 would be my max.

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Now playing: savage - [moonshine #05] moonshine (feat. akon)
 
Id say go with a used att tilt for that much, wont need a 2 year contract, it does everything you need/want.
 
i had 2 HTC phones the hermies and the kaiser (tilt) and they both are very nice. I am now an owner of a iphone 3g. You can get smartphone on att with out a data contract.... so no issues there. they both have wifi and can be had for cheap now. Opera mobile is very nice and comparable to safari on the iphone. the iphones screen is much better for touch than the tilit or kaiser or fuze.


look into a ipod touch and keep your normal phone you have now.... would be my suggestion
 
I do think that would be a good option, but one big problem, I can't use the touch screen. My friends got one of the first itouch's and I've played with it ALOT. I can't get used to no buttons, always mistyping.
 
Same here. NOT a fan of the iPhone/iPod Touch. I want real keys. I'll never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever buy a phone that needs a stylus. Get that Tilt outta my face, or I'll pop you in the mouth! ;)

When I said balk at the price, I meant more for the price of the unlocked E71 than paying for data plan in case you needed a data plan with the E71x.
 
ATT's data plan isn't that expensive really. Also the Tilt is good, but the interface is slow and it's like carrying a brick in your pocket.
 
e71 for 100 bucks in may is great, I really really wish my company didn't use winmobile, so I could get one. On the other hand the Blackberry bold is a really decent phone and it features meet your requirements, plus it has a beautiful screen, and they are currently offered free on the att site with 2 year contract, but that's with a data plan, not sure on the price without data
 
The ones forced on you if you buy a "PDA" from them are expensive. $30/mo is crazy when you can get the exact same connection for non-PDA phones for $15/mo. That's just silly nonsense!
 
I'm pretty sure that an extra $360 per year is pretty expensive when I wouldnt even send any data through AT&T's network. Any data/internet would be through wi-fi on my router or my school's network.

Think I'm gonna wait on the e71x and renew my contract for the discount. Unless I can snag something off ebay for a good price.
 
Prometheusg said:
Same here. NOT a fan of the iPhone/iPod Touch. I want real keys. I'll never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever buy a phone that needs a stylus.
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A stylus wouldn't even work on a capacitive touch screen like the iPhone has.
 
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I, personally, bought the cheapest phone I could from AT&T that had a Sim-card, added the data plan separately, then scalped an unlocked HTC Touch Dual off of Ebay for cheap. Much cheaper overall than buying on of their locked-in smart phones.
 
The Fuze is a good phone, love mine.

ATT does not charge for Wi-Fi usage, but most smart phones have a lot of built in things that call out over the data network so you might want to get a cheap data plan.
 
coldwave007 said:
I, personally, bought the cheapest phone I could from AT&T that had a Sim-card, added the data plan separately, then scalped an unlocked HTC Touch Dual off of Ebay for cheap. Much cheaper overall than buying on of their locked-in smart phones.
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Step one was unnecessary. You can just buy an unlocked phone, go to a store, and they'll give you a sim card free. They'll put it in and activate it for you without any trouble. I know because that's exactly what I did.
 
Ripskin said:
The Fuze is a good phone, love mine.

ATT does not charge for Wi-Fi usage, but most smart phones have a lot of built in things that call out over the data network so you might want to get a cheap data plan.
Click to expand...

I have the Touch Pro as well and it's great. You should probably get a data plan as some apps can use data without you knowing as you are stuck paying $.03 a KB or something.
 
hey, ive got a tilt (on it right now) and it would fit exaclty what youre looking for. i dunno what curent pricing but i managed to get it for 39.99 after MIR from newegg :p it required a 6 month data plan tho at that price. haha i was like you too and didnt think i would use the data, but once you have google maps on there and being able to look up phone numbers, emails and other crap.....its tough to stop lol.
 
Prometheusg said:
Step one was unnecessary. You can just buy an unlocked phone, go to a store, and they'll give you a sim card free. They'll put it in and activate it for you without any trouble. I know because that's exactly what I did.
Click to expand...

Seriously? Didn't know that! Sweet! I'll remember that next time.
 
LunchboX3904 said:
hey, ive got a tilt (on it right now) and it would fit exaclty what youre looking for. i dunno what curent pricing but i managed to get it for 39.99 after MIR from newegg :p it required a 6 month data plan tho at that price. haha i was like you too and didnt think i would use the data, but once you have google maps on there and being able to look up phone numbers, emails and other crap.....its tough to stop lol.
Click to expand...

Yeah, when i had a Mogul i didnt think i needed data plan. And i really didnt. but once i was forced into one by Verizon on my touch pro i got hooked.
 
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