Starting From Scratch...

L

little John

New member
I am starting from scratch...I am looking for a provider and a new phone, trying to get some good suggestions/recommendations or just good advice or ideas...read on...thanks in advance to everyone...

-- Two Possibilities So Far: From reading the forum so far everyone seems to be talking up the Nokia N95 which does look really good but has a lot of stuff I do not really want/need on there like GPS, good camera and video would be nice but again not necessary for me...I know that I also like the w810i SonyEricsson but want to find something that is at least one step up from that...

-- I am looking to buy the phone unlocked with a pay as you go SIM card (i.e. I do not want any contract). For a provider I will probably just go with the pre-paid or pay as you go option as I already have been though I want to find a provider where I can talk a bit more, and more cheaply...

-- My budget $200-350...(not much above that but maybe a little)...


PROVIDER

(All below wants/needs are things to base choice of provider on)...

- Truly global phone - full functionality - In other words I can take it pretty much anywhere in the world (especially South America but also Europe) and be able to call out without much problem.
- Very good/cheap/easy texting plan
- Can easily/cheaply check my gmail/e-mail
- I am an infrequent cell phone talker - when I do talk tend to talk for hour or more. Maybe just 5 hours in a month. Much less then 10.
- Best plan for infrequent talker - non-restrictive, not long, etc. contract
- Good voice quality
- No roaming charges
- Best idea to buy the phone outright with pay as you go SIM card?


FEATURES I WANT/NEED IN THE PHONE

- GSM - Quad Band - Real "World" Phone (world clock, etc. software) - Esp. want to make sure usable in South America and Eastern Europe
- High resolution, big screen, easy to read in direct sunlight (mirrored screen?)
- Easy to text message
- Easy nice interface, lighted nice keypad
- Good voice quality
- MP3 Ringtone
- Phone and Screen durable/reliable - leather coverable - screen covered or scratch resistant
- Able to check Gmail easily and get news feeds
- Nice camera but not a priority
- Aesthetically cool...
- WiFi


NOT PRIORITIES

- GPS
- Radio
- Video
 
Well, you need to look at the primary areas where you will use the phone and select the carrier. We really can't do that for you. I doubt that one carrier will fit all of your needs so look at where you live, work, etc and pick one.
 
I think you should look in the HTC S620 (T-Mobile Dash) or HTC S710. Both have WiFi and QWERTY and I think they are aesthetically cool and the HTC S710 has a 2MP camera. They are both fully capable of good web browsing and multimedia being Windows Mobile phones. I think either would work well.
 
Thank you very much EChid! Very helpful, I did look up both phones and very much liked what I saw/read...I really liked that the reviews I read on the phones were very good as well...these are definitely my top candidates now...I really like the HTC 710/720 but unfortunately it is not expected out until this summer sometime so I will have to wait on it...

I think the phones meet my requirements/wish list overall very well...top on my priorities is that it be a true "world phone" and I think these both seem to fit the bill...they look cool, lot of features including nice keypad, can check e-mail easily, text, screen, camera, etc. So now it is about the waiting...

Thanks also to DubDub for your reply...after doing some more research I guess from what I hear Cingular and T-Mobile are about the only major American providers that provide support for GSM and are therefore world phones so if I go with a provider it will probably have to be one of them...
 
BTW here are my other top candidates right now...

GOOD CANDIDATES/RELEASED PHONES

8.3 - P990i
RIM BLACKBERRY 7130L
8.3 - NOKIA 5300 XPRESS MUSIC -
8.3 - LG CU500 - 8/10/06 -
8.0 - Sony Ericsson K750i -
Nokia N80

==================

UPCOMING/UNRELEASED PHONES

http://www.mobiledia.com/phones/date/q2-2007.html

Nokia 6120 Classic
LG enV - verizon
LG F9200 - Cingular
LG CU500v - Cingular
 
A few Latin American and South American countries use CDMA. Japan is on CDMA 2100 which isn't compatible here. From what i hear, Verizon and Sprint will introduce a "world phone" in the near future which is CDMA of the US and GSM for outside the US.
 
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