Advice, input, and suggestions for carrier, plan, and phone

A

Argy

New member
Greetings, all!

I'm currently a MetroPCS customer in San Francisco, looking for lots of input -- I'd like to change to a different carrier, and hopefully the good folks at HoFo can help.

Although I don't generally fall into the "n00b" category, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the abundance of options and inundated by information. Here's what I'm looking for:

Phone requirements:
  • Voice calling (duh, it's a phone!)
  • Web browser -- if possible something slightly less repulsive than OpenWave
  • Applications installable by end user (me) and not locked to subscription/DRM nonsense (i.e. not BREW)
  • microSD/microSDHC slot (if it's only 2GB it's not a dealbreaker)
  • Bluetooth -- OBEX file transfer, access to memory card via BT
  • I'd prefer a non-CDMA phone, just from my experience so far using them, and seeing friends with (what I think were) GSM phones.

Carrier and plan requirements
  • I've averaged just under 10 hours monthly talk time since last November -- 600 minutes would probably work, as long as I didn't have any major limits on when I could use them.
  • SMS and MMS I'm not absolutely positive, but if these numbers are right, looks like 150 or 175 sent and received per month, though that may go up depending on the next item...
  • Full support for SMS "short codes" -- so that I can use things like Facebook, PayPal, and other services without my carrier arbitrarily (or intentionally) blocking some and allowing others
  • Overall cost of not more than $50 to $65 per month, though I'd potentially reconsider some of my other "requirements" to keep in that range

Questions and concerns
I realize it's probably mostly marketing, the way Metro PCS touts their "No contract! No contract!" message... so for a more objective view, what are some of the benefits of having a plan that requires a contract, and what are some reasons I might want to avoid doing so? What other information would be helpful in deciding who to go with? Is there any information I've omitted that would affect recommendations from everyone out there?
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I realize that this is a very open request, quite vague and not well-defined; my sincere apologies for this sad fact. It reflects my general disorientation and confusion -- I'm lost, and hopefully there are a few of you out there who can point the way, or at least get me started in the right direction!

Thanks muchly,

--Phia
 
For carrier. Look at where you plan to use the new device - where you live, work, travel and play. Then pick the carrier that offers the best service in those locations.

Once you have that decided, pick the best device that fits your needs and requirements.
 
How exactly would I go about finding what the quality of coverage is from various providers? I'd be almost exclusively around in the city of San Francisco, indoors and out, with a rare trip across to the East Bay. If my first step is to compare how good the service is... how do I do that?

Sorry for what seems like (and probably is) a completely obtuse question...
 
Ask family, friends, co-workers, anyone you come into contact with. In a major city, most providers should be OK. The problem starts when you look at the different technologies. CDMA usually has better building penetration with their signal, while GSM often lacks. I feel as though the phone selection on GSM is far better, as you are not tied down to whatever the provider offers. You are free to use unlocked devices as long as they run the bands that the provider is on.
 
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