ATT Phone Upgrade/First Smartphone

I am seriously thinking about finally jumping into the smartphone market after having my dumb phone for ages now and having my upgrade available for a few months now. I'm not really sure what to look for in a smartphone but I do know I want to go with an Android based phone. I am hoping [H]ard can point me in some direction or suggest a few phones to look at. As price goes, I don't want to spend more than $150 and I am on a family plan if that matters. I am a pretty casual phone user so only a few phone calls a day, some texting, won't be very heavy on web browsing as I am only getting 200mb data plan (does using WiFi eat up the data plan?)

Currently I am looking at the Samsung Infuse which is $50 cheaper on AmazonWireless putting it right at $150, but I am open to other suggestions. Really any information helps as I am a total noob at this stuff right now.

Also, I'd prefer to buy my phone from AmazonWireless because ATT is super annoying, and nearly impossible, when it comes to shipping stuff because I live at a PO Box. Worst case scenario would be getting my stuff shipped to my parents work, but I would really like to avoid doing that.

Being that you're using AT&T (like me)...
first thing to do is check http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page and see if the phone can be rooted. If it can't, don't even consider it (IMHO). AT&T puts so much shit on their phones, and if the phone cannot be rooted and/or flashed to a different rom, you're going to want to kill the phone because it will probably run sluggish and bloated. They put their AT&T branded apps on there like Navigation, Family Map, etc., and unless the phone is rooted, you cannot remove the app.

I love my HTC Aria, it's a bit dated (now) but it's been a great phone. Rooted it as soon as I got it and have ran a few different roms, from a rooted 2.2 to now running CM7.

Regarding your question about the data plan and WiFi - I'm on the 200MB data plan as well because I don't use my phone for data much outside of the house (more as a couch surfer). If you're using a WiFi connection at home or out (at Barnes & Noble, McDonald's, etc), NO, the WiFi feature of the phone doesn't count towards the 200MB data plan you get. The data plan is a straight 3G/4G data plan only, it doesn't continue racking up when you're using a WiFi connection.

If you can wait a few weeks, there's hope that the Galaxy S2 will finally come out and AFAIK it will be available through AT&T. Even though it's (supposedly) going to be a $199 upgrade with contract, the availability of the S2 should drive down prices of the other phones they currently have. I'm planning on getting an S2 next month when I'm eligible for an upgrade; otherwise I'd probably get the Infuse.

I just upgraded a month ago on ATT. I got a HTC inspire for free with a new contract. This is my first Droid phone and I love this thing so far.

Thanks for the info zero2dash. Is rooting difficult or risky? It sounds like something I may like to do because I do hate that bloatware crap.

depends on the phone for most it is easy as running a program with your phone plugged into a pc other require some commands and files to be pushed to the phone.

Risky again depends on the phone rooting itself is pretty much safe the only one that is really risky is flashing a radio/baseband to the phone. Roms for the most part cant permanently wreck anything unless it over volts and overclocks the processor. Roms can be wiped from the phone and reinstalled if they fail. Kernels can brick a phone but usually it is a recoverable brick.

Rooble91 said:

Thanks for the info zero2dash. Is rooting difficult or risky? It sounds like something I may like to do because I do hate that bloatware crap.

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It was ridiculously easy on my Aria, seems like most phones are similar.
On the Aria, I used an Ubuntu live CD with a terminal app on it to root the phone. It was possible to do it with Windows but people were having some problems, so the Ubuntu method was the 100% one...I went with that.

Most of the other phones I've looked at recently were pretty similar.
-Install driver for phone on PC
-Install sideload app on PC
-Hook up phone to PC
-Run sideload app
-Sideload root tool to phone
-Run root tool on phone
-Done

That XDA wiki link will give you ideas of how in-depth everything is; you should be able to pull up the phone and then find links on rooting it. Again though it's pretty easy nowadays and somewhat fool/brick-proof.
[edit]Just noticed they don't have an Infuse page yet so I dug through their forums and found it. Pretty much the same steps....install drivers, run the root app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1081072

My brother recently got the HTC Inspire from Fry's for free. I'm not sure if they are still running that deal, but everywhere else it was $100.

Went to Costco had a chance to mess around with the Infuse and Inspire (and my dad has an Atrix so I used that a little also) and decided to go with the Infuse. The Infuse is a little big but the screen is amazing imo. Unfortunately I just missed the $70 sale they had by a day Oh well, $120 ain't that bad I guess.

@zero2dash That website is pretty great. Been browsing around it for a couple days and found a lot of cool stuff, but for now I am going to keep my phone kinda stock. I did root my phone which was super easy. Turn on USB Debugging > Connect USB > Run SuperOneClick and watch it go to work. The entire process took about 2 minutes lol

Roobie, I have an infuse as well. Awesome phone really. You can get Galaxy Tuner from the market and use that to boost your volume for music and games. Also look on the XDA forums for the apk for netflix. Oh and download qqplayer as well for movies. It covers more formats than the stock player.

Welcome to the REALLY BIG PHONE club.

Rooble91 said:

for now I am going to keep my phone kinda stock

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I don't blame you, I think whatever I get to replace my Aria is going to fairly stay stock as well (minus the AT&T bloat app BS). I've done enough tinkering switching between rooted official no-bloat roms and CM6 and CM7; right now I'm running CM7 and I've had some issues lately, so I'm going to re-flash to the newest rooted official rom out there and just leave it. I miss Sense too much anyway. I'm glad the leaked images of the Galaxy S2 show a slideout QWERTY, I really want my next phone to have a keyboard (and now my wife wants a smartphone with a keyboard too of course). I may end up picking up 2 HP Veers before too long just because the Pantech Crossover looks like ass and the only other slider smartphones at AT&T are either bloat-city (the Motos running MotoBlur) or based on WP7 which I'm still not sold on. If I'm going to risk a mobile OS I'd rather go with webOS than WP7 based on current features. I refuse to buy Apple.

Anyway ~ congrats on the easy root & enjoy your new phone.
One other thing I'd recommend - grab the free "lite" version of 3G Watchdog from the market. It'll help keep your data use in check (or at least monitored so there's no surprises on the bill LOL).

Apallohadas said:

Welcome to the REALLY BIG PHONE club.

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Hehe thanks It's amazing how big the screen is yet the phone it still so light.

Definitely going to check out the apps both of you guys suggested.

WebOS ftw. I am waiting for Pre3. The OS is just too fun and easy to tinker with. All you do is just install apps and patches. But the possibilities are endless.

Currently on a Pre+ OC to 1Ghz

I loved the Aria Zero, Hated the inspire and now currently own the triumph and love it. The infuse is awesome!

I just ordered my wife an unlocked Samsung Infuse. I also ordered me a HTC Inspire that will have to be unlocked. (I don't have AT&T.) I will have my hands on both by the end of the weekend.

Don't look at the Infuse too long the screen might draw you I'm