Cell phones

[perpetualponder]

I've been thinking about getting a smartphone, but I don't really want to spend the $1000/year ($80/month) that the traditional carriers charge for smartphone data plans. I discovered that two Sprint subsidiaries, Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, offer no-contract cellphone service including unlimited voice, text and web for around $700/year ($60/

Comments

[sirroxton]

I've got the same question. Virgin Mobile has a $25 plan with 300 minutes and unlimited data. Trying to figure out how good Sprint's network is in my area.

[perpetualponder]

I called both Virgin Mobile and Boost and discovered two things. Firstly their voice prompts are exasperatingly reluctant to let you talk to a human. Secondly neither provides phones that work internationally (with minor exceptions such as Baja California).

My current plan is to get a mid-range unlocked phone and use it with either T-mobile's pre-paid monthly or pre-paid pay-as-you-go plans. I like T-mobile because they have better prepaid plans than the other GSM carrier (ATT). I'm thinking about an Android phone perhaps.

[sirroxton]

My primary interest in getting a smartphone is mobile app development. Consequently, an unlocked, mid-range Android phone sounds appealing. The advice I keep hearing is that you'll want to make sure the phone provider has a good history of releasing OS updates; I know a couple of people who are stuck on Android 1.6. If you let me know what you end up choosing, I may be following close behind. :)

[perpetualponder]

Google sells Nexus ones to registered developers. Presumably Google keeps their own phone up to date!