Expert: DebiN - 7/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I've lost my PDA... Would love all the features, but will settle for notes and synching with my outlook (have to have my addresses/phones with me).  I don't want to HAVE to have a data plan for this, but ideally would like the option.  An ATT person told me I could get one that has an $10-15 fee that you can turn off and on if you want.  Can you give me the BEST options that way?  Of course I don't have $300 for a phone.  We'd be new ATT customers or 2yr contract Verizon people.

ANSWER: I have no idea what the AT&T person was referring to because there is no $10-$15 data plan that you can turn on and off. An unlimited data plan with AT&T (and with Verizon) is $30.00 a month. If you would be a new AT&T customer, your cost would be nowhere near $300.00. BlackBerry Curves are available for about $100.00 right now with a new contract. And even an iPhone is only $99.99 for the 3G 8Gig iPhone. The data plan on an iPhone is also only $30.00. You unfortunately HAVE to have a data plan with either carrier if you get a PDA. I would strongly recommend a BlackBerry or iPhone with AT&T (if AT&T has good service where you live), but plan on $30.00 a month for data. Verizon charges the same thing for their data plans and they are also required. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, so if I skip the PDA features EXCEPT for synching with Outlook on the computer does that change anything?  That may be what they're talking about.  I don't want to spend $30/mo. on that if I don't HAVE to.  If there's an intermediate option that is cheaper but can give me outlook synching I'm sold.  Any ideas?  Thanks so much for your help on this.
Choosy in Chandler

Answer
AT&T and Verizon will not sell you a PDA without a PDA plan. If you can get AT&T to sell you a PDA with their MediaNet plan ($15.00 a month) and you have software to synch with Outlook, then go for it. There are several phones that AT&T sells that can be synched with Outlook also and don't require PDA plans. If you buy a SIM unlocked PDA, it will work for voice and text and you will not have to get any type of data plan and it will synch with Outlook if you have the proper software on your PC. If you get the device from AT&T, it will require some type of data plan (i.e., MediaNet at the least). I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN