What kind of cell phone do you use?

[fiveyearwinter]

If you have a cell phone, what kind do you have and on what carrier?

I've got a Samsung SCH-a930. It's been referred to in at least one review as
"Darth Vader chic." I like it because it's simple, sturdy, and kind of sexy. Plus, my previous phone was a candy bar (straight phone, doesn't flip), so I wanted to try out another flip phone.



Oh, and it was free with a one year contract through Verizon because I get a ridiculous discount from my job.

I prefer GSM companies myself - as a rule of thumb, they're a lot nerd-friendlier (letting you install your own applications, etc.). Verizon doesn't even let me install my own ringtones. It's horrible and draconian and I hate it. BUT - most everyone I know, including my girlfriend, is on the "IN network," so I get unlimited free calling to 90% of the people I talk to anyway. I was GOING to get a blackberry, but I've been trying to simplify the things in my life and focus less on technology, and I don't think that would have helped.

How about you?

[Thaurismunths]

NexTel i710
I am the anti-nerd when it comes to cell phones. I got one under protest three years ago (I did contracting, and you couldn't work with out one). My first one broke when I rolled my kayak and forgot to put it in the dry bag. It's current incarnation is a two year old flip phone, black, with just a belt clip. No ring tones, and no camera phone, and it's as big as I could find. I took the one with a color screen because they stop producing the monochrome, and you can't get them without internet connections or a GPS option of some kind.

[SFEley]

Until a month ago, I had a Treo 650 from Sprint.  I love the Treo.  It's an incredible device and I had a significant chunk of my life in it.  But after my wife got her own phone from work so I didn't need the "family" plan any more, Sprint wouldn't let me downgrade to a cheaper plan unless I signed another 2-year contract.  This despite the fact that my prior contract with them had expired.

I told them that was unacceptable, and fired them.  Of course my Treo won't work with anyone else's provider, so I reluctantly had to give that up too.  I simplified and bought a $25 phone from Virgin Mobile:

The Oystr

It's a horrible phone, ugly on the outside with an even uglier user interface.  There is nothing at all to like about this phone.  But it was $25, and I have no monthly fees and pay 18 cents per minute to talk.  Since the majority of my calls are of the "Hi honey, I'm heading home, should I pick anything up?" variety, and I don't even do that every day, I'm saving a huge amount of money.  I've only spent a few dollars this month.

Of course I can still use the Treo as a Palm Pilot, though I don't carry it around as much now.  I moved my contacts and schedule onto my iPod, which is adequate-but-not-great, and the few other programs I really needed I just use on my laptop instead.

There is a virtue in simplicity.  Especially when it's cheap.

[jrderego]

Cheap-ass little Motorola from Go Mobile. I went with the Pay-as-you-go route because I work from home and it's really only necessary when I am out with the kids while Cindy is working. I pay 25 cents a minute and have to top up every 90 days with a $15 card.

I would have bought the Oystr from Virgin Mobile, but they are really popular and were sold out all over the place around here and I wasn't going to spend more than $20 0r $30 on a PAYGO phone.

[fiveyearwinter]

I have been a Palm fan since the Palm III (got mine in 8th grade!), but I have to say - their later iterations (Palm VII and beyond, let's not even touch the licensed hardware like the Clie line!) completely destroyed my love of them. Too many features, the OS became increasingly unstable, battery life diminished, etc.

I haven't really tried the Treo, although I loved the idea and almost bought one instead of switching to Verizon. I imagine the OS would still leave a lot to be desired.

As far as cell phones go: I've got a particular kind of nerd affliction that causes me to immediately geek out whenever I see a cool/novel one. In fact, Steve, I kind of liked your cell's simplicity. As for Thaurismunths' Nextel? Well...eesh, not so much.

Pay as you go is DEFINITELY the way to be for people that don't use their phones that much. I, meanwhile, topped 2,300 texts and 2,000 minutes this past pay period. Needless to say, the prepay method wouldn't work for me.

I definitely see the reasons people hate cell phones. The biggest complain I hear is when people refer to them as a "wireless leash" of sorts. I think that largely depends on your circumstances. For example, when I had a crazy, controlling girlfriend - I would let my cell die for days and pretend it just wasn't working (I had a terrible cell phone through T-mobile, so half the time it really WASN'T working). But now circumstances have improved, and I don't mind talking on my phone.

Besides, I can always hit "ignore..."

[lowky]

Currently I have a Razor through Cingular.  I like it for the most part.  The vibrate function on it is almost non-existant, which is annoying as I am not a huge fan of ringing phones, esp when I am at work, as I frequently cannot answer it immediately, as I work as a personal assistant/receptionist, so may be on the office phone, or dealing with a client at the window.  I really like the look/specs of the iphone, but at the price tag on launch I don't see myself as owning one.  I have thought about a smartphone of some type before, leaning towards the treo line.  I am happier with Cingular than I have been with any other carrier I have ever had.  Had Verizon back around 99/2000, and stuff that was supposed to be included they found ways for little nickel and dime fees to be tacked on.  When contract expired I canceled.  In 2002 I got a t-mobile phone.  I was happy with it at first, though had some dead zones on it/poor antenna.  I was having problems with it, took it in, and was basically told that the reason I was having poor reception was my phone was now 1.5 years old, and I would need to buy a new phone/sign a new contract.  I promptly switched to AT&T wireless getting paid to take a v505.  Cingular merged with them the same month I got my phone.  When the razor came down in price I switched (about a year ago now I think).  I cruise Ebay every so often looking at unlocked Treo's, but probably won't get one.  I would like a slightly larger screen as I read alot of my RSS feeds on my phone, as I am a bus rider, but it's not a deal breaker with my razor.

[oddpod]

HA!
pore fools, i am still free of the tyranny of mobile phones

[Bdoomed]

Sprint PM-8200... dont mind the phone really but i dont like Sprint.  I'd rather have Cingular... the ringtones for Sprint are terrible! and the phones are boring... and... either way im glad i have a cell phone... (i believe my family is switching soon)

[Michael]

I got the Nokia Shorty from Virgin Mobile, pay about 10 cents a minute, and the phone costs me very little a month.  It is a wonderful phone, goes a week on a charge, is very small and fits easily in a pocket.

I hate contracts.  When my wife's expired I bought her one as well.  we are both paygoism converts.   

Steve, you can trade phones for free.  The Shorty is $25, but comes with $25 usage credit, so it is net zero cost.  Free shipping if ordered from the website.  Get the phone for free, switch the number over on-line.   

[SFEley]

Steve, you can trade phones for free.  The Shorty is $25, but comes with $25 usage credit, so it is net zero cost.  Free shipping if ordered from the website.  Get the phone for free, switch the number over on-line.   

The usage credit thing only works for new customers.  Anyway, I only do flip phones.  I'm really abusive on my portable devices.

The Oystr's good enough for me for right now.  I hate it, I earnestly do, but I don't use my cell phone all that much anyway so it doesn't impact my life much.  I can put up with it for now, and probably for a good long while until something comes along that I just can't do without.  (Like an iPhone, and the money to buy one.  Both have to happen eventually.)

[madjo]

I'm currently using a Sony Ericsson T610 (that one was a mistake, and I got duped too, according to many ads I saw, it was supposed to have FM-radio built-in, which it doesn't), but before the end of this year I'll switch over to the Neo1973. (sadly it isn't out yet)

[clichekiller]

I used a Motorola Razr with Tmobile, no problems here. 

Am I the only one who views his cell phone as a convenience for me and not other people.  If it rings and I don't want to talk with the other person, for any reason, I don't answer it.  I often, especially when out with my wife, turn it to silent as the only person I care to speak with is standing only a foot away from me.  There are days on the weekend where I don't even turn it on or leave it in the car.  It's there solely for me to use when I need to make a call.

[Bdoomed]

Anyway, I only do flip phones.

Same, i will NOT own a non-flip phone.  Ive gotten so many calls from people who accidently press buttons on their phones in their pocket. (since im near the top of the list, i usually end up gettin called.) plus i just like the look of flip phones.

[Michael]

I used to think that way... the Shorty is the first non-flip phone I have owned.  But thanks to Nokia's keylock, it is seriously not a problem.  Locked keys do not prevent you from answering an incoming call (just push the green button), but you do have to hit two keys (upper left and lower left) to send an outgoing call.  That takes no more effort than opening a flip phone.  Given that it reduces the phones size, weight, and makes the phone much sturdier to eliminate the clamshell, I am a convert. 

Of course, you have to know how to turn that feature on... hence the accidental calls--blame the normal curve.

Am I the only one who views his cell phone as a convenience for me and not other people.  If it rings and I don't want to talk with the other person, for any reason, I don't answer it.

clichekiller. I agree 100%  I pay by the minute, if I don't want to pay to talk to someone, I won't.   

[lowky]

Nokia has had key locks for years, still had my old nokia either unlocking itself or calling even while locked.  I'll stick with my clamshell design for now.

[Darwinist]

I'm in the market for a cell phone.  I've never had one before and my wife and high schooler are on Cingular / AT & T so I'm joining the family plan and am going to go with a phone they offer.  I'm really looking for a flip phone with half-way decent internet access as I'd like to check my email while on the go.  I think a Blackberry or Palm would be overkill for me as I'm I'm not using it for work or an organizer, although I like the full keyboard idea.   Any suggestions? 

[Heradel]

I'm in the market for a cell phone.  I've never had one before and my wife and high schooler are on Cingular / AT & T so I'm joining the family plan and am going to go with a phone they offer.  I'm really looking for a flip phone with half-way decent internet access as I'd like to check my email while on the go.  I think a Blackberry or Palm would be overkill for me as I'm I'm not using it for work or an organizer, although I like the full keyboard idea.   Any suggestions? 

From what I've seen what you want doesn't exist in a flip phone, except for maybe the Sidekick. Otherwise everything with half-way decent web is in bar form, and they all are as outclassed by the iPhone as a toy poodle is outpaced by a greyhound.

[FNH]

I have the cheapest Nokia pay as you go.  When people ask for my mobile number I happily give it to them.  Then a little while later they always ask why I never turn it on.  I tell them, I do turn it on, when I need to make a call.

I found that friends calling all of the time is a pain.  Your driving, the phone rings, your shopping, the phone rings, your kicking a ball in the park, the phone rings.  Hassle. 

I guess having a phone at work has soured my taste for the darned things.

[Tango Alpha Delta]

HA!
pore fools, i am still free of the tyranny of mobile phones

w00t!  you and me both, O.P.!

Haven't you people read your King?  "Cell" ring any bells?

[Bdoomed]

a while back i got a Krazr.  its terrible.
its slow as hell, it unmarks read text messages, sayin i never read em in the first place,
and its REALLY slow!  REALLY. SLOW!  it takes about 6-10 seconds to get to recent calls. no exaggeration.

DONT GET ONE

[Chodon]

I have a Samsung something or other through Sprint.  It has way more features than I will ever need.  There is some way to put music on it, but I can't figure it out and I had an ipod for that (until someone recently stole it from my desk at work  ).

For my next phone I'm going back to a non flip phone.  The battery is bigger, lasts longer, and reception is better.  My desk is right on the verge of not getting signal, so the battery drains very quickly trying to maintain contact with the service.  I usually run out of battery about the time I leave work (~10 hours).

One guy I work with has a nextel that is indestructible.  He literally throws it across the shop into a wall and it's fine.  A fun game is when he interrupts a conversation we're having to answer his phone, so I rip it out of his hands and throw it into the wall.  The reactions are hilarious.