Cell phones?

[sen_ichi_rei]

Apparently, I'm eligible for a phone upgrade this weekend (I thought it wasn't until Thanksgiving). I'm on my parents' Verizon family plan. I'm thinking of actually getting a smartphone, since right now I just have a regular cell phone, and at this point I seem to be the only person in the universe with a regular cell phone

Comments

[awful_dynne]

I have a Samsung phone that has a full keyboard and is touch screen and I don't have a full data plan and my brother has the exact same phone and no data plan at all. I have a different carrier, but I would think that similar models would be available with Verizon? I suppose another thing to consider is what you use your phone for. If only for making phone calls, then a regular cell phone is fine, right? But if you text a lot, or need a calendar easily accessible then a phone with a keyboard works better.

[anonymous]

Even without a data plan, many of these phones will provide many or all of their nifty features when there is wifi available. If you spend most of your time in such a place, you can consider whether that justifies the costa for the shiny.

[leftyjew]

i have a "candybar style" phone. 12 buttons. it makes phone calls. I'm satisfied.

[masteraleph]

Verizon data plans are about $30 a month. In terms of non-data phones (the idea of paying $10 a month when you don't even want data in the first place makes little sense to me, but hey), I'm a fan of the LG Cosmos, which I picked up this spring. I couldn't justify $10/month extra, let alone $30.

[marphod]

Getting a smart phone does not mean you NEED a data plan, just that you can't use the data side outside of a wireless hot spot.

[platypuses]

Although AT&T at least doesn't allow you to buy certain smartphones unless you buy the data plan too.

[masteraleph]

Verizon won't let you buy a smartphone from them without a $29.99/month data plan. They won't even let you buy a phone that plays music without a $9.99/month data plan.