Need new cellphone-recommendations

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
I think its time for a new cell phone. Mine is about 3 years old and really doesn't hold a charge very well, which might just be a new battery, but it also fades in and out even when the battery is charged.

Mainly, all I use it for is for brief phone calls. I'm stuck in a Verizon plan for another year or so.

I wouldn't mind having one that had some neat features like the ability to keep my office calendar and a camera, but those aren't all that important. The biggest thing is it must be simple to use, as I'm a techn-dummy.

Any ideas?
 
Is Verizon GSM or CDMA? If GSM it's hard to beat the Motorola Razr for the price:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1291302&CatId=1809

$129 for an unlocked version. This phone has Bluetooth and is quadband so will work anywhere in the world. Best of all it's unlocked so when your current contract ends you can change providors if you want and easily take the phone to your new providor. If you travel an unlocked GSM phone is great as you can pick up a new SIM card at your destination for around $10-$20 and get yourself a local number (I have six SIM cards for six different countries that I work in regularly Canada, Peru, Brasil, Australia, Norway, UK). My Razr works everywhere flawlessley. You can use the Bluetooth for a headset, but also as a modem to connect your laptop to the high-speed GPRS network offered by the mobile phone companies to get your email/surf on the road.

If Verizon is a GSM network, you simply change the SIM card at no cost to you from your old phone to new, no hassel with the phone company, no upgrade fees, they won't even know.
 
Check cnet.com for some decent reviews. You can also go to www.phonescoop.com and get some information.

Are you looking for a windows mobile based phone?

Based upon your need to sync with your office calender a windows mobile phone might be the best bet because it can use active sync via bluetooth or usb to keep updated while you are at the office.

One thing though, before you buy esp if you are going to order off the net visit a verizon dealer and touch the phones to make sure your fingers can work the keys and you like the interface.

Right now im using an SMT5600 from audiovox. It is a great phone for me because it is not giant, but still offers a very rich feature set.

Good luck with your search.
 
I just checked, apparently Verizon uses the old CDMA network, but it sounds like they are talking about switching over to GSM (which in my opinion is far superior). They do offer GSM service but is sounds like it is more of a roaming deal for travellers where you would be able to use combo GSM/CDMA smartphone (like the Blackberry) in other countries at a hefty premium. I would suggest switching to a GSM providor such as T-Mobile once your current contract ends (or break your current contract), buy your new phone then.

Here is an article that will help to explain the difference between the two:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/learningcenter/articles/displayarticle1/0,4065,1155z1,00.html
 
mckrob said:
I just checked, apparently Verizon uses the old CDMA network, but it sounds like they are talking about switching over to GSM (which in my opinion is far superior). They do offer GSM service but is sounds like it is more of a roaming deal for travellers where you would be able to use combo GSM/CDMA smartphone (like the Blackberry) in other countries at a hefty premium. I would suggest switching to a GSM providor such as T-Mobile once your current contract ends (or break your current contract), buy your new phone then.

Here is an article that will help to explain the difference between the two:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/learningcenter/articles/displayarticle1/0,4065,1155z1,00.html
Click to expand...

GSM sucks.

Dropped calls, spotty service, and no ability to switch to analog when in a fringe area.

And, CDMA isn't 'old' technology. CDMA is here to stay for a while. My provider is U.S.Cellular, and they, along with Verizon, are adding CDMA cell sites on a regular basis.

And just to give reference, my Sister in law is a Verizon Wireless Executive. They have no plans to switch to GSM at this time.
 
Despite some yoyo's in 611 customer service, but I use the Motorola Q, love it, bluetooth so it connects to my car's bluetooth system as soon as I turn on the key, answer and talk on phone without every having to take it out of pocket, the wife can dial numbers on dashboard and make out going calls. More towers and better coverage than any I have seen so far, my son has a new apple I phone, every time he goes through a mountain pass it drops a call, my phone stays on line through the same pass and never drops a call, and I could not be better pleased. It auto syncs to my computer when hooked up via usb port and my complete calendar and contact list is saved and synced, if I crush my phone, I can get another under warranty and resync without having to go to another store. I had a little problem with customer service once and wrote the Chairman of the Board of Verizon that owns more than just the cell service. I ended up getting two treos 700w's and one treo 650p all at no charge, they then sent emails to every store and franchise to correct a wrongful policy they had in place and could not have been nicer. If u want a company that will admit to errors and correct them (plus) I would stick with Verizon.

Just my .02 no change needed.
James
 
Mike G said:
GSM sucks.

Dropped calls, spotty service, and no ability to switch to analog when in a fringe area.

And, CDMA isn't 'old' technology. CDMA is here to stay for a while. My provider is U.S.Cellular, and they, along with Verizon, are adding CDMA cell sites on a regular basis.

And just to give reference, my Sister in law is a Verizon Wireless Executive. They have no plans to switch to GSM at this time.
Click to expand...

GSM sucks? I think that is a bit harsh! 2.8 billion subscribers can't be wrong! That's 80% of the worldwide market (source: http://www.gsmworld.com/news/statistics/pdf/gsma_stats_q1_07.pdf)


If tower coverage is spotty it doesn't matter what system you have, you will have dropped calls. In the USA the entire country has been dominated by CDMA carriers so I am sure that the CDMA coverage is better across the USA, especially in rural areas. GSM is relatively new there so give it time and I am sure the coverage will be comparable. Where I live in Peru, it's the CDMA network (Telefonica Peru) that has spotty coverage and lots of dropouts, and no analogue AMPS service for the fringe areas. The GSM provider (Claro Peru) has less dropouts as there are more towers and generally higher signal strength. I have never had an issue with GSM "dropouts" any where I have used my Razr phone worldwide since I bought it, that's 8 countries, including the USA (Denver and Atlanta).

The analogue AMPS network is left over from the first generation cell network, existing towers were upgraded to digital and the old analogue systems left in place. I may be wrong but I really doubt that CDMA providers are installing old analogue technology in their new CDMA towers.

Mike G is right, I shouldn't have stated that CDMA is old technology, it's not, but rather an old network (when compared to GSM in the USA).

There are advantages and disadvantage to both systems. If GSM coverage in your area is spotty, then you should stick with a CDMA provider. To me the main advantage to GSM is portability (really easy to switch phones/providers), and international roaming.

This discussion has gone a little off-track. I still recommend the GSM quad-band Motorola Razr. I have a Nokia CDMA phone for work in Peru, I love the phone, but dislike the provider/CDMA.
 
I'm using a Moto Razr on the U.S. cellular CDMA network, and it has been the best phone I've had in 10 Years.

mckrob, all of the people I know who use the GSM network in my area have their calls continually dropped, have service issues, and can't get a signal in places that I have no problems. When I was in L.A./ Anaheim last spring, my wifes Aunt had nothing but trouble with her GSM service from Cingular. She experienced dropped calls every single time she used her phone, and I had signal in spots that she didn't. She had the same problems when she was here two weeks ago.

Verizon is new to my area, (Been here about a year and a half) and they are erecting cell sites as fast as they can. All CDMA sites. They are also leasing space from U.S. Cellular.

To be fair, there may be places in the U.S. that have great GSM coverage, and don't have the problems we have here, and what my wifes Aunt experience in California. I do know that my in laws used to travel extensively in their motor home, and they had Cingular, and had more problems then you could imagine no matter where they went. After switching to Verizon last year, most of their cell issues went away, and they had better coverage in the places they frequent.
 
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