Currently, I have a Tracphone. I'm thinking of getting a regular cell phone. What service do you recommend? What is the cheapest plan out there? My friend has an i-Phone. I feel like a dinosaur when it comes to technology. Maybe I should splurge and treat myself. Any i-Phone users out there?

I have a Tracphone that I've had for a couple of years. It's perfect for my use. I buy the annual service so I only pay about $10 a month

I highly recommend the forums at HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource. I'd not had my own cell phone until last week, now $45 later both my daughter and I have not-so-fancy phones (altho hers is a very cute Samsung Juke and I am jealous) and prepaid service that will run as low as $10 each every 4 months.

So, iphone people I am not. But the guys/gals over at howardforums ARE!

Well you would want to check with other people to see if they have good service or not. I have Verizon and get good service where I live, but Nextel and Alltel are crappy in my area. Also, the plan you go with depends on how many minutes you think you'll use per month. I have 450 anytime minutes, and free Verizon to Verizon (and some Alltel), which means that if someone I know has Verizon, I can call them for free without using any minutes. I pay about $50 a month, but that is with texting (at $10 a month), which you don't have to add if you don't text. Once you figure out what provider you want, then you want to go in and check out phones. There are different phones for different people. Some you can download music, some are for the more business savy, and some are just plain (no texting, no music, just calling). You'd be amazed at the type of phones that are out there. It just depends on what you are looking for. If you have only used trackphone, then I would suggest getting a 1 year plan, as to a 2 year plan. i do the 1 year because I can upgrade my phone if I don't like it after 1 year, as to 2. I pay a little bit more for the phone but for me, it's worth it.

This is probably the absolutely best advice regarding a cell phone. What works good where folks live on the board, might not be good for where you live.

We have Cingular - now AT&T - I have a Nokia phone. My service is fantastic. My husband has had a Motorola and his sucks half the time. We're both on the same plan. When troubleshooting what we thought was a phone problem, one of the CS reps at Cingular had told me different makes of phones will work differently with each service. I don't know if that's a load of hooey, but it certainly seems to be that in me and my husband's case. I keep meaning to ask my brother about that, he was an AT&T rep for 2 years.

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I love my Tracfone! I get service everywhere. We have had to use my phone when my friends didn't have service. I have over 800 minutes built up on it. I buy the year card and always get extra minutes. Last year Staples had a coupon $20 off 100 so I got my card and extra minutes even cheaper. They have some cool new phones but I'll stick with my old one. Can't beat it for less than $10 a month-I don't need another big bill. Guess it all depends on what you want to spend.

We've had AT&T for years-I'm in Dallas and never had a problem with reception- one of my sons' lived in San Marcos & had TMoblie-it was terrible trying to talk to him- very bad reception; we just moved him over to our AT&T plan and reception is much better

I just got the new IPhone last week- very easy to use and I love it (had a blackberry Pearl before); I could rationalize the expense because I work long hours and use it a lot for work. I'm very happy with the IPhone

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Bevogal

I live in the St. Louis area and have had Tracphone/Nokia, TMobile/Motorola, and currently ATT/SonyEricson.

I liked my Tracphone, but when we traveled out of state we had problems with it in some areas of the country.

I loved the TMobile service in this area and the Motorola, but my daughter buys my phone and service and wanted to switch to ATT because of the rollover minutes.

The ATT part is okay, but the SonyEricson phone is lousy. I'm looking for a different phone now. I'm partially deaf and the sound quality and volume on my current phone leaves a lot to be desired. I went to an ATT store and looked at the phones and I was surprised that they really couldn't advise me on the sound volume and quality of the phones they sell. I'm going to try a different ATT store next week and see if I have better luck.

So do ask people that live in your area what they say works best for where you are. Particularly your neighbors and co-workers because they frequent the same general areas that you do.

have u ever signed on to metro pcs??? their is no contract with them. u pay a monthly bill. check their web site. good luck. gail

Depends on where you live -- ask around and see what other people have and how they like their service coverage.

We are in metro Atlanta and have Verizon -- it is great. I would highly recommend it. In the past we have had AT&T, Cingular (now AT&T), T-Mobile and Verizon. Verizon is by far the best.

As far as the cheapest plan, most companies are pretty similar. If you go to someplace like Best Buy, they have a brochure that compares the cost of the different plans they offer.

I agree that you should ask your local friends and neighbors what they like. I love AT&T for coverage where I am at because the others stink (I've tried 3 others over the years). I also get a corporate discount (75% of businesses qualify I think I've heard but only like 20% actually use it...talk to your HR to check). I do know other friends in other states who hate AT&T and love Sprint or Verizen. It really depends on where you live

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Over 4200 cities, I think the site said and St. Louis is not one of them. Odd. Anyone else in a major city have that problem?