Help! Cellphone recs while I’m ‘between’ houses

[Linda S]

Well, I’m due to vacate my current home at the end of this week, and I just found out that the house I just bought needs some last minute work that is easier done before I move in. So I’m couch surfing for a three weeks at a friend’s house, and I can’t use his phone.
I’ve never had a cellphone, but this seems like a good time to get one. I’d like some recommendations. I’m especially interested in the combination wireless devices like the Treo, which are PDAs and can check email too. I have an older Palm, but I figure I might as well get rid of it and take a leap into the future. I definitely want a great phone first and foremost. I’m also hoping it’ll have a keyboard. Please let me know what you’ve used and what you advise.

Many thanks!

Linda

[Richard]

What city and stste? I've had Verizon,and never had any problems with service, billing or anything. I've had Celular One/Cingular (now) and the sevice area was poor, with billing mistakes in the hundreds of dollars and when I finally figured out the bills, I paid more than the program stated. They may be having other problems too, they are laying people off.

[rmurray]

Cell phones are beginning to do in wired phones..Many of my customers are not getting wired phones at all..Many of the new plans are far less expensive and way more convienent than wired phones..

I am not sure I can help you on the most advanced features...Somehow this old brain cannot think of a phone as much more than a talking device...but..I missed the Palm revolution too...I could not figure out how it helped more than my hard copy appiontment book..OH WELL..The future is for the young..

I have both Verison and Voice Stream service and both are great..no roaming..free long distance..honest billing..

[Brian]

Ahhhhh, another topic I love. Choosing a PDA or a cell phone should really be decided on what you think you could possibly do with it. If you are looking to keep you contacts and appointments only (and have a few simple games), one of the Palm powered solutions is great. If listening to MP3's (audio files), watching movies, reading and editing Word and Excel documents, using email, messaging and the internet, and playing some really advanced games...... well then look into some of the PocketPC phones that are now just starting to hit the market. I'll admit I'm biased since i work for a company involved with PocketPC's,,,, but let me tell you what I personally use. I have a high end phone from Sony-Ericcssen called the T68. It has an Outlook compatible contact list and claendar. I use it with Voicestream. The phone is about $250 without activation, which is cheaper than a cell-phone pda combination. I love it because it is small and has the features i can't do without. It means I can leave my pocketPC behind in the car for playing games and listening to music or browsing the real internet.....

but I'm a tech geek who works for a major software company and i work with these things for a living.

-Brian Haley

[Peggy]

Hey, Mr. Murray - what do your I-don't-want-a-regular-phone customers do about their computers without a phone jack in the house? And why is it that - with the proliferation of cell phones - regular phone rates haven't come DOWN? I can't figure that one out. It seems like they'd cut the rates just to keep customers from doing away with the land lines entirely. But the thing I hate about cell phones is - you have to recharge them every 2 nights (mine, anyway) and you can easily lose it. Also - I don't want constant interruptions from my friends calling me on my cellphone when I'm driving, working, etc. My cellphone is strictly for me to call OUT, not for other people to call IN.

[rmurray]

Cable modems...once you have one you will never go back to the old clunky 56k hook up...


Some are using dish network for internet service as well..

Why have prices stayed high...because we are sucker enough to pay them..

[Peggy]

Well, I guess I'm sort of back in the fossil age because you're talking above my head. How much should I expect to pay per month for a cable modem? Is Dish network the cable TV thing and what's the best wireless phone company, in your opinion? The other thing I hate about wireless is - you only get one phone, so you have to carry the damn thing everywhere If you leave it at the office or a friend's house, you don't have a phone. If you're in one end of the house and the phone rings in the other end of the house, you don't hear it. It's not a perfect system. Also - BellSouth has THE BEST customer service of any company of ANY type - in the world. On the few occasions that I've had a question or a problem, I've talked to a REAL PERSON and the problem was taken care of. But I'd LOVE to get rid of my 6-page (front and back) phone bill and the exorbitant rates.

[rmurray]

Most cable companies are offering 2 different on line services now..

1)Fastest..about 100 times faster than 56k hook up..about $ 50/mo..

Once you have this service the others are about as good as a horse and buggy when compared with a Mercedes...

2)..They also are just now offering a limited service at about $ 23 per month that is 4 or 5 times faster than a phone hook up...

The best part of these services is that they are always on...No wiat for the phone to ring,,,connect,,,sign on,,,Just open a window...poof..it is there..

The satillite providers such as Dish Network are begining to offer internet service..I do not know the cost...But they are also lightning fast..

My only gripe with Bell South is the slow deployment of DSL..I waited 1 year at my home before I got the cable modem...They still did not have it..At my office DSL is still not available..I think Bell South missed the boat by not attacking the high speed business fast enough..

I too think service from Bell South is excellent...But expensive...I have the full choice plan with all the bells and whistles...$ 50/mo with tax..My wifes wireless costs 29/mo from Verison (a Bell South company) with all the same bells and whistles, plus e-mail, text messaging, no roaming and free long distance..She manages her limited daytime minutes by taking full advantage of the call forwarding feature...If she is at the office..she has all daytime calls forwarded to the office, when she visits her mom..they are forwarded there..

Oh well....this post is too long...sorry

[Linda S]

Hi there everyone,

Thank you so much for all your advice. Well it was a big decision but I definitely took a huge leap into the future. I purchased a Treo 300.

The best service here in the Northeast for me right now is Sprint. One of the incentives was receiving PCS Vision free for 3 months. Another was a trade up deal. Since I successfully uploaded my entire contacts list from Outlook I will mail in my palm dinosaur (which was on the trade up list) and I will get $100 credit toward my next bill.

Did anyone see on the news last night now people are more and more using their mobile phone as their ONLY phone. I think that’s going to be me now! I imagine its hard for a family but when your single and “homeless.” ;( it’s easier.

I should have the keys to my new castle in 12 days if all goes according to the new plan.

Many thanks!

Linda