Are you a smartphone-a-holic?

[xune]

Are you a smartphone-a-holic? Here are some quick questions to see if you may be one:

Some of his examples are things that many people will instantly recognize:

-- The urge to pull out a cellphone even when someone you're with is in the midst of a conversation with you.

-- Texting even while your child is telling you about his or her day at school, and realizing later that you can't remember the details of what your son or daughter has said to you.

-- Having the vague feeling that something hasn't really happened until you post it to Facebook or Twitter.

-- Feeling isolated and anxious if you are offline for an extended period of time.

-- Noticing that even when your family is all together in one room at home, each person is gazing at his or her own screen and tapping at a miniature keyboard.

Our family is definitely guilty of the last one 

[FrnchDp]

None of the above.

[Unicron Social]

None of the above.

not own a smartphone?

[TristanN47]

Barely use mine, sits in my bag so I dont forget it when I go out.

[FrnchDp]

not own a smartphone?

I have a Droid X .. but none of the things Xune listed apply to me. 

[Dinaki]

  Poor me, I don't own a smartphone 

[Unicron Social]

Poor me, I don't own a smartphone 

Dina you do know there are WP7 gophones now with att. no credit check

[Dinaki]

Poor me, I don't own a smartphone 

Dina you do know there are WP7 gophones now with att. no credit check

where is that, the last time I visited ATT on the web, I could not find a thing about pay as you go. The last time I telephoned ATT for the same subject, owning, meaning buying full price a smaretphone and using it on pay as you go, the dude almost hung up the receiver on me.

[Unicron Social]

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_package=sku5360271

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_package=sku5360259

here is the main page, they are near the bottom

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/cell-phones.jsp?wtSlotClick=1-005ZH4-0-3&allFeatures=on&feapaytype=pyg&allManus=on&rel=nofollow&rel=nofollow&allTypes=on&startFilter=false#fbid=WaKTKnClDBA

[xune]

What Unicron said Dina, plus there are many other US carriers that are month-to-month:

One of the least expensive options is to use a mobile router, like an iSpot starting at $20, and $25/month (no additional taxes or fees) for unlimited 4G internet that tethers up to 7 devices at the same time over a range of up to 150 feet, month-to-month/no contract.

Mobile routers create wifi hotspots on the go, so they can be combined with any prepaid voice plan. Data is handled separately by the router, so there's no fuss when it comes to using smartphones with any standard non-smartphone pay as you go plan.

Voice, text, & data from Metro PCS is unlimited and starts at $40/month - pay as you go, month-to-month with any smartphone.

Cricket also offers unlimited voice, unlimited texting (domestic & international), and unlimited data starting at $45/month - month to month/pay as you go.

Boost mobile offers unlimited international calling for $10/month and offers domestic unlimited voice/text/data/IM pay-as-you-go between $35 to $50/month.

If you just need voice and text, AT&T offers a month to month plan that includes 250 minutes voice and unlimited texting for just $25/month.

You can use any network compatible smartphone with these plans.

[Dinaki]

Thank you both and especially my xune that went one step ahead and provided all those information.

Again, I read exactly what you wrote xune and the links you sent me my sexy Unicron, but as usual, at the end I was not able to comprhend what I have just read, which means, I have a huge language barrier. I do speak, write and may read English, but at the end, I have no idea what I read, the meaning did not went in my mind. (In books though, I understand very well what the author had in his mind).

This is what I want now and what I have been using since I arrived in US, except that lately, T-Mobile pulled out the Internet (Day Pass) on pay-as-you go customers:

I own a phone, buy minutes (from the provider's web site and/or any beer store, like Sams, benzine station, K-Mart  and also, I can refill through my mobile telephone dialing 233.

I can check my balance from the provider or through my mobile by tapping "Check Balance" and dialing the number#999#.

With that said, I am able to telephone any where, even in Greece, sending text, picture and video message and that's all I can do. Few weeks ago, I was able to purchase a *dily pass for about $2.00 and use the Internet for 24 hours. Now, T-Mobile has removed the *daily pass ($2.00).

So want I really want, a very good mobile phone, with all the above and also that I can purchase at any time I WANT the Internet.
This is what I have now
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-as-you-go-plans
except the Internet. I want to stay on Pay As You Go, refill my account when I want and having the Internet (any fee is fine) .

Edit

When I calll Athens (Greece) the fee $1.79 - country: GREECE --Operator Name COSMOTE-- Frequency900/1800 --Voice Rate Per Minute 1.79

UPDATE

Unicron dahling, I am on the HTC HD7S GoPhone? Prepaid - Package and I see these:
  $50 Monthly Unlimited Plan 
  $25 Monthly Plan
$2 Daily Unlimited Plan 
10?/Minute Plan   

Now from my rusty and poor understanding, does that mean that I will need to pay every single month $50 or 25 dollars no matter if I used the phone?
Are they perhaps roll up on the next month (or whatever is called)?
If it's 50 dollars per month (no matter if the phone has been used even once per month) that is 600 dollars per year.

[DJPixcell]

Its honestly sad how much we (being a Canadian) pay for cell phones.

Phones average at around $200, and thats on a 3 year contract. Not a 2 year.

And smartphone plans START at $50/month. Which includes only 150 minutes of talk, 500mb's of data, and can include unlimited text.


I think its a little unfair.. but I guess since there is more market in the states it kinda makes sense for them to charge more where there is less people.. ?

[Dinaki]

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/iPhone-finder as you can see my friends, in Europe and in this case I give an example in UK, the iPhone can be purchased and operated with Pay As You Go.

Can someone put a pistol on the side of my head and BANG?

[xune]

The iPhone (as any other smartphone) is also available to purchase and as pay as you go in the United States.

It is not really any different than Europe.

You have the choice to purchase the phone at a subsidized price(contract, credit check) or to purchase the phone outright and be month to month/no credit check.

Because there is much more money in subsidizing the phone & get you into a contract, commissioned sales people don't want you to buy the phone outright, as they get little to no commission if you don't sign a contractual service agreement.

I've purchased all of my phones outright since the year 2000, and pay month to month (pay as you go), because it is a lot less expensive over the contracted two year period. It also let's me have the flexibility to change phones or service providers whenever I choose without an ETF (Early Termination Fee).

If, for example, I want an iPhone 4 without a contract/pay as I go, it will cost me $549 plus tax click here to see, instead of the two year agreement/credit checked price of $99. I may pay more for the phone upfront, but there is no ETF, credit check, or contract. I also can shop for the best pricing between compatible carriers to save money over a contracted rate plan.

If you want a pay as you go smartphone, it's as easy as:

1. Buy the phone, regular price. No contract. No credit check.
2. Activate the phone with any compatible carrier. Again, month to month. No contract.
3. Enjoy. 


Edit: in addition to the unlocked iPhone 4's, you can also purchase unlocked iPhone 3GS's and iPhone 4S's at Apple stores.

[Dinaki]

Really? Is that easy xune?

So, (an example now), I order from Apple the unlocked iPhone but how can I use my phone while I roam, promenading, to check my internet/checking e-mail?

I have not seen any prepaid cards (to add minutes) no where.

I saw no where the

[xune]

Yes. You can visit any Apple store and ask for an unlocked iPhone 4. Pay $549 plus tax. (or get a 4S for $649, $749, $849) - request either GSM(worldwide) or CDMA.

Next, activate the iPhone with the carrier of your choice by visiting that carrier's store.

There are no prepaid cards to add minutes. You're billed month to month.

You check your email/internet with the data plan you're paying for when you activate it.

edit: here's some more info on unlocked iPhones below Dina

iPhone 4S available unlocked and contract-free from Apple

The company has just started selling an unlocked and contract-free version of its new phone.





In a nutshell, that means you can use the iPhone 4S without shelling out money for the usual two-year carrier contract. You can then jump from one network to another by picking up and inserting a micro-SIM card, which is available from each supported carrier.

An unlocked phone is especially handy for people who travel around the world and want to be able to use it across a range of countries and carriers.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57323098-37/apple-selling-unlocked-contract-free-iphone-4s/?tag=mncol;posts

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone4s

[GruffDan]

shoot, I didn't get my first cell phone until October 2008, and then it was my sister's old flip phone and it's on her family plan, so my bill is only 15 bucks a month for text and talk only.