Phones

[DannyBoy]

So whats everyone using for phones nowadays?  It's getting around time that I buy a new one.  LG just announced the enV3 but it looks pretty similiar to the enV2 which was pretty similar to the first.  Main difference is a 3.0mp camera with a LED flash (and I do take a lot of pictures).  They have the enV touch coming out too (successor to the voyager) which looks pretty cool too. 

enV touch


enV touch open


I am intrigued by an iPhone but leaving Verizon...eh, too many people I know have it.  I would hate giving up 900 character text messages (and I make use of the free in-network calling a lot).  An equivalent plan for me through AT&T too would be $90 (but I'd get web access then). 

I'm also incredibly rough on phones and my current enV has held up to a hell of a lot of abuse (being left in a puddle of water under my truck all night and not only still working, but it was still on when I picked it up).  I'm not so sure a touch screen would last with me but who knows.

[Heather]

wow i like the look of that one for sure. I want something with a touch and the qwerty keyboard too. this looks cool dannyson

[DannyBoy]

what i'm wondering is, why do you want an enV?  i think you have a personal character limit in text messages of 5, hahaha. 


yeah i don't want to give up the qwerty-goodness either.  the enV touch looks like a good in-between.  i think even with a renewed contract it'll be $200+ though...

[Pete]

I really like my Verizon Blackberry Curve, but you mentioned the 900 character texts, I am limited to 160 which sucks ass sometimes.

[DannyBoy]

Really?  Man, I'd be pissed if I lost that, especially considering you're still with Verizon!  I noticed your phone is weird when i send picture messages to it now.  I figured you got a new one.

Whats your plan and how much is it?  Or does your job cover it?

Whats strange is that even the cheap, entry-level phones can text up to 9 messages.

[BC]

Im still rawking the EnV2...I love it.  Its been durable as well- although I wish it had a better key guard because my fat ass butt dials fairly often.

The 160 limit on the text is to customers outside Verizon and it just parses the overage text into another message.

[DannyBoy]

I don't get that with my enV.  It just cuts it off at the 160 mark, I believe.  I think only certain carriers support that.

But I'm pretty sure Pete is saying he can only text to 160, even within Verizon, using his Blackberry.  I've used a lot of blackberrys at work and I'm not sure I'd like one.

[JMann2380]

I was not an Iphone believer till I got one.  It makes my life sooooo much easier.  Here are things the Iphone does that the two blackberries, Sony phone and the 15 other phones before it couldn't do...

- I have access to all of my IMap email folders.  I get a ton of emails and file them in different folders; with the Iphone I can access all of my old emails on the server.  I would pay $50 a month just for this feature if I had to.

- KICK ASS browser.  It's seriously like a mini computer.  I was in Best buy the other day looking at digital cameras and was looking at reviews right in the store.  I can also access my invoicing system and phone system with this browser.  Sometimes I leave work and forget to forward my 800 number to my cell, no problem, I just pop it up in Safari and change it right on my phone.  No longer is browsing the internet on a phone, just a novelty, it is actually useful.

- Visual voicemail.  I save a lot of voicemails and rather than listening through 10 to get to the one I want, I can just scroll down and click on it.

- My faxes and 800 number voicemails are emailed to me, and the Iphone allows me to open both very easily.  And it is fast too.  Another lifesaver when I am not by my computer.

- Google app.  I was doing mulch the other day and sometimes the place closes early, but I had to go to the other landscaping store first.  So I drive past the mulch place, look at the name and bust out the google app.  I say the name of the place and stow, oh.  It searches with my voice and gives me the local results around me.  I hit the phone number and it dials the mulch place so I can tell them I will be there before they close.  Stuff like that is just made so easy.

NOW the negatives.  It's freakin expensive for the ATT Iphone plans.  But other than that I have zero regrets, however a lot of my usage is for my business so you might not have a need for that stuff.  BTW, wait about a week, there is a new Iphone coming out.

[Sand84]

I love my iPhone   I've been pretty rough on it and everything is still great...

[DannyBoy]

I thought it was just a software update.  It's a new phone too?  I guess you'll finally be able to MMS (ridiculous that you couldn't from the get-go).

How much is your bill?  The voice/data are bundled and then texting is separate, right?  How is touch-tapping with the qwerty for texts?

Big problem is Hayley and I talk on the phone all the time and we'd be on different networks.

[DannyBoy]

Okay, so there is only one data plan, right?  $30 unlimited?  450 minutes is $40 a month, and then $20 for unlimited texting?  Damn, I'd be paying $100 a month.  But I pay about $67 now for just unlimited texting, basically (well and a lot of free minutes when Hayley and I talk).

[Sand84]

My bill is $102 before my 20% discount

[DannyBoy]

And is that for basically what I spec'd above?  Where'd you pick up that 20% discount? 

Main, that'd only be about $10 more than what I'm paying now but you get so much more.

[Pete]

I thought it was just a software update.  It's a new phone too?  I guess you'll finally be able to MMS (ridiculous that you couldn't from the get-go).

that is a big reason why I passed on the i phone. 

My 160 character limit might just be me being dumb, I don't know, I haven't looked into it.  I've only run upon that limit 3 or 4 times since I've owned the phone, so it doesn't bother me that much.

[Sand84]

And is that for basically what I spec'd above?  Where'd you pick up that 20% discount? 

Main, that'd only be about $10 more than what I'm paying now but you get so much more.

That is 450 anytime min, unlimited text and Data plan..   I get a Corp Discount from work..