Expert: DebiN - 2/6/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Debi.

I am in the market for a new cell phone. Currently, the provider I have is Metro PCS and the phone type is a Kyocera Torino. The previous phone I had was also with Metro, but I have had so many call drops, as well as poor reception that it's not even funny. With my current phone, I am experiencing these problems again and I'm also hearing my voice echoing too. This has been very frustrating, so I did some research on finding other providers like Metro, that is, no 2 year contracts, just a month-to-month basis and found two other providers: Cricket and Boost. I hear that Cricket is just as bad, if not, worse than Metro in terms of reception and call drops. Based on this, I am seriously considering switching to Boost. According their website, Boost hardly have any call drops and have no additional hidden fees.

See link for more info:

http://plans.boostmobile.com/whyboost.aspx

1. Is Boost really superior to Metro and Cricket?

2. What is the difference between a cell phone and an iphone?

3. Is the iphone superior to a standard cell phone?

The bottom line is, I am looking for a new cell phone that has great reception, easy text messaging, multi-tasking apps, no call drops, no hidden fees, a month-to-month payment basis (no 2 year contracts), web browsing, downloading multi-media, and an ipod all rolled into one.

4. What would be the best option for me with all of the aforementioned features?


Best regards,

Julian

ANSWER: Julian -

1. Boost is better than Cricket or Metro. Boost is basically the old Nextel side of Sprint.
2. An iPhone is a SmartPhone and with any SmartPhone, you have data capabilities and voice and its' similar to a mini computer. A cell phone allows you to make and receive calls, text and do some basic data and surfing the internet as well, but isn't designed to really do the data tasks efficiently.
3. You can't really compare a SmartPhone to a cell phone. It's based on what you need in a mobile device. By the way, the iPhone is only available from AT&T and in a few weeks, Verizon. Won't be an option with Boost.
I would just recommend that you get a cell phone from Boost that you feel comfortable with using and that has music capabilities. They only sell a handful, so try them out at a store and see which one you like the best. Hope this helps

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

QUESTION: Hello again, Debi.

Thank you for your reply.

1. Why is Boost considered better than Metro and Cricket?

Currently, I'm torn between getting a blackberry through Boost or an iphone. But based on what I've been hearing about the iphone, I may go for that option. Now, according to the mac website, when purchasing an iphone at the 2 year promotional price, a new agreement is required. However, there is another option to purchase the iphone at full retail price, which will not require me to sign a long term contract.

2. For how long will I be able to have this deal on a month-to-month basis?

3. How can I sign up for that deal?

4. How much is the iphone 4, plus the car charger?


Best regards,

Julian

ANSWER: Boost is Nextel and that's a far superior network to Metro and Cricket who don't have their own networks. They are resellers.

An iPhone is far superior to anything you can buy through Boost. Hands down. I would either get an iPhone from AT&T or Verizon. Keeping in mind that Verizon's iPhone will run slower and doesn't have simultaneous voice and data. But whomever has better service in your area should be the determining factor. You will need to sign a 2 year agreement and it's well worth it because most people stay with a carrier for at least 2 years anyway. If you break the agreement, you just pay an early termination fee. I would not buy the phone for full price. It's less expensive to break the contract then pay full price so there's no reason to pay full price. The iPhone 4 is $199.99 or $299.99 based on the storage capacity you choose. A car charger is typically $30.00. You will have to pass credit and sign a 2 year agreement then monthly fees are $39.99 for 450 minutes of voice and with AT&T minimum data is $15.00, with Verizon, it is $30.00 and text with AT&T is $10 for 1000 texts. Verizon is $5.00 for 250 or $15 for 500 in and unlimited mobile to mobile texts.

Hope this helps.

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

QUESTION: Hi again.

Just a few more questions.

I've noticed that the iphones (as well as iphone 4) does not come in flip/clamshell types. Also, I am seeing less and less of them in regards to non-iphone types as well. I would imagine that flip/clamshells offers better protection to the buttons and screen, whereas, the iphones are a one-piece item and can easily get damaged.

1. Why are the flip/clamshell models declining in popularity? Is it because having two LCD screens cuts on battery life? Or is it because the hinges eventually wears out and breaks apart due to overuse? Or is it something else entirely?

The thing that I don't like about the current cell phones are the fact that the keys are way too small for me to text. In fact, I just checked out the Blackberry 8530 and the keys are so crowded together, even my cell has better key spacing than that model and yet, I still have trouble texting people. Next, I checked out tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tablet in particular. It has web access, apps, texting, video chatting, and phone chatting via blue tooth. I'm told that this particular tablet is the best. I am seriously considering getting the Samsung Galaxy Tablet because it makes texting much easier than with a standard cell phone.

See link: http://www.tecca.com/product/samsung-galaxy-tab-3g/reviews/2/#page_content

2. What is your opinion on tablets?

3. Do you consider tablets to be superior to iphones/cell phones?


Best regards,

Julian

Answer
There are many cases today that protect a phone as well as the flip/clamshell and so the flip isn't as necessary as it once was. If protection is important, I would recommend doing what I do, is having a case that has a front cover. The cover just flips up or to the side when you want to use the keys. iPhones also have screen covers that protect the screens as well. And the iPhone and other touch screen phones don't have keys to protect, so just protecting the cover with the plastic stick on sheet or case cover adequately protects the pone.

For a BlackBerry, the best one is by far the Torch. It has the best keypad and is not as tiny as the Curve series. The Galaxy tab is fantastic and is definitely the best one around today. My opinion on tablets is that if size is not an issue (some people want tiny phones), it is definitely the best way to go. They are all Android operating systems (a superior OS to Windows) and offer a nice large screen to work with. They have good protective cases also. A Galaxy tablet is not superior to an iPhone or iPad (Apple is by far superior to any other OS), but if you don't want an iPhone and since you can't talk on an iPad, a Galaxy tablet is a great option. If AT&T is your carrier, there's also the Dell Streak to look at, but Samsung makes pretty good Android devices. You can't compare a tablet to a cell phone nor a SmartPhone to a cell phone. It's all about what your requirements are. I hope this helps.