Expert: DebiN - 9/24/2010

Question
I am eligible for a new phone from our carrier Verizon. My current phone is pretty old, an LGVVX5500. I'd like to get a blackberry or smartphone but don't know if I'd use all the features; I am a lab manager and teach in a lab, so the occasional email, sports score checking, etc. would be helpful.  Verizon has a data package for $9.99/mo, which may be what I need instead of the $29.99/mo data pack which seems so high priced.  The lower priced data pack limits the phones you can purchase.  Any suggestions to phone and data package?  

Answer
If you decide on a SmartPhone or BlackBerry, the minimum data plan from Verizon is $29.99. The $9.99 plan is only for voice centric devices and can't be associated with a SmartPhone or BB. Once you get a SmartPhone, it's hard to go back to a regular cell phone. There are so many things you can do that it's really a great choice. However, if all you reallyo need is an occasional sports score, the a cell phone with the $10.00 data plan is appropriate. For personal use, you would probably like the Droid better for a SmartPhone than a BlackBerry. Blackberry is great for work, but not so great for personal. Just know that $29.99 will be added to your monthly charges for data and you would want to ensure it would be worth. So, unfortunatley, not choice on data packages, it's $29.99.