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I was wondering what cell phones people had and if they liked them or not? I am looking for new phone and I'm not really sure which phone to get. I have Cingular as my service provider and would need a GSM phone so I could use the sim card in an unlocked phone. I was just planning on buying one off ebay once I found one that I really like.

Here is what im looking for:
-Flip phone
-high quality screen/picture
-external caller id
-good battery life
-some what small (do not really like motorola v400 and v600)
-durable (i tend to drop my phone here and there)
-and good reception (shouldnt be a problem in milwaukee)
-having a camera isnt a must but wouldnt mind having one
-just an overall good phone that isnt over $400 on ebay

If anyone could get me some suggestions taht would be so helpful. Or if anyone knows of any phones that are worth waiting for.

I love my Sony Ericsson Z600. Its all the things you mentioned plus IR, games, WAP, GPRS and Bluetooth. You can change out the covers for a color you like. Gotta get a Bluetooth (wireless) headset to go with it.

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc= ... &pid=10104

I hate cingular and my
LG 4050

My wife and I are probably the only adults on the face of the earth that still don't have cell phones.

Have not needed to get in touch with anyone until I get home (or work or etc...)

I have a cell ... came with the first 'plan' we got. They don't make this style anymore ... not even sure what it is. We only use it for communication between family and home .... and the ocassional Buffett family when going to a show. I think there are only 2 people outside the immediate family who actually know this number. I like it this way!!!!!

kurt wrote:My wife and I are probably the only adults on the face of the earth that still don't have cell phones.

Have not needed to get in touch with anyone until I get home (or work or etc...)

No you aren't. I HATE cell phones, and will never own one. I don't want people to be able to get hold of me!!!!!! And, I find people who own them use them as permission to be rude. (Not everyone, but too many people...)

My son has a Sanyo 8100 that he loves ...
It comes in silver, blue and red.

CaptainP wrote:

kurt wrote:My wife and I are probably the only adults on the face of the earth that still don't have cell phones.

Have not needed to get in touch with anyone until I get home (or work or etc...)

No you aren't. I HATE cell phones, and will never own one. I don't want people to be able to get hold of me!!!!!! And, I find people who own them use them as permission to be rude. (Not everyone, but too many people...)

Add me to the cell phone-free population.

Jahfin wrote:

CaptainP wrote:

kurt wrote:My wife and I are probably the only adults on the face of the earth that still don't have cell phones.

Have not needed to get in touch with anyone until I get home (or work or etc...)

No you aren't. I HATE cell phones, and will never own one. I don't want people to be able to get hold of me!!!!!! And, I find people who own them use them as permission to be rude. (Not everyone, but too many people...)

Add me to the cell phone-free population.

I have one only because its nessacary for Communication, but otherwise I probably wouldn't have gotten one . . . i think they are so ridiculous sometimes and very obnoxious. I just can't stand it when you see some woman talking so loud on her cell phone so that the whole damn world can hear her, and being completley oblivious to everyone else around her . . . .whether that be in a mall, a store, driving, or the worst yet - a restauraunt. Its just so rude. I know in California its looked down upon and most retaurants dont allow people to talk on their cell phones, but here in Ohio its a pretty big problem.

Cell phones are good in some cases though . .. . lets say my car broke down. I live in a somewhat-rural area, and there aren't tons of cars passsing by all the time . . . .how would I call AAA or Saturn Service to help me?? Thats where a cellphone can be handy.

DsilCaribe wrote:
Cell phones are good in some cases though . .. . lets say my car broke down. I live in a somewhat-rural area, and there aren't tons of cars passsing by all the time . . . .how would I call AAA or Saturn Service to help me?? Thats where a cellphone can be handy.

That's when "Break One-Nine, good buddy" still comes in handy.

I'm sure I'll own one someday but right now owning a cell phone is not a necessity. Smoke signals, carrier pigeons and messages in a bottle still work for me.

kurt wrote:My wife and I are probably the only adults on the face of the earth that still don't have cell phones.

Have not needed to get in touch with anyone until I get home (or work or etc...)

Nope. Hubby and I don't have 'em either. Glad we're not alone in this world!

I can honestly cannot even name a specific time when it was ABSOLUTELY necessary for me to make a phone call that I couldn't wait to get home/office to make or even pull over to a payphone. There are times it definitely would have made life more convenient for me, but it's kind of nice to NOT have one.

Besides, I'm REALLY loud and obnoxious when I'm not on a cell phone. I would totally be THAT LOUD GIRL on her cell phone.

My Mom has been in 2 car accidents caused by "cell-drivers".

CaptainP wrote:My Mom has been in 2 car accidents caused by "cell-drivers".

i know what you mean,what i dont get though is why it is so hard for most people to drive and talk at the same time.it's not like you're emailing while driving and need to look at a screen or laptop.
so are these same people not capable of speaking to the passenger in their vehicle while driving?
i manage to talk on my phone and drive just fine

tommcat327 wrote:

CaptainP wrote:My Mom has been in 2 car accidents caused by "cell-drivers".

i know what you mean,what i dont get though is why it is so hard for most people to drive and talk at the same time.it's not like you're emailing while driving and need to look at a screen or laptop.
so are these same people not capable of speaking to the passenger in their vehicle while driving?
i manage to talk on my phone and drive just fine

Talking is one thing, but using one hand to hold the phone while talking is another.

Also, if you have a hands-free device, GREAT!!!!!! Unless you are one of those people that talks with your hands, even if it is on the phone...

CaptainP wrote: Talking is one thing, but using one hand to hold the phone while talking is another..

but why would using one hand to hold the phone be difficult.do you actually use both hands to drive the car?i dont,neither do most people i know

I have a Motorola V400 with Cingular that I love.

And I've had a cell phone that I've talked on while driving since I was 18, and it's never had any part in any of my accidents.

Can't comment on a particular phone that I like but I can say that if you have the choice between Verizon and AT&T, That verizon service (the call service not the people) is far and away superior to AT&T. (at least in the Pacific NW). I used to not be able to use my AT&T phone at home (a mixed blessing). Verizon is great at home. The clencher came when I was sking with the keets and one of my captains was calling from out on Puget Sound during a sea trial. He had AT&T and I couldn't hear him and got disconected. The other Captain that was with him had Verizon and called after we had gotten disconnected and was perefectly clear......Sold Me.....

At this point I' m ready for something with a camera in it.....

Def..... Sony Ericsson if you can do it...awesome phones..I love mine

The_Polly_Roger wrote:I love my Sony Ericsson Z600. Its all the things you mentioned plus IR, games, WAP, GPRS and Bluetooth. You can change out the covers for a color you like. Gotta get a Bluetooth (wireless) headset to go with it.

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc= ... &pid=10104

Who's your carrier? The phone looks very cool

T-Mobile is my carrier. A very good company that stands behind thier product (and the spokeswoman is pretty hot too! )

T-Mobile like Cingular/AT&T is GSM as is most of the cellular service worldwide. (AT&T is switching to GSM from the older TDMA.)

Verizon which, hands down has the best coverage in the U.S. is CDMA, Sprint PCS is also CDMA. CDMA is GSM's rival for WORLD DOMINACE. Both claim to support 3G (otherwise known as 3rd generation) phone service but niether is quite there yet.

GSM is, I believe, used in 70 - 80% of the worldwide cellular market. Because of this many 'cooler' phones are GSM. You can also take your GSM phone to most of Europe and Asia and make calls. Although it is better to buy a pre-paid sim card while there and put it in your GSM phone. Cellular minutes in Europe and Asia are a fracton of what there are in the US and although you can make a call using your U.S. GSM phone (sim card) the cost is very high per minute.

Okay, let me cut to the chase, I can go on and on about this stuff and after all this is a Jimmy Buffett site

Here is the skinny:

GSM in the US is still growing and is not as established yet as TDMA and CDMA so the coverage isn't as good as CDMA.

East Coast GSM coverage is better than the West Coast as Voicestream was a big GSM carrier on the East Coast that was bought by T-Mobile (Deutsch Telecom).

GSM uses a higher frequency so can't penetrate buildings very well if the signal is weak.

Voice quality is better on GSM, Verizon is everywhere ("can you hear me now") but the sound quality isn't as good.

Many of the newer, "feature rich" phones are GSM.

GSM is growing but many more towers need to be built in the U.S. to be able to compete with CDMA.

So if you want a phone with newer features and are happy with the coverage you are getting with Cingular then get a GSM phone. If you want a phone that will work just about anywhere in the U.S. then get a Verizon phone.

PM me if you want me to talk your hear off further about all this stuff.

BTW I got an email from Sony Ericsson today about the replacement for my phone, the Z500a. Amazing phone but almost too many features for me and $$.

Don't get me started on PDAs and Smart Phones . . .