Advice requested on buying one's first cell phone

[jla]

I'll be purchasing from Verizon.
What are the best brands of cell phones?
Do the speaker phones one can get as an additional option have good sound quality?
What exactly is bluetooth?
I want good audio, reliability, and I'd also like text messaging, maybe Internet access too, and photo taking feature on the phone.

I've never had a cell phone, I've thought them frivolous. But now I see the advantages of owning one.

Thank you.

[atomicpossum]

In fact, I think crazy people have started just wearing dummy earpieces so nobody'll know they're crazy.

I am on record as wanting one just so I can continue my lifelong habit of talking to myself with impunity.

[Babu]

Verizon has the most reliable signal in most metro areas per Consumer Reports.

Recommend you buy a Motorola Razr (unless you need a smart phone). They are pretty cheap now, about $30 or $50 with a contract, are very reliable, long battery life, speakerphone is good, slim profile to put in pocket or purse if you like (no need for a case, unless you prefer), and NO stupid antenna sticking out to catch on your clothes when you pull it out of your pocket. They have an internal antenna, and pick up signal very very well. ... Have other handy features: calculator, world clock, calendar, notepad, alarm clock, yada yada ...

Over 50 million plus Razr's sold worldwide and counting now. They're so popular 'cause they're a good & practical phone. The old Moto Startac was a great phone, but now I think the Razr is even better. My wife and I each have a Razr, and are both happy with them.

[shorty_harris]

I got a Verizon razorphone(?). Fits in the pocket real nice, but it took me awhile to get used to the menu system. I hate the buttons along the side (all phones have 'em), cause I always hit one accidentally when I reach for it, sending the phone into some oddball mode. I also can't read the thing unless I fish out my reading glasses. I don't use any features that cost extra. The camera is next to useless, cause you can't do anything with the photos except store them on the phone...it costs extra to get them off the phone (as far as I've been able to determine).

Other than that, I like it :)

[tomkat]

*reference bump*

[garyhope]

I suppose that there's good and bad about all of them. Whatever phone you get will be obsolete or a piece of junk in 6 months.

I stated with AT&T got sold to Cingular. Switched to Verizon because it was suppose to have the best reception all over the US according to Consumer Reports (so much for that!)

As soon as I got Verizon in DFW TX, my reception quality got worse. I had to go outside my old studio to make a call, whereas with Cingular it was fine inside. But in upstate NY, my old AT&T wouldn't work at all.

What works in one place may not work in another. If you travel, this may be a consideration. Maybe Verizon is just no good in DFW TX.

I think they're all hit or miss or blue sky.

[Emmett McCarthy]

I think the state hospitals give 'em out when they cut patients loose. That way they have a better chance of not havin' 'em come back, you know? Maybe your insurance would cover it.

[mountn man]

Trac Phone. Contracts are rip offs.

Not if you are ACTUALLY going to use it.

There is a time and place for pay as you go. But if someone is actually planning on using it according to their plan, the plan is usually the way to go.

But if the person only wants to use the phone for a short period, then getting in a contract is foolish.

[Random Access]

Always seek advice from experts. Now go find a teenage girl and ask her about cell phones.

[RedCell]

OK... you've got my attention with the remote-over-the-cell thing. I'm no electronics wizard, by any stretch, but I always assumed (most) remotes to operate via radio frequency and that by sending this over a cell phone would distort the signal to the extent where this would not work.

So, now I'm off to the garage to do some testing! ;-)

[AFreeBird]

Well, Bluetooth works fine for me. A lot will depend on your phone and headset. It does work in the 2.4GHz band, so standing next to a running microwave or a cordless home phone base unit might cause some problems but otherwise, my Jabra BT500 works great; wraps around the back of the ear as opposed to those motorola ones that that look like you've got a black turd coming out your ear.

Pairing is really an easy process, and really only needs to be done once, newer versions of the protocol will make it even easier, and their working on upping the range from 30' to 100'.

It sure beats having a wire attached to the phone that gets caught on clothing or whatever, and a lot of states require a headset if you're using it in the car. If your phone supports it; voice dialing (saving a voice prompt for an address book entry) makes it easy to use, particularly when you're driving; have your hands full, or your phone is in your pocket, purse or where ever.

[petercooper]

bttt thanks

[OrioleFan]

Ditto on the Virgin Mobile. Only accessory I bought was a charger for my car.

[Fish_Keeper]

I'd recommend looking at LG phones. They have a good product line across all the price ranges. I've had a LG VX6100 for couple years and it seems durable and has some good features.

I am on Verizon as well and my opinion is they have the best coverage in most areas of the US. This compared to a couple other carriers I've tried. I also have family members on other carriers who get much worse coverage and call quality on their carriers.

[listenhillary]

I've got to see how this turns out. Ping me with the results please?

[NilesJo]

Thanks for the cell phone info. I tried the free 411 connection - it worked like a charm.

[Babu]

Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"

Just tested this out several times -- It does NOT work. I repeat. It does NOT work!

[NickatNite2003]

What 9t is, is a very short range
radio broadcasting capability, allowing
for, among other things, data tranfers
between your phone, and a wireless headset,
or wireless speakers, or snchinfg data
wirelessly between your phone and your
PC, (depending on your phones capabilities).

[100-Fold_Return]

+

[Captainpaintball]

Don't go the expensive route. You, or whomever, may not even like it, may not be used to carrying one, (and may lose it or drop it consantly)and may need that money saved to pay the bill if used too much.

[pbear8]

I don't use my phone much so I have prepaid as well. We use Virgin prepaid because we only have to add $20 per quarter to maintain the service and the minutes never expire. I run my phone for $80 per year.