Smartphone?? Blackberry??

[Radshooter]

Can somebody explain in english to a technically challenged person what is the difference between a "smart phone" and a "blackberry phone"?

I am thinking about replacing my antique Palm Pilot and my cell phone with a single unit. Do I want a smart phone or a blackberry? Occasional internet use would be nice, but not a big deciding factor in which phone I get. I don't text a lot now, but can see the benefit for future use.

We have accounts with both Verizon and Altell, but when the merger gets completed and the towers merge, and if we get good signal here with Verizon instead of Altell, we will likely drop the Altell and stay with Verizon if that makes any difference.

I'm not looking for recommendations for a specific model, just general differences and applications.

Thanks for cluing in an old fogey.

Steve

 

[sid325]

A "Smart phone" and Blackberry are pretty much one in the same. Smart phones can text, e-mail, internet, run applications, most have a keyboard, camera, bluetooth and more. A Blackberry is just a brand name. There are many out there. I have an Iphone with ATT and absolutely love it, very handy.



Sid

 

[kenny61]

theres always the palm phones I got one and like it

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks guys. This will be purely for personal use. No business. Mainly, I want to keep track of my contacts and be able to put in more info than the "contact list" capabilities of my current cell phone. Also would be nice if it could remind me of the occasional appointment or meeting, and be able to take sparse notes on it during the meeting.

Internet and email may be nice, but I have that on my current phone and never use it. I am starting to text more than I used to, so a full keyboard might be nice versus the numeric keypad I have now.

Thanks again... . Steve

 

[ACoyle]

The "hot" setups at the moment are the iPhone and the Blackberry "Storm".

One / some of the features that you may get interested in are GPS and a touc screen. Blackberries, prior to the storm, did not have touch screens. I have a palm treo and really like the touch screen.

There are other units out there that will do everything that you mentioned. They may be less costly than the tow I just mentioned.

I have had a portable electronic device (They have changed names over time) for over 10 years. I have always bought more capabilities that I thought thqt I would need and have always grown into them.

If I were buying right now, I would be buying the Blackberry storm.

AC

 

[kenny61]

I got the palm because it was the only one that easily synced up with outlook. I believe that has changed and the blackberrys can do that now. But its nice to be able to put your schedule and contacts in the phone and be able to have your wife see it as well on the computer at home

 

[kenny61]

#@$%!#@$%!#@$%! Just went to go sync my phone and guess what It's dead Worked last night on my way home:{

 

[SHobbs]

I am with Sprint and have a Motorola Q 9c, I think Verizon has a similar model. Good phone, easy to use, calls are crystal clear and texting is a snap with a full keyboard and LARGE buttons. I wanted to get away from the flip phones and this was great replacement I am not sure if the Verizon model has the larger battery like mine or not, I can go a week before having to charge mine. The Palms are nice but if you have big fingers they can be tedious. Also I have read that some Blackberry models the call quality is marginal at best, sounds muttled or in a can.



Another thing to keep in mind, with some carriers when you get a "smart phone" they require a cellular plan to go with it. My phone required what Sprint calls "the everything plan", unlimited everything every month

 

[Ken55]

check out (HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource). lots of info there on different phones, plans etc... .

ken

 

[BrianJ]

Blackberry is just one brand of smart phone.



I have been very happy with my Blackberry Curve. It's a piece of cake to sync the blackberry with my outlook contact and calendar data on my PC, just plug it in, start the "blackberry manager" on the pc, and hit the snyc button. Within a few seconds the sync is done. I also have a 8gb micro-sd card in my blackberry and use it to play MP3's, which I can also download easily from the PC via the blackberry manager.



Now I leave my Ipod classic 160gb docked to the stereo at home and only have to worry about one device for phone, email, contact, calendar, and tunes while gone at work.

 

[Wayne M.]

I have a Blackberry Curve with Verizon. This is my first smart phone and I love it. It takes a little bit of adjusting since the menus and operation are more like a PC than a cell phone. You should use the internet if you get one, it works real well. You need a full EVDO signal to use it though.

Recently I was trying to find a diner in an area I didn't know. I fired up the internet, googled the diner, then with the trackball, hovered over the phone number, pushed the ball and the phone dialed it! The camera and other accessories are good too.

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Maybe I am off base, but I just don't see myself using the Internet on a phone. Just not that hi-tech I guess.

I a looking for something that will remind me of my meeting at 9:30 tomorrow.

Tonight I talked long distance to my dad, and want to be able to write myself a note that he has a doctor appt. Thurs. and to call and check how he did. I want the phone to remind me to call.

Be able to take short notes during meetings.

Be able to put in more than a name and number on the contact list.

Not too interested in MP3 stuff either.

I just want to get organized and keep track of my life without carrying 3 or 4 devices to do it.

Thanks again..... Steve

P. S. I am just looking for ideas now. I probably won't do anything until I find out what happens with the Verizon/Altell merger. We have contracts with both now, but want to drop one when we decide which one to keep.

 

[KLauber]

The Palm Treo does what you want, its a good organizer and it surfs the web ok. I do not use it for email or even sync it with my Outlook. Verizon has good cell coverage and 'everything' plans also. Good luck!

 

[Radshooter]

KLauber and others... ... how is the call clarity and quality on the Palm phones?

 

[kenny61]

Palm is great, after three years I thought mine died, It has lived a very hard life been dropped and beat up. Found out the battery went dead while it was in my jacket and the charge contacts were dirty so when i plugged it in it did nothing. Playing with it brought it back to life. I am very happy with mine. I got the treo 700p. The sync with outlook was the main reason i got it.

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Maybe I am off base, but I just don't see myself using the Internet on a phone. Just not that hi-tech I guess.



I a looking for something that will remind me of my meeting at 9:30 tomorrow.



Tonight I talked long distance to my dad, and want to be able to write myself a note that he has a doctor appt. Thurs. and to call and check how he did. I want the phone to remind me to call.



Be able to take short notes during meetings.



Be able to put in more than a name and number on the contact list.



Not too interested in MP3 stuff either.





I just want to get organized and keep track of my life without carrying 3 or 4 devices to do it.



Thanks again..... Steve



P. S. I am just looking for ideas now. I probably won't do anything until I find out what happens with the Verizon/Altell merger. We have contracts with both now, but want to drop one when we decide which one to keep.

A regular cell phone will do that, at least my old LG would. The problem is that data entry is tough. A full keyboard is the way to go. One shot with a smartphone and you'll be addicted. That's how I wound up with mine. A friend showed me his and I was blown away!

 

[Ken55]

P. S. I am just looking for ideas now. I probably won't do anything until I find out what happens with the Verizon/Altell merger. We have contracts with both now, but want to drop one when we decide which one to keep.

just an fyi for ya, if you like some of the features alltel offers like my circle, etc... then it may be best for you to get a new phone from alltel before the merger is completed. verizon will have to honor alltel customers contracts and features until you get a new phone from verizon. then you will fall under verizons terms of service. the roaming agreements will be in place till 2012.



i personally plan to upgrade my phones from alltel so that i will have the same terms of service when verizon takes over my area.



ken

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Say Ken , oh fellow Howard Forum member, lest we not forget phonescoop.com.



As for the Altel and VZW: I can give you the last quarters activity.



Verizon: Alltel Acquisition Moving Forward (Phone Scoop)



Verizon Will Divest 15 More Markets to Acquire Alltel (Phone Scoop)



And this headline seals the deal because after this hsowed up



Alltel Gets Samsung's First U. S. TouchWiz Phone (Phone Scoop)



Ding behold the awesome Omnia .....



Verizon Wireless Announces the Samsung Omnia (Phone Scoop)

 

[steved]

Both my wife and I just got Blackberries through ATT about two months ago... I got myself an older 8700C and I got her a Blackberry Curve. I didn't want a camera because of work so I went with the 8700C... it does everything I need (and everything you stated you wanted a phone to do). The Curve has a camera, GPS (extra $10/month), MP3 player capability, and expandable memory via a micro sd card... she has been very happy with it.

The main thing to remember is the fact they are constantly going *out* for data, regardless of whether you are using it or not... so you need a data plan to cover that usage. I have used at most 30MB of data... I surf the internet a lot and have three emails pushed to the phone. An unlimited data plan will run you $30/phone... so it adds up quick.

I got one because of work... to stay connected as a mobile office. The wife thought it was neat and claimed she probably wouldn't use it, and she uses it almost as much as me for personal stuff. I don't think I could be without it now... I even surf TDR with it!

 

[Ken55]

this is the last info i know of re the merger. i'd rather see the merger get tossed and stay with alltel but it looks like that won't happen.

FCC approves Verizon Wireless' purchase of Alltel
Tuesday November 4, 4:19 pm ET
Federal Communications Commission approves Verizon Wireless purchase of Alltel for $28 billion

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators are signing off on Verizon Wireless' planned $28 billion purchase of Alltel Corp. The deal will create the nation's largest wireless carrier.

In a 5-0 vote with partial dissents by both Democrats on the panel, the Federal Communications Commission decided Tuesday to allow Verizon Wireless to move ahead with its purchase of Alltel. Verizon is paying $5. 9 billion and assuming $22. 2 billion of Alltel's debt.

The FCC is attaching several conditions to the deal, including a requirement that Verizon Wireless honor Alltel's existing roaming agreements for four years.

The Justice Department approved the deal last week after Verizon agreed to sell assets in 22 states.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone Group PLC.