My AT&T plan is up in October so wondered what you guys use and like here in the states.

I have a basic Nokia that has chugged flawlessly for 3+ years.

I'd like one that has a camera in case I want to take a quick snapshot of a wall that is going to be sheetrocked the next day and want to remember where the gas pipe and water lines are.

I also need a flip style so it doesn't dial itself while it's in my pocket or tool bag.

My phone uses the TDMA system and it's been pretty good. The camera phone will require I go to the GSM system.

1. What are your thoughts on changing to the GSM system and reliability vs. what I am accustomed to?

2. Are these cameras good enough for a quick snapshot or is it just a gimmick?

3. What phones do you like with a zero to $200 investment?

4. Do you like a system other than AT&T?

5. It might be nice to have a phone book with folders for clients, suppliers, personal, etc.

Any other feedback appreciated.

=Tom

Been with NEXTEL for what seems a lifetime.

Work in the builder network quite a bit, so it's the best way to go. Paging feature is the real deal when you need to chase down those bucks....or stay in close contact with the office.

I know that NEXTEL has the "Blackberry" and some others. Not sure if they offer anything with a camera, but imagine they do. They do have a snap on module for taking credit cards, which is nice for taking a quick, on the spot, payment.

Non "flip" phones from anyone have always had a keypad lock feature, so I wouldn't worry about that. And no need to unlock the keypad to take calls, only for dialing out.

I also use nextel for a few years. The free direct connect is cool but long conversations need a phone call. Also it seems like the service has gotten consistently worse in this area (NY). They do have a new camera phone that is ridiculously expensive.
I think i may switch to Verizon for service reasons. They seem to be the best in these parts. There is a much better variety of phones. They have Verizon to verizon calls free which i feel beats direct connect. My better half just got a new camera phone - unsure of model - and the pictures come out surprisingly clear compared to other models with enough light.

Mike

GSM is OK, but like any cell it depends on where you are at the moment as a technology goes the plus is that it is more international (Europe is only GSM) the two other choices (other carriers) would be CDMA (or 1x as it is also referred to) or iDen

CDMA 1X RTT is the biggest network in North America and has the most carriers
iDen is used by Nextel in the US and Telus in Canada. The nice thing about iDen is that it has a walkie-talkie feature so you can make a group page or a single page (just decide on who you want to talk to and click the button and talk or send a beep. Also depending on the plan you can also add internetworking, so if you are working on a job with other people on iDen you can add them to your walkie-talkie list.



mostly gimmick

- low res pics not good for any detail, but OK if you will see them on a telephones screen

- what will you do with the pic, if you send it then that is extra data charge (in most plans)

- if you do more then residential some places are starting to not allow them

- I don't know of any picture phones for iDen but there are for 1X and GSM


I am in Canada so I cannot talk US carriers, but the company I work for uses three carriers and all three techs. we use GSM for the guys that do a lot of international travelling, we use CDMA for guys that do a lot of travelling in the US and Canada or that don't do travelling and iDen for the security, maintenance.... groups (i.e. we replaced all the radios by iDen, no maintenance and you can beep and talk to someone no matter where they are because it uses a cell network) (also since iDen was built to replace walkie-talkies they have some models that are more industrial and robust and still look good)


most phones today have a phone book and stuff.

This message was edited by Anthony on 09/16/04 16:41 ET.

Tom,

I've been VERY impessed with my Verizon service out here...it seems to be the best by far for the three areas I am frequently in, and the have great nationwide coverage, free long distance and nationwide local service (which makes me wonder WHY the offer the free LD)

The also now have pic phones, and they have a PTT (Push to Talk) system like Nextel's now as well...

Same here on Verizon props.

Let me say this about your phone selection though. In general, the RF performance of all flip phones is marginal at best. The antenna location is not ideal at all, and you can expect more dropped calls that with a non flip phone type that has a pull out antenna. Most phones have a keypad lock so that you won't dial accidentally.
I previously had a Kyocera phone that performed wonderfully (QCP-2035), but got damaged, and replaced with a 'LG' flip phone. Most of the Kyocera phones have a similar feature of auto locking the keypad after 30 seconds, and you only have to press 1-2-3 to unlock it.
The other big problem with all flip phones I have seen to date is that you can't rest it on your sholder and hold it with you head. It falls off. They force you to hold it with you hand, which can sometimes be inconvientient when you are trying to get pen and paper together to take notes, or hold that burger and the steering wheel. ;)

No comments on the usefulness of camera phones. However that feature has nothing to do with GSM, unless that is what AT&T is telling you. Verizon offers camera phones and is using CDMA2000 as thier network.

I've been using Nextel for years. Free incoming and Unlimited two way is great.

Pros:

Wallkie Talkie (If you have employees or coworkers with nextel, say adios to paying for those calls.

Has a flip phone option

Credit Card capability

Modem capability

The new models (730i) is GPS enabled for a fee of course. Bye Bye Mapquest!

Nationwide walkie talkie

Cons:

I think they are expensive (my opinion)

You can never hide from somebody who has your two way number.
They will track you down like a dog.

Coverage area in my area is sometimes a pain but I would give it a B or B-

They will not give you a discount on a new phone if you want to upgrade.

Almost everyone in the country has to give Nextel a deposit. They have a stricter credit check than Rolls Royce

the trouble with comparing cellular companies is that their service and service packages vary from location to location...

I used to have AT&T, and the service in Houston was the worst of the major companies...

I now use Cingular with a Samsung GSM phone (I programmed it to play Rush's "Red Barchetta" when it rings...), and on the plan I have cell to cell calls are free.


But, YYMV (and it probably will)

Had Pagemart years ago. They were brought into Bell South at some point. Very solid Pager Coverage.

Moved a BlackBerry from RCN. THIS THING WAS COOL! Got my email wherever whenever and allowed me to do some web tings via send receive emails. Coverage was from Bell South and it was amazing around the DC area. Used it all the time to write out dailys and put and end to the I TOLD you crap. Ohh yeah, I have a copy of the email right here! Bell South morphed into Cingular.

Got a SideKick from T-Mobile. All the features of teh blackberry.. PLUS: AIM, WEB BROWSING, and a Phone. Ohh now this ting was great. I could do a ton of stuff with this... ERRRRR CRASH. COVERAGE, the damn thing just about never worked. The device itself was the easiest to work with in that I could do so much with it. The biggest issue was the coverage. T-Mobile had more "fringe" area in my area then Solid by a wide margin. I would constantly miss calls and not get VM indicators for hours.

Met a Nextel Rep at a jobsite and got to talking. Had been looking at Nextel and spent way too much time researching it. He hooked me up with a demo phone...

Well that was a year ago and my phone works... everywhere but at my girlfriends house. I mean everywhere. My friends who are on the VZ are pissed when my phone works where theres doesn't also I do not have many dropped calls. I mean if I am in the middle of nowhere driving up and down hill sin teh woods you expect it to drop. But I am surprised how many places it works where I am.

The biggest reason for me to go to Nextel was FREE INCOMMING CALLS REGARDLESS OF WHO CALLS YOU OR FROM WHAT NETWORK. Being in INtegrations and tech... I use thousands of PEAK minutes a month. Bill you ask $65. I almost never touch a land line phone anymore and can come and go as I please.

The upside for my boss and my customers... I am REALLY MOTIVATED to answer when you call. As I am not looking to pay extra to call people back.

Direct Connect. Shoot I prefer it to phone calls most of the time. Cell to cell calling often introduces so many delays that you really notice the time delay beween when you may talk and be heard. DC... hear a beep and its your turn.

Volleyball team mate overe sleeps before the tournament... he may sleep through a phoone ringer but there is some sort of catharsis about yelling into the phone... "ROLL OFF THAT DIRTY SCANK YOU TOOK HOME AND GET TO THE GYM NOW!" Frank always wakes up when I do that. :)

But for work. Coverage. Pricing. FREE INCOMMING CALLS!

So it doesn't work at my girlfreinds home... neither does her sister or loser brother inlaw.

My father has a BLackberry from Verizon. Its sound quality is not the best but he has all the features i liked of the sidekcik and coverage. Unfortunatly it sounds like crap when I talk to him and he is doing anything but holding perfectly still.

His Phonje he had just before the BlackBerry dropped calls all the time and he was unintelligable.