So help me out with these cell phone choices

DavezWife

our contract is up for renewal, and I'm overwelmed with my choices. Even just sticking to the "free" and under $50 choices, there's still a ton.

All I really care about is that it works internationally, and I would love to check my email on it.  Camera? great. but whatever. Still 10 phones to pick from. shaaaa?

I don't quite get the diff between having full web access (which I do NOT wanna pay the $60 a month to have) and just checking email. There's a difference, right? 'Splain, please.

I wish I was rich. Rich people don't worry about cell phone plans and picking out their free phone. lol.

 

 

Waiting4baby08

Well, it might not be what you are looking for, but I love love love my Droid!

I feel a need to be connected to the internet at all times and I am able to do everything I need to do like order last minute supplies for my business or transfer money from my accounts at the bank.  The applications are all great and have made life easier for me.  Also, it has GPS which has saved me.  I love being able to check all of my emails for work and home and also this board.   It has a great camera with a flash and a good video camera.  You can run several things at one time which is nice.  The other day I was using the navigation, on a phone call and googling something at the same time. 

AvaLikeLava

If your primary goal is to have a phone that works internationally, any phone with a GSM chip will do. The only problem is that all phones sold in the US (through a mobile provider) will be locked to that network. To use the phone internationally you'll want to have an unlocked phone so that you can use a GSM card from that country. You can unlock phones relatively cheaply, but if you do and you get a problem, the company you have service with here in the US won't repair it as unlocking the phone invalidates the contract.

What I recommend: get a used, in good condition (if possible already unlocked) phone from CL or eBay to use in CR. Once you get to CR, get a GSM card. Unlike the US, most international countries just sell you the card -- no contract or phone required -- they just assume you already have the device. You'll get a new phone number that works in country.

Now... if you want to keep your phone number to use in CR, know that you are going to have a fabulous bill in the end... unless you get an international calling plan which is also pretty pricey. Data is also charged at a different rate internationally than here in the US, so you'll also pay a bundle. Just make sure you understand all the details before you think you can take your current plan abroad. If you're only going to be there for a week, I wouldn't worry about it too much, but since you'll be there for a lot longer, I would really look into a local solution.

Ok, that was long. Sorry!

jcombs

We went with Verizon and they have 1 simple flip phone that is international compatiable but you do have to call right before you leave the country to get the updates for some reason.  This is what we bought my Mum.  Hubby and I have blackberries and his is working mostly great for service in Nigeria.  I really liked the droid but it wasn't quad band when we got our phones in January.  They said the next release of it will be quad band.

As far as the email thing....I have no clue.  I remember there was that option with Alltel, but with verizon we had to get the blackberry plans since we have blackberries so no simple email option for us.

SS091506

I am in the same boat.