AT&T customer, renewing on the 18th... - General Questions and Answers

Well I'm on the verge of smashing my TP2 daily, and the 18th of this month could not come soon enough. That is when I will be eligible to upgrade and renew my contract. I was originally looking at the Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S), but the Nexus S is coming out Thursday for T-Mobile, and I have heard that it will be unlocked from the factory, which to my understanding means that it will work with AT&T....is this correct? I have watched a couple reviews on the tube, and do understand that the Nexus S is basically a dressed up Captivate with Gingerbread, a flash, front facing camera, and no expandable memory. But for me, I wouldn't mind paying the $200 for the Nexus, knowing that I can have the Captivate for free through WRFLY.
My question is: Will I be able to get the Nexus S for AT&T without paying full retail ~$600, and if so when and where. Or are there any better options that are no more than a few months away, because I'm going to smash my TP2 Office Space style if it locks up on me again.
Thanks for the advice guys.

EVOIXGSR said:
Well I'm on the verge of smashing my TP2 daily, and the 18th of this month could not come soon enough. That is when I will be eligible to upgrade and renew my contract. I was originally looking at the Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S), but the Nexus S is coming out Thursday for T-Mobile, and I have heard that it will be unlocked from the factory, which to my understanding means that it will work with AT&T....is this correct? I have watched a couple reviews on the tube, and do understand that the Nexus S is basically a dressed up Captivate with Gingerbread, a flash, front facing camera, and no expandable memory. But for me, I wouldn't mind paying the $200 for the Nexus, knowing that I can have the Captivate for free through WRFLY.
My question is: Will I be able to get the Nexus S for AT&T without paying full retail ~$600, and if so when and where. Or are there any better options that are no more than a few months away, because I'm going to smash my TP2 Office Space style if it locks up on me again.
Thanks for the advice guys.
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Click to collapse
If you really want the Nexus S, then go for the AT&T Nexus one because they have almost identical specs except a few. Plus there are currently no suggestions from Google that an AT&T version will be out, that is it could in the future, but for now you have manage with EDGE, also No you cant get the Nexus for discount or rebate, as AT&T doesnt seem to be interested in google phones.

Related

What's the Chances of AT&T swapping out a Captivate for an HTC Inspire 4G?

I went to Best Buy to peruse this evening and checked out the HTC Inspire 4G - overall it's a pretty snappy phone and the 4.3" screen has me drooling along with the front camera, rear flash and the Sense UI that has grown so much from my good old days of HTC on Windows Mobile!!! Then I thought to myself, hmmmm, perhaps AT&T will let me get it!!!
I purchased the Captivate on July 15th, about three days ahead of the actual release date and I was beaming - until the woeful GPS and now the occasional rebooting if you look at it too hard issues came up, of course I stuck with it because originally they said the holy grail of 2.2 would be out by August, then the end of September, then after Turkey day then by Christmas...... and now it's almost March, almost seven months later to the date!!!
I've been a Bell South/Cingular/AT&T subscriber since 2000, now a little over 11 years, and thru those years I've had let's say about nine phones of my own not to include my wifes phone and then my kids as they grew up and I gave them phones via the family plan. Strangely enough when I upgraded my last phone (HTC Fuze) to the captivate they gave me the option to upgrade a year later which will be July 15th, they usually let me upgrade every year or so so I'm always fresh.
But after this second hassle with them about a Samsung smart phone (first was the BlackJack) I'm pretty done and ready to go back to old reliable HTC and call them up and demand that they give me an Inspire or I nip all my plans in the bud since they all expire this year with my phone being the last one to expire in July and moving over to T-Mobile or Verizon. I know I could get it and they would probably extend my contract another 6 months or so, and I've seen the specs on it and know that by mid summer it would be be beyond old hat since it's pretty much the Evo with GSM with new Sense UI. Or I could wait and see if they would give me the Infuse or the new Motorola but I'd hate to get any of those phones then see in July that the new HTC Super Duper or Samsung Galaxy S 2.5 come out then. Should I wait it out another five months with the Captivate, play the warranty return game till they offer me an alternative or just say" Yo AT&T, if you still want my business give me a Motorola!!!"
Right there with you. Got my Cappy in late July, now on my sixth. They offered to give me a different phone on the last two, but the closest to the Cap's specs were the x10 and iPhone 4. Hoping number six here holds out until the x12's or Atrix's come out. If they're not willing to budge on my terms when it inevitably dies (free and no-new-contract) then I'm paying the ETF and heading to sprint.
I'm planning on doing the same. Although chances are they will only change it (one time) to another phone that is refurbished. So it might take a while to jump on a new phone.
How did you manage to gets a one year contract with a phone upgrade? I wish I got that.I have a one year upgrade option but a t year contract that gets extended with every upgrade. The 300-500 is not worth the contract cancellation for me
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
crystalhand said:
The 300-500 is not worth the contract cancellation for me
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Click to collapse
True. But with all the bullsh*t that has came with this droid and having to take 5 phones to the post office to be shipped back (only to be refurb'd again and passed off to some other poor bastard)... a $200 ETF is like paying for the luxury of no longer putting up with AT&T. Every month another $20 less that I have to pay them, etc.
3 times warranty exchange of captivate for the sleep/charge death issue; and possibly account history.
As always, be soft, be patient, and be genuine.
I was told I could swap for a different phone in Dec last if the sleep death issue reoccurred (that was the 4th exchange in all -- once a battery and 3 times phone exchange).
Luckily, my captivate survived.
Im so tempted to just pay the ETF and jump to verizon.. its nice to see that att is getting some new android phones. Even though the htc phone has the lowest specs its so tempting because it will have aosp and 2.3 before the new samsung phone.....and unless motorola goes with an unlocked bootloader they will be in the same boat. Hardware specs don't mean much if the software isn't there
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Early upgrade pricing is $300 and most everyone will qualify for that. Sell your Captivate for $250-$300 on Craigslist and be done with it. It will be hard to get them to swap it. I tried.
gtg465x said:
Early upgrade pricing is $300 and most everyone will qualify for that. Sell your Captivate for $250-$300 on Craigslist and be done with it. It will be hard to get them to swap it. I tried.
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Click to collapse
The Inspire is available for $400 with no contract. I'd rather do that than pay $300 for an upgrade and be locked in for 2 more years.
Same boat.... random shutdowns, etc. On my 5th or 6th phone. I have device support center near my house, so swapping them out it easy, but irritating. When I called yesterday, they said I could swap it for an Inspire, but only when the warranty center received refurbished units, which could take 30-90 days. I doubt it will take that long. I do not see them issuing new Inspires to anybody with a problem at 31+ days. I would have to guess they will have refurbs within 30 days, but who knows. Anybody know how long it takes for AT&T to start getting refurbs?
I'm also curious to know if i can do this. I bought a Captivate refurbished, and already got a replacement because of random shut down issues. Maybe i'll give AT&T a call tomorrow and see what I can do, anyone think people interested in this idea have a decent chance as long as we're reasonable to the AT&T rep we speak to?
Tried. Didn't work : /
It's good to know I'm not the only person thinking about the trade out, seeing as how the Inspire 4G is marked monetarily lower than the Captivate but of the same calibur I'm sure that it will be a refurb option really soon. The only thing I dread about going through the warranty process is initially getting back Captivate refurbs that have bigger issues than mine over and over again until AT&T finally gives in and lets me choose another phone of the same calibur which is why I haven't sent mine in for the GPS, media scan of dread and shutdown while charging/rebooting troubles but now that they are becoming more frequent that it's becoming unbearable.
Buying an Inspire straight out or having AT&T extend my contract for another year isn't an option I'm willing to take, that would get me stuck with an inspire until spring 2012 at the least - no thanks I saw what became of the Aria.
The simple fact is the the issues with this phone should have been addressed and resolved a long time ago and we shouldn't have to put on a custom rom to get it to a state that it should have been that way out the box, custom roms should be for fun and enhancements to an already good product not band aids to fix flaws that the manufacturer or carrier wont acknowledge and respond to.
Hopefully in a few weeks once people start going through the Inspire's the option to choose a refurbished Inspire 4G as a swap for a Captivate will become available, either that or the official 2.2 comes out then I'll stick with the captivate until summer, after that AT&T better come correct with the android updates and some stunning hardware or I'll be jumping ship to T-Mobile.
Wow, I didn't realize the captivate was having so many issues...5th and 6th phones? My god.
I got my phone in August and its running like a champ with Darky 9.2.
johnnie5000 said:
true. But with all the bullsh*t that has came with this droid and having to take 5 phones to the post office to be shipped back (only to be refurb'd again and passed off to some other poor bastard)... A $200 etf is like paying for the luxury of no longer putting up with at&t. Every month another $20 less that i have to pay them, etc.
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IT'S NOT A DROID! @[email protected]##%@#$%^#$%^&#7
xreflection said:
Wow, I didn't realize the captivate was having so many issues...5th and 6th phones? My god.
I got my phone in August and its running like a champ with Darky 9.2.
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Click to collapse
it's true. granted, i've only gone through one phone, but i did have the random shutdown problem, and at first i wasn't bothered by it. it quickly became the most annoying problem ever by occurring more frequently.
I am still skeptical about the whole 4G network with AT&T especially being such crappy coverage service already with their supposed upgraded 3G network. If they said they finally completed their 3G network upgrade and provide this kind of horrible coverage quality, I can't even begin to imagine how their supposed 4G network speeds are as well as the coverage it will support. If i was to get a 4G AT&T phone, I would wait at least half a year to a year to really see how they push their network out onto the market.
I talked to an AT&T rep last night and I think I am goinh to jack the upgrade on one of my kids' line and get the Inspire 4G. I got it for my wife and it was the bomb.
The rep told me the exception upgrade for the Inspire is 199.
I originally posted this in the Inspire 4g General forum:
_________________________________________________________________
I bought the Captivate day 1 in June after all the hype only to be disappointed like many users. I called AT&T customer service about an hour ago and was online with a rep within 10 minutes. I very calmly explained my issues with the Captivate (GPS, rebooting randomly) and asked to be given an early upgrade. Without so much as a question the rep told me he would approve it through his supervisor. It took me less than 30 minutes to have a full upgrade ready whenever I want to use it. That will be in about an hour when I go pick up the Inspire.
TL;DR: If you want to upgrade from your Captivate but stay with AT&T, it is trivially easy to get the full upgrade price.
_________________________________________________________________
Also, the OP says that the Inspire has a front-facing camera, but it does not. Just FYI.
I did it. Love it. Such a better out of the box experience.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Galaxy nexus vs. galaxy S 3

My original galaxy s is getting long in the tooth. I'm due for an upgrade. I was thinking of going with the new S 3 when it comes out, but if its 300$, I think they'd a but much for a phone, and was thinking of getting the nexus.
Do you think that the nexus will still be a decent phone 2 years from now when I can upgrade, our should I get the S3 to keep me until june 2014?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
I'm getting a GNex soon. So it will be even older! Yes, I think the hardware will last
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
olyloh6696 said:
I'm getting a GNex soon. So it will be even older! Yes, I think the hardware will last
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think the nexus is better, am waiting for the the next one, dont like capacitve buttons on ics
eppo12- said:
Do you think that the nexus will still be a decent phone 2 years from now when I can upgrade, our should I get the S3 to keep me until june 2014?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is 2 years a hard or soft limit? (i.e. contract or no contract?) I'm planning on keeping my Nexus for two years, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
The good news is that the nexus is cheap (off google play or expansys) hence good for buying unlocked. I would not buy it from Verizon, for instance; the updating status on the CDMA variants is questionable.
(Also, yeah, S3 hardware buttons sux.)
naaa you guys have gone soft get the s3 or wait to see the nexus 4
i have the gnex won it from a giveaway and personally i think its dog**** if you have the chance get the s3 not the nexus crap or as i said wait for the next nexus romurs are that it will have a s4 quadcore ship clocked at 1.5ghz sounds sexy also its based on a15
I have verizon, and unless the rules have changed, you can upgrade after 18 months, and get $50 off at a 24 months. Why pay so much for a phone, when your not sure for an upgrade? So I would have to wait 18 months minimum.
Have there been any releases of what the going price would be for the S3 in the US? I ready font want to spend $300 for a phone.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
id prefer the s3, because of its outstanding benchmark, and some new features in smartphones but the design nexus is better,
eppo12- said:
I have verizon, and unless the rules have changed, you can upgrade after 18 months, and get $50 off at a 24 months. Why pay so much for a phone, when your not sure for an upgrade? So I would have to wait 18 months minimum.
Have there been any releases of what the going price would be for the S3 in the US? I ready font want to spend $300 for a phone.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend against the verizon version of the nexus, for the reasons above. Though of course, my opinion is not the end-all.
Buying a phone outright gets you more flexibility and, if you go with prepaid, lower costs overall. As you said, you have to wait > 18 months to get a new one under your plan [and you'd have lost out, with your increased rates, if you don't]. I can get my next phone anytime [and am subject to low rates all the time]. My nexus, for example, is definitely good for this year, but I don't want to count on my prophetical powers for anything longer. If it gets broken, or just plain outclassed, I want to be able to grab the newest thing on the market right away.
(Note: Prepaid vs contract is a much more complicated issue than I might have made it sound above; you'd have to shop and probably have to use something besides Verizon, for one thing.)
Another recent thing to note: Verizon is removing unlimited upgrades (you'd be forced onto a tiered plan), though you can keep your old plan if you get your new phone on your own.
I'm not sure what the exact pricing is, but for arguments sake, lets say that the nexus is 200 with contact, and 400 without, pushy the going rate 400? How would you get out any cheaper? And I'm sure no where near $200.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
eppo12- said:
I'm not sure what the exact pricing is, but for arguments sake, lets say that the nexus is 200 with contact, and 400 without, pushy the going rate 400? How would you get out any cheaper? And I'm sure no where near $200.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The price differential over 24 months adds up.
For example, T-mobile has a $30 100 minute 5 gig prepaid, and Straight Talk has a $45 unlimited prepaid; there are others to shop around for, but those are the most commonly cited. Assuming you even get the cheapest Verizon plan, $40 (450 minutes talk) + $10 (1000 smses) + $30 (2 gb data) = $80 (per month)
Verizon's $80/month is already $35/month more than ST. That means you save $840 over 24 months by going even the more expensive prepaid. (Compared to this, the puny $200 subsidy is nothing.)
For the t-mobile plan, the differential is a whopping $50, and you save, holy hell, $1200 over 24 months.
In other words, the subsidy is just a psychological scam make you think you've got a discount, when really, the higher prices per month make all the difference.
thebobp said it quite well.
But I'm hoping to sign a new contract and keep my grandfathered unlimited plan. I'd liked to upgrade to the S3 with unlimited grandfathered LTE, but that's hoping that the S3 is available before Verizon starts pushing the shared data plans (at which point I can't upgrade to LTE and keep unlimited data).
If the S3 isn't coming out before then, then I'm thinking I should just get a Gnex so I can start enjoying unlimited LTE data.
Wow, I've never thought about it that way. I always thought those other providers offered a lower level of service? I know t mobile has crap service around here, so you can't be using all of verizons network.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
eppo12- said:
I always thought those other providers offered a lower level of service?
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Click to collapse
"Lower level of service" is just company propaganda. The only relevant question is which one offers good enough service for you, for the cheapest price. And unfortunately, there's no easy way to answer that except to try them out, preferably cheapest to most expensive. Even reviews aren't all that relevant, simply because service can vary so wildly depending on location. Thankfully, prepaid is a natural platform for "just trying a service out", but it does require a compatible phone.
I don't know what you mean by "tmobile using all of verizon's network"; they're completely distinct. Straight talk (and many others) are carried over AT&T and t-mobile's networks, though.
Thanks a lot for all your replies.
As far as the network goes, I thought tmobile used verizons network, because when 4g came out, they were the only other ones saying they used 4g lte. So I just assumed they used verizons network.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
I'm in a similar situation, right now I'm waiting to see what the S3 looks like in the US. If its not to my liking I'll probably get the Nexus, and a + for the Nexus is it will be getting Android 5.0 aka Jellybean. I would also buy it from the Google Play Store so it doesnt have any bloatware, however that is $299.
If you've made it this long with the Galaxy S, I say wait for the next Nexus. Especially with the rumors of several different manufacturers being able to build their own Nexus device.
I would take the samsung nexus. The S3 doesn't offer enough power difference in my opinion to spend the extra money on. Most of its software features aren't that good imho. And if they are you can find a similar app on the market for it.
blackthundaar said:
I would take the samsung nexus. The S3 doesn't offer enough power difference in my opinion to spend the extra money on. Most of its software features aren't that good imho. And if they are you can find a similar app on the market for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
my S1 annoys me a bit, but maybe i'm just getting the itch to get a new phone. every once and a while it stops responding to touch, if you hit the power button, and then unlock the phone again, its been coming back. also, playback skips when i first start playing something in dog catcher, and some games... yeah, I know.. i guess its more of an itch than anything else, but at least this way, i can make an informed decision if/when my phone completely dies.
i am running gingerbread rom, i recently reinstalled it from scratch, and then reinstalled my apps, but its still the same.
I guess i'll try and hold onto this phone as long as i can. I do like the service with verizon, and get a hefty discount from my job, so i'm a bit weary to switch carriers.
eppo12- said:
Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
my S1 annoys me a bit, but maybe i'm just getting the itch to get a new phone. every once and a while it stops responding to touch, if you hit the power button, and then unlock the phone again, its been coming back. also, playback skips when i first start playing something in dog catcher, and some games... yeah, I know.. i guess its more of an itch than anything else, but at least this way, i can make an informed decision if/when my phone completely dies.
i am running gingerbread rom, i recently reinstalled it from scratch, and then reinstalled my apps, but its still the same.
I guess i'll try and hold onto this phone as long as i can. I do like the service with verizon, and get a hefty discount from my job, so i'm a bit weary to switch carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you seen the difference between the Quad core One X and the dual core version? No? Neither has anyone else.
eppo12- said:
Have you heard anything about the S3 US version being dual core? because i would think that the Nexus being Dual Core, vs the S3 being quad core would be a big difference.
I'm going to have to look around to see when the next nexus is getting released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S3 LTE will most definitely be a dual core, because no quad core supports LTE.
Rumors about Nexus launch date say thanksgiving.
eppo12- said:
As far as the network goes, I thought tmobile used verizons network, because when 4g came out, they were the only other ones saying they used 4g lte. So I just assumed they used verizons network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no 4g; it hasn't come out yet. The 4g standard requires 1Gbps data, while LTE is capable of max 300Mbps data and, in practice, can get as low as a single-digit Mbps. See this article for more information. Basically, the marketing departments here in the US realized they could get away with calling crap 4G, and that's what we have now.
The much more relevant question is how fast a particular service is in your area (because it can vary so wildly), and that can't be answered by anything except trial and error.

Tmobile selling Galaxy S 4G again

Either that, or my computer is having some weird kind of flashback:
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/default.aspx?capcode=AGE
Any ideas as to why Tmo has trotted out the SGS4G again - AND at a higher price than the HTC One X and the Galaxy S Blaze?
It could be a mistake and they meant to add the S3.
Or you guys still have some OS update hope.
you could always buy the GS4G, I don't think it was ever taken off their list. It's been one of the phones they advertise in their pre-paid plan line-ups for some time now.
The One S is cheaper because it has more incentives and discounts right now. the actual retail price is higher than the GS4G if you buy it outright.
That deal on the One S is pretty sweet though. I just don't want to start another 2 year contract
i'm buying the next sprint LTE android flagship phone. Jelly Bean.
airfluip1 said:
i'm buying the next sprint LTE android flagship phone. Jelly Bean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't. Buy an at&t phone or other 1900/850 capable phone (our phone is believe it or not. Get a straight talk at&t sim and pay 45$ a month for GREAT service. I'm not advertising just vouching
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk
T-Mobile never stopped selling the 4G. They actually raised it's price with the new financing thing they got going on.
Is there a place offering the quad core One X at a reduced price for contract? I'm looking to get a top of the line phone soon. I would love the S3, but I'm pretty sure it wont be discounted for a little while.
Sorry, but it was gone from their main list of phones with contract for quite some time - it was followed off the list by the G2x and the HTC Sensation. And now it has reappeared, costing more money than dual-core phones like the Blaze and the One X and still without any official hope of getting ICS. I just find that very strange.
Manumission said:
Sorry, but it was gone from their main list of phones with contract for quite some time - it was followed off the list by the G2x and the HTC Sensation. And now it has reappeared, costing more money than dual-core phones like the Blaze and the One X and still without any official hope of getting ICS. I just find that very strange.
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Click to collapse
They probably had a bock log of phones that need to be sold. Again its a phone pushed towards the prepaid service. You will qualify for discounts by purchasing the newer phones. However if you are upgrading or replacing out of contract the sgs4g is cheaper.
Yes T-mobile is still selling our phones and yes Samsung is still making our phones. Does that really surprise you, they still make flip phones and simian phones for non data plans. They rarely discontinue a phone unless it no longer will function on their upgraded networks, like what happened to the original sidekick phones. They could no longer support the data system so one day all the sidekick owners received a text that said upgrade or lose service. If the phone can still fill a market need and be profitable then it will continue to be sold.
bot42 said:
Yes T-mobile is still selling our phones and yes Samsung is still making our phones. Does that really surprise you, they still make flip phones and simian phones for non data plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that they are selling the phone doesn't surprise me - what does surprise me is that it is so much more expensive than the Blaze and the One S, on a 2-year contract. Don't get me wrong, I like our phone, but for new customers signing a 2-year contract, offering the SGS4G at a higher price point than those two dual-core phones is a head-scratcher.
Manumission said:
The fact that they are selling the phone doesn't surprise me - what does surprise me is that it is so much more expensive than the Blaze and the One S, on a 2-year contract. Don't get me wrong, I like our phone, but for new customers signing a 2-year contract, offering the SGS4G at a higher price point than those two dual-core phones is a head-scratcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They want you to buy the new phones. Its not really a head scratcher. Again they would rather push the sgs4g towards the prepaid side. You also qualify for discounts for the newer phones that the sgs4g does not qualify for.

Switching from iPhone to Android

Hey,
Im currently an iPhone user (4S 64GB factory unlocked) and want to switch to android.
Im in a contract with telus that ends in september and am thinking of renewing it. The phones they carry that interest me are the One X and the S2 X, unfortunately they dont have the galaxy nxs anymore. Otherwise i could switch to a provider that carries the nexus.
I want a phone with a good development which still has newer components. I'm not a fan of the s3. And I like good build quality!
Opinions?
I would just get a GSM Nexus. They are so damn cheap anyway.
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
Nexus
I would take the Nexus. There you have the latest Android updates and a big screen
the One X is a great phone, I highly recommend it
Welcome to the light.. I also left the Iphone and its the best decision I've made. I would also recommend the GSM Nexus! We have 2 in the family and they love it.
Android really rules!
Sent from 9.7 inch RK2918 Tablet
Sell your 4S for a nice chunk of change. Then buy a Galaxy Nexus which is $350, and pocket the rest of the money.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
definitely nexus bro! my friend use it and the ROM update is a lot faster than S3.
I've written extensively on why you shouldn't sign a contract in general, or choose your phone based on your provider.
thebobp said:
The price differential over 24 months adds up.
For example, T-mobile has a $30 100 minute 5 gig prepaid, and Straight Talk has a $45 unlimited prepaid; there are others to shop around for, but those are the most commonly cited. Assuming you even get the cheapest Verizon plan, $40 (450 minutes talk) + $10 (1000 smses) + $30 (2 gb data) = $80 (per month)
Verizon's $80/month is already $35/month more than ST. That means you save $840 over 24 months by going even the more expensive prepaid. (Compared to this, the puny $200 subsidy is nothing.)
For the t-mobile plan, the differential is a whopping $50, and you save, holy hell, $1200 over 24 months.
In other words, the subsidy is just a psychological scam make you think you've got a discount, when really, the higher prices per month make all the difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thebobp said:
Buying a phone outright gets you more flexibility and, if you go with prepaid, lower costs overall. As you said, you have to wait > 18 months to get a new one under your plan [and you'd have lost out, with your increased rates, if you don't]. I can get my next phone anytime [and am subject to low rates all the time]. My nexus, for example, is definitely good for this year, but I don't want to count on my prophetical powers for anything longer. If it gets broken, or just plain outclassed, I want to be able to grab the newest thing on the market right away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, you will probably have to do the prepaid research yourself, since all the current research seems to be for the US. (In particular, you should calculate that my conclusions above are still valid for your options.) The lack of a $350 Nexus in Canada also sucks; I think you can get it for around $400.
You can pick up the galaxy nexus at best buy or future shop with telus no problem
JT-on said:
You can pick up the galaxy nexus at best buy or future shop with telus no problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also pick up a nexus at mobilicity for $300 outright. Pretty sweet price
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Get the nexus or one X. But I recommend the nexus since it is Googles phone. Always guaranteed he latest firmware.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Good call on switching from the dark side!
I would either go with the Nexus or the One X. I've used both phones briefly, and they are both quick and solid. If I had to choose one of them, I'd go with the Nexus... it IS Google's baby after all.
HTC One X
Superb Phone really enjoying it!
I'd reconsider the S3. Exchangeable battery (you'd be surprised how important this could be, especially if you are switching from Apple) plus microSD (ditto). If you are all over the phone shell material, go for the One Z.
Good Choice
Knorkator said:
Hey,
Im currently an iPhone user (4S 64GB factory unlocked) and want to switch to android.
Im in a contract with telus that ends in september and am thinking of renewing it. The phones they carry that interest me are the One X and the S2 X, unfortunately they dont have the galaxy nxs anymore. Otherwise i could switch to a provider that carries the nexus.
I want a phone with a good development which still has newer components. I'm not a fan of the s3. And I like good build quality!
Opinions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is better in almost all categories except screen res and camera quality
I own both the iPhone and some Android devices, mostly Samsungs and I wouldn't say that any of the them is better than the other. They are just different, both have good and bad sides. I am definitely having more fun modifying and hacking Androids while I prefer iPhone for everyday calling. What I really dislike is bias in any direction. It doesn't matter though since you've already made a decision. Then in your place I would get a Nexus. It's solid, looks good and gets the most frequent updates.

To wait or not to wait... That is the question!

Hello folks! Well, let me preface my question with this: I love my infuse. Unfortunately, AT&T has become to expensive, so I must switch over to another carrier. I'm 15 so I don't really have a source of income, but I would very much like a new phone. I will most likely be switching over to Verizon, and getting a phone then. So here is my main question: Should I buy the SGS3 VZW variant, or wait for a while until Google releases their new line-up?
Things I am looking for in a phone:
Screen size: 4.5-5.0''
Brand: Samsung, Motorola, or Nexus branded phone (Preferably Samsung)
Micro SD: Must have (I bought a 64GB Sandisk for 100$)
CPU: Preferably a Quad-core, dual would be acceptable if overclockable.
Ram: Preferably 2GB, 1GB is acceptable (I hear that Android utilizes RAM very efficiently)
Radio: As long as it has 3G, I'm fine
Audio card: Preferably something with a Wolfson, I really enjoy Voodoo Sound
Camera: The higher the better (preferably with a low shutter lag camera)
Thank you guys for your time,
Connor Baker
Here's the thing. Verizon I find is the most expensive of the bunch. So if your looking to save money I'm not sure Verizon is the way to go.v
Another thing I thought of, if it was just me I would do a prepaid plan. I know T-Mobile offers unlimited talk, text, and web for 50 a month. If it was just my phone on the plan that's how I would go. Especially if I already had a phone. I think at&t offers similar deals.
I like Samsung myself but they seem to be doing away with microsd storage. I can deal with a non removable battery but I don't like cloud storage.
Ultimately the choice is yours and if you do decide to wait for a new line up of phones maybe you can switch to a prepaid plan until then. Save a couple bucks anyway.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
csandman1977 said:
Here's the thing. Verizon I find is the most expensive of the bunch. So if your looking to save money I'm not sure Verizon is the way to go.v
Another thing I thought of, if it was just me I would do a prepaid plan. I know T-Mobile offers unlimited talk, text, and web for 50 a month. If it was just my phone on the plan that's how I would go. Especially if I already had a phone. I think at&t offers similar deals.
I like Samsung myself but they seem to be doing away with microsd storage. I can deal with a non removable battery but I don't like cloud storage.
Ultimately the choice is yours and if you do decide to wait for a new line up of phones maybe you can switch to a prepaid plan until then. Save a couple bucks anyway.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your quick reply I may have not explained in depth enough why I have to leave AT&T. My parents just recently finalized their divorce, and my Dad and I (who are on AT&T, with my younger brother and Mom on Verizon ) literally can not afford to continue with the plan. Either I get a *dumb* phone on prepaid t-mobile, or I can get a smartphone on Verizon. Both my parents are really tight on money, but my Mom would be willing to take me on to her plan (Verizon that is).
I was previously hoping to save up and buy a GT-i9305, but that most likely not be possible for a VERY long time. I am looking forward to the LG Optimus G gracing the U.S, but I have no clue whether LG will follow through with this phone and provide software updates. I often hear that LG has a bad reputation.
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
P.S: I most likely will want to develop android, so that's why I'm aiming for android phones. I may however, go over to the light side and get an iPhone 5 as I know it will be supported for 2 years at least.
Connor Baker said:
Thanks for your quick reply I may have not explained in depth enough why I have to leave AT&T. My parents just recently finalized their divorce, and my Dad and I (who are on AT&T, with my younger brother and Mom on Verizon ) literally can not afford to continue with the plan. Either I get a *dumb* phone on prepaid t-mobile, or I can get a smartphone on Verizon. Both my parents are really tight on money, but my Mom would be willing to take me on to her plan (Verizon that is).
I was previously hoping to save up and buy a GT-i9305, but that most likely not be possible for a VERY long time. I am looking forward to the LG Optimus G gracing the U.S, but I have no clue whether LG will follow through with this phone and provide software updates. I often hear that LG has a bad reputation.
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
P.S: I most likely will want to develop android, so that's why I'm aiming for android phones. I may however, go over to the light side and get an iPhone 5 as I know it will be supported for 2 years at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could always switch over to Straight Talk SIM, (BYOP) for $45/mo for unlimited talk, text, and data. Simply buy the SIM card, insert into your phone, and activate it. You can even port out your existing number to the new plan, and your ATT line will be closed. If you get an ATT Compatible Straight Talk SIM, you won't even need to unlock your phone to use it.
k-semler said:
You could always switch over to Straight Talk SIM, (BYOP) for $45/mo for unlimited talk, text, and data. Simply buy the SIM card, insert into your phone, and activate it. You can even port out your existing number to the new plan, and your ATT line will be closed. If you get an ATT Compatible Straight Talk SIM, you won't even need to unlock your phone to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking about this... The thing is though, as awesome as my infuse is on Scott's CM10, it's still old. There's only so much a single core processor can do (ex. Music stutters while browsing the web or reading a book). I'm really looking into Verizon, and their SGS 3. I've looked at it's forums a few minutes ago, and it doesn't seem to have gotten nearly as much love as our precious Infuse. That kind of worries me. Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
Connor Baker said:
Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just did a search for Nexus 4 specs and found this - credit PCMagazine
The bad news? The Nexus 4 comes with just 8GB of on-board storage, and does not have a microSD slot for expansion, according to the pre-sale page.
Pony Express said:
Just did a search for Nexus 4 specs and found this - credit PCMagazine
The bad news? The Nexus 4 comes with just 8GB of on-board storage, and does not have a microSD slot for expansion, according to the pre-sale page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooooohhh.... That stings. So a quick question on opinion, how future proof is the SGS 3 at Verizon? I understand that you can OC the CPU, but I'm mainly worried about the poor GPU. Also, it's the advent of the quad-core phone, and 2GB of RAM is the new standard. I'm really perturbed now at the lack of attention in terms of development that the SGS 3 is getting. It's a big turn off.
My parents main problem with me not having a phone is that they can't contact me.
I would say go by a Verizon store soon and give the SGS3 a test spin based on the way you use the phone... you will no doubt have to keep it for a couple of years and we will all ( that are under contract) have to sit back and watch more cool stuff come out that we will have to wait to get. I have the International SGS3 - take a quick look at the dev for it - I am amazed... and lovin' it !!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566
Pony Express said:
I would say go by a Verizon store soon and give the SGS3 a test spin based on the way you use the phone... you will no doubt have to keep it for a couple of years and we will all ( that are under contract) have to sit back and watch more cool stuff come out that we will have to wait to get. I have the International SGS3 - take a quick look at the dev for it - I am amazed... and lovin' it !!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know... I had actually wanted to get the international, but unfortunately I don't have enough money to do so. that's why I'm scared of how little development that phone has going on.
EDIT: Also, I will be going into the Verizon store to test out the SGS 3 tomorrow. Do you think it'll be really laggy on account of them never restarting the phone? Is it strange I always get the urge to clear the demo phone's Cache and Dalvik? xD Maybe so. Just a little worried at the prices of the plans.
Connor Baker said:
I know... I had actually wanted to get the international, but unfortunately I don't have enough money to do so. that's why I'm scared of how little development that phone has going on.
EDIT: Also, I will be going into the Verizon store to test out the SGS 3 tomorrow. Do you think it'll be really laggy on account of them never restarting the phone? Is it strange I always get the urge to clear the demo phone's Cache and Dalvik? xD Maybe so. Just a little worried at the prices of the plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. So I went to the Verizon store at the mall near me and messed around with the phone there. I have no idea why, but compared to my infuse, the thing felt clunky and slow. No OC kernel on Scott's CM10. I thing I may just wait for the LG Optimus G to arrive, but I'm kind of wary with LG smartphones. Has anyone owned one before?
Connor Baker said:
. Anyone think the new Nexus phone will have a micro sd?
Thanks for your time,
Connor Baker
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Nexus device will ever have the capability to use MicroSD.
Why Nexus devices have no SD card
TL;DR: They want to be like the iPhone with a unified memory structure.
verizon has some nice things like much better insurance and shared data, (att followed up with similar data plans though) but the pricing is very similar between the two companies. they tend to mirror each other but what verizon doesnt say is that any phone with 3g needs a data plan, not that you are looking at texting phones or anything.. other things are verizon has free verizon to verizon minutes. att has free mobile to mobile on any network and roll over minutes.
the plans look basically identical but att is in some ways a better deal and verizon tends to have fees you don't think about. but you also have to consider that verizon has a stronger network. it is less frequent now but i still get dropped calls for no reason on att. and the lte coverage is basically nothing. but then you have to look at the fact that hspa+ is faster than verizon 3g and lte is still in it's infantcy even with verizon and verizons gs3 has locked bootloaders (wtf) their phones are not cross network compatible and have isolated development due to different radio hardware and firmware....
sprint may be a better deal money wise. they get android updates when att and verizon lag behind in that area. they also are much cheaper and get better htc phones than verizon...
but if it's just you and not a family plan then what you need is strait talk. they have the gs2 on their website and that is still a great phone but i here the bootloaders are locked, it's bassically an i777 without the att emblem but someone tried to flash other firmware on one and it didn't work.. but maybe that person didn't know what they were doing? if the screen res is too low for you on the gs2 you could just buy a phone out right and get a strait talk sim card. that's what i'll do when my contract is up.. no question about that at all.
Well, now I've turned my sights on the Optimus G, and the specs look amazing. I have almost no doubt that it will land on Verizon before or on the holidays... So, what are peoples experiences with LG smartphones? Any opinions on the Optimus G?
i think you'll have to wait and see on that one. the screen looks to have amazing specs. and the s4 snapdragon dualcore is very fast so the s4 pro quad core has got to be a beast. but i messed with the lg nitro which had great specs at the time and it was kinda laggy. not that i think it would slow down with a load but the interface was slow. i also played with the thrill and it seem fast enough but the 3d screen was not great and the camera app took time to load.
from what i understand there was a lot of frustration with development on the thrill. the g2x/optimus 2x was a big seller but there was a certain amount of screen problems, no other major complaints though. i think you'll have to just wait and see if they got it right this time. the hardware is there for sure. you just might want to check out the forums and see what users are saying.
Dani897 said:
i think you'll have to wait and see on that one. the screen looks to have amazing specs. and the s4 snapdragon dualcore is very fast so the s4 pro quad core has got to be a beast. but i messed with the lg nitro which had great specs at the time and it was kinda laggy. not that i think it would slow down with a load but the interface was slow. i also played with the thrill and it seem fast enough but the 3d screen was not great and the camera app took time to load.
from what i understand there was a lot of frustration with development on the thrill. the g2x/optimus 2x was a big seller but there was a certain amount of screen problems, no other major complaints though. i think you'll have to just wait and see if they got it right this time. the hardware is there for sure. you just might want to check out the forums and see what users are saying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I went over to the LG Optimus G forum and it basically consists of people asking for a way to unlock the bootloader, and fear of being abandoned in terms of software updates. That was kind of shocking to read through some 20 pages of anger, fear, and bitterness from past phones.
Now I'm pretty sure I'll just wait for the GT-i9305 to arrive in the U.S I guess. Anyone heard anything about this?
Connor Baker said:
Well, I went over to the LG Optimus G forum and it basically consists of people asking for a way to unlock the bootloader, and fear of being abandoned in terms of software updates. That was kind of shocking to read through some 20 pages of anger, fear, and bitterness from past phones.
Now I'm pretty sure I'll just wait for the GT-i9305 to arrive in the U.S I guess. Anyone heard anything about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GT-i9305 is the Euro version of the SGS3 and as such would most likely only be available here as an import. As it also has Euro LTE radio, US LTE would be a no-go.
Pony Express said:
The GT-i9305 is the Euro version of the SGS3 and as such would most likely only be available here as an import. As it also has Euro LTE radio, US LTE would be a no-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think that the U.S will get a similar version? I really hope so...
Connor Baker
Sent from inside hurricane Sandy
Connor Baker said:
Do you think that the U.S will get a similar version? I really hope so...
Connor Baker
Sent from inside hurricane Sandy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubtful as the US carriers already have their versions.
Stay the heck out of Sandy's way. :silly:
Pony Express said:
Doubtful as the US carriers already have their versions.
Stay the heck out of Sandy's way. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the U.S will just have to wait for the S4? That's kind of sad...
Connor,
FYI
You'll be able to purchase the Nexus 4 unlocked in the Play Store starting November 13th for $299 (8GB), $349 (16GB) or $199 with a two-year contract on T-Moble (16GB).

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