Need some help buying my first cellphone

[Decrepidactyl]

Hello all,

I have spent a few hours doing research online today trying to get an idea of what I want but I have gotten nowhere pretty much =/

I live on the East Coast of USA, New Jersey.

The phone MUST have these requirements:

External Display if it is a flip phone(which I would prefer)

Vibrate

Ability to connnect to PC via usb cable to store songs/pictures/etc

Multiple Phone Numbers per Name(seperated by home, work, etc would be preferred)

Ringer ID/Picture ID - some form of this either/or

Voice Dialing

Custom Ringtones(This is a very strict requirement. I MUST be able to use my own custom ringtones that I create whether it be wav or mp3. mid is a plus as well. I will not accept a phone that is crippled and will only allow me to purchase mainstream music at $2.99 a pop or require fee's).

MP3 player would be nice (though I assume any phone allowing me custom ringtones will probably have one anyway)

Camera(even if it is a crappy VGA, as long as I can use it for picture ID)

The phone must have expandable memory options (transcard, etc). If the phone requires custom ringtones to be in the phones internal memory and not on the card, it must have a decent sized internal memory.

Speaker phone is required also.

I do not care if the phone is sleek and sexy or midsized, as long as it has great functionality. I'd just prefer something that doesn't look like a melted plastic brick.

I skimmed through letstalk.com and phonescoop.com as well as several other sites using all of their phone comparison tools. I've loked at the SLVR 7, Motorola V710, Motorola V360, samsung mm900/970/etc as well as a lot of sony ericcson z's and nokia + nextel phones. Some fit my needs more than others but none seem to match everything.

I was set on verizon wireless but after more and more research I see their business plans on how they perceive customers is worse than Best Buy. T-Mobile seems to have horrible coverage in NJ. Please keep some of this in mind. I do not want a cheap phone that will lend itself to easy destruction and crappy design, yet i refuse to pay prices in the range of 250+ including a new 2 yr agreement plan(i.e. 500+ dollar phones).

If I must absolutely have to hack my phone for the ringtone support, than i will learn how but I'd prefer a phone with open options from the start and not severely crippled like Verizon just loves to do.

Thankyou for your time,

Jupiter SJ

 

[Adelwolf]

I recommend the Motorola V635. Has great reception and basically fits your prefrence discription.

 

[BisSee]

Is this phone available as part of a 1/2yr agreement plan with cingular? All I can seem to find online is unlocked models(unlocked and overseas non contract combonations I am not willing to do with my first phone purchase) ... 5mb internal memory is also kind of weak..

any more info would be appreciated,

jupitersj

 

[Rexton]

With the exception of possibly looking like the melted brick of plastic that you described I would recommend the Nokia 6682. It is currently $200.00 through Cingular. It has all those features you described and more. It has true tone/stereo speaker so you will hear the actual song and not some junk ringtone that sounds like you blew out the speakers. You can create your own ringtones using Mp3s. Cingular has great reception out here in Chicago and the 6682 works beautifully, I cant speak for NJ, but I would guess it's the same. Edge technology internet is great, which allows for Mobitv and many other features. Hope this helps

 

[heyimtisa]

Meh so many choices but nothing totally fits my needs...I think I see why I stayed away from cellphones for so long =/ I think I'm going to take some time with this and not rush into things.

Thankyou for all the help,

jupitersj

 

[Chaudhary]

Gsm I would go for the v635 if you get verizon get the e815 which with a 2 year plan would be free to you and its just like the v710 which is discontinued I bought mine though off ebay for 200 new so.