TMobile New Phone - Help me decide!?!

[rumonkey2]

Ok folks - about to enter the world of Smartphone. I'm on TMobile and I can't decide between Blackberry, Android or Windows Mobile as an OS....
I know - what am I gonna be doing will be your questions. And I'm not sure just yet. Mainly stuff like Facebook, a little web browsing, lotsa texting (got hooked), sending pics, etc... Nothing really "business" related, but I like the layout of Blackberry for some reason. I wish TMobile offered a 3G Blackberry because I would like the speed, but not sure I really need the speed for what I would be doing.
Phones I'm looking at: Blackberry Pearl Flip - mainly 'casue phone stays in my pocket and I'm kinda rough on them. WiFi a plus too... Drawback - smaller screen.
G-1 - Not crazy 'bout the slideout keyboard, MyTouch would be "cool" but more than I really want to spend
Dash - do I want Windows Mobile??? And there is the 3G version

Guess I need to go play w/ each to really make up my mind. But your opinions would be greatly appreciated!!!

[graphicguy]

Price....are you stuck on T-Mobile? If not, the obvious choice is to make a play for the i-phone on AT&T. My opinion, still the best smart phone on the market.

Windows Mobile has some slick features if you use MS Outlook. Outside of that, it's a typical MS app, with all the good and the bad that goes along with it.

Blackberry seems to be the standard with non i-phone users. If you're used to texting on a regular phone, I'd think the Blackberry would be a step up, yet familiar in that regard. I also think that Blackberry phones have a good rep for long battery life, too.

[Lefty]

I was on T-Mobile for eight years without a complaint. I didn't have a contract for 6 of those years and was a happy camper. I really wanted an iPhone though so I finally jumped and took all 5 of our lines to ATT. While you will have to pry my iPhone out of my cold dead fingers, ATT really really bites.
So you can have the best of both worlds. Stay with Tmob, and get a hacked iPhone. :) Probably cost you some, but worth it. I have played with the Android and most of the Blackberries, but for my needs, the iPhone is by far the more elegant and functional solution.

[greg_mitch]

Check out Engadget Mobile. They have a ton of information on the latest smart phones. Plus they just issued an article about the lack of actual mobile computing skill the iPhone has compared to other smartphones.

If you want to play trendy games, look cool with your phone in public, and make fart noises, the iPhone is for you. :assshake:

I would personally wait for the HTC Hero or get the latest HTC myTouch 3G.

I have been contemplating going to a regional carrier iWireless to get no contract Tmobile coverage with sim cards that would let me swap phones whenever I wanted.

I would be all over an HTC winmo once they come out with v7 phone or an Android device. It is where things are headed it appears...

[sooperkool]

Android has the best upside in my opinion, and I love my G1

[cedman1]

Second the Android, Love the G1, will root it later this month.

[sooperkool]

root it! the best thing that I have ever done to a phone.

[Jon Liu]

Here's my two cents:

I was a loyal customer of T-Mobile's for 7 years myself. I never had a real complaint about them and in terms of their service and reception in areas I frequented, I had very little problems. There were two occasions that I had issues (with my phone) and their customer service took care of me right away and to 100% satisfaction. Now, the only thing that I can complain about and essentially the reason I am no longer a T-Mobile customer is phone selection.

For the last close to a year and a half I used an unlocked iPhone (ver.1) on T-Mobile. Did very well for me. Since the first iPhone came out, I did switch to the G1 for 3-4 months. It was a nice little phone, but there were many things that it was lacking in compared to the iPhone. It had it's benefit over the iPhone, namely 3G network, but there were definitely the drawbacks. Overall, I was happier with the iPhone, so back I went and was using my original iPhone.

Though I was happy with my unlocked iPhone, I really longed for more options. I looked at blackberries and I decided the one I really want is not available to T-Mobile customers (The Bold). Ultimately, the iPhone 3Gs was announced and I decided it was time for me to make the switch. I wasn't under contract and so I made the jump. Here we are about a month later and I am happy as can be.

We'll see how things hold up with AT&T, but overall, I know that I have a much better phone selection with AT&T than with T-Mobile. On top of that, service in my area has been even better than my already good T-Mobile service.

[scuderia]

I'm interested in Andriod phones myself, and will wait a little bit. According to engadget there's 15~20 new Android phones coming out before end of year.

[Jason]

I'd stay FAR away from Windows mobile. Not user friendly at all, although highly tweakable if that's your thing.

Personally, I'd recommend finding an iphone unlocked on ebay or CL. There are lots of folks doing this. Now, you won't have 3G as the iphone's 3Gs radio doesn't work on T-mo's network. But you'll get all the other goodies.

They will be a bit pricey, depending on the size. I'd expect to find a great condition 3G 16 gig for $330ish or an 8 gig for 250ish.....

[rumonkey2]

Cool, thanks for the responses...

I'm not stuck on T-mobile and have considered I-Phone...and now that an I-phone can be had for $99, I've thought about it...

BUT - I'm happy w/ TMobile and actually think service HERE is better than AT&T...plus Mandie on TMobile, so calls are free :sly:
Haven't thought about unlocked I Phone, but $$ is the issue there...And w/ my "situation", I'm doing the Flex pay thing right now...so yeah, I'm sticking T-Mobile...

Anything is gonna be a step up. Hell, I don't even have a camera phone right now!:crazy:
So, I'll probably go the "least expensive" route at first - and see what else I may need/want down the line...
Just another "upgraditis" thing! LOL

And as I type this - I Phone commercial on...hmmmmmmm

[rumonkey2]

Check out Engadget Mobile. They have a ton of information on the latest smart phones. Plus they just issued an article about the lack of actual mobile computing skill the iPhone has compared to other smartphones.

If you want to play trendy games, look cool with your phone in public, and make fart noises, the iPhone is for you. :assshake:

I would personally wait for the HTC Hero or get the latest HTC myTouch 3G.

I have been contemplating going to a regional carrier iWireless to get no contract Tmobile coverage with sim cards that would let me swap phones whenever I wanted.

I would be all over an HTC winmo once they come out with v7 phone or an Android device. It is where things are headed it appears...

Thanks for this idea... I never even thought about a regional carrier!

EDIT: ARGHHHH No such luck here...lol T-Mobile Flex pay still my best bet for now...

[greg_mitch]

Where are you located? There has to be a no contract alternative in your area that uses the GSM network. But...I have been wrong many times before.

[rumonkey2]

Where are you located? There has to be a no contract alternative in your area that uses the GSM network. But...I have been wrong many times before.

Birmingham, AL...couldn't find one w/ a quick search...likely wrong...BUT, being in 'Bama, it wouldn't surprise me... :poke:

[graphicguy]

Sprint is the "bad carrier" around me (SW OH). Poor coverage. The two big dogs, Verizon and AT&T seem to have the best coverage. Their customer service leaves a lot to be desired, though.

If it weren't for the Apple Store that's close to me, I would never have bought an i-phone as AT&T couldn't be more clueless, and care even less, about anything i-phone outside of whether I qualify for a new one. That's the extent of their knowledge. Could be the stores around me are populated with dolts, though.

I had come from Verizon. Best signal in the areas I travel. They're on par as far as customer service with AT&T (not a compliment). Except, Verizon reps have better product knowledge.

T-Mobile.....I just don't have a reference point. No one I know uses them. Not sure why, either.

I tried a regional carrier that doesn't require contracts. Not sure of their carrier, but their signal was a step above poor. Liked the "no contract" deal. But, if 25% of my calls were dropped (which they were), that didn't really matter.

If an unlocked i-phone is too expensive, then it sounds like the Blackberry is the way to go. While I love my i-phone, I could do without AT&T. Until the get some competition, I don't see that improving.

Coming from a basic phone to something like a Blackberry, I'd say you'll be pleased, however.