Posted on 09/14/2014 10:43:02 PM PDT by This Just In
Good Evening,
So I've been considering this whole smartphone business. No, not the kind of business in which I design, produce, or sell smartphones. I'm referring to the whole smartphone culture. Or subculture, call it what you wish.
Yeah, I have a cellphone, but is it smart? No. Although I don't own a smartphone I know a little about it. After all, a lot of friends and family have smartphone. They ask you if YOU have a smartphone. And if you don't, some of them peer over their shoulders and shun you. Also, there are all those ads reminding you that you need one of those things. You know of what I speak. Those ads which try to convey the message, "You're just not hip if you don't own one of these." I've ignored em for years. I've never been into conformity or bowing to peer pressure. This is not to suggest that anyone who uses a smartphone has, but you know what I'm saying.
So I started to look into this. Why, you may ask? For this simple reason: The 'contract free' prepaid cell phones out there are not that reliable. I should know, I've been using em for years. So I'm figuring that an upgrade will surely enable me to enjoy a more reliable connection.
As I started surfing the net the first thing I discovered is that in order to first purchase a smartphone and contractual agreement you must first hand over every single piece of personal information you possess as well as your first born child. For goodness sakes, it's not as if I'm signing up to be a secret agent or something. What's wrong with a credit card?!
The second thing I discover on this quest is that most ppl on the net can't write worth a hill of beans. Which is why I'm here........writing to you. In order to save myself from the pain and misery of wading through site after site of poorly written "information" concerning my questions, I've decided to bypass all of that and rely on those tech savvy Freepers who'll be able to answer my questions, post sarcastic remarks, hurl insults, and truly provide an entertaining as well as highly educational thread.
So, without further ado, here are some of my questions:
What is "unlocked" and "SIM Free"?
Yes, yes, I know. These are simple little terms which I should know, and according to some of those sites I mentioned, I do know, but would someone explain this a bit clearer?
I'm not looking for the Ferrari of smartphones. The iPhone 5c is perfect. I have no interest in the fingerprint ID feature. As a matter of fact, I hate that feature, but hey. What ever floats ur boat. So my second questions is:
Does anyone have, or has used an iPhone 5c? If so, pros? Cons? Suggestions?
The final question, and I realize this depends on your location and where you travel.
Verizon or AT&T?
Frankly, I strongly dislike Verizon....for a multitude of reason, but they have the best coverage within the US.
What say you?
BTW, that is the most concise article I’ve read concerning the topic to date. Also, this explains why AT&T’s international coverage is fantastic.
For my own part, I've given up even my cellphone, at present, though that truth never fails to amaze me, having never been a slacker with regard to advances in processing speed and connectivity; so-called "convergence." My first Email account, though little used at the time (indeed, only once, there being only 100 or so other accounts sharing the same mainframe), was supplied to me in 1980.
Thus far, aside from the obvious features, I've not personally seen the advantages to getting one of these devices. I'm a great booster for this sort of thing, so it isn't from any luddite tendencies or evasions. I simply don't see how such a convergence as it's been unveiled thus far is as yet essential - speaking only for myself. This could change at any moment, of course, and with little advanced notice, so I appreciated your inquiry.
You’re welcome, Prospero. Frankly, we share the same sentiments.
The smartphone is not an essential tool for my life, but our cell service is the main device by which my family communicates. My immediate family doesn’t use Facebook either, and email isn’t read on a daily basis. So you can see the need for a reliable cellphone source.
As I had mentioned previously, I use the iPad as well as my iPod for a number of tasks when I’m not using my pc. There’s also the Mac Pro, so the cell is mainly for calls.
With that being said, I fail to see the benefit in relinquishing the personal information required in order to purchase a phone and contractual agreement.
In my opinion the first thing to do is pick out the provider to get the services you want at the best price. Once you have decided on the provider you can then start shopping for phones. See what phones the provider has. They also have good info about what to look for in a smartphone. I got my HTC android smartphone for free with a deal the provider had at the time. The iPhone wasn’t free, but discounted a bit. If you can’t get a good deal on the locked phones at the provider, then you can shop around more and see if you can get an unlocked compatible phone you do like.
I have AT&T and generally hate no major complaints. Coverage is OK, but I’ve been surprised a few times when there was no coverage. Also no ATT hotspots in some airports, which I think is ridiculous. Mostly problems come up when traveling out west in the US. I think all providers charge too damn much for data plans, but that is another story.
Good point, Kirkwood, although.......there is a method to this madness.
I have looked at a number of phones. I’ve used a number of them. All things considered, I’ve decided the most ideal smartphone for my work and daily tasks would be the iPhone 5c.
I use Apple, Dell, and ASUS. I’ve also used others, but the Apple products and services have been - hands down - the most reliable. I’m not a fanboy. I just hate spending a lot of time and money on products that don’t last and/or dealing w/customer service who is about as helpful and polite as the folks at the DMV.
We get the 15% due to my husband being a vet. We are using the Edge, so no contract (except for the phones). We are staying with Verizon, but know we can leave at anytime. :)
I never got a wealth of questions or paperwork when I switched to ATT from Sprint. I went in and picked out the plan and the phone and was out the door. Number was switched over quickly. I paid for the SIM card and the phone was free. Maybe you have a credit score problem you don’t know about?
Yeah, when we just signed up for the Edge thing and the new data plan/service etc, I don’t think we had to give a lot of info. Just picking out of phones and seeing if we wanted to make downpayments etc. Took longer getting the info transferred and so on.
Not only do we have a good credit rating, we have a PHENOMENAL credit rating. :^)
Due to our location, there is no Apple store, or any other store that is an authorized Apple dealer in our area.
We would have to travel in order to visit a store, which is what I am planning to do soon. Judging by what I’ve read, you’ll have to provide quite a lot of info. including your SSN if you’re ordering via the net.
I’m just saying to check with ATT (let’s say) for a deal on the iPhone before you buy one off ebay. You might get a better deal on the iPhone than you realize because they are making money off the plans and using the phones as bait. It is also good just to play with in the store and compare to other models and they let me make calls and check the quality first.
No coverage at some airports? That is ridiculous. Thanks for the info.
Have you checked your credit in the past month? I don’t know what to tell you, but there must be something about you that is raising a red flag on your credit rating.
Phone coverage yes, but data hotspot coverage was not 100% at some airports out west. I think one was LA airport. Can’t recall the other.
Do you have an ATT store? There are iPhones at the ATT store to look at and test. You don’t need to go to an Apple store unless you are looking at the newest models that have yet to appear at the ATT store.
Great advice. You can order an iPhone 5c at the Apple online for free, but there are no ‘contract free’ choices.
I’m not sure why you mentioned my credit rating. My credit rating isn’t a problem at all. I haven’t applied for anything requiring a credit check.
The only reason I don’t wish to enter into a contractual agreement is because I don’t care to relinquish the personal info. they require via the net just to order a cell phone.
No ATT stores. You won’t find a dealer within a hundreds miles. Actually, it doesn’t matter if it’s an Apple, BestBuy, or Walmart. It would just depend on what plans the store provides.
I wouldn’t get too stuck on a brand name and lose sight of the economics of owning a smartphone. iPhones are reliable, but so are a number of others brands. My HTC Inspire 4G has worked flawlessly in the past 3 years or so. It was something like a $450 phone for free. I went in to buy an iPhone, but the HTC was much nicer all around than the dated iPhone 4 I looked at, plus it was hard to beat a deal on a free phone with the plan compared to spending hundreds of dollars for the Apple name. But the choice is yours.
Thanks for all of the info and advice, Kirkwood. I appreciate it.
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