Expert: DebiN - 10/25/2009

Question
We are able to upgrade our cell phones. My carrier is AT&T, my wife and I can upgrade. Our contract ends in Dec. We will stay with AT&T and are looking at four phones. We don't text but would like to enjoy the internet on our phones, video messaging, wireless Emails, and bluetooth. The phones we looking at are Apple iPhone 3G-8G-Black, LG VU (TM), Samsung Solstice (TM)(A887), and HTC Pure (TM). Our question is, which is the better phone, for our dollars, memory, talk time? We like the touch screens.

Answer
In my opinion, the best phone that you can buy out of the ones that you mentioned above is the iPhone. The iPhone has the very best access to the internet with the Safari browser and more than that, the ability to use MobileMe for wireless access to email, calendars and contacts (without manually synching) and of course, music and the thousands of free and low cost applications. No one can touch the iPhone's abilities. You can purchase a charging case that allow you to add talk time and battery life (the case has a built in charger) and/or a charger that once it is charged, plugs into the bottom of the iPhone to allow for additional battery. The 16Gig model, which is plenty large enough is $199.99. You can't beat the price. The next option would be the HTC Pure, followed by the Samsung and the LG. I'm not a big fan of LG's as it relates to SmartPhones and the Samsung isn't bad. HTC is a SmartPhone company so they are the next in line actually after the BlackBerrys. My rankings with AT&T would be iPhone, BlackBerry BOLD or 8900 Curve, HTC (whatever is the latest) then Samsung Solstice. Believe me, anyone who is eligible for an upgrade and has AT&T as their carrier and is interested in a SmartPhone, you can't go wrong with the iPhone 3GS. No question about that one. I hope this helps. Thaks. DebiN