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- Apr 9, 2008
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Just for some back ground information, I am an existing ATT customer who uses a basic samsung slider phone mainly for calls and text messaging. I have unlimited SMS and a call plan similar to ATT basic $59.99 iPhone plan. I also have an iPod Touch that I (obviously) listen to music with and occasionally use the internet with.
The problem I have is that the "select" and "call/send" buttons don't work, so I now can't make calls or delete messages. This makes my memory full and then unable to receive new text messages, photos, and voicemail in some cases. My warranty has run out, so I can't get the phone replaced. I would have to buy a whole new phone, without a 2 year contract deduction as my current contract expires in about 2 months. The cheapest phone I could get right now would be at least $200 from ATT. And I'm not prepared to switch to another carrier because my family and friends use ATT so calls between them is free.
For a while, I've been thinking the iPhone could be a very cool thing to have. I was planning on upgrading to a new phone with cool features for college next year, but not until this summer. But given my current situation in which I literally cannot do anything with my current phone and need to spend at least $200 on a new one, then I thought maybe I could get an iPhone now. I still have some questions and concerns though. I would deeply appreciate it if people could read the list below and provide answers!
1.) Does it make any sense to upgrade to an iPhone in the location of where I will attend college? I'll be going to another state for my college education, but I kind of want to keep my current cell number on iPhone. Still, my friend was saying I should wait until I'm in my college city/town before I upgrade. I don't see why...I mean, calls from, say, MN to family and friends in WA or AZ won't cost extra, right???
2.) Though my name is signed to my dad's ATT account, he still pays my cell bill (I pay half.) When I activate my iPhone as an existing ATT customer, all of the billing information would remain the same, right?
3.) I use my touch in the car and at home basically, and take my phone everywhere with me. One thing that concerns me about iPhone is that while having two key technologies in one device is cool, how will battery fare? The iPhone boasts 24 hour music playback and 8 hours of call time, but those numbers become skewed when doing the two things at the same time. What are your guys' experience with the battery?
4.) 3G....Honestly, what does it mean? It apparently just provides faster internet browsing when not in a Wi-Fi area. That costs money though, right? If so, then I won't be browsing outside of a Wi-Fi area. The iPhone cell plan is expensive as it is, and I'm looking at a $75 monthly bill in comparison to my current $60 one. Is waiting for 3G worth it (even though I can't really wait anyway?)
5.) Another strange concern I have is the "longevity" of the iPhone. I would be buying this as a device that replaces my cell phone and iPod. Being in college, I imagine I will be making a lot calls. But what if, down the line, I choose to get a different phone. One that's not an iPhone. That would mean spending approx. $200 on a new phone and approx. $300 on a new iPod. I guess what I'm asking is, is the iPhone an impressive enough device that is reliable and "cool" enough to the point where I won't want to revert back to two devices? Are there any huge cosmetic or technical upgrades (beside 3G) coming to iPhone soon?
6.) I like the Ringtones feature of the iPhone, but I still don't know how it works...Can I make a ringtone out of a song in my already uploaded/bought music library? Or do I actually have to buy one off iTunes? Let's say there's a ringtone I want available on iTunes for .99 and then the song for .99, but that I already have the song in my library. Would I still have to pay $2 to buy the song "again" and then the ringtone?
7.) Should I decide to get an iPhone, what is a good, reliable case? I prefer silicon cases to hard shells.
8.) Can my Apple Care warranty plan that is on my iPod Touch extend to my iPhone? I plan on selling the touch on craigslist. Or, can I trade in the iPod Touch for a certain amount off the iPhone? How does that all work?
9.) Ok, last one...Do you have an iPhone? Are you pleased with your device?
Thanks for reading. I know it's a lot, but I would really appreciate it if you guys read them and gave some replies.
-Oni.
The problem I have is that the "select" and "call/send" buttons don't work, so I now can't make calls or delete messages. This makes my memory full and then unable to receive new text messages, photos, and voicemail in some cases. My warranty has run out, so I can't get the phone replaced. I would have to buy a whole new phone, without a 2 year contract deduction as my current contract expires in about 2 months. The cheapest phone I could get right now would be at least $200 from ATT. And I'm not prepared to switch to another carrier because my family and friends use ATT so calls between them is free.
For a while, I've been thinking the iPhone could be a very cool thing to have. I was planning on upgrading to a new phone with cool features for college next year, but not until this summer. But given my current situation in which I literally cannot do anything with my current phone and need to spend at least $200 on a new one, then I thought maybe I could get an iPhone now. I still have some questions and concerns though. I would deeply appreciate it if people could read the list below and provide answers!
1.) Does it make any sense to upgrade to an iPhone in the location of where I will attend college? I'll be going to another state for my college education, but I kind of want to keep my current cell number on iPhone. Still, my friend was saying I should wait until I'm in my college city/town before I upgrade. I don't see why...I mean, calls from, say, MN to family and friends in WA or AZ won't cost extra, right???
2.) Though my name is signed to my dad's ATT account, he still pays my cell bill (I pay half.) When I activate my iPhone as an existing ATT customer, all of the billing information would remain the same, right?
3.) I use my touch in the car and at home basically, and take my phone everywhere with me. One thing that concerns me about iPhone is that while having two key technologies in one device is cool, how will battery fare? The iPhone boasts 24 hour music playback and 8 hours of call time, but those numbers become skewed when doing the two things at the same time. What are your guys' experience with the battery?
4.) 3G....Honestly, what does it mean? It apparently just provides faster internet browsing when not in a Wi-Fi area. That costs money though, right? If so, then I won't be browsing outside of a Wi-Fi area. The iPhone cell plan is expensive as it is, and I'm looking at a $75 monthly bill in comparison to my current $60 one. Is waiting for 3G worth it (even though I can't really wait anyway?)
5.) Another strange concern I have is the "longevity" of the iPhone. I would be buying this as a device that replaces my cell phone and iPod. Being in college, I imagine I will be making a lot calls. But what if, down the line, I choose to get a different phone. One that's not an iPhone. That would mean spending approx. $200 on a new phone and approx. $300 on a new iPod. I guess what I'm asking is, is the iPhone an impressive enough device that is reliable and "cool" enough to the point where I won't want to revert back to two devices? Are there any huge cosmetic or technical upgrades (beside 3G) coming to iPhone soon?
6.) I like the Ringtones feature of the iPhone, but I still don't know how it works...Can I make a ringtone out of a song in my already uploaded/bought music library? Or do I actually have to buy one off iTunes? Let's say there's a ringtone I want available on iTunes for .99 and then the song for .99, but that I already have the song in my library. Would I still have to pay $2 to buy the song "again" and then the ringtone?
7.) Should I decide to get an iPhone, what is a good, reliable case? I prefer silicon cases to hard shells.
8.) Can my Apple Care warranty plan that is on my iPod Touch extend to my iPhone? I plan on selling the touch on craigslist. Or, can I trade in the iPod Touch for a certain amount off the iPhone? How does that all work?
9.) Ok, last one...Do you have an iPhone? Are you pleased with your device?
Thanks for reading. I know it's a lot, but I would really appreciate it if you guys read them and gave some replies.
-Oni.