When buying a new cell phone...

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

I am in a bind here and was hoping for some opinion, suggestions, feedback on the subject. Currently, I have services with Verizon Wireless for about 7 years now. So far have been very satisfied with their services - great coverage, reasonable customer service and I get about 17% discount thru my employer. On March 10, 08 I qualify for a phone upgrade and can't seem to find a phone from their current selection that appeals to me. True, that so far I have been doing an on-line research only and haven't been to a store to do an actual "feel" test of any of their phones. My favorite brand is LG but I am looking for something new.

My contract with Verizon will expire in July and I am thorn as to if I should renew it. I have been visually checking out latest models from Nokia and Sony Ericsson but can't make up my mind as to my next step.

Here is what I'm looking for:

- aesthetic appeal

- durability

- reasonable battery life

- simplicity in design and features

- functionality

Here is what I don't want:

- another flip phone

- so called "Smart phone"

- Motorola brand - bad experience in the past

- I have reservations with the touch screen phones

Hope that you will be able to provide me with some ideas as well and some guidance regarding selection process...

Thanks in advance...

Edited February 20, 2008 by Lost in NY

[garya505 2]

I am in a bind here and was hoping for some opinion, suggestions, feedback on the subject. Currently, I have services with Verizon Wireless for about 7 years now. So far have been very satisfied with their services - great coverage, reasonable customer service and I get about 17% discount thru my employer. On March 10, 08 I qualify for a phone upgrade and can't seem to find a phone from their current selection that appeals to me. True, that so far I have been doing an on-line research only and haven't been to a store to do an actual "feel" test of any of their phones. My favorite brand is LG but I am looking for something new.

My contract with Verizon will expire in July and I am thorn as to if I should renew it. I have been visually checking out latest models from Nokia and Sony Ericsson but can't make up my mind as to my next step.

Here is what I'm looking for:

- aesthetic appeal

- durability

- reasonable battery life

- simplicity in design and features

- functionality

Here is what I don't want:

- another flip phone

- so called "Smart phone"

- Motorola brand - bad experience in the past

- I have reservations with the touch screen phones

Hope that you will be able to provide me with some ideas as well and some guidance regarding selection process...

Thanks in advance...

If you eliminate flip phones your choices get limited. We have Verizon and my wife and I both have the LG VX8350 which we really like. If you don't want a music phone, the LG VX5400 is similar to the VX8350 but without music. However, the LG VX8350 and VX5400 are flip. I always had "candy bar" style phones in the past and I'm a recent convert to flip style.

BTW, when I was shopping I noticed that AT&T is big on Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones.

Edited February 20, 2008 by garya505

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Thanks for the input Garya505. For me is the opposite - I had always flip phones and am craving a change...

[Ban Hammer 13,481]

Thanks for the input Garya505. For me is the opposite - I had always flip phones and am craving a change...

i don't particularly care for a flip phone either but i have one. they aren't as large as one that isn't a flip phone usually which is a benefit.

[StoryAngel 4]

CNET has a cell phone finder. Maybe it will help you make an informed decision!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4247-6454_7-5-0.html

I've always been a "candy bar" phone type of girl!

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

CNET has a cell phone finder. Maybe it will help you make an informed decision!

http://reviews.cnet.com/4247-6454_7-5-0.html

I've always been a "candy bar" phone type of girl!

Funny that you mention the cnet as I spend good portion of my sleepless night yesterday on the website checking out these reviews...oh the confusion...

Edited February 20, 2008 by Lost in NY

[StoryAngel 4]

Wasn't trying to confuse... was trying to help...

[Amby 490]

I am in a bind here and was hoping for some opinion, suggestions, feedback on the subject. Currently, I have services with Verizon Wireless for about 7 years now. So far have been very satisfied with their services - great coverage, reasonable customer service and I get about 17% discount thru my employer. On March 10, 08 I qualify for a phone upgrade and can't seem to find a phone from their current selection that appeals to me. True, that so far I have been doing an on-line research only and haven't been to a store to do an actual "feel" test of any of their phones. My favorite brand is LG but I am looking for something new.

My contract with Verizon will expire in July and I am thorn as to if I should renew it. I have been visually checking out latest models from Nokia and Sony Ericsson but can't make up my mind as to my next step.

Here is what I'm looking for:

- aesthetic appeal

- durability

- reasonable battery life

- simplicity in design and features

- functionality

Here is what I don't want:

- another flip phone

- so called "Smart phone"

- Motorola brand - bad experience in the past

- I have reservations with the touch screen phones

Hope that you will be able to provide me with some ideas as well and some guidance regarding selection process...

Thanks in advance...

my sister has the enV and I can promise you that it is VERY durable. she throws it up against the wall or at the floor all the time (almost every day) when she gets mad at her BF. It almost never even turns off when she throws it! It has lots of nicks and such from throwing it at stuff but she's been throwing it for a year and it is still going strong. before that she had the V for a year and did the same thing with throwing it and it never broke

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Wasn't trying to confuse... was trying to help...

Oh no - I totally appreciate your post and didn't mean to sound ungrateful - sorry if it sounded otherwise....

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

my sister has the enV and I can promise you that it is VERY durable. she throws it up against the wall or at the floor all the time (almost every day) when she gets mad at her BF. It almost never even turns off when she throws it! It has lots of nicks and such from throwing it at stuff but she's been throwing it for a year and it is still going strong. before that she had the V for a year and did the same thing with throwing it and it never broke

Thanks for the comment Amber - as I was thinking about my dilemma I feel that actual visit to store would probably be a good starting point giving me a closer glimpse of the phone itself. I was considering the enV and just need to take a closer look at it...

Thanks again.

[Krikit 1,165]

I have a Samsung Sync A-707. I prefer the flip phones.... I tried the other kind but I found that the buttons kept getting pushed accidentally, which was really annoying. The main features I was looking for in a phone was that it had to have GSM capabilities for when I travel, text messaging, and slimline because I hate bulky phones. I like the camera part because I can attach the pics to the person's phone number so I can see who's calling. Plus it's also handy for when you want to take a picture of something and don't have your camera with you. I also like the fact that it's an MP3 player and it's got video. I'm happy with it. Don't get a Razor. They break too easily.

Edited February 20, 2008 by Crikey!

[no name 1]

I am eligible for a Verizon upgrade too. However, I hate non flip phones.

I'm leaning towards the LG VX8700. Or the Samsung Gleam.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

All I look for is the price. I want it free. I've never paid for a phone and never will

[*julez* 124]

Definitley don't get a Razr. Worst.Phone.Ever.

Oh how I miss my no frills Samsung flip phone. It survived so much, but was no match for that deep puddle and the wheels of a car. RIP my Samsung phone.

I look for a phone with easy to navigate features, adequate text message storage and good battery life. Good battery life seems to be more and more of an elusive option in a cell phone.

[DeadPoolX 9]

One of the reasons I switched to a flip-phone is because my previous cell phone (which obviously wasn't a flip-phone) ended up having it's keys hit by accident while in its holster. I'd need to "lock" the phone so the keys wouldn't unintentionally get pressed when I'd move around, which of course, made things very difficult if I received a phone call. Flip-phones are also less likely to get damaged on the keypad and screen, where it's important.

I suppose it'd be possible to rip the top portion of the flip-phone off with enough force, but I can't imagine doing so accidentally. From what I've seen, most flip-phones also seem fairly durable, considering the number of people who tend to drop them on hard surfaces -- and their phones still work! I'd try not to do that with any electronic device, however.

Probably the three most important things to look into when deciding what you want are:

1. Which service provider you want. Each have their pro's and con's and you need to weigh these carefully, since you'll be stuck in at least a one-year plan. I've had Cingular and now I have Verizon. Cingular was awful; I'd have dropped calls all the time and the quality of the calls themselves were sorely lacking. I've found Verizon to be best so far, with superior signal strength and excellent call quality.

2. Find out which cell phone has the features you need most. If you're not using your phone as an audio/video player, then why spend the extra bucks for a phone that does that? Sure, it's cool, but it's also unnecessary, something you probably won't ever use and it'll just cost you more. Get what you require.

3. Do you need CDMA or GSM? You may not have an option when it comes to this, since I believe it depends on your service provider. However, there are differences between the two. I'm not going to go into it all, since that'd require a small research paper in of itself. Instead, I'd suggest you look it up on Google and perhaps Wikipedia.

Edited February 20, 2008 by DeadPoolX