Full keyboard Phones
 

I am looking at getting a new phone for my GF. Right now she has a Blackberry. She likes the phone but not the bill. All she does on it is txt and talk. So having a big data package is pointless for her. So I am looking for a Alltel phone that can txt and talk and has a full keyboard but doesnt require a data package like the blackberry does.

I have been looking at these.
BRAND NEW ALLTEL AUDIOVOX UTSTARCOM PPC 6700 PDA PHONE - eBay (item 180287669639 end time Sep-10-08 19:23:32 PDT)

Does anyone know if a data plan is required for this phone?

I know many people who have blackberries with no data plans.

Is changing carriers an option?

You might be able to, for instance, get Sprint which has their "Simply Everything" plans which include texting, mobile to mobile, 7pm nights and weekends, as well as all data and Blackberry services included, for around $70 and has 450 minutes, or you can upgrade to the Simple Everything $99/month plan which has unlimited minutes plus all the above.

If a carrier switch isn't an option, then just get a new phone (if you even really need one) and just pay the $20 or so/month for unlimited texting and don't get a data package at all. The phone will still work and you'll be able to text still, you just won't have any internet access or any BB related services.

Connecting a full size normal keyboard to a phone would be a great option, had not seen any so far

I believe you can use bluetooth wireless keyboards with some bluetooth phones.

And also, I pay $59 a month for 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and blackberry service from T-Mobile, so I don't really see how that $70 Sprint deal is that stellar.

I've had 2 of the Pocket PC 6700 phones referenced in the first post so I say with experience, they are the worst phones ever. Don't waste your money.

In fact, don't waste your money on any phone that includes any iteration of Windows Mobile.

And my $99 Sprint simply everything plan runs me $120 a month. Sprint not only has the worst billing ever but also the worst customer service..

I never claimed it to be a good deal or better than another carrier, I have a Nextel phone, and a Blackberry on Sprint so I was offering first hand advice on what plan they had, if changing carriers was an option. Plus I would hope if that was the case the OP would make an informed decision and not run out to change to Sprint since I listed some prices here without looking into other options for themselves.

I'll be the first to tell you that Sprint is one of the highest priced for the amount of minutes, as you noted you get more minutes for basically the same plan and $10 cheaper before taxes.


Would you much rather have ATT who has an "unlimited" plan that runs $99/month for TALK ONLY then add on another $20 for unlimited texting, plus another $30-$60 for Blackberry services depending on what BB plan you choose, then add your tax on top of that and see how nice that $120/month from Sprint looks.

Their customer service has improved believe it or not, over the years. I left Sprint for Nextel about 12 years ago to get away from them so you can probably imagine my joy when Sprint purchased Nextel, I have had 2 Nextel phones since that time and just rolled one into a Sprint Blackberry for my GF while I still have my Nextel.

I'm not on here defending Sprint, I'm just pointing out info. for the OP and trying to help them decide what works best for them.

I'd have to disagree on this one. I ve never had a 6700, but I've been pretty happy with both of my HTC phones (8125 & 8925), which both run windows mobile.

Likewise, the AT&T Tilt (HTC 8925) is awesome, full keyboard and Windows Mobile 6.1.

I have a Palm Centro on Sprint's Simply Everything 450 plan.

No complaints from me. I don't do T Mobile - the phones get ZERO service at my parents' farm.

Thems fightin' words!!

I upgraded from the 6700 a few months ago to the (marginally better) 6800 and while they're decent enough phones, my major gripe lies with Windows Mobile. And it's really the same exact issue I have with all of the Windows OS I run on my PCs - things work great with a fresh install but after a few months of regular use things become noticeably (and often inconveniently) slow. I found it wasn't so bad if I'd delete all of my text messages, all extra programs and never even dared to play with custom ringtones.

I'm hightailin' it to AT&T for an iPhone the second my contract is up.

It's not the $120 that bothers me so much, it's the fact that every 3-4 months there's some new erroneous charge to my account. Last month I spent an hour on the phone with 3 different customer service reps over a $75 (per kilobyte) charge for data services when I already have an unlimited data plan.

I have the LG Rumor, which has a slide-out full keyboard. I love it. However, you have to be a Sprint customer to get it, I believe, and that I'm not so much a fan of. Sprint pretty much sucks.

And manic, my dad has had the same problem with them repeatedly. They're always trying to sneak something past him.

What do you guys think about this phone?

ALLTEL KYOCERA STROBE KX21 BLUETOOTH CAMERA PHONE K612B - eBay (item 150291806079 end time Sep-16-08 12:30:00 PDT)