Thinking about a smart phone

[Highlander]

I'm was considering getting an iphone, almost had myself talked into it until I looked at the verizon data plans. Last time I checked you could get unlimited data for $25 a month. Now they've gone to a sliding scale:

75MB (For Basic Phones Only) $10
2GB $30
5GB $50
10GB $80
4GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $50
7GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $70
12GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $100

There is a $10.00 per gig charge for going over your plan. If you don't do a lot of video streaming but do some surfing, email and so on, I'm assuming the 2 gb would be used up pretty quick.

Do smartphones use any kind of data compression?

If not, I think my smartphone interest just died unless I can get a job that will pay for it.

 

[Fitze55]

I'm was considering getting an iphone, almost had myself talked into it until I looked at the verizon data plans. Last time I checked you could get unlimited data for $25 a month. Now they've gone to a sliding scale:

75MB (For Basic Phones Only) $10
2GB $30
5GB $50
10GB $80
4GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $50
7GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $70
12GB (Includes Mobile Hotspot) $100

There is a $10.00 per gig charge for going over your plan. If you don't do a lot of video streaming but do some surfing, email and so on, I'm assuming the 2 gb would be used up pretty quick.

Do smartphones use any kind of data compression?

If not, I think my smartphone interest just died unless I can get a job that will pay for it.

Correct, verizon no longer has unlimited data. That was the reason I upgraded my wife's phone to a Droid X2 and got her locked into a $30 a month unlimited data plan.

Ok, for example, our 30 day billing cycle ends on Aug 25. I just looked and my wife has used 2.8412GB. What really takes up huge data is Netflix. Now, in that usage is probably two full length movies and the rest is pandora and surfing the net and playing with apps and email.

To answer your question regarding the 2GB usage, you are incorrect. Previously on my wifes BB she used it only for email and mild websurfing and she never went over 2GB's. BUT if you get one of these souped up smart phones next thing you know - poof you've consumed 2GB's using netflix, pandora and going app crazy.

Hope this helps?

 

[The EVP]

2GB is actualy very hard to go over unless you do a lot of streaming video or audio, such as Pandora or netflix as mentioned above. If you're just going to be using it for email, casual web-browsing and the such, 200mb data plan is sufficient. 80% of people on data plans never use that much.

Let's put it to you this way. I'm a Territory Manager for Sony Ericsson. You'ld be hard pressed to find someone who's phone is used more than mine with in-store demonstrations and such. With 6 days left in my billing cycle, I'm at 263MB (I got the unlimited plan before they did away with it). I have never come close to using 2GB. My phone is used constantly throughout the day with different reps playing with it.

Most sites you go to have a mobile version and with apps for news, banking and travel, you don't need to go to many sites anymore.

 

[NCost]

I have netflix on my phone, never use it though. I'm not watching a movie on a dinky screen, not me.

I think 2GB is reasonable amount if you do the occasional browsing and email, texting.

I'm on Sprint which is $75/mo for unlimited data but I use my phone a lot and usually hit 6-8gb a month usage.

 

[twenty5]

Im on my phone all the time and barely use 1GB. I dont do netflix though. When I upgrade I will be getting the Sirius App and some other things that will use more data but I think I should fall under 2GB with the combination of 4g and wifi.

 

[Highlander]

Thanks, personally I have no interest in watching movies on a tiny screen, lol. (I don't have netflix anyway). Guess I could just get a ipod touch and make use of wireless hot spots.

 

[Fitze55]

I have netflix on my phone, never use it though. I'm not watching a movie on a dinky screen, not me.

I think 2GB is reasonable amount if you do the occasional browsing and email, texting.

I'm on Sprint which is $75/mo for unlimited data but I use my phone a lot and usually hit 6-8gb a month usage.

My wifes DX2 has a 4.3" screen which is actually not bad for watching a movie. I use it sometimes on our deck when having a smoke and don't feel like hauling out the laptop.

There is also a app called TV.com where you can watch all kind of current sitcoms, late night shows, etc. The second the show ends it goes on tv.com. I like it because if you miss a show you like you can catch it on tv.com.

Wow - 6-8GB - THAT IS A TON OF USAGE!!!!!!

 

[twenty5]

http://www.verizonwireless.com/splash_includes/datacalculator.html

 

[Highlander]

http://www.verizonwireless.com/splash_includes/datacalculator.html

Great link!

According to this if I stay away from video, 2 gig will be very comfortable.

Another question, If for instance I'm sitting on my porch with wifi available, can I make the phone use that instead? Or does it always have to connect to the wireless provider?

 

[Fitze55]

Great link!

According to this if I stay away from video, 2 gig will be very comfortable.

Another question, If for instance I'm sitting on my porch with wifi available, can I make the phone use that instead? Or does it always have to connect to the wireless provider?

You can enable wifi to pick up your home network or elsewhere and lower your data usage, yes.

 

[twenty5]

Great link!

According to this if I stay away from video, 2 gig will be very comfortable.

Another question, If for instance I'm sitting on my porch with wifi available, can I make the phone use that instead? Or does it always have to connect to the wireless provider?

You could set your phone to Data only, Wifi only, or both. If it is set to both it will grab wifi wherever available.

 

[Jwrussell]

I don't stream and I hardly ever go over my data. I make sure I'm hooked up to any WIFI spots around and I've set up my email so that it only pulls when I open it to look. That's where I get hit hard because I have my work email set up and when I was having it automatically pull it was using my data plan because the older iPhones (not sure about the new ones) will use the data plan if the phone is turned off and not plugged in.

 

[AZSaxman]

Also, if you're utilizing wifi, you have the ability to talk and surf at the same time... not that I find it happens too often, but it seems to be all the rage with the ATT commercials...

 

[NCost]

WiFi takes precedent, so if you're connected to a network you use that over data (3G/4G) so your usage is lower.

I have my own photog business and a lot of my usage is sending pdf files from my phone to clients, and also sample images. So I could reduce my usage but haven't at this point.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Another question, If for instance I'm sitting on my porch with wifi available, can I make the phone use that instead? Or does it always have to connect to the wireless provider?

Yes you can and should use WiFi as it will be faster and you won't use your data. With the iPhone, you can clearly see when it's using WiFi vs cell data so you will know what you're using.

I have an iPhone and use it a lot with surfing, email, mapping etc and have never had an issue going over 2GB. I use Pandora, but pretty much only when I'm on WiFi.

The way you have said you will use your phone, you should definitely be okay.

 

[lbowles2]

I do most of my heavy data usage on wifi and have never used the measly 200MB of usage that you get from AT&T for $15. I think the highest I've gotten is 140-150MB.

 

[Highlander]

Welll maybe not right now.

My phone isn't due for an upgrade until august of 2012. So the phones I'd buy are all 400 dollars or more. I do have a web enabled phone but the screen is tiny. Might try it for a month or 2.