Advise on best cell phone plan / model?

If you're looking for a "stylish" phone, you'll probably have to stick with a GSM provider. The stylish CDMA phones don't make it to the US.

Are you going to be using the phone mostly in NYC? Do you need any extra options like data or TXT messages? Start shopping around--visit stores and websites to check things out. Advice can only go so far.

 

If you can get Time Warner Cable in NYC, go for that. Bunch of my friends have it and it's pretty much T1 speed for around $50.00/month.

I didn't have that choice so I went with Verizon DSL. I'm supposed to be getting 768K but it's more like 550-600K for $35.00/month.

 

1st rule of Wireless: Carrier first, phone second.

All the cool features in the world do you no good if the phone doesn't work where YOU need it.

Don't impulse buy based on slick commercials. Get past the slogans (ABC carrier stinks, XYZ carrier is the pits, my carrier ROCKS!) from folks who do not use their phones where you will be using yours.

Talk to folks who use their phones where you live and breathe : work, school, shopping, home , along the same highways and roads you will travel. Find out who their carrier is and do they get good coverage?

Ask more than one from each carrier in case some of them just have low grade (not same as inexpensive in all cases), handsets that wouldn't be satisfactory anywhere.

Once you settle on carrier, you can shop their plans while looking at phones. Do NOT go with a carrier based on price. Believe it, $5-10 a month will not make up for not having service in the places you need it. (Ask the many people stuck with a situation where they now would gladly pay $10 more to actually have service that works).

When shopping phones, check out sources such as JD Power & Assoc ratings of handsets, http://www.jdpower.com/cc/telecom/jdpa_ratings/wireless/Find.jsp?s=6
as well as Consumer Reports http://www.consumerreports.org/main...ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=333133&bmUID=1110643850140

After you buy, most carriers give you at least 14 days to check it out. Use this time to full advantage. Call everyone you know, from everywhere you go, for no reason at all. If the phone is not going to be satisfactory, return it in the grace period no matter how persuasive the salesman is (new tower is going up on your block next week!!) , no matter what "deals" you are offered.

You may try several phones/carriers before you are happy. Don't let this be a frustrating time, but a learning experience and a fun one. You may be able to help someone else with your knowledge!

Have fun with your new phone!

 

i would first check the personal coverage on T-Mobile.

 

If your calling alot to Europe you can still get AT&T Wireless phones & plans with international calling options, but have to go thru someone like Amazon.com or another online site.
I believe T-Mobile also has a program for international calling, which if the coverage is good (it can be so-so in NYC depending on where you are) & with a multiband phone you could use it both here & in the UK.

Your other option since your getting Cable or DSL is a VoIP phone, you can use Vonage or AT&T call vantage and they have international plans for this as well & there are other companies out there with the VoIP phones & plans. There local & long distance for the US & Canada are inexpensive going for around 25-30 a month unlimited calling.

 

I was giving the OP 2 different options he could choose from. As of now there are no wireless VoIP, but Sprint is suppose to be doing something with it.

 

The smallest TMO phone I've even seen isn't listed on the website. I'm not sure where it came from.