Thinking of an iPhone

[thequestions]

I am thinking of getting an iPhone. Mainly for calendaring use, since I have things to do, appointments, deadlines etc written in 20 different places.

I can either add a line to my brothers iPhone family plan. ~$60 right?
Or I can get a 2nd gen iPhone and add to T-mobile. ~$50?

I do decent amount of calling, moderate texting, and would use moderate internet.

Maybe I am missing something, but when I look up T-mobile plans, say "Even more" or "Even more plus" they end up being $50 or $60, which is about the same at AT&T (although better service and coverage).

Thoughts or suggestions?

[cpjr]

Tmobile is cheaper. The only way you may come up with around the same price is because the ATT account is a family plan....

And honestly from what you described....it sounds more like you need something like a Blackberry.

[thequestions]

Hmmm, why would you recommend Blackberry?

All my friends running Blackberry's complain about them. Also, wont the final cost end up being the same?

Thanks for response

[cpjr]

Final cost for what?

It sounds like what you want is more guided toward "business" stuff....and Blackberry is pretty much the kudos for a heavy business user.

I dont know what complaints someone would have....I have used Blackberries for years....my primary phone is an iphone, but I also still have a blackberry. They are excellent phones.

Dont get me wrong....you can do all you talking about with the iphone, it just depends on how "heavy" of a user you are.

[adp]

I am thinking of getting an iPhone. Mainly for calendaring use, since I have things to do, appointments, deadlines etc written in 20 different places.

I can either add a line to my brothers iPhone family plan. ~$60 right?
Or I can get a 2nd gen iPhone and add to T-mobile. ~$50?

I do decent amount of calling, moderate texting, and would use moderate internet.

Maybe I am missing something, but when I look up T-mobile plans, say "Even more" or "Even more plus" they end up being $50 or $60, which is about the same at AT&T (although better service and coverage).

Thoughts or suggestions?

It's A LOT cheaper to add a line to a family plan. Every extra line is $10/month . An unlimited data plan for an iPhone can be purchased for $10/month - so you'd end up paying $20/month. If you text that's an extra $10 for unlimited texting.

[cpjr]

It's A LOT cheaper to add a line to a family plan. Every extra line is $10/month . An unlimited data plan for an iPhone can be purchased for $10/month - so you'd end up paying $20/month. If you text that's an extra $10 for unlimited texting.

True....as long as the family plan has enough minutes to cover everyone's use, or has to be upgraded.

Also, you cant get a data plan for $10....its $30 for an unlimited data plan on ATT + text.

[thequestions]

I meant the cost of a blackberry plan vs. iphone or other smartphone.

It would be for 'business'-like things (email, calendar/synchronization, etc). Although not heavy use.

If the costs would be similar, i'd prefer the iphone.

I'll look more into blackberries as well

[cpjr]

The only difference will be in the data plan....if you check ATT's or Tmo's websites it will list the plan rates. But for ATT the iphone plan is a little cheaper, I believe.

[thequestions]

Oooooh, I can edit Office documents in blackberries but not in Iphone. That might be important.

Looking up plan rates on their websites is confusing...voice plans on one page, data on another, separate pages for blackberries.

thanks for info.

[cpjr]

There are a couple apps to edit office documents...on the iphone.

[adp]

The only difference will be in the data plan....if you check ATT's or Tmo's websites it will list the plan rates. But for ATT the iphone plan is a little cheaper, I believe.

Really? I think the $35 plan for "smartphones" has unlimited texting and data. The one for $25 is for data only. This is still cheaper than ATT. However, there's many ways to get the $10 data plan on T-mobile. T-Mo is going to be cheaper on most scenarios. There's no difference between the BB and the iPhone granted that you have data plans on both. Of course, you won't get 3G speed on a T-mo iPhone.

[cpjr]

Really? I think the $35 plan for "smartphones" has unlimited texting and data. The one for $25 is for data only. This is still cheaper than ATT. However, there's many ways to get the $10 data plan on T-mobile. T-Mo is going to be cheaper on most scenarios. There's no difference between the BB and the iPhone granted that you have data plans on both. Of course, you won't get 3G speed on a T-mo iPhone.

He was talking specifically about Blackberry data vs Iphone data....on ATT, not Tmo.

Unless they have changed blackberry data pricing....it used to be more expensive than the iphone.

And when the other post was talking about data at $10...it was in answer to ATT, which isnt the case...

Yeah Tmo is cheaper, as I first said.

But he is also looking at adding just a line to a family plan on ATT vs a whole new account on Tmo....which evens the cost a little more.

[adp]

He was talking specifically about Blackberry data vs Iphone data....on ATT, not Tmo.

Unless they have changed blackberry data pricing....it used to be more expensive than the iphone.

And when the other post was talking about data at $10...it was in answer to ATT, which isnt the case...

Yeah Tmo is cheaper, as I first said.

But he is also looking at adding just a line to a family plan on ATT vs a whole new account on Tmo....which evens the cost a little more.

Wow...confusing. Best bet- compare prices at http://www.billshrink.com - it will put all the companies in one page.

[cpjr]

Very....confusing.....thats why its really easier for whomever wants to know.....to do their own research.

[adp]

Very....confusing.....thats why its really easier for whomever wants to know.....to do their own research.

Agreed.

[thequestions]

Really? I think the $35 plan for "smartphones" has unlimited texting and data. The one for $25 is for data only. This is still cheaper than ATT. However, there's many ways to get the $10 data plan on T-mobile. T-Mo is going to be cheaper on most scenarios. There's no difference between the BB and the iPhone granted that you have data plans on both. Of course, you won't get 3G speed on a T-mo iPhone.

Sorry for the nagging questions, but the websites arent very easy to fllow either.

So I looked on T-mo's website. If wanted to put on iPhone on there (i think) i would:
- Even More Plus 500 Talk - $29.99
- web2go (+APN change) + texting - which apparently is $19.99 (but cant find that anywhere on the website)

$50/month. Right?


AT&T
- Im a little confused if you can add a third iPhone on a Family talk plan (that already has two iPhones). You cant do that with a new AT&T plan on the website.
- $9.99 to add a line
- $30 for iPhone data plan (Im assuming you cant use the "Data and messaging unlimited" plan for the iPhones)
- $5 for 200 texting

Does this seem right?

[cpjr]

Sounds about right.

[thequestions]

Thank you both!

[GIRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL]

To get a better understanding of the price structures, a simple way to say it is that the 19.99 plan doesn't exist anymore.. it's all bundles and other phones data is an "option" but smartphone data is bundled with talk + text (So it's Talk + Text + Data)

Talk + Text is a bundle, you can't get "text" as an option if you can understand what I'm saying.

Data is a $10 option for other phones, and for smartphones it's a $20 price increase when bundled with Talk + Text.

[adp]

There's no reason why you should be paying $20 for data on a phone you can get nothing faster than edge. Get the $10 service - it works identically. You can add it online.