Sprint, Phones, and AIM

[Robob]

Hi all im new here, and I live in Vermont, Usa so my cell phone options are limited, phone and carrier wise.
anyway here it goes.

the 3 carriers i have here are, Cellular One, Verizon, and Sprint

I am leaning toward sprint.
I am considering wether to get the SANYO 4900 Or the SAMSUNG N400(or if there are any suggestions)
the reason i like sprint is the web-based AIM(Aol instant Messanger),
now the question is. if i get the Vision service and either of these phones(reccomend me one pls) will i be able to use AIM??
any help will be apriciated!
i figured id post it here 2!

[jjdu4]

Go with the Sanyo 4900..much better than the samsung. As for the Aol IM, I don't think its up and running yet on vision. Its probably going to be available by the end of the year.

[Robob]

where can i find out? does anyone know for sure if its up or not, its one of the main reasons y i would like it, even tho i cant type as fast on phone i like the concept alot

[cryogenic]

Vision does not have AIM capability yet, and I've not heard any firm dates as to when the service will be available. Someone else posted on here that AOL is saying March-April before it becomes available. Verizon has AIM, but it's via text messaging, which is tedious at best. I'd say at this point, just forget about using AIM as a deciding factor and just go with whoever has the best coverage. Go to a local Sprint store and see if they'll give you a demo phone for a day or so to see if coverage suits you. Verizon is well known for rural coverage, but Sprint might just surprise you. Sprint also does have the coolest phones. Verizon probably has some of the best coverage in VT from what I've read, so if Sprint doesn't fit the bill, you might want to give them a shot [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Robob]

yes i looked up all that code entering and all for VZW also the vision stuff is cool too...and unlimited, and i htnk i has more options. heh but for me u c i dont have a "Sprint Store" my sprint store is a Staples that sells them, there is a Verizon store but no sprint one, i could ask in staples i guess.

[cryogenic]

I seriously doubt Staples will do a demo phone for you... They'll let you buy one, take it home activate it and keep it for 14 days, at which point you can return it and only pay for the activation fee and any usage. Verizon does the same... though you might be able to talk them into a demo phone (they'll require a credit card if they do, to cover their butts).

[Robob]

yea verizon doesnt interest me very much, Sprints phones, and how Vision gets unlimited usage and all compared to VZW and tehre alerts and wat not.
as long as AIM is coming, i can just wait it out and enjoy the phone. do u also agree the sanyo is better than the samsung.
also about these updates to the phones software, how do i get them, d\l them with the WEP or another way?

[cryogenic]

I do agree that the Sanyo phones are better than the Samsungs... A friend has had a 4500 for well over a year now and it works just as well as the day he got it... Plus it even gets excellent reception all over our area, even decent in buildings. The 4900 is, from what I can tell, a great phone if you can deal with the candybar style phones. I think the 5150 is still a bit expensive given its age and the fact that it only has a 256 color screen. As far as software updates, they're done at a Sprint store via a data cable.

[Robob]

also i just saw on the AIM Wireless site under phones featuring AOL IM, that the only one by sprint there is Samsung A500 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] i dont want to spend that much for that phone, please say that it will werk on the SANYO too!

[Robob]

Originally posted by: cryogenic
I do agree that the Sanyo phones are better than the Samsungs... A friend has had a 4500 for well over a year now and it works just as well as the day he got it... Plus it even gets excellent reception all over our area, even decent in buildings. The 4900 is, from what I can tell, a great phone if you can deal with the candybar style phones. I think the 5150 is still a bit expensive given its age and the fact that it only has a 256 color screen. As far as software updates, they're done at a Sprint store via a data cable.

another prob i dont have a sprint store, maybe the staples would do it?, and to the phone point, i really dont want to spend 150-300 dollars on a phone, the $150 of the 4900 would almost be too much if it werent for the almighty $100 rebate! lol

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

goto www.sprintpcsrocks.com and there is a java app download for vision phones that will let u run AIM, MSNmessenger, and YAHOO messenger right from your phone..........it is a beta so there are some bugs but it is a strong foot in the door to making vision better and better

[Ash1]

I have had the samsung N400 for a couple of weeks and it works GREAT!!! My sister just got the sanyo 4900 the other day...It also works great..the only main difference in features is that the sanyo cannot hook up to the digital camera ...the only thing about te n400 is that the flip part may break if dropped